

An approved educational partner by the FBI National Academy Associates, Saint Leo has been ranked among the nation's most military-friendly institutions by G.I. Jobs and Military Advanced Education magazines. Saint Leo professors have decades of experience as crime scene investigators, local and federal agents, chief deputies, detectives and FBI advisors.
Whether you aspire to work in law enforcement, forensic science, counseling or social work, a Criminal Justice minor will help you decode criminal behavior and create safer communities.
Any other five (5) required or concentration courses
Students who pursue their degrees at Saint Leo’s main campus near sunny Tampa Bay, Florida, join a community of enthusiastic learners just like them.
Saint Leo University’s online learning experience provides a well-rounded education with the flexibility to tailor your course of study to meet your individual needs. We know our students have lives outside school, and we seek to meet them where they are. Online students can count on receiving excellent academics as well as opportunities for hands-on learning.
Taking online classes has afforded me the opportunity to learn while maintaining a job. They give me some flexibility to study at times that work more cohesively with my schedule and allow me to utilize resources such as the library 24 hours a day.
Bentley Streat | Hayes, VA
You may also choose to pursue your degree through one of our education centers, which merge a traditional in-person education with the flexibility to match your lifestyle. Education centers offer eight-week academic terms as well as evening and weekend classes.
No matter which learning experience you choose, you will receive plenty of professional development opportunities, industry knowledge from expert professors, and support from the Saint Leo community. All this together means that you will be ready for a successful career or continued studies upon graduation.
Intern with agencies such as the U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Customs, Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. District Court and Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
Saint Leo is the only university in the world where you can help local law enforcement agencies identify suspects in 30-year-old unsolved homicide cases.
Testify and sit on a jury for a courtroom role-playing assignment. Stand in the death chamber of the Florida state prison. Examine fingerprints in a forensics lab. Co-curricular activities: Become an active member of Alpha Phi Sigma, the national criminal justice honor society.
Saint Leo University’s College of Education and Social Services couples a transformative liberal arts tradition with highly specialized training in the education and social services fields. Through close faculty mentorships, practical field internships, and applied learning experiences, we prepare students for careers in education, social work, criminal justice, and human services. Our faculty remain active in their respective fields as researchers and practitioners, giving students close access to a wealth of real-world knowledge and experience.
With the ever-changing needs of today's students, we provide flexible degree programs. These include programs at University Campus and education centers with evening and weekend options, as well as online offerings. These degree programs are grooming the next generation of educators and social service specialists—a new breed of professionals with the talent and resolve to make a difference in the world.
"What if, two years ago, I could have seen my future? What if that opportunity allowed a peek at who I'd become after completing Saint Leo's Creative Writing MA Program? What would I tell myself? Well, self—indubitably, you made the right choice! The tools in your writer’s toolbox were obtained from a team of well-versed faculty, like-minded peers, several residency programs, assignments, and academic reviews. Creative Writing MA graduate, you made the right choice."
Violetta Deloatch-Woods (Fiction, 2023)
"Pursuing my MA at Saint Leo was the scariest decision I ever made; it also turned out to be one of the best. I have grown exponentially within this community of honest and talented writers, and I couldn’t have asked for better peers."
Derora Williams (Poetry, 2023)
"Saint Leo's Creative Writing MA program genuinely changed my life for the better. I learned so much about myself as a reader, writer, and human being with every assignment, and I was constantly challenged to grow outside of my comfort zone. My professors and peers were always there to celebrate achievements and overcome obstacles, making the program feel like my second family. I wouldn't be the person I am today without Saint Leo."
Emmett Ferree (Poetry, 2023)
"Saint Leo's Creative Writing MA program helped me immensely as a reader and a writer. Learning to read not only what is in a story, but paying careful attention to how it's written, is just one of the memorable gifts I received from this program's helpful faculty and encouraging environment."
Janna Correa, (Fiction, 2022)
This program allows growth as a writer and as a person. The experience was absurdly personal. Absurd because of the organic evolution fostered by its leadership and absurd because of the personal touches from the instructors. Why expect that? St. Leo is invested in its students. You get more than you bargained for.
Jimmy Sutman, (Poetry, 2022)
It can be intimidating to go back to school after decades of being in the workforce. But as a non-traditional student, I felt nothing but a warm welcome from Saint Leo faculty and my classmates. I started my first semester at another university and wasn't happy. I transferred to Saint Leo and learned more than I could have ever imagined in this program. Best decision I ever made. Thanks to my studies there, I'm getting ready to release my first book at the end of this year!
Lisa Moody, (Nonfiction, 2021)
Saint Leo University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate, bachelor’s, master’s, specialist, and doctoral degrees.
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