Department of Criminal Justice

The Department of Criminal Justice is located in the College of Humanities and Social Science at Fayetteville State University and serves the people of southeastern North Carolina and beyond.

We strive to create the highest quality learning experience, resulting in our students' ability to critically analyze, communicate, interpret and ethically confront issues of crime and criminal justice.

Who We Are

As one of the largest departments at FSU, Criminal Justice is currently home to approximately 350 undergraduate majors. A substantial number of our graduates have gone on to work in the field of criminal justice, including traditional careers in policing, corrections, and courts as well as non-traditional careers in areas such as victim-offender mediation and social justice advocacy. We are the first criminal justice program in the state of North Carolina to be certified by the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences.

What We Offer

We offer a Bachelor of Science degree program, with an online degree completion option, helping to meet the needs of the military community and other students in non-traditional circumstances. The minor in Criminal Justice complements other degree programs on campus. The Master of Science degree program in Criminal Justice is offered on campus and online, and students may complete the program through any combination of the two. The Department also offers a Graduate Certificate in Criminal Justice that expands the knowledge and employment opportunities for our students.

How You Learn

Learning experiences of students in our programs are enhanced by collaborative efforts, including partnerships with the Office of Civic Engagement and Service Learning, Fort Liberty and a variety of justice related agencies. Internships are available to qualified students, and are designed to give students an opportunity to get practical career-related experience and to enhance their credentials for future employment.

Why Choose Criminal Justice

What percentage of criminal cases are solved with DNA evidence? Only 1 percent! Approximately how many Americans spend at least one day in jail each year? About 7 million! What percentage of criminal cases result in a trial? Less than 5 percent!

Did you know that 1 out of 3 people think their school-aged kids will be physically assaulted in school - even though children are more likely to be harmed at home? Did you know that 68 percent of people think crime is worse now than ever before - even though crime has been declining? Did you know that murder has a higher rate of clearance by the police than any other crime?

If you are interested in learning more information about the criminal justice system and its role in our society, then choose Criminal Justice as your major.

What You Will Learn

Our department provides a variety of courses related to criminology and criminal justice. Here are some examples: introduction to law enforcement, introduction to criminal justice, criminological theory, and criminal justice ethics. We also provide different elective courses such as police and society, drugs and crime, white collar crime, and comparative criminal justice. For more information, please visit our catalog.

Study of Crime and Justice