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UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES


The Schools of Nursing and Pharmacy operate on both the Oxford and Jackson campuses. The Schools of Dentistry, Health Related Professionals and Medicine, and the Health Sciences Graduate School, are based in Jackson only. (Additional healthcare programs are available through the School of Applied Sciences on the Oxford campus.) Other than these exceptions, the schools above are on the Oxford campus.

B.S.C.J in Criminal Justice

The Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice at the University of Mississippi empowers students to explore their criminal justice interests from emphasis areas in corrections, homeland security or law enforcement

This program prepares students to move directly into a wide range of criminal justice careers upon graduation and is built upon practice experience. Our Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice program is staffed by outstanding, highly-published faculty, each of whom is committed to providing University of Mississippi students with the best academic preparation possible.

Key Benefits

The Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice program at the University of Mississippi has been nationally recognized for student research and service. We have an exceptional team of faculty who serve as mentors and career coaches and assist students with job placement upon graduation.

Graduate Outcomes

The job market for graduates of the Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice program is very strong, and graduates are in demand in a variety of law enforcement, corrections, homeland security and law positions. University of Mississippi Criminal Justice alumni are currently employed with the FBI, Secret Service, ATF, Bureau of Prisons, DEA, U.S. Marshals, TSA, various state, local and county law enforcement agencies, law firms, probation and parole agencies, juvenile facilities, private policing and others. Upon graduation, students may also pursue Master of Criminal Justice and/or PhD programs across the country.

Experiences Offered

Every student gains valuable practical experience by completing 130 service hours through required internships with a variety of agencies, including county sheriff's departments, crime labs, local and state police, private and state probation and parole offices, prisons, county jails, FBI, DEA, ATF, law firms, and others.

Specializations

B.S.C.J in Criminal Justice Faculty

Our well-published faculty have diverse research and practical experience across a wealth of criminal justice areas, including adult and juvenile corrections, counterterrorism, correctional in-treatment programming, restorative justice, and forensic science/crime scene investigation.

Linda Denise Keena
Associate Professor of Criminal Justice & Legal Studies
Francis Danso Boateng
Associate Professor of Criminal Justice & Legal Studies
Danny P Hall
Senior Lecturer in Criminal Justice & Legal Studies
Jeffery M Johnson
Lecturer in Criminal Justice & Legal Studies
Kimberly A Kaiser
Associate Professor of Criminal Justice and Legal Studies and Graduate Program Director
Terry Ponnath Lyons
Senior Lecturer in Criminal Justice & Legal Studies
Dave McElreath
Professor of Criminal Justice & Legal Studies
Amy Vanderford
Adjunct Instructor In Criminal Justice and Legal Studies

The B.S.C.J. degree requires 42 credit hours of criminal justice courses. The following 18 hours of coursework are required of all criminal justice majors:   

  • CJ 100: Introduction to Criminal Justice (3 hours)
  • CJ 210: Criminal Law (3 hours)
  • CJ 300: Ethics in Legal Studies (3 hours)
  • CJ 324: Theories of Criminal Behavior (3 hours)
  • CJ 450: Criminal Justice Research (3 hours)
  • CJ 490: Criminal Justice Internship (3 hours) or CJ 499: Colloquium in Criminal Justice (3 hours)    The remaining 24 hours of major coursework are taken under the student's chosen area of emphasis: corrections, homeland security or law enforcement.

Admissions requirements for the Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice are the same as the general undergraduate admissions requirements.

Wayne Gowdy

Wayne Gowdy went on to work for the Shelby County Sheriff's Department and teach as an adjunct instructor for the Legal Studies department after earning his criminal justice degree at the University of Mississippi. Mr. Gowdy was given the 2018 Outstanding Alumni Award for his contributions to the criminal justice field and criminal justice education.

Student Organizations

The Department of Legal Studies hosts two very active student associations in Alpha Phi Sigma and Order of the Sword & Shield National Honor Society. Activities performed by the groups include community outreach and volunteerism, hosting department activities and off-campus guest speakers, coordinating student field trips, and hosting student social gatherings.