A system of criminal justice must meet the needs of each citizen as well as the needs of complex social, economic and governmental institutions. The Bachelor of Arts degree program in criminal justice was developed with these needs in mind and is appropriate for both career-bound pre-service students and in-service personnel in law enforcement, probation, parole, corrections, social service agencies and related areas. The mission of the Department of Criminal Justice is to maintain high quality academic programs to meet the needs of undergraduate students. The program offers a broad array of coursework and activities designed to provide students with the requisite preparation to become well qualified criminal justice professionals or to continue their professional education (e.g., law school administration, postgraduate degree), to encourage the pursuit of excellence in teaching, scholarship, and service by a regionally and (inter)nationally recognized faculty, and to meet the needs of the University and the criminal justice community. Through several course offerings, inclusive of internships in the community, the program supports the University's mission and emphasis as a comprehensive, multi-purpose, regional university. The undergraduate program combines a strong theoretical foundation with preparation for a wide variety of professional careers in the criminal justice field.