Study Abroad

In an ever-shrinking world, an international perspective not only provides a wider and deeper understanding of one’s own cultural context but has also become a necessary tool for any conscientious criminal justice or even social science professional.  Indeed, as the world shrinks, crime increasingly becomes a transnational matter for which knowledge of criminal justice beyond our borders is necessary.

This course’s goal is to expose students to the criminal justice system in a foreign country, by allowing them to travel there and visit a select number of agencies and institutions.  This short-term study abroad course also allows students to understand first-hand how criminal justice systems take root in broader political and cultural environments.

Over the course of eight days, during spring break, students visit criminal justice agencies, political institutions, and cultural centers.  They also meet with criminal justice professionals, professors, and students, and spend time exploring on their own.  Students prepare for the experience during pre-departure meetings, and debrief in an post-trip gathering.