Criminal Justice

Internships

Opportunities are endless at ONU. Experience the day-to-day responsibilities and challenges of potential careers. We’ll match you with the perfect internship based on your interests. Through job shadowing opportunities, small internships and a required 480-hour internship, you will develop career-specific skills that will help prepare you for your future. The ONU criminal justice program's extensive network of alumni and friends has created a network of opportunities nationwide – all you have to do is decide where you want to go.

As a criminal justice major, you’ll take challenging courses in corrections, policing, the courts and juvenile justice, as well as courses in related fields like psychology, sociology, political science, statistics, and research methods. Many of these courses include strong research and writing components. You’ll also build teamwork, communication, critical-thinking, and problem-solving skills with hands-on experience in the field.

You will examine the roles and responsibilities of law enforcement, the courts, and corrections in protecting society and develop responses to social issues and design crime prevention strategies. You can mentor juvenile offenders and intern with local and national law enforcement agencies. You can work with national datasets, conduct research with faculty members in a research lab, present research at regional and national conferences, and lead student organizations.

Here, you won’t get lost in the crowd. You’ll be part of a close-knit family. You’ll enjoy small class sizes and amazing friendships with your classmates. Our dedicated professors will get to know you. They will support you in your coursework, research opportunities, internships, and post-graduate or career preparations. They will become personally invested in your success and open doors for you.

Upon graduation, you’ll be ready for whatever the future holds – whether it’s attending law school, rehabilitating criminal offenders, fighting terrorism, or eventually working for the FBI. The field is truly wide open!

CRIMINAL JUSTICE COURSES, CURRICULUM & PROGRAM RESOURCES

Choose an optional concentration in forensic science or investigative accounting. A flexible curriculum allows you to add a second major or a minor to increase your marketability. Take classes like Criminology; Juvenile Justice; Criminal Behavior; Serial Killers; and Responses to Terrorism.

Experience the field firsthand by engaging in multiple internships. You will learn from those in the field and develop connections that will last a lifetime. Through job shadowing opportunities, small internships and a required 480-hour internship, you will develop career-specific skills that will help prepare you for your future. The ONU criminal justice program's extensive network of alumni and friends has created a network of opportunities nationwide – all you have to do is decide where you want to go.
ONU has a strong relationship with a number of area court programs. Unique partnerships provide our students with exciting research, internship and job opportunities.
Dive into cutting-edge research in the criminal justice field as an undergraduate student. From the opioid epidemic to juvenile delinquency, police body cams to domestic terrorism, our professors are engaged in leading research studies. Interested students can assist with literature review, data collection and analysis, and even co-author papers and present findings at regional and national conferences. Through research, you’ll develop unique insights on best practices and the connection between theoretical concepts and real life.
Join a student organization for professional development, networking and friendships. Alpha Phi Sigma, the criminal justice honorary society, recognizes the scholarly achievement of students majoring or minoring in criminal justice. The goals of Alpha Phi Sigma are to honor and promote academic excellence, community service, educational excellence, leadership and unity.

As a member of the Ohio Northern University Lambda Mu chapter, eligible students in the field of criminal justice are recognized for their outstanding academic success and have the opportunity to serve their community and university through membership in this organization.

If you want to find a place that you can truly feel at home, this is the place for you. ONU’s students, faculty and community make it such an inviting place that wants you to succeed to your fullest potential and aims to prepare you for your future endeavors while having the best time of your life."

Melinda McIntosh, criminal justice and psychology major

What will I learn as a Criminal Justice student?

• Forensic science
• Crime scene analysis
• Social sciences
• Forensic physiology
• Legal studies
• Human behavior & psychology
• Criminological theory

End game: a fulfilling criminal justice career

Forge an amazing career in a field such as law enforcement, probations or corrections. Or continue your education at law school or graduate school. Check out where you could end up.

Careers in Criminal Justice:
- Attorney
- Border patrol officer
- Child support agent
- Criminologist
- Customs agent
- Detective
- Drug enforcement agent
- Director of corrections facility
- FBI agent
- Juvenile court counselor
- Secret service agent
- U.S. customs agent
- U.S. Marshal

Being able to attend a school like Ohio Northern prepared me immensely for success in graduate school. The small class sizes allow for a more personalized approach to education, ensuring I had the background I would need to achieve my goals.

Katherine Tydeman, criminal justice major

Frequently Asked Questions

ONU offers a Bachelor of Arts in criminal justice with flexible curriculum options tailored to your career goals. You can customize your degree with specialized concentrations in forensic science or investigative accounting, combine your degree with a minor or second major, or fast-track your legal education through ONU's 3+3 Law program.
Real-world preparation is central to ONU's criminal justice major. In addition to job shadowing and short-term field experiences, every student completes a required 480-hour internship. ONU’s extensive alumni network and court partnerships match you with placements in local, state, or federal law enforcement agencies, court systems, and correctional institutions.
Yes! You can collaborate directly with faculty on cutting-edge research topics—such as the opioid epidemic, police body cameras, juvenile delinquency, and domestic counter-terrorism. Students gather and analyze data, co-author scholarly articles, and present their findings at regional and national conferences.
Beyond core foundational courses in policing, corrections, and the judicial system, you will explore fascinating, specialized topics. Course offerings include Criminology, Juvenile Justice, Criminal Behavior, Serial Killers, and Responses to Terrorism, alongside interdisciplinary classes in psychology and sociology.
ONU builds strong critical thinking, analytical, and legal research skills directly into the coursework. With small class sizes, individualized faculty advising, and options like the 3+3 Law track, students receive tailored guidance whether they plan to enter federal agencies (like the FBI), pursue law school, or enter graduate programs.
Students can join the Lambda Mu chapter of Alpha Phi Sigma, the national criminal justice honor society, which recognizes academic excellence and organizes community service and leadership projects. Additionally, students benefit from networking events, guest speaker panels, and professional development opportunities throughout the year.

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