Southwestern’s Criminal Justice Certificate Program provides students with knowledge about America’s criminal justice system, stressing that the process of controlling crime is an important function of government. This program complements existing undergraduate programs as students take a series of courses from the Departments of Sociology, Political Science, and Communication. Through these courses students explore the causes of crime, examine fundamental concepts underlying the practice of justice, analyze the impact of crime on our society, learn the inner workings of criminal justice agencies, and explore options for controlling crime. All GSW Certificate programs must be taken in conjunction with a 4-year degree.