Criminal Justice, B.S.

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The primary objective of the criminal justice program is to provide students with a curriculum that would qualify them to assume administrative, research and other professional positions in the criminal justice system. Courses offered in the program are designed to teach students how to develop and apply knowledge and critical thinking to current situations in our pluralistic society.

Admission to the Program

Admission is through the filing of a formal application for a major, after completion of General Education requirements.

Major Requirements

Pass all criminal justice courses with a grade of “C” or higher.

Criminal Justice: Total Semester Hours = 120

Freshman Year

First Semester

EN 131 - College English I 3 Credit Hours ^GE ^*
MAT 131 - Liberal Arts Mathematics 3 Credit Hours ^GE ^*
Faith and Wellness Awareness ^GE3 Credits
Historical and Cultural Perspectives ^GE3 Credits
Reasoning Skill - Scientific ^GE3 Credits

Total: 15

Second Semester

CJ 131 - Introduction to Criminal Justice 3 Credit Hours
EN 132 - College English II 3 Credit Hours ^GE
MAT 132 - College Mathematics 3 Credit Hours ^GE
Historical and Cultural Perspectives ^GE3 Credits
Social Foundations and Civic Engagement ^GE3 Credits

Total: 15

Sophomore Year

First Semester

CJ 200 Level Elective3 Credits
CJ 205 - Criminal Law 3 Credit Hours
MLS 131 - Elementary Spanish 3 Credit Hours ^GE
SC 230 - Introduction to Effective Oral Communication 3 Credit Hours ^GE
Social Foundations and Civic Engagement ^GE3 Credits

Total: 15

Second Semester

CJ 206 - Ethics, Crime and Justice 3 Credit Hours
CJ 291 - Writing in Criminal Justice 3 Credit Hours
CS 132 - Computer Applications 3 Credit Hours
OR SS 150 Computer Applications for Social Science 3 Credits
OR SS 240 Introduction to Data Processing 3 Credits
ML_ 132 - Modern Language II 3 Credit Hours ^GE
Free Elective 3 Credits

Total: 15

Junior Year

First Semester

CJ 216 - Criminal Procedure 3 Credit Hours
CJ 300-400 Level Elective 3 Credits
CJ 327 - Corrections 3 Credit Hours
CJ 360 - Victimology 3 Credit Hours
Free Elective 3 Credits

Total: 15

Second Semester

CJ 337 - Law Enforcement 3 Credit Hours
CJ 389 - Criminology 3 Credit Hours
CJ 391 Statistics in Criminal Justice 3 Credits
CJ 480 - Topics in Criminal Justice 3 Credit Hours
Free Elective 3 Credits

Total: 15

Senior Year

First Semester

CJ 300-400 Level Elective 3 Credits
CJ 300-400 Level Elective 3 Credits
CJ 300-400 Level Elective 3 Credits
CJ 461 - Juvenile Justice 3 Credit Hours
CJ 498 - Methodologies and Research Writing 3 Credit Hours

Total: 15

Second Semester

CJ 300-400 Level Elective 3 Credits
CJ 300-400 Level Elective 3 Credits
CJA 490 Field Experience 6 Credits
CJ 499 - Senior Seminar in Criminal Justice 3 Credit Hours

Total: 15

Criminal Justice Electives by Focus Area

Law Enforcement

CJ 351 - Forensic Science
CJ 305 - Crime and the Elderly
CJ 331 - Principles of Criminal Investigation

Corrections

CJ 406 - Probation and Parole
CJ 435 - Treatment of Drug Addiction
CJ 436 - Deprivation of Liberty

Courts & Legal Systems

CJ 310 - Adjudication and Legal Terminology
CJ 320 - Women and the Criminal Justice System

Juvenile Justice Reform

CJ 314 - The Color of Law (In)Justice in American History
CJ 463 - Juvenile Justice Reform
CJ 464 - Juvenile Law

Note:

GE = General Education Courses.

*Based on your placement testing scores, these courses may require prerequisites which may extend the number of semesters needed to complete degree requirements. These prerequisites do not count towards the degree for graduation.