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Student pursuing a criminology and criminal justice degree at Curry College listens intently to a State Police Officer

Massachusetts Department of Higher Education logoQuinn Bill Certified: Curry College Criminal Justice programs are Police Career Incentive Pay Program (PCIPP) certified by the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education. The PCIPP Program, also known as the Quinn Bill, was enacted by the Massachusetts Legislature to encourage police officers to earn degrees in law enforcement and criminal justice. It provides educational incentives for regular full-time officers in participating cities and towns through salary increases.

Read More about PCIPP


Not a traditional undergraduate student? Visit our continuing education Criminology and Criminal Justice degree program...

At Curry College you will not be a spectator only watching how the criminal justice system and process work. Your Curry courses will focus on re-imagining a more just, equitable and inclusive criminal justice system and society. You will evaluate promising crime control policies to prevent, reduce and effectively respond to crime, help make our communities safer and promote public confidence, trust and respect in law and the criminal justice system.

Related News: Preparing the Next Generation of Police: Curry CJ Program Offers Vibrant Opportunities for Students Interested in Law Enforcement

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From criminology and criminal law, to restorative justice, human rights or hate crimes, you will study a wide variety of courses that will develop your ability to analyze various situations ethically and with an innovative problem-solving approach. You will prepare for a variety of justice-oriented career paths —from law enforcement, courts, corrections and probation to child protection, advocacy, crime analysis, security, violence prevention, juvenile justice and victim services.

Courses You'll Love

Community Policing
Criminology Goes to the Movies
Hate Crimes and Hate Groups
Justice and Human Rights Advocacy
Police Investigations
Policing and the Mental Health Crisis
Restorative Justice
Wrongful Convictions

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Online 5th Year Master's Degree Option

We offer a new, fully online 5th year Master of Arts in Criminal Justice program where undergraduate students take graduate coursework in their senior year, and can finish both degrees in five years. This program allows our students the opportunity to work academically side by side with experienced professionals in the field, as well as with our faculty experts. The newly developed fully online high-touch model allows students the best opportunity to flexibly finish their master’s degree with the same high-quality faculty mentorship they are used to in just one additional year after completing their B.A.

The Path to Your Dream Career

Just a few of the many career options include:

  • Federal/State/Local Law Enforcement
  • Drug Enforcement Agent
  • Victim Advocate
  • Intelligence Analyst
  • Crime Prevention Outreach Worker
  • Probation/Parole Officer
  • Youth and Family Caseworker
  • Rehab Counselor
  • Data/Research Analyst
  • Corrections Officer
  • Legal Assistant/Paralegal
  • Community Health Worker

Our Alumni in the Field

Our alumni are leading the way at:

  • Federal, State and Local Law Enforcement Agencies
  • International Association of Chiefs of Police
  • Justice Policy Institute
  • Massachusetts Department of Youth Services
  • Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital
  • Transportation Security Administration (TSA)
  • U.S. Department of Justice
  • U.S. Department of State

Go Beyond the Classroom

Research - In the past, students have presented their research at the Northeastern Association of Criminal Justice Sciences conference, as well as co-authored pieces with faculty members. Through the capstone project and other opportunities, students are able to delve into a topic of their choice to further their knowledge.

Internships - Recent internship locations include the Boston Police Department, COMPASS Alternative School, District Attorney Victim Advocacy Unit, Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, the Governor’s Office, and more.

The Criminology and Criminal Justice major provides the opportunity to systematically examine criminal justice systems and the administration of justice, analyzing the causes and patterns of crime and criminal behavior and the ways in which institutional responses address these social problems. The curriculum emphasizes social justice and the promotion of human rights throughout the globe. Criminology and Criminal Justice courses highlight practical problem solving using research, theory, and analytic skills relevant to careers in criminal justice, legal studies, community and social service.

1. Administration of Justice and Public Policy:
Examine and evaluate elements of the criminal justice system and the social and ethical responses to crime. Critique criminal justice institutional responses from a theoretical, practical, and ethical perspective.

2. Research, Theory and Evaluation:
Recognize and articulate the necessity of theory and ethical  research in the development of criminal justice policy.

3. Social Justice, Diversity, and Inclusion:
Evaluate the essential role of power and social capital and articulate the significance of diversity and inclusion in the criminal justice system.

4. Professional Readiness:
Demonstrate readiness to transition to professional or higher education  endeavors.

A student intern stands in front of a local police station

5th Year Master's in Criminal Justice

The Dual Degree MACJ program focuses on innovative policies to address new and emerging challenges within the criminal justice system. The curriculum focuses on ethical leadership while examining restorative practices, mental health, and trauma, making the Curry program unique and innovative in the field.

Explore the 5th Year MACJ Dual Degree
Law enforcement agent speaks with community children

Law Enforcement Concentration

The Law Enforcement Concentration will provide students who wish to enter a competitive job market with a clear path of elective choices that will enhance both their understanding of the field of law enforcement as well as their professional marketability post-graduation.

Explore Law Enforcement
Fists in the air represent the Transformative Justice Major

Transformative Justice Major

Students graduating from Curry College with a degree in Transformative Justice will be prepared for a variety of careers in human services, organizing, non-profit, and/or human rights as advocates and assisting in interventions for those who have been harmed or are in crisis.

Explore Transformative Justice
A student and faculty member Collaborate in the Curry College Forensic Science Lab

Forensic Science Major/Minor

Curry College is pleased to offer students a major and minor in Forensic Science. Forensic Science technicians aid criminal investigations by collecting and analyzing evidence. Many technicians specialize in either crime scene investigation or laboratory analysis.

Explore Forensic Science
A sociology teacher gives a lecture

Sociology Major/Minor

The sociology program at Curry College will offer you an in-depth look at contemporary human society including: group dynamics and social networks; social institutions like law, medicine, and education; migration and globalization; and intersectional identities.

Explore Sociology
Cybercrime minor represented by a student researching on her computer

Cybercrime Minor

A minor in cybercrime will expose students to the world of crime involving computers, the internet and related modern technologies preparing them for professions in legal investigation, law enforcement and data analysis.

Explore Cybercrime
A student and faculty member collaborate in a law class

Law and Society Minor

Students pursuing a minor in Law and Society will study how laws are created and how they in turn shape social movement around various interests, exploring the intersections between law, power, and society. Students with a Law and Society minor will be prepared for careers in advocacy, legal research, and paralegal studies.

Explore Law and Society
A collage of diverse faces represents the Critical Inequality Studies Minor/Concentration

Critical Inequality Studies Minor/Concentration

Curry's minor in Critical Inequality Studies is one of the only of its kind in New England. It follows an emerging trend among higher education leaders dedicated to expanding the understanding of inequality patterns and how these issues impact individuals, institutions, and society.

Explore Critical Inequality Studies
Group therapy session represents the Restorative Justice Certificate at Curry College

Restorative Justice Certificate

Many professionals in careers that involve helping and supporting others are not adequately prepared to deal with the trauma rich environments they work in, causing a resulting stress. The Restorative Justice certificate program focuses students on trauma, healing and resiliency with an emphasis on restorative justice practices where the relationship between justice and healing is explored.

Explore Restorative Justice
Student perform social work in the community

Social Work Minor

The Curry College Social Work minor focuses on the study of social work practice with emphasis on the historical and philosophical values of social welfare in the United States. Students will gain a deeper understanding of the knowledge and skills needed to provide social work services in today's diverse environment.

Explore Social Work
Students listen to a police officer give career advice

Survivor/Witness/Victim Advocacy

The Survivor/Witness/Victim Advocacy concentration, by promoting empathy and human rights, helps prepare students for careers in informed advocacy for people who have witnessed or have been victimized by crime.

Explore Survivor/Witness/Victim Advocacy
A cyberhacker represents the White-Collar Crime Minor at Curry College

White-Collar Crime Minor

A minor in White-Collar Crime offers business, accounting, and criminal justice students a direct career path to one of the fastest-growing job sectors today.

Explore White-Collar Crime

Explore Related Programs:

A Curry College student receives her Criminal Justice Honor Society certificate

Criminal Justice Honor Society

Lambda Alpha is the Curry College Chapter of Alpha Phi Sigma, the National Criminal Justice Honor Society. Students must have a 3.2 in the Criminal Justice major and a 3.2 GPA overall to be eligible.

Criminal Justice Honor Society
Curry College students receive their Sociology Honor Society certificate

Sociology Honor Society

The purpose of Alpha Kappa Delta is to promote human welfare through the association of a fellowship group interested in developing scientific knowledge that may be applied to the solution of social problems.

Sociology Honor Society
A Curry College Criminal Justice Student Organization students pose for a photo

CJSO

The Criminal Justice Student Organization (CJSO) provides a place for students interested in Criminal Justice to explore the field in a variety of ways with other students who share a common interest.

CJSO
A Curry College Study Abroad student pets an elephant in Thailand

Study Abroad

Go global with Curry College faculty members as part of our very popular Short-term, Faculty-led Courses, or create your own customized Study Abroad opportunity!

Study Abroad
Curry College students laughing in science lab

First-Year Experience

Making the transition to college can be a little confusing and lot of fun. Your First-Year Experience at Curry College helps smooth out the bumps and puts you on the path to success.

First-Year Experience
A Curry College faculty member interacts with students in the classroom

Gen Ed

At the heart of Curry College's undergraduate curriculum is our General Education (Gen Ed) Program. Gen Ed is based on our belief in the power and potential of the liberal arts.

General Education

Life-Changing Opportunities Await

Start with a foundation in the liberal arts. Add attentive faculty and countless opportunities to learn by doing. That’s what you’ll get with a bachelor’s degree from Curry. Learn what’s waiting for you today.

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