Criminal Justice Major

With a focus on social justice and the flexibility to follow your passions, Champlain's Criminal Justice program will immerse you in the field's full range of possibilities—from policy reform to local law enforcement operations.

WHY STUDY CRIMINAL JUSTICE AT CHAMPLAIN COLLEGE?

You won't find a better qualified faculty to guide the criminal justice professionals of tomorrow. We have instructors who have been elected and appointed to important Vermont state positions, have practiced law as prosecutors, taught at the Vermont Police Academy, and even served on an international war crimes tribunal. They teach you what they've learned on the job, giving you valuable insight.

You'll learn by doing, starting in your first semester. Thanks to our Upside-Down Curriculum, you'll take a variety of criminal justice courses in your first year. This early learning allows you to accomplish more in the field during your internships, giving you greater depth and breadth of experience.

Write weekly memos proposing solutions to modern investigative, legal, and ethical dilemmas. Participate in mock trials and suppression motions under the guidance of real trial judges, prosecutors, and defense attorneys. Design your own alternative criminal justice approach over the course of a semester. Through our Prison Law Initiative, you can even teach current prison inmates how to do legal research and writing. Your courses will give you direct experience that will serve you well in your career.

• Explore challenging issues around social injustice, particularly discrimination and prejudice in the American criminal justice system.
• Learn the fundamental principles needed in criminal justice professions, from the criminal process to the essential elements of substantive criminal law. 
• Study complex topics such as the global reach and impact of the drug trafficking trade on crime, terrorism, economics, and politics.

Enter your field with confidence that's backed by experience and expertise.