The Criminal Justice program at UCF is designed to provide students with a broad understanding of crime and society's control mechanisms as well as prepare them for professional careers in criminal justice and related agencies. As a multidisciplinary field of study, Criminal Justice incorporates the substance and perspectives of psychology, sociology, political science and law. The curriculum draws on the methods of the social sciences and requires students to take several supporting courses outside of Criminal Justice. The Department provides an internship experience for students in various criminal justice settings. This gives students the opportunity to affirm their career decision as they relate class material, presentations and discussions to the real world.
Many students use the degree as preparation for graduate school.
All students are required to take core courses in the areas of crime prosecution, corrections, police and research. Additional hours of upper division course work from various criminal justice electives and supporting electives outside the criminal justice program are part of the degree to meet the needs and objectives of the individual student.