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Crime & Justice Studies
BA

The Crime & Justice Studies (CJS) program brings together the fields of criminology, criminal justice, and justice studies. Bridging the social sciences and humanities, CJS specializes in the study of the criminal justice system's history, policies, politics, and procedures.

Our multidisciplinary program meets the needs of undergraduate students interested in entering the fields of law enforcement, the courts, corrections, probation, parole, social services, youth services, public policy, research, non-profit, and non-governmental or community organizations.

All students are required to complete a senior year internship to explore career options, gain real-world experience, network, and develop professional skills.

Students pursuing the BA in Crime & Justice Studies:

  • develop comprehensive perspectives on the various and, at times, conflicting expectations that exist within the institutions and agencies that comprise and work with the criminal justice system
  • engage in cross-agency dialogues within the classroom before they enter the workforce
  • learn to identify and analyze structural, institutional, and transnational violence
  • gain knowledge and skills toward understanding and transforming injustice
  • prepare themselves to contribute to the improvement of their communities and society

Our graduates have careers in law enforcement, courts, corrections, public administration, law, social services, youth services, nonprofit or non-governmental agencies, and community organizations. A growing number of CJS graduates have gone on to complete graduate degrees in law, master's, and various doctoral programs.

Enrollment in the 3+3 joint degree program with UMass Law allows offers an accelerated pathway to an undergraduate and law degree, enabling qualifying students to substitute the first year of law school for the final year of their undergraduate program, thereby earning both a bachelor’s degree from UMass Dartmouth and a Juris Doctor from UMass Law in six rather than seven years.

Student success

UMassD senior and UMass Law 1L Nathan Upchurch stands in front of the
Nathan Upchurch '24, '26: 3+3 with UMass Law

Crime and justice studies senior & UMass Law 1L fast-tracks his way to a career in public service

Internship placements

  • Bristol County District Attorney’s Office Victim/Witness Advocate
  • Bristol County Juvenile Court Probation Department
  • Coalition for Social Justice
  • Public Defenders Office of Fall River
  • Wareham Police Department
  • Scannell Lynn, PC, Attorneys at Law Michael Lynn, Esq. 

Career placements

  • Acushnet Company
  • Dynamic Solutions
  • EMC
  • U.S Marine Corps
  • Newton Auxiliary Police
  • Securitas Inc.

Graduate schools

  • UMass Boston
  • Suffolk University
  • Ohio State University
  • American International College

UMassD advantages

Develop your analytical skills, make professional contacts, build your resume, and gain confidence in your leadership abilities.

  • Internships in agencies and community settings
  • Community engagement projects
  • Field research on issues that matter to you
  • Independent study on special topics
  • Networking with professionals in the field
  • Inside-Out Prison Exchange: take a course alongside incarcerated students
  • 3+3 Law degree: UMass Law’s accelerated program allows you to receive both an undergraduate degree and a law degree in 6 rather than 7 years. In your fourth year, you would matriculate at UMass Law as a first-year law student

Expand your opportunities

The crime and justice studies program is an excellent preparation for graduate school in a variety of disciplines, such as law and policy studies:

Crime & Justice Studies faculty

Aneesa Baboolal
Aneesa Baboolal, PhD
Erin Krafft
Erin Krafft, PhD
Eric Larson
Eric Larson, PhD
Heather Turcotte
Heather Turcotte, PhD
Kaden Paulson Smith
Kaden Paulson Smith, PhD
Profile photo of Crime and Justice Studies Chair Susan Krumholz
Susan Krumholz, PhD
Tamm Arford
Tammi Arford, PhD
Toniqua Mikell
Toniqua Mikell, PhD
Tryon Woods
Tryon Woods, PhD
Viviane Saleh-Hanna
Viviane Saleh-Hanna, PhD
Viviane Saleh-Hanna
Viviane Saleh-Hanna, PhD
Vanessa Lovelace
Vanessa Lovelace, PhD
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