Benefits of a Criminal Justice degree

A good University education should help you think critically, communicate effectively orally and in writing, and help you appreciate different ways of looking at the world. Studying Criminal Justice will help you understand the day to day operation of the criminal justice system, but also be familiar with ongoing issues and problems. As a social science major, your Criminal Justice degree will teach you the scientific method and the role of empirical research in studying social problems. As a major focused on law and society, you will gain an appreciation of the role of race, class, and gender in the development and application of the criminal law.

Knowledge

working knowledge of the three operational branches of the criminal justice system, police courts, and corrections
understanding of modern-day policing methods and the strengths and weaknesses of various approaches
knowledge of the legal process, criminal court system, appellate, court, and Supreme Court roles
understanding of the correctional process, including community corrections supervision, institutional placement, conditional release, and the strengths and weaknesses of retributive, treatment, and restorative justice models

Thinking

being open-minded to new thinking on familiar issues
understanding and appreciating the values and workings of the Canadian criminal justice system
understanding and applying theory to real world situations, events and processes
analytical and critical thinking about controversial issues
organizing and interpreting social, economic, and political data
reasoning and presenting arguments
respecting and appreciating cultural and ethnic diversity
sensitivity to race, class and gender issues
separating facts from values

Skills

reading comprehensively and writing effectively
reading and summarizing research studies
ability to work well under pressure
library research skills
computer skills such as word-processing, data analysis using software (SPSS and spreadsheets) for quantitative data
time management and project completion
legal reasoning
working cooperatively with others to complete a task
ability to persuade and influence others