Galloway, N.J. — Stockton University has changed some of the requirements of its undergraduate Criminal Justice degree program to meet the evolving needs of the field.

Effective for incoming students in fall 2025, Stockton will offer a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice. Current students will earn a Bachelor of Arts in the major.

Marissa Levy, the dean of the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, said one of the main reasons for the switch is to better prepare students for jobs in the Criminal Justice field.

“The expanded curriculum that the B.S. degree offers allows Stockton’s program to not only remain competitive with other programs in the region, but it also provides the curricular latitude for students to graduate with skills and knowledge valued by employers and the communities they serve,” she said.

Levy added the changes come after several years of discussion among faculty regarding how social justice movements in the United States have changed the field. Now, students will not only gain knowledge in the core components of the Criminal Justice system itself (Courts, Policing and Corrections), but they’ll also learn about the related areas of Victimology, Psychology and Sociology, Levy said.

The new curriculum also provides students with in-depth knowledge related to contemporary issues in today’s criminal justice system, such as how race and other vulnerable, minority populations directly interact with the system and its policies and practices.

“The Criminal Justice faculty are excited to be able to offer this innovative and contemporary approach to preparing future criminal justice practitioners to serve our society in a fair and just manner,” said Deeanna Button, professor of Criminal Justice and the program chair at Stockton.

The current Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice will be transitioned out as current students graduate.