CRIMINAL JUSTICE
Program Options
With Dordt College’s newly revamped criminal justice program, two options are available: a major in criminal justice or a stand-alone criminal justice minor with the major of your choice.
Both the major and minor combine courses in criminal justice with psychology, sociology, social work, communication, political studies, and others to develop the broad skills necessary to enter and advance in the field.
This interdisciplinary approach helps you understand the social, political, and legal context of crime in the U.S., as well as engaging you in exploring how your faith can guide and direct your work in criminal justice.
A blend of hands-on activities with classroom training will help you retain what you’ve learned, to avoid future procedural mistakes that could negatively impact courtroom trials.
Students learn about interrogations, courtroom testimony, legal procedures, professional skills, and an understanding of the roles and functions that fit together within the criminal justice process.
You’ll gather and process evidence while learning proper handling techniques, through participation in simulated crime scenes in the popular Crime Scene Investigation class.
A practicing attorney, Michael Jacobsma, teaches criminal law. And under the guidance of a certified social worker, Professor Erin Olson, you’ll learn how to work with the victims of crime in the course Victimology and Domestic Violence.
High profile cases in the news are also followed and discussed regularly. Simulated court hearings and crime suspect line-ups are all part of the training.
To cap off four years of study, criminal justice internships are available in law, law enforcement, probation, and at a domestic violence center, among others. Some students spend a semester in an off-campus program in places like Washington, D.C., gaining valuable work experience with police and sheriff’s departments, attorney’s offices, or nonprofit agencies that work with offenders or victims of crime.
