Alumni

The online master’s degree program in criminology and criminal justice at Arizona State University continues for an eighth consecutive year as one of the nation’s top 10 such courses of study, according to U.S. News & World Report’s annual rankings announced. The online Master of Arts degree program earned a No. 7 ranking for 2022.

ASU’s No. 7 ranking is higher than those of the University of Cincinnati, the University of Nebraska-Omaha, the University of Central Florida and the University of Oklahoma.

• Read more about ASU's criminal justice online graduate degree program ranks in US News' top 10

ASU’s School of Criminology and Criminal Justice has renamed the annual Alumni Scholar Award for a distinguished member of its faculty who retired this spring.

The Dr. John R. Hepburn Alumni Scholar Award was renamed at the request of the faculty. It is an annual award presented for outstanding scholarly contributions to the discipline of criminology and criminal justice by a recipient of a MA, MS, or PhD degree from the school.

• Read more about ASU school renames Alumni Scholar Award for retired Professor John R. Hepburn

Editor's note: This story is part of a series of profiles of notable spring 2021 graduates.

Daniel Sanchez’s inspiration for wanting to work in law enforcement or as a first responder came to him when he was a high school student in his hometown of San Jose, California.

• Read more about ASU grad’s career inspired by experience with police

Editor's note: This story is part of a series of profiles of notable spring 2021 graduates.

Just two weeks before she moved into her freshman dorm at ASU, Carson Swisher surprised her mother with an announcement that would alter the course of her future: She was changing majors. She wanted to study criminal justice.

• Read more about Switching major 2 weeks before starting at ASU proved right choice for grad

The School of Criminology and Criminal Justice (SCCJ) online graduate degree program at Arizona State University continues for a seventh year as one of the nation’s top 10 such courses of study, according to U.S. News & World Report’s annual rankings announced Jan. 26. The online Master of Arts degree program earned a No. 7 ranking for 2021.

• Read more about Online criminal justice graduate program ranks among top 10 in U.S. for seventh consecutive year

Editor's note: This story is part of a series of profiles of notable fall 2020 graduates.

Ever since she was very young, Alexis Klemm was fascinated by the study of the mind and human actions. That captivation first came from watching TV dramas such as “Law & Order” and “Criminal Minds.” Then, as a middle and high school student, she began taking courses in psychology, forensic sciences and sociology.

• Read more about Grad's fascination with criminal justice began with 'Law & Order' and led to a degree

Editor's note: This story is part of a series of profiles of notable spring 2020 graduates.

Spring 2020 ASU graduate Joaquin Ramos, 22, describes first-generation college students as the “guinea pigs” of their families. But the criminal justice major used his experiences navigating life in college to encourage future first-generation students. 

• Read more about ASU grad is first in family tree to get a college degree

In the United States, managing the tensions between the privileged, politically dominant classes of society and its politically, socially and economically disadvantaged classes, to which communities of color have disproportionately belonged, has always been a central concern of police and the criminal justice system. Some U.S. police agencies were explicitly established in the Civil War era to help preserve slavery and white supremacy.

• Read more about Transforming Policing and Criminal Justice: An Open Letter from Faculty Members of ASU’s School of Criminology & Criminal Justice

The logistical challenges of teaching a class inside a state prison are complicated enough during a typical semester, let alone one that includes a pandemic.

This spring, an Arizona State University professor and a doctoral student were instructing 10 students based at the Downtown Phoenix campus, plus 10 more who happen to be men serving criminal sentences at the Arizona State Prison Complex-Florence.

• Read more about Quick thinking keeps instruction going for incarcerated students in ASU's 'Inside-Out' class

To recognize alumni of the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice (SCCJ) who have engaged their communities in exceptional ways, the School proudly announces its 2020 alumni awards.

• Read more about School of Criminology and Criminal Justice recognizes community engaged alumni with annual awards