Pfeiffer University

What you'll study

This undergraduate programme combines foundational liberal‑arts learning with a core of criminal‑justice and corrections courses. You will study how criminal justice systems operate, the theory and causes of crime, legal frameworks, and evidence‑based approaches to offender management and rehabilitation.

• Core subjects: Introduction to Criminal Justice, Criminology, Criminal Law and Procedure, Constitutional Law, Policing, Corrections and Institutional Management, Juvenile Justice.
• Research and methods: Social‑science research methods, statistics for the social sciences, programme evaluation and policy analysis to prepare you for data‑driven decision making.
• Applied and specialised topics: Community supervision and probation, offender rehabilitation and reentry, victimology, ethics and professional responsibility, restorative justice, and topics in substance misuse and mental‑health responses.
• Practical learning: Fieldwork and internship placements with local criminal justice agencies, simulated courtroom or investigative exercises, and a senior capstone or practicum project applying theory to a real‑world problem.

Entry requirements

Admission typically requires a recognised secondary‑school qualification (for example, a high‑school diploma or equivalent). Applicants are expected to demonstrate a satisfactory academic record and readiness for undergraduate study. Pfeiffer considers transfer students with prior college coursework and welcomes mature students bringing relevant life and work experience.

• Suggested preparation: coursework in English, social studies (history or civics), and mathematics.
• Supporting materials: completed application, official transcripts and a personal statement outlining interest in criminal justice. References or a résumé may strengthen an application, especially for transfer or mature‑entry candidates.
• English language proficiency: applicants whose first language is not English will need to meet the university's English proficiency requirements.

Career prospects

Graduates are equipped for a range of roles in public safety, community supervision and the wider criminal justice sector. Typical entry‑level positions include corrections officer, probation and parole officer, community supervision caseworker, and roles in juvenile services.

• Other career pathways: law enforcement, victim‑advocacy and victim‑services roles, residential treatment and rehabilitation programmes, court administration, and private security or loss‑prevention.
• Forensic and investigative support roles, programme coordinator positions in non‑profit organisations, and policy or research assistant posts in government agencies are also common outcomes.
• Further study: graduates often progress to graduate programmes in criminal justice, public administration, social work, counselling or law to specialise or advance to supervisory and management roles.

Why study at Pfeiffer University

Pfeiffer offers a small‑campus learning environment with close student‑faculty interaction, which benefits applied fields such as criminal justice. Class sizes support personalised mentoring, and faculty teaching in the programme bring a mix of academic and practitioner perspectives.

• Applied focus: the curriculum emphasises practicum, internships and hands‑on learning that connect classroom theory to agency practice.
• Local opportunities: the university's location provides access to internship placements and community partnerships with regional courts, correctional and social‑service organisations.
• Support services: students can access academic advising, career services and internship coordination to help plan pathways into employment or further study.