Bachelor of Arts - Criminal Justice

The Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice in the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (CHASS) at the University of the Incarnate Word develops ethical, responsible, well-informed and deeply conscientious criminal justice professionals and justice-minded individuals for a wide variety of professions or for law school.

Law enforcement, social work, corrections, security, intelligence, government, education and the legal profession – there are many fields that a graduate of a criminal justice program can pursue. The study of criminal justice gives students insight into the many facets of the justice system and proficiency in critical data, research and analytical skills. The program also emphasizes a deep understanding of issues related to social justice through innovative courses that are not available at many other universities, on topics such as restorative justice, and issues that impact specific or vulnerable groups.

The program opens the door to a wide range of career opportunities. The options, and the opportunities, are many. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, approximately 3.5 million workers were employed in the criminal justice or protective services fields in 2019. The graduates can pursue careers as police officers, private security officers, park rangers, U.S. Customs agents, U.S. Postal Service investigators or pre-trial services officers, among others. Through postsecondary education, students can seek a career as an attorney, an FBI agent, a forensic scientist, a police detective, a criminal investigator or a social worker.