Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Studies

Meet the needs of the time with a criminal justice degree focused on restorative justice.

Do you desire to affect change and solve community challenges? Earn your  Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Studies  from Spalding University—a top-5 college in Kentucky (College Choice) that's dedicated to promoting peace and justice.

Our criminal justice program takes an interdisciplinary approach to learning. We aim to expand your understanding of the inner workings of the criminal justice system. Our foundational courses focus on restorative justice and reform and address topics relevant to current issues and community needs. We offer three minors:  restorative justice ,  criminal justice reform  and  criminal justice studies .

As a criminal justice studies major, you’ll be encouraged to explore the challenges of the system and engage in creating solutions that are compassionate and just. You'll walk away from our program as a well-equipped, mindful practitioner prepared to help others and take on the diverse challenges evident in society today.

Earn your criminal justice studies degree in 120 credit hours.

• 57 hours of general university studies
• 45 hours of criminal justice studies core courses
• 18 hours in one of our criminal justice minors

Graduate in four years or less.

• Take advantage of our flexible six-week block schedule.
• Receive individual attention with face-to-face instruction and our small class sizes.

Call Spalding Home

Spalding University is the home for students who want to earn a degree while engaging and serving the community. We put compassion into action every day with our mission-driven focus. We volunteer, teach, advocate, organize and give. Our students are active in the community, using their Spalding education to make the world better. We are a diverse community with a core commitment to inclusion, and we value our students, faculty, and staff from all walks of life. Begin your college journey with us and follow your passions.

An Inclusive Community

At Spalding, we are an inclusive community of people who are fundamentally different from one another. We humbly accept each other for who we are. We represent a cross-section of society. We have the most racially diverse student body of Kentucky’s private colleges. Thirty-one percent of students self-identify as people of color.

We are a community of learners made up of artists, veterans, activists, parents, religious leaders, LGBTQIA community members, and athletes. We are all of these people and more. We have different abilities, ideals, cultures, backgrounds, goals, and passions. We cultivate a supportive space for all of our students to learn and grow.

Since 1814, we have been serving our communities in the tradition of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth with a spirit of inclusiveness and compassion.

Join our tradition. Let us welcome you home.

Small Campus, Big City

Spalding University is a small campus located in the heart of the energetic city of Louisville, Kentucky. One of many institutions and organizations that make giving back a way of life, Spalding University is an active leader in the SoBro neighborhood. Spalding’s campus is surrounded by beautiful historic mansions and tree-lined streets to the south and the banks of the Ohio River to the north. Our city is recognized as one of America’s most livable cities. In fact, it’s been named a top city for new college grads by SmartAsset, which may explain why over 70 percent of our alums choose to live in Louisville.

Spalding & Louisville

Spalding University is a microcosm of the city in which we live. With a diverse community and a focus on compassion, Spalding reflects the racial, economic, cultural, and LGTBQIA diversity of the city that surrounds us. Students engage the Louisville community through internships and fieldwork, local outreach and volunteer service work, as well as countless partnerships with community businesses and organizations.

Live in the Center of It All

Boasting a thriving arts scene amidst renowned parks and natural surroundings, Louisville is also one of the best dining and cultural destinations in the Midwest. Our city offers more than 1,000 local restaurants and was named a Top 10 Food City by National Geographic. If it’s entertainment, arts, or shopping that you’re looking for, we have The Kentucky Derby Festival, Forecastle Music Festival, Gonzofest, World Fest, Nulu district, the historic Highlands, and more. Louisville is home to more than 120 park systems, including Waterfront Park. All this and so much more make Louisville a popular cultural destination. Travelers come to Louisville to experience art, outdoor adventure, the trendy food scene, and entertainment of all kinds. Hop in the car or bus, and you are within a half-day’s drive to Chicago, St. Louis, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Nashville, Asheville, and other exciting destinations.

Our Mission is Serving Others

Our mission is our driving force. It’s more than something you will find in our history or charter. We live it. We share it. We take pride in it. You’ll learn it from your first day on campus and engage with it every day in and out of the classroom. And when you graduate, you will take it with you into the world.