B.S. Criminal Justice and Rehabilitation

UW-Stout's Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice and Rehabilitation prepares you to recognize the underlying factors that commonly lead to unlawful behavior, and focus on the rehabilitation of the offender, rather than punishment and incarceration. Our program's unique curriculum will help you develop the communication, critical thinking, decision making, interpersonal and social skills necessary to understand, analyze and apply ethical and legal standards to individual needs.

You can become a certified Wisconsin police officer while earning your degree — an opportunity that's unique, both regionally and nationally. A collaborative agreement with the nearby Chippewa Valley Technical College's Law Enforcement Academy meets the criteria of the  Wisconsin Department of Justice, Bureau of Training and Standards and the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Standards Board. Credits from the CVTC academy apply to your Bachelor's degree.

You will be ready to meet the varied needs of offenders, such as mental health and substance abuse, and get them the treatment and resources needed to prevent re-offending. Our faculty of experienced criminal justice professionals will provide you with the education and training to:

Analyze the nature and causes of crime.
Integrate and apply human relations skills and counseling to the rehabilitation of public offenders.
Apply case management and interviewing skills to prepare and monitor case plans for offenders and prepare accurate reports and investigations.  
Participate in community outreach and liaisons with related support service providers and offenders' families.
Demonstrate cultural sensitivity and examine criminal justice issues associated with racism and oppression.
First-hand learning and individualized program advisement will prepare you to graduate in four years and pursue career opportunities in law enforcement, community corrections, adult and youth offender rehabilitation programs, court programs and correctional administration.

The B.S. in Criminal Justice and Rehabilitation offers a unique approach to rehabilitation. The positive change model incorporates interdisciplinary training for recognition of the underlying factors that commonly lead to unlawful behavior and development of techniques required to affect positive behavioral change. Students are able to understand the impact of disability, mental illness, and substance abuse on the involvement in unlawful behavior, and furthermore apply knowledge to focus on rehabilitation of the offender rather than punishment and incarceration. Students develop skills in oral and written communication, critical thinking, and the ability to apply ethical and legal standards in decision making. The graduate is able to integrate and apply knowledge and human relation skills in the prevention, treatment, education, and rehabilitation of offenders. The development of interpersonal and social skills and the ability to examine and analyze individual needs prepares students for successful and rewarding professional careers.

Graduates of the Criminal Justice and Rehabilitation program work in positions such as probation and parole agents, correctional treatment specialists, juvenile counselors, and diversion court officers and administrators. Research indicates an increasing future demand for all related occupations. Students are required to maintain a 2.0 GPA per university standards through their first two years, and a 2.5 GPA per program standards following their junior year (90 credits).