Criminal justice major
Criminal justice is one of our most popular academic programs. The criminal justice major enjoys such a strong reputation for plenty of reasons. With the help of internships, diverse faculty, research opportunities, and more, our students can use their knowledge in criminal justice in various ways: to improve the current justice system, exercise reasoned judgment to advance the scientific basis of criminal justice practices, and promote ethical principles.
Accelerated Online Program Available!
The University of Wisconsin-Parkside’s accelerated online bachelor’s degree programs are designed for working adults, transfer students, and anyone seeking a virtual option to earn a college degree. Featuring a dynamic structure of seven-week courses offered year-round.
It’s the same respected degree, now with the flexibility to fit your life.
Criminal Justice Major
In a growing career field that consists of many different specializations, understanding criminal behavior as well as the governing legal system is a great asset to society. Criminal justice provides a wide array of studies including criminology, policing, the courts, juvenile delinquency/juvenile justice, and corrections which pave the way to influential careers concerning these topics as well as government law, paralegal, private-practices, correctional treatment specialists, and more.
Career Paths
FBI Agent | Police Officer | Crime Scene Investigator | DNR Ranger | TSA Officer Game Warden | Correctional Officer | Probation Officer | Juvenile Case Manager
THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROGRAM IS RANKED #1 IN THE STATE
Jenn Busch, ’12
Deputy Juvenile Clerk
Kenosha County Circuit Court
“The Criminal Justice Department and major opened my eyes into all the different areas within the field you can go into besides just law enforcement. The highlight of my criminal justice major was working directly with Professor Loud who was also the internship coordinator. I learned so much in her classes and she provided me the experience to Intern with UW-Parkside Police Department my senior year. After graduating, I have worked for the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Department in Booking/Release at Kenosha County Jail and most recently moved into my new role as Deputy Juvenile Clerk for the Kenosha County Circuit Court. My education has given me the opportunity to apply what I learned in college to my every day work in my career. The best part of this program is being able to have adjunct professors who work full-time in the local community such as the District Attorney’s Office, Department of Corrections, and local law enforcement agencies.”
Internship Highlights
Give yourself an edge when you go to look for a Criminal Justice career out of school. The training and mentoring you receive during a professional internship will prepare you for jobs at local, state, and federal level. Whether you’re interested in becoming a law enforcement officer, lawyer, corrections officer, victims advocate, or social worker an internship in a professional setting will increase your marketability!
UW-Parkside has partnered with over thirty agencies during the past ten years and together have placed 327 criminal justice majors in internship positions. Some of the agencies include: Boys and Girls Club, Department of Corrections, Kenosha County DA’s Office, Racine Alternative Program, Racine Police Department, Kenosha Youth Development Services, and Racine Workforce Development.
- Over 60% of all placements were paid with an average salary range of $15.75-$16.50 per hour
- Internship participants’ final grade point average was 3.85
*Information provided by UW-Parkside Criminal Justice Internship Coordinator, Dennis Schultz.
Cody Allen Olson ’19
Criminal Justice
The UW-Parkside CRMJ Internship Program with the Racine County Water Patrol affords the student the same law enforcement experience as if they were assigned to patrol any street, road, or highway.
Transfer Students | Gateway Tech College
Faculty Highlights
Martin Gottschalk, Ph.D.
Associate Professor and Chair
Martin Gottschalk, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor and Chair of Criminal Justice at the University of Wisconsin – Parkside. He received his Ph.D. in Criminal Justice from the State University of New York at Albany. His dissertation was entitled, “Sociology and the Evolution of Punishment.” He teaches Corrections, Law and Society, Introduction to Criminal Justice, and Research Methods. He has authored or co-authored works appearing in journals like the International Journal of Comparative and Applied Criminal Justice, Criminal Justice Policy Review, and Critical Criminology. He has also worked with the North Dakota District office of United States Probation and Pretrial Services, examining the effects of Manualized Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.
Aubri McDonald
Assistant Professor
Dr McDonald is an Assistant Professor in the Criminal Justice Department at UW Parkside. She has a PhD in Criminology from the University of Illinois in Chicago and a Master’s Degree in Media Studies from the University of Colorado, Boulder. Dr McDonald has a B.A. in Psychology and B.S. in Journalism from the University of Kansas.
Her research involves community-based learning and framing in media, social movements, and criminal trials.
Nicholas Salimbene
Assistant Professor
Dr. Salimbene is an Assistant Professor in the Criminal Justice Department at UW Parkside. He has a Ph.D in Criminology and Criminal Justice From Sam Houston State University and a Master’s in Criminology from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
His research involves examining how environmental factors affect police organizational efficiency. In addition, he is focused on working closely with local police departments.
Philip Wagner, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
I’m an Associate Professor of Criminal Justice in the UW-Parkside Department of Criminal Justice. Apart from teaching and research responsibilities, I also act as the Director of the Center for Professional Studies and the MA program in Professional Studies. I’m also Ranger Bear’s “Number One Fan.”
See what our students have to say.
Program Contact Info
Connie Minton | (262) 595-3416 | minton@uwp.edu
