Criminal Justice at Lakeland University

Earn Your Criminal Justice Degree & Gain Experience

Lakeland University's Criminal Justice major covers all facets of criminal behavior, from the psychological and sociological aspects of crime, to law enforcement, criminal investigations, and corrections.

At Lakeland,  you will learn by doing. Through paid Cooperative Education and/or internship experiences, students will have the opportunity to work with an array of local, state and federal law enforcement, private sector and other criminal justice agencies.

    Formats

    Main Campus (Full-Time) Six Centers 100% Online Online Live BlendEd Live

    Cooperative Education

    Student-To-Teacher Ratio

    13:1

    Interested in a Criminal Justice degree from Lakeland University? Contact us today!
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    Criminal Justice at Lakeland University

    Most colleges offer a Criminal Justice degree, but our degree will make you more attractive to employers

    As long as human beings inhabit the Earth, society will face the daunting challenge of dealing with criminal behavior by a disruptive subset of people. As a result, there will always be a strong, important need to fully understand and address this behavior in a fair, lawful, and consistent manner.

    As a Criminal Justice major at Lakeland, you will be challenged with a large variety of courses. The major delves into basic understanding of our criminal justice system, scientific inquiry into the treatment and prevention of criminal behavior, and the ethical behavior of those who work within the discipline. When Criminal Justice majors leave Lakeland University, they have a very strong foundation, in addition to the specialty courses that lend themselves to the students’ chosen area of interest.

    Our Criminal Justice major provides students with a complete overview of the criminal justice system and all the major elements of it. It provides students with a theoretical understanding of criminal behavior, as well as the consequences of criminal behavior.

    While a Lakeland University degree certainly prepares students for careers involving law enforcement or corrections, our Criminal Justice degree holders are branching out into many other types of careers. This major provides opportunities to explore specialized areas such as offender assessment and rehabilitation, criminal investigation, evidence-based “best practices” in criminal justice, the relationships between race and crime, and a psychological understanding of violent crime.

    CAREER OUTLOOK

    What are some careers available to me?
    Law Enforcement
    Corrections
    Courts
    Victim Services
    Counseling
    AVG. SALARY (USA)
    $65,790*
    AVG. SALARY (WI)
    $71,590*
    AVG. HOURLY RATE (USA)
    $31.63*
    AVG. HOURLY RATE (WI)
    $34.42*

    *Data provided by Job Center of Wisconsin's Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics for Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers.

    What Makes Our Program Unique?

    • Emphasizes the measurement of crime, the analysis and prevention of criminal behaviors, familiarity with the criminal justice system, the societal response to crime and the history and functions of law in society.
    • Explores specialized areas such as offender assessment and rehabilitation, criminal investigation, evidence-based “best practices” in criminal justice, and race, gender, and the understanding of violent crime.
    • Faculty are experts in their fields and maintain close ties with criminal and juvenile justice agencies to ensure Lakeland’s programs remain viable and relevant in today’s rapidly expanding, post-9/11, criminal justice environment.
    • Cooperative Education and Internship oppportunities from an array of local, state and federal law enforcement, private sector and other criminal justice agencies.

      Why Lakeland?

      There’s more than one way to get a college education and Lakeland offers them all. Lakeland University students have access to a variety of pathways, and each one can be customized to meet your needs. Since our founding in 1862, Lakeland University has been a leader in finding ways to help students make their dreams come true.

      • Traditional, main campus located in Sheboygan Co.
      • Six Centers located throughout the state of Wisconsin.
      • Flexible delivery formats:
        • Onsite: In class one night per week at one of our six center locations
        • Online: participate weekly when it works best for you
        • Online Live: attend live classes virtually from anywhere one night per week
        • BlendEd Live: attend classes in-person or online … you choose each week
      • Transfer up to 90-credits
      • Financial aid, scholarships and discounts are available
      • Individualized advising and career development support
      • Award-winning Cooperative Education program allows students to earn college credit for professional work experiences
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      Students who have successfully completed a B.A. in Criminal Justice from Lakeland University will be able to:

      • Explain each foundation of the criminal justice system, including criminal law, policing, and corrections.
      • Exhibit effective research skills in the evaluation of current research and the responsible use of data.
      • Evaluate the limits of the criminal justice system.
      • Demonstrate independent problem-solving skills which are generalizable for a future vocation.
      • Present ideas clearly and professionally in both written and oral contexts.
      • Analyze ethical issues using multiple frameworks and articulate a personal code of ethics.

      First Time Freshman

      • Step 1: Complete an application online.
      • Step 2: Submit official high school transcripts directly to Lakeland University.

      Transfer Students

      • Step 1: Complete an application online.
      • Step 2: Request official transcripts from all institutions of higher education attended to be sent directly to Lakeland University.
        • Students who have NOT completed 12 transferrable credits MUST submit official high school transcripts.

      Apply Now

      You may apply at any time as Lakeland University operates on a rolling admission basis with 6 start dates throughout the year. Applications will be reviewed until about two weeks before the start of each term.

      Main-Campus (Full-Time)
      Evening/Online (Adult)

      Admission Requirements

      Once your application is received, your Lakeland University admissions counselor will be in touch.

      • Lakeland University accepts a high school diploma with a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or above or the equivalent of a high school diploma.
      • Lakeland University accepts transfer students who have earned at least a 2.0 cumulative GPA and are in good standing at other accredited institutions of higher learning.
      • We review each application on an individual basis.

      *Exceptions to the above admission criteria may be granted for students with a cumulative GPA range from 1.75 to 1.99 if the academic experience that resulted in the less than 2.0 GPA was more than two years ago. Furthermore, typically students with a cumulative GPA range from 1.50 to 1.75 will only be considered if the poor academic performance experience that resulted in the less than 2.0 GPA was more than five years ago. Students receiving an exception will be admitted conditionally.

      Meet Our Criminal Justice Faculty

      Academic Affairs |
      Main Campus (Traditional) |
      Karin Miofsky, Ph.D.

      Karin Miofsky, Ph.D.

      Associate Professor of Criminal Justice

      Academic Affairs |
      Main Campus (Traditional) |

      Richard Lemke, Ph.D.

      Associate Professor of Criminal Justice, Chair of Social Sciences

      Contact us to learn more about the Criminal Justice degree at Lakeland University.

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