The School of Criminology and Criminal Justice is one of the most respected in the U.S., featuring actionoriented research, excellent instruction and faculty recognized for its contributions to policy and practice at every level. Students are motivated and challenged by full-time faculty and criminal justice professionals who combine the best of theory and practice in an exciting curriculum.
ASU’s School of Criminology and Criminal Justice is nationally recognized for preparing students to navigate the challenges of criminal justice practice in the 21st century. Our values are rooted in the Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions — a community of change agents passionate about making a difference in the world. Our programs focus on interdisciplinary approaches to major social issues and evidence-based best practices for responding to crime through the lenses of the three interrelated structures (policing, courts and corrections) that shape the criminal justice system.
Our PhD program is ranked second in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, reflecting our cutting-edge research and highquality academic programs that ultimately contribute to societal well-being and enhance public safety.
Criminology and Criminal Justice, BS (Downtown Phoenix, West Valley and Online)
Criminology and Criminal Justice, BS (concentration in Policing, Downtown Phoenix, West Valley and Online)
BS/MA, MS Accelerated Programs (Downtown Phoenix, West Valley and Online)
Criminology and Criminal Justice, MS (Downtown Phoenix)
Criminal Justice, MA (Online)
Crime Analysis, MS (Online)
Public Safety Leadership and Administration, MPSLA (Online)
Criminology and Criminal Justice, PhD (Downtown Phoenix)
Doctor of Criminal Justice (ASU Sync via Zoom)
Undergraduate
• Correctional Studies (certificate)
• Criminal Investigations (certificate)
• Criminology and Criminal Justice (minor)
• Homeland Security (certificate)
• Juvenile Justice (certificate)
• Law and Human Behavior (certificate)
• Legal Issues in Criminal Justice (certificate)
• Security Studies (certificate)
Graduate certificates
• Corrections Leadership and Management
• Crime Analysis
• Homeland Security
• Law Enforcement Administration
Scott Decker, Emeritus
August Vollmer Award, American Society of Criminology
Kate Fox
Meda Chesney-Lind Award, Western Society of Criminology
Beth Huebner Fellow, American Society of Criminology
Ed Maguire Fellows Award, Western Society of Criminology
Anthony Peguero
W.E.B. DuBois Award, Western Society of Criminology
Center for Correctional Solutions
Jesenia Pizarro
Outstanding Mentor Award, Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences
Michael Reisig Fellow, American Society of Criminology
Cassia Spohn Fellow, American Society of Criminology Fellow, Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences
Danielle Wallace Fellows Award, Western Society of Criminology
The Center for Correctional Solutions has a mission to enhance the lives of people who live and work in our correctional system through research, education and community engagement. The center’s participatory, collaborative approach draws on the mission and expertise of ASU to transform the experience of people who are incarcerated, improve the health of our broader communities and nurture the personal and professional development of students as future leaders.
Center for Problem-Oriented Policing
Millions of individuals and agencies around the world have benefited from the Center for Problem-Oriented Policing, which delivers information that helps police more effectively address specific crime and disorder problems. The center’s website hosts dozens of helpful guides addressing approaches to problems ranging from alcohol and drugs to fraud and traffic, and its materials are widely used in police training and college courses.
Center for Violence Prevention and Community Safety
Using a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to problem solving, faculty and students from the Center for Violence Prevention and Community Safety work with community partners to build, implement and test new models for predicting, preventing and controlling violence.
Preparing a national tool kit for police use of body-worn cameras
Professors Charles Katz and Michael White are the primary authors of an online tool kit for police departments nationwide to implement the use of body-worn video cameras. Hosted by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance, the training module draws from the pair’s research and best practices adopted by agencies worldwide.
Creating a culture of prevention
Despite common perceptions, the criminal justice system doesn’t always easily break down into simple categories of “offender” and “victim.” Professor Kate Fox is working on two projects looking at the cycles of violence and victimization. One is in collaboration with correctional facilities and correctional populations, while the other partners with a northern Arizona domestic violence agency to examine the effectiveness of services and how to improve them. Her past work includes partnering with Native communities and state leaders to conduct the first known study documenting the causes and prevalence of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) crisis in Arizona.
The Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions is one of the largest comprehensive public service colleges in the nation. Comprised of four schools – Social Work, Criminology and Criminal Justice, Public Affairs and Community Resources and Development – and more than 30 research units, we are advancing relevant educational programs and evidence-based solutions to some of the world’s most challenging social issues. Our population represents one of the university’s highest percentages of underrepresented, transfer and working students, and is among the largest concentrations of first-generation and military-connected college students at Arizona State University. Together, we bring creativity, systems-level thinking and an entrepreneurial spirit to our mission of building more vibrant, healthy, equitable and sustainable communities.
