Program Overview

Program Overview

The Criminal Justice program at Clemson University is designed to engage students in the scientific study of the causes, consequences, and prevention of crime and its social control.

Program Details

• Program Type: B.S./B.A.
• Credits: 120
• Format: On Campus
• Time to Complete: 4 years

About This Program

Clemson offers both a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science in criminal justice. Students pursuing a B.A. take a four-semester sequence in a modern language and additional humanities courses to prepare them for careers involving frequent interactions with the public. Students obtaining a B.S. take a two-semester sequence in research methods and more math and science courses, which prepare them for more technical roles within the field.

Career Opportunities

Students who major in criminal justice pursue careers in policing, corrections, law, public service, human services, and policy studies. Alumni have obtained jobs in federal, state, and local law enforcement, including positions within the FBI, U.S. Marshals, and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division.

Coursework

The program includes a core criminal justice curriculum focusing on police, court, and corrections, as well as classes on criminological theories, justice actor decision-making, and organizational dynamics in the criminal justice system. Additional courses cover race and ethnicity, sex and gender, social class and poverty, and social policy.

General Justice Studies Emphasis

With this emphasis, students can pursue a science-oriented education while selecting from a wide variety of course options.

Legal Emphasis

This emphasis prepares students for careers and future study in the field of law.

Similar Majors

Similar majors include:

• Political Science
• Sociology
• Psychology
• Anthropology

Post-Graduation Career Areas

Common career areas for graduates include:

• Homeland Security
• Local, State, or Federal Law Enforcement
• Law
• Victim Advocacy
• Corrections
• Computer Forensics
• Forensic Psychology
• Forensic Anthropology
• Information Security Analysis

Salary Information

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for police and detectives is $77,000.