If you have an interest in why crimes occur and why people commit them, you may want to explore the criminal justice minor at Manchester College.  The program is designed to provide students with an overview of the origins of criminal behavior, the consequences of crime for society and the legal responses societies develop to combat crime. This interdisciplinary minor encourages students to take courses in sociology, social work, psychology and political science. Students are required to complete a practicum that provides the opportunity to apply knowledge learned in the classroom to a workplace setting. Observing and participating in a human services organization exposes students to the social service delivery systems and potential careers. A minor in criminal justice may complement majors in such areas as management, history, political science, psychology and sociology.

The minor in criminal justice seeks to provide the humanistic foundation for successful careers in areas such as mediation and conflict resolution, juvenile justice, victim assistance, private and public security, law enforcement, substance abuse prevention, social work, or rehabilitation counseling, or it may serve as an academic foundation for advanced study in law, justice studies, or public policy.

Manchester College students also have the option of completing a major in sociology with a concentration in criminal justice, which provides a cohesive group of course offerings grounded in social policies related to criminal justice.