The Criminology & Criminal Justice Department taught its first classes in 1966 and officially became a department in 1967. Over time the CCJ Department has evolved and responds to trends in the criminal justice profession as well as the needs of students and the community. Faculty members in the CCJ Department are committed to providing a high quality education for all students who take CCJ courses and participate in events sponsored by the CCJ Department. A quality education is provided by faculty members with diverse experiences from the core areas of the criminal justice system (police, law/courts and corrections) and a strong academic foundation in criminology theory, research and policy.