Four bachelor’s in criminal justice degree programs in Delaware open big opportunities in the “Small Wonder” for undergrads interested in law.
Since being the first state to ratify the U.S. Constitution in 1787, Delaware has had a long legal history. From the Delaware Supreme Court down to Kent County Court, Delawareans rely on criminal justice graduates to keep law and order. Although it’s named the 25th safest state in America on WalletHub, Delaware still reported 4,720 violent, 25,455 property crimes in 2015. Wilmington, Rehoboth Beach, New Castle, and Seaford are among the most dangerous Delaware cities where criminal justice majors are needed.
The BLS reports that Delaware employs 10,100 workers in protective service occupations for an average annual wage of $41,400. Pursue your goals upholding social control at these criminal justice schools in Delaware.
Delaware State University
College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Noted for prominent alums like Ambassador Clyde Bishop, CEO David G. Turner, and social worker Marlene Saunders, Delaware State University is a public, land-grant historically black institution of the Mid-Eastern Conference that’s endowed for $28.7 million to serve 4,644 Hornets in Dover. Ranked America’s 14th best HBCU by the U.S. News, DESU is the fourth best value statewide with a median 20-year net ROI of $169,000 on PayScale. The College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences confers one of the bachelor’s in criminal justice degree programs in Delaware with a selective 44 percent admission rate.
Criminal Justice, BA
Chaired by Dr. Dorothy Dillard, DESU’s Criminal Justice BA utilizes a 15:1 student-faculty ratio to give undergraduates a liberal education that boosts understanding of criminal behaviors and instills advocacy for righting social injustices. Requiring a 2.0 GPA or better, the 121-credit curriculum spans courses from race relations and general psychology to criminal law and forensic science. Majors may also intern with the Delaware State Bureau of Investigation, attend Criminal Justice Club events, join the NOBLE chapter, declare Honors, and study in Brazil.
Accreditation
• Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
Contact
Delaware Hall, Room 122
1200 N. DuPont Highway
Dover, DE 19901
(302) 857-7510
ddillard@desu.edu
Goldey-Beacom College
Undergraduate Programs Division
Surrounding the Joseph West Jones Center with a 24-acre campus in Wilmington, Forbes’ 55th best city for careers, Goldey-Beacom College is a private, nonprofit business-centric institution led by President Gary L. Wirt with 1,352 Lightning and thousands of alumni excelling in 65 countries. Placed as Delaware’s third best value college with an average net price of $19,206, GBC is among Stars and Stripes’ “Military Friendly Schools.” The Undergraduate Programs Division offers 12 majors, including one of the bachelor’s in criminal justice degree programs in Delaware, for 92 percent job placement success.
Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice
Featuring a 20:1 student-faculty ratio, the Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice is GBC’s ninth most popular major for undergrads to study the intricate legal system with emphasis on “white collar” business and cyber crimes. At the Wilmington Campus, the 120-credit program dives into criminology, sociology, forensics, database applications, research writing, and marketing with eight elective courses. Students can also benefit from joining Alpha Chi, doing work-study in the Campus Security Office, interning with the Wilmington Police Department, and getting tutoring in the Miller Academic Resource Center.
Accreditation
• Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
Contact
4701 Limestone Rd.
Wilmington, DE 19808
(302) 225-6342
fehnel@gbc.edu
University of Delaware
College of Arts and Sciences
Founded in New London by minister Francis Alison in 1743, the University of Delaware is a public/private hybrid school with land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant RU/VH status and a $1.26 billion endowment to serve 22,852 Blue Hens from Newark. Named the 147th best U.S. college by Times Higher Education, UDel is ranked the 27th top public university and 63rd best research institute nationally on Forbes. Housing another of the bachelor’s in criminal justice degree programs in Delaware, the College of Arts and Sciences was recognized in the USNWR survey for the 45th best public affairs education.
Undergraduate Program in Criminal Justice
Conferring a B.A., the Undergraduate Program in Criminal Justice is chaired by Karen F. Parker, PhD, to introduce bachelor’s students to the structures, ideas, and concerns that affect how our nation’s law enforcement systems work. Starting the freshman year, the 30-credit major includes courses like corrections, criminal judiciary, constitutional law, and abnormal psychology. Undergrads could also intern in New Zealand, pledge Alpha Kappa Delta, compete with the UD Mock Trial Team, and undertake research in the Center for Drug & Health Studies.
Accreditation
• Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
Contact
Smith Hall, Room 325
18 Amstel Avenue
Newark, DE 19716
(302) 831-1236
kparker@udel.edu
Wilmington University
College of Social & Behavioral Sciences
Given MSCHE accreditation in 1975, Wilmington University enrolls 12,081 undergrad Wildcats annually as a private, nonprofit and nonsectarian school located in Wilmington Manor with 12 satellites from Maryland to New Jersey for 100+ degrees. WilmU is ranked America’s 101st best online university on Niche and 224th top research institute by Forbes. The College of Social & Social Sciences employs PhD-level professors trained at Penn State, LaSalle, UDel, Temple, Regent, and others to deliver one of the bachelor’s in criminal justice degree programs in Delaware on-campus or online.
Criminal Justice, Bachelor of Science
Available from New Castle to Dover AFB, Georgetown, and online, Wilmington’s Criminal Justice Bachelor of Science is a 63-credit major coordinated by Dean Edward L. Guthrie, EdD, within a four-year framework to develop insider’s knowledge about law enforcement agencies and court systems. Undergrads can specialize in Child Advocacy Studies, Compliance, Conflict Resolution, Crime Scene Investigation, or Digital Evidence Discovery. Other opportunities include taking the CRJ to MAJ Accelerated Option, joining the Criminal Justice Association, and completing co-ops with the New Castle County Sheriff’s Office.
Accreditation
• Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
Contact
320 N. DuPont Highway
New Castle, DE 19720
(302) 356-6870
Edward.L.Guthrie@WilmU.edu
Criminal justice is a wide-reaching major for Delawareans to work in law enforcement, criminal rehabilitation, forensics, corrections, cybersecurity, and even social work. As America’s sixth most popular major according to USA Today, criminal justice prepares you for a protective service industry bound for 4 percent job growth through 2024. Graduates of these bachelor’s in criminal justice degree programs in Delaware can find jobs with Delaware Capitol Police, Port of Wilmington Harbor Police, Dover Air Force Base, Delaware FBI Office, and more.
See also: Top 50 Most Affordable Schools for an Online Master’s in Homeland Security 2017-2018
