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    Undergrad | Bachelors |

Criminal Justice

Students may seek either an academic major or minor in criminal justice.

Major in Criminal Justice

The criminal justice program provides students with an understanding of the nature of crime and the personnel, institutions, and processes that prevent or respond to crime. Students learn both the theory and practice of the criminal justice system. The curriculum covers crime and criminal behavior, law enforcement, courts, corrections, security, and investigation. It provides a solid foundation for further study or entry into a variety of criminal justice professions.

Objectives

The student who graduates with a major in criminal justice will be able to

• Describe the history and development of criminal justice organizations in the United States.
• Analyze the operations, policies, and procedures within the criminal justice system.
• Explain the role of the criminal justice system (police, courts, and corrections) in the administration of justice in the United States and other countries.
• Analyze the theories related to deviance and critique the effectiveness of their practical application to behavioral change.
• Articulate the values and ethics that guide the criminal justice professions.
• Demonstrate the ability to access, interpret, and apply criminal justice empirical research findings.
• Demonstrate the ability to access, interpret, and apply legal research, related to criminal law and court proceedings.

Degree Requirements

A degree with a major in criminal justice requires the successful completion of 120 credits of coursework including 30 credits for the major (indicated by ); 41 credits in general education requirements (GERs); and 49 credits in the minor, electives and other degree requirements. At least 15 credits in the major must be earned in upper-level courses (numbered 300 or above).

Recommended Sequence

The following course sequence will fulfill all of the requirements for the BS in criminal justice. Since some recommended courses fulfill more than one requirement, substituting courses for those listed may make it necessary to take additional courses to meet degree requirements. Students should consult an academic advisor whenever taking advantage of other options.

Information on alternate courses (where allowable) to fulfill general education requirements (in communications, arts and humanities, behavioral and social sciences, biological and physical sciences, mathematics, and interdisciplinary issues) may be found in the General Education Requirements.

Criminal Justice Studies Major Courses

First Courses

(to be taken within the first 18 credits)

Note: Placement tests are required for math and writing courses.

LIBS 150 Information Literacy and Research Methods (1)

WRTG 101/101X Introduction to Writing (3)

MATH 103 College Mathematics (3)
or MATH 107 College Algebra
or a higher-level math course

CCJS 100 Introduction to Criminal Justice (3)
or CCJS 105 Introduction to Criminology

Introductory Courses

(to be taken within the first 30 credits)

GVPT 170 American Government (3)
or other ANTH, BEHS, ECON, GEOG, GVPT, PSYC, SOCY,
or eligible AASP, CCJS, GERO,
or WMST course to fulfill the first general education requirement in behavioral and social sciences

BIOL 101 Concepts of Biology (3)
and BIOL 102 Laboratory in Biology (1)
or BIOL 103 Introduction to Biology
or other course(s) to fulfill the general education requirement in biological and physical sciences with related laboratory

WRTG 291 Expository and Research Writing (3)
or other course to fulfill the general education requirement in communications/ writing

IFSM 201 Introduction to Computer-Based Systems (3)
or CMST 303 Advanced Application Software

CCJS 230 Criminal Law in Action (3)
or CCJS 234 Criminal Procedure and Evidence

PHIL 140 Contemporary Moral Issues (3)
or other ARTH, ARTT, HIST, HUMN, MUSC, PHIL, THET, dance, literature,
or foreign language course to fulfill the first general education requirement in arts and humanities

Foundation Courses

(to be taken within the first 60 credits)

STAT 200 Introduction to Statistics (3)

PSYC 100 Introduction to Psychology (3)
or SOCY 100 Introduction to Sociology
or other course to fulfill the second general education requirement in behavioral and social sciences
(discipline must differ from first)

NSCI 100 Introduction to Physical Science (3)
or ASTR 100 Introduction to Astronomy
or other course to fulfill the general education requirement in biological and physical sciences

HIST 142 Western Civilization II (3)
or HIST 157 History of the United States Since 1865
or other ARTH
or HIST course to fulfill the general education requirement in arts and humanities for the historical perspective
(discipline must differ from other humanities course)

ANTH 344 Cultural Anthropology and Linguistics (3)
(recommended elective)

SPCH 100 Foundations of Speech Communication (3)
or SPCH 101 Introduction to Public Speaking
or other course to fulfill the general education requirement in communications/ writing
or speech

IFSM 304 Ethics in the Information Age (3)
or other course to fulfill the second general education requirement in interdisciplinary issues/computing

Additional Required Courses

(to be taken after introductory and foundation courses)

CCJS 320 Introduction to Criminalistics (3)
or CCJS 340 Law-Enforcement Administration

CCJS 350 Juvenile Delinquency (3)
or CCJS 461 Psychology of Criminal Behavior

CCJS 497 Correctional Administration (3)
or CCJS 432 Law of Corrections

WRTG 391/391X Advanced Expository and Research Writing (3)
or other course to fulfill the upper-level advanced writing requirement

CCJS 345 Introduction to Security Management (3)
or CCJS 430 Legal and Ethical Issues in Security Management

CCJS 486A Internship in Criminal Justice Through Co-op 3
or other supplemental major course
(see Requirements for the Major)

HMLS 495 Public Safety Polices and Leadership (3)
or other supplemental major course
(see Requirements for the Major)

CCJS 341 Criminal Investigation 3
or other supplemental major course
(see Requirements for the Major)

Minor and/or Elective Courses

(to be taken in the last 60 credits along with required major courses) 46

Recommended electives:

CAPL 398A Career Planning Management
(for students not taking EDCP 100)

CCJS 360 Victimology

CCJS 352 Drugs and Crime

Total credits for BS in criminal justice 120

Required for the major

Minor in Criminal Justice

The criminal justice minor complements the skills the student gains in his or her major discipline by providing a study of crime, law enforcement, corrections, security, and investigative forensics.

Objectives

The student who graduates with a minor in criminal justice will be able to

• Analyze the operations, policies, and procedures within the criminal justice system.
• Identify the causes of criminal behavior.
• Demonstrate a cohesive base of job-related skills, techniques, and principles related to criminal justice in various countries.
• Recognize trends in crime and criminal behavior.
• Explain the role of the criminal justice system (police, courts, corrections) in the administration of justice worldwide.

Requirements for the Minor

A minor in criminal justice requires the completion of 15 credits of coursework in criminal justice. Any CCJS courses apply. Students are recommended to take CCJS 100, 105, or 230 as the first course in the minor (if they have not already applied the course toward other degree requirements).

Courses may not duplicate those used to satisfy requirements for the major. At least 9 credits must be earned in upper-level courses (numbered 300 or above). Prerequisites apply for all courses.

For a listing of all the requirements for the bachelor’s degree, students should refer to their major and and the General Education Requirements.

Last updated: 10 August 2009