CRIMINAL JUSTICE
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The Dordt Difference A career in criminal justice can be an intensely rewarding yet difficult calling for a Christian to pursue. Daily coming face to face with brokenness and depravity can be taxing, yet the services that criminal justice professionals provide are essential in our society. Dordt’s criminal justice program will help nurture the mental, professional, and spiritual development that will be critical for your future career. Criminal justice is first and foremost a field of service, not just law enforcement. It must be done compassionately and in a way that furthers society’s need for both security and stability. Being a criminal justice professional means being a community leader, helping to shape the way others interact with society. The criminal justice program, like all others at Dordt College, rests on the conviction that in all things we are subject to our Lord Jesus Christ. We teach from a Reformed perspective, which means that our orientation toward Christ will have an impact on every square inch of our lives, from what we teach to how we learn.
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT Adam Buiter (’15) works with the Sioux Falls Police Department in the Street Crimes Unit. “My general education helps me write articulate reports and gives me the confidence and ability to testify well in court,” he says. “The broad range of classes that I had to take has given me the ability to relate to a wide variety of people, which is huge in my line of work. “Dordt College prepared me well for my career. The overall worldview that Dordt teaches has helped me keep a solid perspective when I am immersed in the worst the world has to offer for 40 hours a week. Without the solid perspective Dordt gave me, I believe I would have a more negative view on the world. The mentoring relationships, on-campus jobs, and service opportunities have all helped me to develop a servant-based attitude that I think is necessary for my line of work.”
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES Although a degree in criminal justice involves studying a specific field, it does not prepare you for jobs in a restricted area. Individuals with criminal justice degrees are found in many of the following careers:
• Police
THE PROGRAM We nurture mental development through a broad range of courses in which you’ll learn key concepts needed to work in the field. We’ll encourage you to go beyond the basic facts and learn to think critically about justice both in America and abroad. We’ll also help you develop insight into the how and the why of what you will do. We’ll help you develop your writing and speaking skills. These are essential in the profession, and the ability to communicate effectively and clearly can make the difference between receiving a promotion and being passed over. You’ll be encouraged to take an active role in the learning process— to express your opinion and think critically about the subjects you study. And you will get the opportunity to participate in hands-on activities like processing a crime scene.
• Federal Investigators (FBI, CIA, ICE) • Federal Law Enforcement (ATF, DEA, border patrol) • Parks & Recreation (park rangers, park police) • Officers of the Court (U.S. Marshals) • Technicians (CSI, NSA) • Attorneys (district attorney, public defender) • Counselors (victim counselors, crisis care centers) • Corrections (prisons, jails, probation officers) • Researchers (criminologists, psychologists)
You’ll also complete a field experience, interning with an organization in the criminal justice field. We nurture spiritual development both in and out of class. We’ll strive to nurture in you the spiritual strength that will let you confidently assert with the psalmist, “I will fear no evil, for you are with me.” Dordt’s program takes an interdisciplinary approach to criminal justice education. You’ll take classes in the psychology, social work, political studies, and the health and human performance departments. Other classes may be applicable as well, depending on your anticipated career. Just as your core curriculum at Dordt will help you appreciate the broad scope of God’s work in both his people and his creation, your core criminal justice classes will give you a broad understanding of many different areas within criminal justice. These areas include: • Criminal Law and Procedure • Crime Scene Investigation • Criminology • Juvenile Justice You’ll also be able to tailor your education to better meet your specific aspirations with classes such as: • First Aid • Community Politics • Counseling Theories • Psychopathology
THE FACULTY Donald Roth, J.D., LL.M., Georgetown University Law Center. Instructor of criminal justice and business administration Donald.Roth@dordt.edu Tara Boer, M.S.W., University of South Florida. Instructor of social work
Tara.Boer@dordt.edu
Kirk Nielsen, M.S., University of Nebraska Omaha. Special agent in charge Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (retired) Kirk.Nielsen@dordt.edu Jared Weber, J.D., Creighton University School of Law. Former assistant Sioux County attorney
August 2015
Jared.Weber@dordt.edu