Criminal Justice (B.A.)

  • Major, Minor
  • 4-year, On Campus

What You’ll Learn

Why does crime occur? How should society respond? And how can the criminal justice system balance public safety, fairness, and individual rights?

At La Salle, Criminal Justice students examine these questions through the study of crime, policing, courts, corrections, criminal law, and justice policy. You will learn to critically examine crime and the justice system, understand how policies affect individuals and communities, and develop the research, communication, and problem-solving skills needed for careers in criminal justice and related fields.

Why Study Criminal Justice at La Salle?

Located in Philadelphia, La Salle gives Criminal Justice students opportunities to connect classroom learning with the justice system in practice. Students have completed internships with organizations such as the FBI, ATF, Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office, Defenders Association of Philadelphia, probation and parole agencies, and nonprofits focused on reentry, employment, victim services, and support for justice-involved individuals.

Students also encounter criminal justice beyond the textbook through courses that use real cases, current issues, data, and applied projects to examine how the system works in practice. Experiential opportunities may include guest speakers, field-based learning, and courses such as Inside-Out, in which La Salle students attend class with incarcerated students at a correctional facility.

Small classes and close faculty mentoring help students build research, communication, critical-thinking, and problem-solving skills while preparing for careers in law enforcement, courts, corrections, victim services, reentry, research and analysis, as well as graduate school and law school.

Curriculum, Courses and Requirements

Highlighted Courses

CRJ 261: Criminology

This course explores major theoretical explanations of criminal behavior and crime rates with special focus on how criminal behavior is influenced by cognitive, developmental, and opportunistic factors. 

CRJ 280: Criminal Law

This course introduces the general principles of substantive criminal law. Topics include how guilt is established, justification of punishment, and defining criminal conduct.

CRJ 324: Policing: Theory and Dynamics

This course offers an analysis of police roles, including evolution, public perceptions, administration, culture, and police deviance. 

CRJ 379: Inside Out 

This course examines some of the most important and current issues arising in criminal justice and the law, through which “outside” (i.e. undergraduate) students and “inside” (i.e. people who are incarcerated) students attend class together inside a correctional facility. 

Meet the Faculty

Criminal Justice students learn from faculty with expertise across policing, law, criminology, corrections, violence, inequality, research, and justice policy. In small classes, students get to know their professors and receive individualized guidance on coursework, internships, careers, research opportunities, and graduate or law school.

Dr. Kathleen A. Bogle, Ph.D.

Kathleen A. Bogle, Ph.D., is a professor of sociology and criminal justice and director of internships for the Sociology and Criminal Justice Department at La Salle University. She earned her master’s degree in criminal justice from Saint Joseph’s University and her Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Delaware.

Dr. Bogle’s research focuses on gender, intimate relationships, sexual violence, and violence against women. She is the author or co-author of three books, including Hooking Up: Sex, Dating, and Relationships on Campus, Kids Gone Wild: From Rainbow Parties to Sexting, Understanding the Hype Over Teen Sex, and Gender-Based Crime: Learning Through Experts and Cases.

A nationally recognized expert, Dr. Bogle has been featured in major media outlets including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, NPR, CBS, and ABC’s Nightline. She is also an experienced speaker who has been invited to colleges across the country.

As internship director, Dr. Bogle has helped students secure placements with federal and local criminal justice agencies, courts, legal organizations, and community-based programs.

Career Opportunities

A Criminal Justice degree can prepare students for careers across law enforcement, courts, corrections, juvenile justice, victim services, research and analysis, and related fields, as well as graduate or law school.

Career paths may include:

  • Law Enforcement and Investigations: local and state policing, FBI, ATF, U.S. Marshals, and other federal agencies
  • Courts, Corrections, and Juvenile Justice: probation and parole, juvenile probation, pretrial services, court administration, correctional services, and residential programs serving justice-involved youth
  • Victim and Community Services: victim advocacy, case management, residential services, reentry programs, and community-based organizations
  • Research, Data, and Analysis: crime analysis, geographic mapping and spatial analysis, criminal justice research, and data-focused positions in government and public safety agencies.
  • Graduate and Professional Study: law school and graduate programs in criminal justice, criminology, public policy, and related fields

Recent Criminal Justice graduates have moved into positions with local police departments, county probation, juvenile and family service organizations, behavioral health programs, and law firms. Others have continued into graduate programs in social work, psychology, and related fields, as well as law school and federal and local law enforcement careers.

Internship Opportunities

Criminal Justice students have completed internships with a range of criminal justice agencies, courts, community organizations, and public service offices, including:

  • Federal agencies such as the FBI and ATF
  • Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office
  • Defenders Association of Philadelphia
  • Family Court and Juvenile Probation
  • Adult Probation and Parole
  • U.S. Attorney’s Office
  • The Sentencing Foundation, which supports judges in connecting defendants with community resources during sentencing and supervision
  • Other nonprofit and community organizations focused on reentry, employment, victim services, and support for justice-involved individuals

Student Spotlight

Hannah Pirolli, ’26

Hannah Pirolli graduated with a double major in Criminal Justice and Sociology and a minor in Human Services. While at La Salle, she interned at a residential treatment program serving justice-involved youth and completed the Inside-Out course, where La Salle students learn alongside incarcerated students. After graduation, she began working as an Adult Probation Officer in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.
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Ashley Richwine, ’27

Ashley Richwine is majoring in Criminal Justice and Sociology. She interned with The Sentencing Foundation, a nonprofit focused on sentencing reform and alternatives to incarceration, and worked one-on-one with faculty on undergraduate research examining incarcerated individuals’ views of education. She also completed the Inside-Out course, where La Salle students learn alongside incarcerated students, and is preparing for law school.
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Pedro Rodriguez-Nolasco, ’28

Pedro Rodriguez-Nolasco is a Criminal Justice and Sociology major in La Salle’s Honors Program. He was recently selected for the highly competitive FBI Honors Internship Program.
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Ashley Richwine, '27

An independent research project inspired Ashley Richwine, ‘27, to contribute to the knowledge base in her chosen field of criminal justice and sociology.

Cole Aloysius Welsh, '26

Cole Aloysius Welsh, ’26, has made an impressive impact at La Salle University as a double major in criminal justice and political science.

leah

Leah Brown, ’23, is following in her family’s footsteps by receiving a degree from 20th and Olney.