Located in the Hines Academic Center, the Department of Criminal Justice offers baccalaureate, master's, and doctoral-level curriculum that addresses a wide range of social issues and research opportunities.

The Department of Criminal Justice is a vibrant department, with approximately 800 baccalaureate students, 150 master's students, and an entering doctoral cohort of 15. Twenty full-time faculty members are involved in educating students as well as a wide range of research. The Department of Criminal Justice also administers a number of institutes and centers, such as the Center for Geospatial Intelligence and Investigation and The Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT). 

The preparation of competent and reponsible public servants to assume roles in criminal investigation and apprehension, agency administration, prosecution and correctional services is the primary goal of the department. This goal is pursued in the context of a broad university curriculum that provides a foundation of knowledge necessary to function in a challenging world.

Students seeking employment regularly receive information on positions in the criminal justice field at the local, county, state and federal government levels, as well as positions in private security.