海角直播

About This Program

There is so much more to this degree than catching bad guys.

As a student studying for a bachelor of science degree in Criminal Justice and Criminology at 海角直播 Denver, you鈥檒l explore the cause and effects of criminal behavior and victimization from white collar crime and human trafficking to cybercrime and serial killings as well as study the three arms of America鈥檚 Criminal Justice system, law enforcement, courts and corrections. Plus, you will critically examine how social justice is administered in a diverse and global society, including the firsthand comparison of our system to that of the Netherlands, South Korea and the United Kingdom.

海角直播 Denver鈥檚 Criminal Justice and Criminology department has a substantial internship program that includes placements in probation and parole departments, public defender and district attorney offices, police departments, sheriff offices and other ancillary agencies such as halfway houses, safe houses and rape awareness and assistance programs.

Our Criminal Justice and Criminology faculty is as diverse as any in the nation, with each professor bringing substantial teaching and/or professional agency experience to their classrooms.

Accolades

海角直播 Denver鈥檚 Criminal Justice and Criminology core curriculum is consistent with (ACJS) national standards for a criminal justice baccalaureate degree.

Recognized for their expertise, eight Criminal Justice and Criminology faculty members have been asked or elected to city- and state-level boards, including the Governor鈥檚 Colorado Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Council, the Colorado Sex Offender Management Board, Colorado Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice, the Denver Community Corrections Board, City of Denver Crime Control Commission and the Colorado Faculty Advisory Council.

Benefits of Earning Your Degree at 海角直播 Denver

Facilities and Resources

海角直播 Denver is located on the near Downtown Denver. Its proximity to the City and County of Denver鈥檚 Criminal Justice departments, including the courts and jail, allows for easy access for students participating in internships with city agencies.

You may also have the opportunity to participate in Delta Gamma Xi, the Criminal Justice and Criminology honors society. Members strive to keep abreast of the advances in scientific research, elevate the ethical standards of the criminal justice professions and sustain in the public mind the benefit and necessity of education and professional training.

Curriculum

Overview
For the majority of Criminal Justice and Criminology majors, preparation revolves around entry into the workforce and occupations. A smaller proportion of Criminal Justice and Criminology majors and minors aspire to graduate education or law school, which indicates that we need a curriculum that is of high quality and efficient: focused on (a) basic conceptual and theoretical understandings, (b) methodological inquiry, (c) statistical/data analysis and (d) practical information. Elective courses reflect mainstream, substantive areas that are relevant to the field, and are also typical of courses offered by many other CJC programs in the United States.

Students have the opportunity to participate in internships from various criminal justice agencies throughout the Denver Metropolitan area including probation departments in various counties as well as municipalities. Other agencies include Colorado Parole Department, public defender offices, police departments, sheriff offices, and other ancillary agencies in Colorado such as half-way houses, safe houses, rape awareness and assistance programs, district attorney offices.

Criminal Justice and Criminology Major
The Criminal Justice and Criminology program at 海角直播 Denver offers a course of study leading to a Bachelor of Science degree in CJC. This 120-credit degree appeals to students who are interested in working in the fields of: law, law enforcement, probation and parole, corrections or other related social service agencies. This degree also prepares students to undertake graduate school in criminal justice or other related fields as well as law schools.

The Criminal Justice and Criminology B.S. program also welcomes students returning to school who are interested in earning their degree to assist in furthering their career goals. Recognizing that many people who are interested in such education are already employed in some form of criminal justice work, and that many people have completed course-work at the community college level, the curriculum is also structured to facilitate transfer from two-year police science/criminal justice programs. The department has articulation agreements with Colorado community colleges to facilitate students to transfer from community colleges to 海角直播 Denver.

Students must meet 海角直播 Denver鈥檚 and the Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology鈥檚 requirements for the bachelor鈥檚 degree, which includes the successful completion of General Studies courses, courses related to the Minor of your choice, and the core and elective courses available to all Criminal Justice and Criminology majors.

Degree Requirements for Criminal Justice and Criminology Majors
Students are required to take the Introduction to Criminal Justice System course (CJC 1010) as a pre-major requirement. This class cannot be counted towards their general studies requirements if you are a CJC major. If you are a CJC major, there are 21 hours of major core requirements to complete the major and 15 hours of area electives. There are an additional 9 hours of CJC electives required. In total, 45 credit hours are required for the CJC degree.

Degree Requirements

Academic Catalog

罢丑别听聽provides the following information:

  • Program Overview
  • Student Outcomes
  • Course Descriptions
  • General Degree Requirements
  • Criminal Justice and Criminology Major Coursework Requirements
  • Summary of Requirements

Important Note: Students, please make sure that when you select a degree, minor or concentration on the academic catalog website, that you are selecting the link to the correct academic year for you. You may use the drop-down box located at the top right side of the catalog website to select the correct year. For example, if you began your studies at 海角直播 Denver in Fall 2020, Spring 2021 or Summer 2021, you would select the 2020-2021 undergraduate catalog for accurate degree information, NOT the most recent academic catalog or another year. Please also ensure that if you are referring to a degree plan that it matches the year you started taking courses at 海角直播 Denver. If you have further questions about your degree information or degree progress, please reach out to your聽academic advisor.

Spring 2027 New Course

CYB 190A Introduction to Cybersecurity (CRN: 33684)

This course introduces students to the essential principles, practices, and societal issues of cybersecurity. Students will develop awareness of cyber threats, practice personal digital security, and explore the ethical, legal, and societal dimensions of cybersecurity. The course emphasizes applied digital literacy and prepares students to make responsible security decisions in personal, academic, and professional settings. As part of 海角直播 Denver鈥檚 General Education curriculum, this course strengthens critical thinking, problem solving, and communication skills.

  • Prerequisite: None
  • All interested students may enroll in this course. Be advised, this course does not replace CSS 2751 Principles of Cybersecurity, required for CYB majors.

Declaration of Criminal Justice and Criminology Major

To declare a major in Criminal Justice and Criminology, please complete the Program of Change Study Form

Internship Opportunities

Please click on the link below to visit the Internships & Volunteer Opportunities page.

 

Career Opportunities for Our Graduates

Criminal Justice Careers Collage: peace, police, police car, capital building

As a Criminal Justice and Criminology graduate, you鈥檒l have a wide range of career opportunities (some that require post graduate degrees) with the most common jobs being:

  • Police Officers and Detectives
  • Probation and Parole Officers
  • Victim Advocates
  • Social Service Workers
  • Correctional Officers
  • Youth workers
  • Special Agents
    • Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF)
    • Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
    • Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
  • Lawyers
  • Judges

The 2024 Occupational Outlook Handbook lists the following examples of median salaries for Criminal Justice and Criminology careers, some that require a postgraduate degree:

  • Correctional Officers and Bailiffs: $57,950
  • Paralegals and Legal Assistants: $61,010
  • Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists: $64,520
  • Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners: $67,310
  • Forensic Science Technicians: $67,440
  • Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators: $67,710
  • Police and Detectives: $77,270
  • Judges and Hearing Officers: $135,160
  • Lawyers: $151,160

Featured Faculty

Allison CottonAllison Cotton, Ph.D.

Professor Allison Cotton is a two-time Fulbright Scholar whose publications range in subject from issues related to the death penalty, eye-witness identifications, lethal behavior and expert witnesses to issues around race, class, gender and crime. She is author of 鈥淓ffigy: Images of Capital Defendants鈥� (2008, Lexington Books) and co-author of 鈥淐lass, Race, Gender & Crime: The Social Realities of Justice in America鈥� (6th edition, October 2024, Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.)

 

Henry JacksonHenry Jackson, Jr., Ph.D., M.P.A.

Professor Henry Jackson鈥檚 research interests explore the relationship among race, class and punishment as well as racial profiling. His work appears in the peer-reviewed journal Justice and Research Policy, McNair Scholars Research Journal and Crime and Justice in America: An Introduction to Criminal Justice Studies. He currently serves on the City of Denver鈥檚 Crime Prevention and Control Commission.

 

Denise MowderDenise Mowder, J.D., Ph.D.

Professor Denise Mowder is an attorney and former prosecutor in Oregon who, for over 10 years, specialized in prosecuting cases of domestic violence, child abuse and sexual assault. Her expertise is in trial practice, investigations and victim advocacy and her聽research focuses on the impact of current immigration law and the undocumented battered Latina woman and the wrongful conviction of the factually innocent.

 

CHHS Outstanding Student Award

海角直播 of Health & Human Sciences Outstanding Student Awardees

The 海角直播 of Health & Human Sciences (CHHS) Outstanding Student Awards recognize the academic achievements of graduating students. These awards are presented to students who demonstrate emerging professional capabilities and potential for contributing to their professions and society.

Congratulations!

Criminal Justice & Criminology, B.S.

  • Gioia Fisk (2020 – 2021)
  • Sereniti McKenzie (2021 – 2022)
  • Maritza Esparza (2022 – 2023)
  • Sheyenne Gamboa (2023 – 2024)
  • Faith Deason (2024 – 2025)
  • CJC UG Student (2025 – 2026)

Alumni Testimonials

鈥淐oming into 海角直播 Denver as a freshman was very overwhelming, but once I found the CJC Department I was very confident going forward. I have really enjoyed becoming a CJC major, and the classes are all very challenging and relevant to issues faced in today鈥檚 world. The advising in the criminal justice department has really helped me stay on the right track and also has helped me reach out too many volunteer and internship opportunities.鈥�

-Austin Miller

鈥淭he CJC program at 海角直播 Denver is definitely one of the best. The professors are what really make this program great for many different reasons. They are experienced in different areas of the Criminal Justice System so they are able to give different perspectives on the system. They make one-on-one connections with students and help students prepare for a very competitive job market. Their doors are always open to help the students in any way they can.鈥�

-Britt Kimmel

鈥淭he best part of the CJC program is the fabulous team of faculty! Each one of them has experience in different aspects of our field. The know what it takes to be successful in Criminal Justice and they want us to be successful, too!鈥�

-Carlie Brockmann

Alumni at Work

Organizations that have hired 海角直播 Denver Criminal Justice and Criminology Graduates:

  • City of Centennial Police Department
  • City of Lone Tree
  • Colo. School District
  • Colorado Office of Information Technology
  • Denver County Probation
  • Denver Courts
  • Denver Juvenile Probation
  • Denver Police Department
  • Denver Sheriff鈥檚 Department
  • Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
  • Jefferson County
  • United States Secret Service

Criminal Justice and Criminology graduates have been accepted for post-graduate study at the University of Kansas, University of Denver and the University of Colorado Denver, among other higher education institutions.

Upcoming Events

Internship Information Session

Date: Thursday, November 12, 2026

Time: 2:00 PM

Location: Administration Building (AD) Room 320

1201 5th Street | Denver, CO 80204

Event Details: If you are considering an internship or want to learn more about how internships can support your career goals, we encourage you to attend our Internship Information Session. During this session, you will learn why internships are valuable for building professional experience, strengthening your resume, and expanding your network. We will also discuss strategies for finding internship opportunities, resources available to help with your search, and the process for earning academic credit through an internship. Whether you are ready to begin applying or just exploring your options, this session will provide useful information to help you take the next step in your professional development. We hope to see you there!

Community Movie Showing: Obsession

Date: Wednesday, November 18, 2026

Time: 2:30 鈥� 5:30 PM

Location: North Classroom, Room 1539

1200 Larimer Street | Denver, CO 80204

Event Details: Delta Gamma Xi, the Criminal Justice & Criminology Honor Society, invites you to join us for a Community Movie Showing of Obsession. This event is open to all students, so bring a friend and enjoy an afternoon of film, discussion, and community with fellow students interested in criminal justice and related topics. We hope you鈥檒l join us for this engaging movie experience!

厂辫辞苍辞谤蝉:听Delta Gamma Xi (DGX) and

CJC 4700 Capstone Research Symposium

Date: Thursday, November 19, 2026

Time: 1:00 – 1:45 PM

Location: Administration Building (AD) Room 320

1201 5th Street | Denver, CO 80204

Event Details: Join us for the upcoming CJC 4700 Capstone Research Symposium. Students from the CJC 4700 capstone class (Dr. Namgung) will showcase their hard work by presenting their semester-long research projects using professional academic posters. Whether you are a current student looking for inspiration for your own future capstone, a graduating senior, or faculty wanting to support our students, this is a fantastic opportunity to explore diverse topics in criminal justice, support your peers, and celebrate academic excellence. We look forward to seeing you there!

Women in CyberSecurity SEC+ Study Group Intro

Date: Thursday, November 19, 2026

Time: 3:00 – 3:30 PM

Location: Online

Event Details: Join us for our introductory meeting to hear more information about the Security+ certification study group, how it works, and how you can get involved! Bring your questions and learn about study plans, resources, and tips to help you prepare.

Registration:

Connect With Us On Social Media

Maty Candelaria, Jose Chavez Quezada, or Spencer Sheaman

Academic Advisors

Phone: (303) 615-1099

CONTACT YOUR ADVISOR

Office Location

We are located in the Administration Building, Suite 310.

Office Hours

Monday 鈥� Thursday 8:30 a.m. 鈥� 4:30 p.m.

Friday (Virtual) 8:30 a.m. 鈥� 4:30 p.m.

Mailing Address

Department of Criminal Justice & Criminology
Metropolitan State University of Denver
Campus Box 10
P.O. Box 173362
Denver, CO 80217-3362