Criminal Justice

About the criminal justice major

With a criminal justice major, you’ll get an in-depth look at the policies, procedures, and history behind the U.S. criminal justice system. The criminal justice major is part of the B.S.C.J. degree, which will give you an advanced understanding of the techniques used to protect citizens and the community.

You’ll take an interdisciplinary mix of courses, such as criminological theory and policies, criminal law, policing, data analysis, courts, and corrections. Plus, you’ll have research opportunities with O’Neill faculty who are examining a wide range of issues, from drug treatments to prison populations, right here in the community (O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, 2019).

Skills and abilities this major develops: communication, problem-solving, investigation, and critical thinking skills.

Engaged learning experiences

Regardless of your major or future career, engaged learning is vital to your present and future. It makes you more marketable for jobs and professional schools upon graduation, it enables you to build deeper connections with faculty and staff in your field of study, and it makes your learning personal by connecting your interests and values with the curriculum from your classes. Check out the three ideas below for places to get started, or learn more at IU Indianapolis’s Institute for Engaged Learning website.

Career services

O’Neill’s career services office is designed to help you build your job-search skills and find full-time employment or an internship. They can also help you connect with alumni!

Study abroad

Enrich your academic experience by studying important public policy and criminal justice issues at a global level.

Opportunities after graduation

Employment of police and detectives is projected to grow 3% from 2021 to 2031, slower than the average for all occupations. Despite limited employment growth, about 68,500 openings for police and detectives are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as retirement (Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2022).

According to the IU Indianapolis First Destination Survey in 2021, the average starting salary reported for graduates with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice was $45,072, and the median was $38,750.

The national median annual salary for police and detectives was $66,020 in 2021 (Occupational Outlook Handbook).

(This section is intended for informational purposes, not prediction of actual salary.)

Criminal justice graduates often pursue advanced degrees in the following areas:

Business
Education
Law

Quick facts

Sample coursework

American criminal justice system
American policing
Crime and public policy
Criminal courts
Criminal law

Possible careers

Court administrator
Detective*
Federal law officer
Investigator*
Police officer*
Private security officer
Probation officer

*These careers require additional training or education.

Where could I work?

Federal law enforcement agencies
Indiana Department of Corrections
Indiana State Police
Local law enforcement
Re-entry facilities

Complementary interests

IInvestigative

EEnterprising

SSocial

Get your interest code

Where to get more information

O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs

American Probation and Parole Association

Go Law Enforcement

Arts, Humanities, and Human Services Cluster

This major is part of the Arts, Humanities, and Human Services (AHHS) cluster. The AHHS cluster is the academic home of University College students pursuing majors in art and design, education, general studies, journalism, liberal arts, and social work. The AHHS cluster partners with students on their academic advising and career plans to guide them into their degree-granting schools.

Learn about the AHHS cluster

Learn about other clusters

Meet with an advisor or career consultant

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