Undergrad | Bachelors | Major-minor |

Criminal Justice

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

Major in Criminal Justice

The criminal justice major focuses on the nature of crime and the institutions and processes that prevent and respond to crime in a democratic society. The curriculum covers the study of crime, criminal behavior, law enforcement, courts, corrections, security, and investigative forensics. Th e criminal justice major is designed to provide students with a broad understanding of crime and justice.

Objectives

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

• Describe the history and development of criminal justice organizations and the worldwide diversity of the rule of law in various countries.
• Analyze the operations, policies, and procedures within the criminal justice system.
• Recognize trends in crime and criminal behavior and methods of prevention and treatment.
• 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.
• Demonstrate a cohesive base of skills, techniques, and principles related to the practice of criminal justice.
• Identify and compare international and cross-cultural approaches to crime and prevention.
• Demonstrate the ability to access, interpret, and apply criminal justice research findings.

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).

Requirements for the Criminal Justice Major

Coursework for a major in criminal justice includes the following:

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) and cross-curricular requirements (in civic responsibility, historical, and international perspectives) may be found on the GER page.

First Courses
(to be taken within the first 18 credits)

Note: Placement tests are required for math and English composition courses.

LIBS 150 Information Literacy and Research Methods (1)

ENGL 101/101X Introduction to Writing (3)

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

CCJS 100 Introduction to Criminal Justice (3)
or CCJS 105 Introduction to Criminology
or CCJS 230 Criminal Law in Action
(first foundation course for the major)

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 other course(s) to fulfill the general education requirement in biological and physical sciences with related laboratory

ENGL 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)

CCJS 230 Criminal Law in Action (3)
or other foundation course for the major (see Requirements for the Major)

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
or HIST 157 History of the United States Since 1865
or other course(s) to fulfill the second general education requirement in arts and humanities (discipline must differ from first) and the cross-curricular requirement for historical perspective

ANTH 344 Cultural Anthropology and Linguistics (3)
or other course to fulfill the cross-curricular requirement in international perspective

SPCH 100 Foundations of Speech Communication (3)
or COMM 380 Language in Social Contexts 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(s) to fulfill the second general education requirement in interdisciplinary issues/computing and the cross-curricular requirement in civic responsibility

Additional Required Courses
(to be taken after introductory and foundation courses)

CCJS 320 Introduction to Criminalistics (3)
or other core course for the major (see Requirements for the Major)

CCJS 350 Juvenile Delinquency (3)
or other core course (see Requirements for the Major)

CCJS 360 Victimology (3)
or other core course (see Requirements for the Major)

ENGL 391/391X Advanced Expository and Research Writing (3)
or other course to fulfill the general education requirement in communications/ upper-level intensive writing

SOCY 313 The Individual and Society (3)
or other diversity/societal issues course for the major (see Requirements for the Major)

CCJS 430 Legal and Ethical Issues in Security Management (3)
or other historical period policy issues course (see Requirements for the Major)

CCJS 497 Correctional Administration (3)
or other supplemental major course (see Requirements for the Major)

CCJS 445 Introduction to Security Management (3)
or CCJS 486A/B Internship in Criminal Justice Through Co-op or other supplemental major course (if needed to complete total credits for major)

Minor and/or Elective Courses
(to be taken in the last 60 credits along with required major courses) (46)

Total credits for BS in criminal justice (120)

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 and some related areas; at least 9 credits must be earned in upper-level courses (numbered 300 or above). Specific course requirements are listed below. If a specific course required for the minor is taken instead to satisfy requirements for the major, another course in the same discipline should be substituted to fulfill the required minimum number of credits for the minor. Any course used to replace an upper-level course should also be classified as upper level.

Criminal Justice Minor Courses
(to be taken in the last 60 credits with required and supplemental major courses)

Foundation Courses

One course chosen from the following: (3)

CCJS 100 Introduction to Criminal Justice

CCJS 105 Introduction to Criminology

CCJS 230 Criminal Law in Action

A second foundation course chosen from the above list (3)

Core Courses

One course chosen from the following: (3)

CCJS 320 Introduction to Criminalistics

CCJS 340 Law-Enforcement Administration

CCJS 350 Juvenile Delinquency

CCJS 352 Drugs and Crime

CCJS 400 Criminal Courts

CCJS 432 Law of Corrections

A second core course chosen from the above list (3)

Supplemental Course

One course chosen from the following: (3)

CCJS 351 Issues in Criminal Justice

CCJS 357 Industrial and Retail Security Administration

CCJS 370 Race, Crime, and Criminal Justice

CCJS 453 White-Collar and Organized Crime

CCJS 496 Computer Crime and Security

Total credits for minor in criminal justice (15)

For a listing of all the requirements for the bachelor's degree, students should refer to the overall bachelor's degree requirements.

Last updated: 16 October 2006