Criminal Justice & Homeland Security Degrees

Criminal Justice and Homeland Security

Prepare for a high-powered career in domestic or international security with a major in Criminal Justice and Homeland Security from Dean College.

Program Overview

From local businesses to international consulting, criminal justice and homeland security boast some of today’s highest-growth jobs. As a Criminal Justice and Homeland Security major at Dean, you’ll develop an understanding of core principles and issues in the field, as well as obtain a strong foundation in cybersecurity technology and its evolving challenges. We offer two tracks within this major:

Criminal Justice
Homeland Security

Dean College also offers an associate degree in Criminal Justice and a minor in Cybersecurity.

You’ll study various aspects of security industries and other fields, while building leadership skills that will prepare you to serve the community in either the public or private sector. Every course has a practical application. You’ll learn:

Core principles of national and international criminal justice and homeland security management
Strong leadership skills needed to manage security-related operations and activities
Principles of security systems, equipment, technologies and cybersecurity
Emergency response and security plans for major events

Faculty members are also practitioners in law enforcement, the federal government or the U.S. intelligence community, giving you valuable insight into their firsthand experience working in the field.

Criminal Justice

Criminal justice careers are among the fastest-growing in the U.S. economy. By following a Criminal Justice track of study, you will learn to apply critical thinking skills about crime, criminal justice, and cybersecurity policy claims and issues. This is the track for you if you are interested in a career in law enforcement; courts and corrections; working with at-risk or court-involved children, teens or adults; counseling and case management; forensics and so much more.

Homeland Security

In an era when global and domestic threats are ever-evolving, the demand for skilled professionals capable of safeguarding our country and citizens has never been more critical. The Homeland Security track is designed to equip you with the knowledge, skills, and strategic vision to lead in the protection of our homeland against all hazards – from terrorism and espionage to natural disasters and public health emergencies.

Forensics Pre-College Program at Dean College

Forensics Pre-College Summer Program

Designed especially for high school students, our forensics pre-college program offers a great introduction to college life.

Dean College professor working with a student

Dean R. Sanders ’47 School of Business Faculty

Gain valuable insights from our faculty, who have firsthand business knowledge as consultants, executives and entrepreneurs.

Beyond the Classroom

You’ll have ample opportunity to practice your skills in real-world settings and interact with working professionals.

As a Criminal Justice and Homeland Security major, you’ll meet with seasoned experts in the field through campus visits and unique experiential learning opportunities to explore potential career paths. You’ll solve real criminal justice or homeland security challenges for local companies as a consultant. And you’ll have the opportunity to complete an internship on campus, in the community or with a number of organizations, such as FEMA, FedEx, Securitas, TeamOps, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, The Kraft Group and various state and local police departments throughout New England and beyond.

With a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and Homeland Security, you’ll be prepared to enter graduate school or start a career in a fast-growing area such as:

Department of Homeland Security
FBI
U.S. intelligence community
Federal, state and local law enforcement agencies
Emergency response
Private and nonprofit groups
Corporate security

Get Involved

Learn more about how to get involved with student activities, organizations and real-world learning opportunities.

Criminal Justice and Homeland Security Club Dean College’s club for students in the Criminal Justice programs.
Internships & Experiential Learning Get hands-on experience through The Center for Business, Entertainment and Sport Management.

Internships & Experiential Learning

Go behind-the-scenes of some of the biggest sports operations, learn about event and venue security, network with industry leaders and professionals in the field, and find internship and career opportunities through The Center for Business, Entertainment and Sport Management and our academic partners, including Kraft Sports + Entertainment and the Providence Bruins. Learn more about The Center.
Study Away Spend a semester at The Washington Center in Washington, D.C.

Study Away

Gain valuable experience learning and working in the nation’s capital. Dean College is formally affiliated with The Washington Center, providing you the opportunity to complete an intensive internship while supplementing your experience with courses in leadership and electives. Internships are available in Legal Affairs and Criminal Justice, Government and Politics, Business and much more. Learn more about study away opportunities.

Uniquely Dean

A Dean College student learning during a Criminal Justice and Homeland Security class.

Build your skills and pursue your interests through the Dean College Criminal Justice and Homeland Security program’s unique programming.

Interact with security field practitioners in the classroom, including New England Patriots and New England Revolution security executives.
Enjoy access to Gillette Stadium and other Kraft Sports + Entertainment facilities as a laboratory for learning.
Gain valuable experience through the Dr. Pietro (Pete) Savo Criminal Justice Internship with the Franklin Police Department.
Earn certificates in areas such as cybersecurity and aggression management through your coursework.
Learn from field practitioners who offer insights and share their experiences through Dean Leadership Institute’s unique programs and events, including the Executive Lecture Series and Leadership in Action series.
Network with industry leaders, gain exclusive learning opportunities and pursue internships through The Center for Business, Entertainment and Sport Management.
Work with professors who are also experienced practitioners.