Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice

Saint Joseph’s criminal justice program familiarizes students with the interdisciplinary approach to crime and justice, that includes historical, social, and psychological context.

Group of Criminal Justice students from the crime scene mock investigation.A degree in criminal justice from Saint Joseph's prepares students for careers in social services, judiciary and law, law enforcement, and business. Graduates of the program have gone on to serve on police forces, enter law school, work in the federal government, and more.

Students majoring in criminal justice receive a foundation in theory and research as well as opportunities for practical application through internships. This major is for students who want to pursue careers in a wide range of criminal justice opportunities within city, state, and federal jurisdictions, such as probation, parole, police, immigration and naturalization, and the FBI.

At a Glance

  • Hand-on learning simulations: mock crime scenes, moot courts, and emergency preparedness and response drills.
  • Courses incorporate field trips, demonstrations, ride alongs, and community and engaged learning opportunities into the curriculum.
  • 16 hour per week, full-year internship immerses you in criminal justice your senior year.
  • Incorporates courses from related disciplines including: History/Political Science, Psychology, Social Work, and Philosophy.
  • Concentration available for interested students in Forensic Psychology.
  • Key academic tools necessary for graduate study.
  • Dynamic, dedicated faculty experts with a wide variety of backgrounds.
  • One-on-one faculty mentoring with faculty that will get to know you well and will work to personalize your experiences.
  • Rigorous curriculum requires critical thinking and insightful articulation of ideas, and prepares students for field placement and graduate school.
  • Leadership opportunities within Saint Joseph’s Criminal Justice Club.

Curriculum

The Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice combines a liberal arts education with a professional criminal justice curriculum. Topics covered include social research, criminology, race and ethnic relations, and human nature and ethics.

Forensic Psychology Concentration

This optional concentration is designed for students with a particular interest in the interaction of psychology and the law. Forensic Psychology is a broad field – practitioners work in areas such as crime trends, criminal profiling, mental health treatment for offenders and substance abusers, jury selection, impact of divorce, custody, and more. This concentration does not lead to a professional license; rather it provides a foundation for graduate work or entry-level employment.

A minor in criminal justice is available and requires students to take 20 credit hours.

Internship Partners

  • MEMA
  • DHHS
  • Cumberland County Sheriff
  • Legal Aid
  • Westbrook Police Department
  • Portland Police Department

Faculty highlight

Dr. Meredith Emigh-Guy
Dr. Meredith Emigh-GuyAssistant Professor

Meredith Emigh-Guy has worked at a forensic psychiatric hospital, worked for a law firm, participated in research involving a halfway house, and participated in two research projects that involved reviewing and coding information from police files.

Learn more about Meredith

Why I love teaching Criminal Justice

Criminal justice courses allow students to understand how the criminal justice system functions, it provides students with a critical perspective on issues related to the field (gun violence, drug overdoses, human trafficking, to name a few) and exposes students to possible career pathways and graduate school opportunities connected to the field of criminal justice. As for courses that criminal justice students might take, I think an PY101: Introduction to Psychology is a great compliment to our CJ307: Criminology course. These courses allow students to examine the various theories surrounding why people engage in criminal behavior and how this impacts the response from the criminal justice system and the community.”

Dr. Dale Brooker
Dr. Dale BrookerAssociate Dean

Student stories

Taylor Owen ’24

Psychology w/ Forensic Concentration Minoring in Criminal Justice

Taylor Owen 24 criminal justice minor
Taylor Owen 24 Psychology fingerprinting

“Saint Joe’s has some great connections for criminal justice majors. The community here has been so helpful, and I’ve already been in touch with a few different police departments and have been able to set up internships due to the help of the faculty in this program. The one-on-one attention you receive as a student here is invaluable.”

Hannah Gower 24criminal justice

Hannah Gower ’24

Criminal Justice

“One thing that I really enjoy about the Criminal Justice program is the small class size. I think it’s a huge advantage to have the opportunity to work closely with my peers, and to have the support from my classmates who are experiencing everything right along with me. There’s an openness in our classes that allows for collaboration and a comfortable atmosphere where you’re not afraid to open up and ask questions. It’s been great watching everyone grow and find their own path.”

criminal justice class2

Experiential Learning

Crime Scene Investigation

CSI class2
CSI class

“Recently, the Criminal Justice program featured a CSI training with a Detective from the local Sheriff’s Department. Students pored over case studies and photos during a 3-hour lecture covering crime scene management, evidence collection, and forensics. Students made deductions about the scenes, lifted fingerprints and examined trace evidence under special colored lights. Later students toured the CSI truck and the various tools used by detectives. Everyone agreed that they learned a lot, including how much more difficult real investigation is than it looks on TV!”

Adam Martin 23

Adam Martin ’23

Criminal Justice + Psychology

“Psychology has allowed me to reach beyond the education of criminal justice and understand the deeper meaning behind cognition and reasoning for people to behave the way that they do. I feel that this will separate me from other officers as I carry this deeper understanding.” (Adam has been hired by the Vermont State Police and after graduation he'll head to the academy for training.)

Adam Nina meeting

Taylor Owen ’24

Psychology w/ Forensic Concentration Minoring in Criminal Justice

Taylor Owen 24 criminal justice minor

“Saint Joe’s has some great connections for criminal justice majors. The community here has been so helpful, and I’ve already been in touch with a few different police departments and have been able to set up internships due to the help of the faculty in this program. The one-on-one attention you receive as a student here is invaluable.”

Taylor Owen 24 Psychology fingerprinting

Hannah Gower ’24

Criminal Justice

Hannah Gower 24criminal justice

“One thing that I really enjoy about the Criminal Justice program is the small class size. I think it’s a huge advantage to have the opportunity to work closely with my peers, and to have the support from my classmates who are experiencing everything right along with me. There’s an openness in our classes that allows for collaboration and a comfortable atmosphere where you’re not afraid to open up and ask questions. It’s been great watching everyone grow and find their own path.”

criminal justice class2

Experiential Learning

Crime Scene Investigation

CSI class2

“Recently, the Criminal Justice program featured a CSI training with a Detective from the local Sheriff’s Department. Students pored over case studies and photos during a 3-hour lecture covering crime scene management, evidence collection, and forensics. Students made deductions about the scenes, lifted fingerprints and examined trace evidence under special colored lights. Later students toured the CSI truck and the various tools used by detectives. Everyone agreed that they learned a lot, including how much more difficult real investigation is than it looks on TV!”

CSI class

Adam Martin ’23

Criminal Justice + Psychology

Adam Martin 23

“Psychology has allowed me to reach beyond the education of criminal justice and understand the deeper meaning behind cognition and reasoning for people to behave the way that they do. I feel that this will separate me from other officers as I carry this deeper understanding.” (Adam has been hired by the Vermont State Police and after graduation he'll head to the academy for training.)

Adam Nina meeting
Makayla Cooper ’21
Makayla Cooper ’21Criminal Justice and Psychology

Using her research internship to improve police and community relations

“I was helping a local Police Department research their use of force reports through the years. I have been collecting data on the following categories across the reports, including but not limited to: race, gender, the kind of force used, and how many officers were involved. Use of force is a very important topic in today’s society and it is crucial that members of the community truly understand how it is used and calculated, as it can be misinterpreted. Participating in this research project has shown that it is important to try and create relationships within the community to diminish the stigma related to the overuse of power or police brutality. Having a level of trust in the police officers in your community makes it easier to call for help when needed. It’s really about creating long-lasting relationships to make your community a better place.”

In the News

Criminal Justice Students Make New Mainers Feel More at Home

At Saint Joseph’s, community grows in our students, faculty, and staff who recognize learning as a tool to lift ourselves in the service of others. The CJ 202: Introduction to Criminal Justice class put that ethos into practice with a high impact service-learning project. Focusing on Maine’s growing refugee population, the class decided to do a clothing drive. They collected enough to give to two organizations.

⇒ Read more

Alumni stories

Jaci Lorenzen, 2014 criminal justice graduate

Jacqueline Lorenzen

Class of 2014, police sergeant

Jacqueline Lorenzen, a member of the Westbrook Maine Police Department, was promoted to the rank of sergeant. She is the first female officer to be promoted to this rank in the City of Westbrook’s history.

A man with glasses and a beard wearing a light blue shirt and a striped tie stands in front of a bookshelf, likely deep in thought about criminal justice degrees in Maine. Saint Joseph's College of Maine

Brad Campbell, PhD

Class of 2009, Ass't Prof., Univ. Louisville

“I was exposed to the importance of research to criminal justice practitioners through senior seminar and research methods courses in the criminal justice curriculum at Saint Joseph's, as well as service learning projects.”

A man with short dark hair and glasses is smiling while wearing a suit and tie, proudly showcasing his Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice in front of a gray stone wall. Saint Joseph's College of Maine

John Burke

Class of 2007, Attorney

“Having worked in a large prosecutor’s office in Grand Rapids, Mich., and now as a defense attorney, I see many police officers missing the substantive background in criminal justice that Dr. Brooker and the criminal justice faculty teach its students."

Career moves

A degree in criminal justice from Saint Joseph’s College prepares students for careers in social services, judiciary and law, law enforcement, and business. Graduates of the program have gone on to serve on police forces, enter law school, work in the federal government, and more.

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