Academics > Majors and Areas of Study > Criminal Justice Studies > Elements of the Major

Students will complete a series of introductory courses consisting of either Micro- or Macrosociology, Introduction to Criminal Justice, and American Government and Politics. Accompanying these courses is a civil rights and liberties course examining a wide range of social, political and constitutional issues at the introductory level.

Students will also select from a range of courses that allow them to explore the field of criminal justice applied to juvenile and family relations.

Additionally, courses in ethics, deviance, criminology, sociology of law, the psychology of children and adolescents, constitutional law, and public policy are offered as part of the major.

Students are also encouraged to participate in Thiel's extensive cooperative education program that provides opportunities for students to experience the work world in the juvenile justice system and in family relations justice, with a focus on issues of abusive relationships among family members. These placements are available both in the local region and in Washington, D.C.