Consistently ranked among the nation’s top Criminology and Criminal Justice programs, our department delivers world-class education at the Bachelor, Master, and Doctoral levels.

Our internationally-acclaimed faculty make enduring contributions to the field through critical, timely research on a breadth of subjects within the discipline. We are committed to serving the campus, community and profession through a wide range of programs, events and other activities. Working alongside active experts and veteran scholars, our students are prepared for rewarding careers in academia, research, or other professions that serve the community and impact society at large.

Our programs unify knowledge from many fields of study, including sociology, psychology, public policy and law. We explore the causes of crime, responses by law enforcement, prevention methods and the entire criminal justice system at work.

In the News

John Ampomah
Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice Archives - UMSL Daily
3 questions with John Ampomah, master’s student in criminology and criminal justice
Chemistry PhD student Dhanbir Lingden speaks to Graduate School Director Amber Reinhart during last week's Graduate Research Fair
Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice Archives - UMSL Daily
Students improve presentation skills while showcasing breadth of their work at Graduate Research Fair
Amber Candela, Jerome Morris, Kate Watt, Lon Chubiz, Lee Slocum, Jennifer Chen, Lara Kelland, Waldemar Rohloff and Leighanne Heisel
Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice Archives - UMSL Daily
Faculty members granted sabbaticals and teaching releases during 2025-26 academic year 
See All Posts