Success After Graduation
In addition to learning foundational theories and analyzing data in the School of Justice Studies (SJS), students develop close relationships with our faculty experts and put their learning into practice. They are exposed to a variety of networking opportunities and hands-on internships that get them out in the field, preparing them to be hired in private industries or public service careers at the state or federal level.
Focused on Success
 SJS students have guaranteed opportunities for internships or co-op experiences at various agencies throughout the criminal justice field. |  Percentage of Cybersecurity & Networking, Forensic Science, and Security Assurance Studies 2018 graduates that are employed or in graduate school within six months of graduation. |  2018 SJS graduates are leveraging their knowledge of the justice system across eight different industries. |
RWU Equips You for a Great Career
Across all our programs, alumni find success in graduate programs and their fields.
Criminal Justice Lays The Foundation for Post-Graduation Success
Joseph McKenna ’11 says the RWU criminal justice program laid the foundation for his success post-graduation. Now working as the Director of Safety & Security for the Comal Independent School District in Texas, he finds himself still using the skills and knowledge he gained from his undergraduate degree.
Getting a Foot in the Door of Forensic Science
Rebecca Millard ’18 was accepted into the Biomedical Forensic Science program at Boston University’s School of Medicine. She credits this success, in part, to the in-depth, firsthand experience she gained while interning at the Massachusetts State Police Crime Laboratory, which complemented the comprehensive and practical knowledge she received in the forensic science program at RWU.
Learning The Fundamentals of Cybersecurity
As Director of IT Security and Infrastructure at Cumberland Farms, Daniel Gortze '10 hopes to make a long-term impact on the company through his very own security program. In doing so, the alum reflects on the fundamental skills he learned from his early-level computer and network security courses at RWU.
More Than Just a Bachelor’s Degree
As a student in the School of Justice Studies, you don’t have to stop your education at a Bachelor’s Degree. We offer a 3+3 program for students to earn a Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies and Juris Doctor from RWU Law in six years, and a 4+1 program leading to a Bachelor’s and Master’s of Science in Criminal Justice.
Interdisciplinary Nature of Legal Studies
RWU’s legal studies program incorporates a secondary major requirement within the arts and science to provide students with an interdisciplinary approach to the study of law at the undergraduate level. For Harry Hall `17 this meant combining his love for history and his professional goal of becoming a judge through double majoring in legal studies and American studies, made possible through RWU's 3+3 program.
Supportive Faculty in Criminal Justice Program
After discovering a new passion during her undergraduate degree, Kelsey Harrington '16 '18M was able to count on the relationships she built with her professors to keep her academic success on track. With the support and guidance from her criminal justice professors she was able to not only achieve her Master of Science in Criminal Justice, but also land her dream job at the Massachusetts Attorney General’s office as well.
Turning Passion into Careers with Experiential Learning
During their undergraduate studies, our students learn what life is like as a professional in their field of interest. Whether it’s through an internship, project-based learning with a national nonprofit organization or using the newest state-of-the-art Google technology, you’ll graduate knowing what to expect upon entering the real world.
Check out exciting experiential projects below:
- Hands-on internships like Daryn Javer's '18 at the R.I. State Crime Lab allowed her to work alongside expert forensic scientists on examining real evidence and observe skilled technique and analysis.
A Day Inside the R.I. State Crime Lab
- Through a project-based course, Ashley Barton '15 partnered with Scholars at Risk, a nonprofit organization that promotes academic freedom for intellectuals around the world who have been jailed for expressing their beliefs.
Freeing International Imprisoned Scholars
- Piloting a new program, a group of students used RWU's new virtual reality technology from Google and Labster to complete virtual-reality simulated science labs.
Using Virtual Reality Technology
State-of-the-Art Facilities and Resources
Students in the School of Justice Studies have the ability to work alongside justice system experts as well as gain hands-on experience with the cutting-edge technologies that are used within their fields.
- Based in the School of Justice Studies, the Justice System Training & Research Institute (JSTRI) is a resource for justice system personnel to enhance their professionalism through seminars and professional development training. It also allows our undergraduate students to learn alongside experts in the field.
- In the Forensics and Networking Security (FANS) lab you will work with cutting-edge technology to learn how to solve issues around hacking and cyberattacks, or discover how to acquire, analyze and manage evidence collected from computers or mobile devices.