Warning! Your browser is extremely outdated and not web standards compliant.
Your browsing experience would greatly improve by upgrading to a modern browser.
Visit Apply Contact

Criminal Justice Major

Working in law enforcement is a rewarding career that allows you to improve the quality of life in our communities. Our Criminal Justice major is designed to give you an understanding of both the criminal justice system in America and the school of criminology, in addition to sociological, psychological, biological, and ethical issues of concern to those who work in the field. It’s a major for those interested in the interrelationships between the criminal justice system and society. With a degree you can pursue a career in law enforcement, government, teaching or private industry.

Why Grand View?

  • Develop a greater understanding of the criminal and juvenile justice processes
  • Apply criminal justice theory to real-world situations
  • Analyze and interpret criminal justice system data
  • Formulate ethical responses to professional situations
  • Available entirely online
  • Both the traditional major and the 2+2 program are available entirely online, which allows you continue your education while working in the field at the same time
Career Options

Our recent graduates are enjoying rewarding careers in the following jobs:

  • Police Officers
  • Detectives
  • Correctional Officers
  • Crime Scene Investigators
  • Fraud Investigators
  • TSA / Homeland Security
  • Forensic Specialists
  • Law School
  • Immigration / Customs Enforcement
  • Division of Criminal Investigation
  • State Troopers
  • Probation Officers
  • Postal Inspectors
  • U.S. Marshals
  • Cyber Security
  • FBI
  • Public Safety
  • Secret Service
  • Graduate School

What Can I Do With This Major?

Course Requirements
Download Degree Checklist
Plan of Study
Download Plan of Study
Student Testimonials

Dr. Ahmadu Baba-SinghriDr. Ahmadu Baba-Singhri

“Dr. Baba-Singhri has completely given me a new perspective on different topics concerning criminal justice. I truly believe he is the best instructor at Grand View." -Kyle Nitz

Awards and Accomplishments

Erin Krei '17 • A 2017 criminal justice major, Erin is pursuing her master's in biodefense from George Mason University.

Internships & Beyond

Students pursuing a Criminal Justice degree have the opportunity to work on internships at various criminal justice agencies in Des Moines and the surrounding areas. Students have completed internships in many area businesses: Mainstream Living Inc., Fifth Judicial District-Dept. of Corrections, Polk/Warren County Juvenile court, Iowa Department of Human Services and the Altoona Police Department.

Career Outlook

Earning a degree in criminal justice can help you get hired for many different job opportunities within the criminal justice field. While police officers make up a large portion of the professionals working in law enforcement, there are many more career options that you may want to consider. 

With the wide range of roles available, you can find a job that is a good fit for your unique interests, skills, talents, and salary expectations.

Explore More Programs Visit Campus

Rasmussen Center

Launch Rasmussen Center