Welcome to the J. Frank Barefield, Jr. Department of Criminal Justice!
We encourage you to explore our undergraduate and graduate degree offerings, as well as information about the Pre-Law Program, our minors, and more.
Our Undergraduates Excel
Our comprehensive undergraduate curriculum is designed to help prepare our students for careers in law enforcement, the courts, corrections, juvenile justice, cybercrime/computer forensics, graduate school, and law school. However, we also offer more than courses to help student excel:
- The department’s Honors Program provides outstanding students with opportunities for advanced study and faculty mentorship. Students present their honors projects at the department’s annual Honors and Awards Luncheon held each spring, and in other venues such as the annual UAB Expo and at regional and national professional meetings.
- The criminal justice program is the only one in the state of Alabama that requires students to complete an internship, and the department now has opportunities available with over 50 agencies at the federal, state, and local levels of government, as well as in business and industry. Some of our more popular internships include placements with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Naval Criminal Investigation Service, the Drug Enforcement Agency, and the Jefferson County Family Court.
Students can also become involved in the life of the department and the College of Arts and Sciences. The Criminal Justice Student Organization and the Pre-Law Society sponsor career events, engage in community service, and host lectures.
Our Graduate Students are in Demand
Our Master of Science in Forensic Science program is one of only 16 FEPAC-accredited programs in the United States and one of the oldest, laboratory-based graduate training programs in North America. Our Master of Science in Criminal Justice program is now available 100% online and is geared to working professionals seeking an advanced degree. The Master of Science in Cyber Security Program, which we support, is one of the few programs of its type in the world and is geared toward training the next generation of cybercrime investigators and cybersecurity specialists—specialties that continue to be in high demand.
Faculty in the J. Frank Barefield, Jr. Department of Criminal Justice are active research scholars who are also committed to excellence in classroom teaching. We look forward to helping you achieve your educational goals and to you becoming a member of a diverse and vibrant department!
Welcome from the Chair
Whether you are a current student, prospective student, criminal justice partner, or community member, thank you for visiting our website. We understand that there are many choices for undergraduate and graduate programs in the Greater Birmingham area and are pleased that you are considering UAB.
This is an exciting time for our department as we were renamed following an extremely generous donation from Mr. J. Frank Barefield, Jr. This funding enhances our ability to provide high-level instruction and to support future generations of criminal justice students, as well as to support scientific research by our esteemed faculty members. Our commitments to justice, fairness, and equity will forever be strengthened. You can learn more about the gift by reading the full announcement from UAB News.
We are confident that you will find our academic programs challenging, rewarding, and the best value for your resources. At a time when many campus and online colleges/universities are using an “assembly line” approach to process students as quickly, impersonally, and cheaply as possible, at UAB we take the time to teach, mentor, and train our students in the highest standards of research, practice, and ethics.
I am confident that you will enjoy your experience here at UAB. If there is ever a time that you would like to speak with me about our programs, research, and resources, I will be available. I look forward to meeting you and wish you a successful and rewarding academic experience.
Sincerely,
Kent R. Kerley, PhD | Professor and Chair
J. Frank Barefield, Jr. Department of Criminal Justice
1201 University Boulevard, Suite 210
Birmingham, AL 35294-4562
(205) 975-5701