Criminal Justice, B.S.
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The Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice, under the Department of Criminal Justice, is designed to prepare students for employment in those social services and criminal justice sectors which directly support police and government law enforcement efforts. The program will also prepare them for graduate work in these fields. The focus of the major will be to ensure that students understand the criminal justice system in the United States as it is related to class structure, race, ethnicity, and gender so that they will develop a more person-centered understanding of crime and law enforcement. Counseling skills, coupled with an understanding of individuals’ behavior within families and groups in society, will ensure that students, as leaders in the community and as professionals, are prepared for respectful and effective interaction with citizens.
This focus on a person-centered orientation, rooted in the discipline of Sociology, also provides a strong foundation from which “action-oriented” ethics teaching can be provided. Our students, through both core and major courses, as well as in their Criminal Justice field experiences, will be exposed to and practice ethical reasoning and will work to gain an understanding of the perspective of others.
Our students receive extensive field experience through participation in at least one guided internship. This experience provides a more broad set of career options, including graduate education in fields such as criminal justice, law, social work or public administration.
Upon completing the program of study in Criminal Justice, students will:
- Develop and demonstrate an understanding of core specialized criminal justice vocabulary.
- Develop and demonstrate a college-level understanding of the foundations of American criminal law.
- Develop and demonstrate a college-level understanding of constitutional law in America.
- Develop and demonstrate a college-level understanding of criminal theory.
- Develop and demonstrate an ability to read analytically and to produce college-level writing.
MAJOR REQUIREMENTS
REQUIRED CORE (39 credits)
CJ 111 - Introduction to the Criminal Justice System
SO 218 - Statistics for Behavioral Sciences
SO 219 - Research Methods
CJ 231 - Deviance and Criminology
CJ 232 - Juvenile Delinquency
CJ 233 - Corrections
CJ 234 - Contemporary Issues in Criminal Justice
CJ 248 - Correctional Administration
SO 242 - Race, Ethnicity and Racism
CJ 338 - Criminal Evidence
CJ 345 - Criminal Law and Procedure
CJ 380 - Internship
CJ 391 - Senior Seminar: Ethics
CRIMINAL JUSTICE ELECTIVES (6 credits)
Select two (6 credits):
SO 111 - Introduction to Sociology
SO 121 - Contemporary Social Problems
SO 241 - Urban Sociology
SO 310 - Sociology of Law and Social Control
CJ 239 - National Security & Civil Liberty
CJ 250 - Police & Community Relations
CJ 255 - Special Topics
CJ 280 - Criminal Justice Practicum
CJ 335 - The U.S. Constitution & Bill of Rights
*ADP students may substitute CJ 390 for CJ 380
WRITING IN THE DISCIPLINE DESIGNATED COURSE
4 + 1 Program: BS to MS in Criminal Justice
The 4+1 Master of Science in Criminal Justice program is designed for high-achieving traditional undergraduate students who wish to complete both a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and a Master of Science in Criminal Justice in an accelerated format.
Students enrolled in this program complete a total of 150 credits: 120 credits at the undergraduate level and 30 credits at the graduate level. During their senior year, students take two graduate-level courses, which count toward both undergraduate and graduate degree requirements. These graduate credits are offered at no additional cost during the undergraduate phase, provided the student has been formally accepted into the 4+1 program.
To be eligible, students must apply to the Master of Science in Criminal Justice program in the spring semester of their junior year. A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5 is required for consideration. Upon acceptance, students are assigned a graduate faculty advisor in addition to their undergraduate faculty advisor.
This program offers a streamlined pathway to advanced criminal justice education, enabling students to complete both degrees efficiently while receiving comprehensive academic support and preparation for leadership roles in law enforcement, corrections, policy, and related fields.