Criminal Justice

The Criminal Justice program is designed to provide a multidisciplinary understanding of crime and the criminal justice system. The original curriculum was developed in conformance with the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences’ committee on standards for criminal justice education. The program prepares graduates for careers at the local, state, and federal levels.  These careers include, but are not limited to, law enforcement, corrections (including probation and parole), courts, homeland security, and investigation. The program also offers an excellent background for those wishing to pursue graduate studies or law school. Among its notable features are courses in criminal law, law enforcement administration, criminal investigations, corrections, juvenile justice, research methods, and a semester-long capstone practicum externship. 

Core classes for the Criminal Justice major are: CJ 101 Introduction to Criminal Justice, CJ 202 Criminal Law, CJ 310 Law Enforcement Administration, CJ 320 Courts and Judicial Systems, CJ 475 Seminar in Criminal Justice-Capstone, SOCA 232 Criminology, SOCA 311 Social Research Methods, POLS 313 American Constitutional Law, and HUMS 489 Practicum Capstone Internship. In addition, twenty one hours of restricted electives are to be chosen from the following: CJ 233 Juvenile Justice, CJ 324 Drugs, Crime and Society, CJ 240 Correctional Counseling, CJ 316 Community Based Corrections, CJ 410 Criminal Investigations, FRNX 315 Interviewing Theories and Practice, FRNX 318 Crime Scenes, POLS 102 Introduction to American Government, POLS 400 Terrorism and National Security, SOCA 101 Introduction to Sociology, SOCA 207 Social Problems in Contemporary America, SOCA 302 Deviant Behavior, SOCA 305 Social Stratification and Power in American Society, ECON 225 Elementary Business and Economics Statistics, PSYC 281 Introduction to Abnormal Psychology, and ACCT 421 Fraud Management: Legal/Ethical Issues. The core and restricted elective classes make up the professional courses for the Criminal Justice major. General electives must be approved by the student’s academic advisor. 

Students majoring in Criminal Justice may also select an emphasis in Law Enforcement (CJ 233 Juvenile Justice, CJ 324 Drugs, Crime and Society, POLS 400 Terrorism and National Security, and CJ 410 Criminal Investigations) or Corrections (CJ 233 Juvenile Justice, CJ 240 Correctional Counseling, CJ 316 Community Based Corrections, and SOCA 207 Social Problems). An emphasis is not required for the B.S. in Criminal Justice. Criminal Justice majors, upon successful completion of their degree, qualify for a minor in Sociology.

Non-majors may minor in Criminal Justice by completing CJ 101 Introduction to Criminal Justice, CJ 233 Juvenile Justice, and nine credits selected from the following: CJ 310 Law Enforcement Administration, CJ 320 Courts and Judicial Systems, CJ 410 Criminal Investigations, HUMS 320 Public Administration, POLS 313 American Constitutional Law, POLS 400 Terrorism and National Security, SOCA 302 Deviant Behavior, SOCA 311 Social Research Methods, and ACCT 421 Fraud Management: Legal/Ethical Issues.

In addition to fulfilling graduation requirements outlined in the pattern sheet, students must also achieve a minimum 2.0 in each Criminal Justice course and an overall minimum GPA of 2.0 in program professional courses and participate in program assessment.

 The Criminal Justice program has the following learning outcomes: 

      1.   The student will demonstrate a recognition of, and differentiate between, of all the             components of the criminal justice system. 

      2.   The student will be able to communicate explanations of scientific methods to criminal justice             research problems. 

      3.   The student will be able to communicate in written and verbal form. 

      4.   The student will demonstrate their awareness of the importance of diversity within the criminal             justice system and in relation to the community.