A Word from the Program Director

Welcome!

The Criminal Justice Program at Carthage College provides students with a flexible degree in the liberal arts. Unlike technical programs that focus on the administrative and routine activities of professionals working in the criminal justice system, we encourage our students to take a step back and think about broader issues like the system itself, its role in society, and understandings of justice. Our view is simple: You will be trained as a criminal justice professional if you decide to enter the field of criminal justice, but while you are here, we will help you develop the skills you need to succeed in any career.

Sometimes our students graduate and pursue careers in policing, courts or law, and many of them have had long careers in the field. Graduates work for area police departments like Kenosha, Wis., and Gurnee, Ill. Some have gone on to careers in federal agencies like the ATF. Others have finished Carthage and gone on to careers they never imagined in social service agencies, probation, parole and teaching. From police officers to graduate students in Ph.D. programs, our curriculum prepares students to be life-long learners who are equipped with the critical thinking skills necessary to succeed in whatever they choose to do.

In addition to our traditional criminal justice track, we also have a pre-law track for students who are interested in going to law school after graduation. Students who are interested in law have the opportunity to participate with our highly ranked Mock Trial team, which gives them a hands-on opportunity to learn how trials work.

Finally, for those interested in internships, we offer a variety of local opportunities for students to gain experience in many kinds of agencies.

Rick Matthews

Program Director, Criminal Justice
Associate Professor of Criminal Justice and Sociology
(262) 551-5825
rmatthews@carthage.edu

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