It is the mission of the Department of Criminal Justice to develop and share information about crime, deviance, criminal justice systems, and related processes through teaching, research, and service.
It is a goal of the department to encourage students to embrace the importance of life-long learning and to develop students’ abilities to view and understand criminal justice practices, concepts, and issues from an interdisciplinary perspective. The program is designed to develop the cognitive, analytical, communication, and social skills of students so they will succeed in an ever-changing world.
One of the objectives of the undergraduate Criminal Justice program is to provide students with the skills necessary to think about issues and problems from many different perspectives and to develop viable solutions to complex problems that they will face across their lives. Another objective is to provide students with an understanding of diversity and the importance of acting in an ethical manner at all times. Through a positive, open, stimulating, and challenging learning environment, we strive to help students become tolerant, informed, creative, caring, responsible, and motivated citizens. Students learn to think critically and openly about the causes, consequences, and responses of crime and deviance. Students are taught about historical and current theories.
The program emphasizes crime within its social context and social control in the context of a democratic society. Students develop an understanding about social organizations which deal with crime, offenders, and victims. Students also learn how to conduct research, as well as interpreting and understanding research conducted by others.
In summary, the criminal justice program at the University of Toledo is designed to prepare the graduate to:
Work in the field of Criminal Justice or related fields
Attend graduate school in criminal justice or a related discipline.
Attend law school.
In closing, the mission of the Department of Criminal Justice at the University of Toledo is to provide students with a quality learning experience so they have the experiences and skills to succeed in life. One of the greatest joys of the faculty is when our students graduate and succeed in their chosen careers.