Criminal justice

Morgan Smith

Morgan Smith ’23, a criminal justice major from Arlington, Ohio, works as a community service officer with Putnam County Juvenile Probation.

“I feel like when you’re in junior high and high school, that is when you need the most direction. Seeing people turn their life around is what really makes it worth it to me.”
Morgan’s story >

Looking to make the world a better place?

To make a difference? Repair the harm caused by crime? Increase neighborhood safety? Increase goodwill between community members and police?

Then, consider a major or minor in criminal justice at Bluffton University.

At Bluffton, criminal justice is an academically rigorous program developed to produce leaders in the academic field, corrections, law enforcement, mediation and community organizing who embrace the philosophy of restorative justice.

Restorative justice

Restorative justice emphasizes repairing the harm caused by criminal behavior through cooperative processes including all stakeholders. It is a philosophy that is increasingly accepted by both public and private criminal justice services around the world.

Typically restorative justice comes at the end of the criminal justice process. At Bluffton, every criminal justice class includes a restorative perspective. This means solving problems at the earliest point and using the justice system as a last resort, depending on the situation.

At Bluffton, you will develop an internship around specific career goals and receive active, personal oversight from a faculty member. An opportunity to spend a semester in Washington, D.C., is available if you are interested in pursuing jobs in the federal government or the international arena.

Graduates from Bluffton’s criminal justice program have enjoyed high placement rates in local and state law enforcement agencies and have secured highly competitive jobs in corrections institutions and federal agencies including the CIA and United States Secret Service.  >>> occupational outlook

Bluffton University criminal justice major

US Marshal intern


Justine Lesniewski ’23, a criminal justice and psychology double major from Mantua, Ohio, started out as a business major but realized it was not her calling. 

“I changed it very quickly and from then on it’s been great. I’m unsure what else I would’ve done with my life. I can’t think of a job outside of the criminal justice or psychology fields that would be fitting.” 

Bluffton University Criminal justice major

Path confirmed


Nash Morgan ’22, a criminal justice and psychology major from Reading, Ohio, spent the summer boosting his resume and preparing for a career in law.

Morgan completed internships at Hamilton County Common Pleas Court in Cincinnati and the Amberley Village Police Department.

Bluffton University Criminal Justice major

Serving others


Darian Greeley ’21 gained practical experience by completing an internship with the Bluffton (Village) Police Department. 

“My favorite experience was working with the kids, working with juveniles. I felt like I could understand some of the struggles they’re going through.”

 
REQUIRED COURSES:

There are 48 semester hours of required courses for the criminal justice major, plus 9 hours of electives from the social sciences department and 3 hours (one class) of a restorative justice elective.

A minor in criminal justice is 21 hours.

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