Be part of Trine's fastest growing major - Criminal Justice

Explore
While many colleges and universities offer "quick courses" in select areas of criminal justice, such as basic police courses, Trine University’s program teaches criminal law, psychology and the academic base to go on to a career in criminal justice or even to law school. The defining feature of the criminal justice program brings several points to mind. First, the program is not a "Cop Shop" (where only police courses are taught for strictly a career as an entry level police officer) nor is it strictly theoretically based. Trine University is between these two extremes with a wonderful melding of practical knowledge taught by current professionals in the field (judges, lawyers, coroners, law enforcement officers and administrators) and theory which should drive all that we do in the field of criminal justice.

Experience
Secondly, the criminal justice major has a strong psychology component. Trine currently is one of the only undergraduate programs in the U.S. to specialize in forensic and correctional psychology. Also offered as a criminal justice concentration is law enforcement, agency administration and psychology all of which allows the student to be prepared to start in their chosen career path after graduation but also move up quickly in the ranks. Further, the criminal justice program has a strong student-to-student support system, the American Criminal Justice Association (ACJA).

The ACJA has monthly meetings where professionals in the field speak and recruit. In addition, the ACJA has a mentoring program for underclassmen and a yearly symposium where professionals and students interact. Lastly, the ACJA has a handgun competition team which competes nationally and regionally in matches.

Excel
Finally, the criminal justice program requires a student to complete an internship within their field of concentration. These internships require the student to perform a whole host of duties in an agency where they ultimately may be employed. Students often choose to complete two internships and may be offered employment while still in school or soon after they graduate.

Contact:
John C. Milliken, J.D.
Chair- Department of Criminal Justice
Psychology & Social Sciences
Trine University
1 University Ave.
Angola, IN 46703
260.665.4206
millikenj@trine.edu