Criminal Justice (B.A., B.S.)

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

Student Success Advisor(s)

Sample Degree Plan

Program Summary

The Criminal Justice program provides students with extensive knowledge of the U.S. Criminal Justice System, comprised of law enforcement, courts, and corrections. Students will develop the capacity to apply law, social sciences, and sound practices as criminal justice professionals in the public and private sectors. The program also provides students a foundation upon which to pursue advanced education in the criminal justice field.

Program Learning Outcomes

Students will recognize the basic legal, constitutional, ethical, and moral challenges confronting criminal justice personnel.
Students will demonstrate effectiveness in written and oral communication.
Students will employ critical and creative thinking individually as well as a member of a team.
Students will identify the functions, operations, and challenges of the U.S. Criminal Justice System, including law enforcement, courts, and corrections.

Program Information

All courses must be passed with a “C-” (1.7) or better to be counted in the major.
No more than six (6) credits of internship (CJ 4890 ) can be counted toward the CJ major. Up to 12 credits can be counted toward the student’s overall degree total. All CJ majors are encouraged to complete an internship.
No more than 21 transfer credits can be counted toward the major.

General Education Requirement (30-35 Credits)

See General Education for course options.

Core Course Requirements (12-15 Credits)
Knowledge Area Requirements (16-20 Credits)

Please note: All students must complete a minimum of 30 credits between the Core and Knowledge Area requirements.

Bachelor’s Degree Type: Arts or Science Requirement (12* or 16** Credits)

Select one degree type from either Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science:

Bachelor of Science (BS) Degree Requirement (12 Credits*)

Bachelor of Science Degree - Math or Science minimum requirement 12 Credits

* Note: A portion of the B.S. requirements may be met by fulfilling the General Education Core and Knowledge Areas. Because of this, these credits are typically not counted in the degree total at the bottom of page. Some students majoring in non-science fields may need additional math/science courses to reach the minimum 12 credits. Consult your Student Success Advisor for details.

or

Bachelor of Arts (BA) Degree Requirement (16 Credits**)

Bachelor of Arts Degree - Foreign Language Requirement 16 Credits

** Note: One semester of a foreign language may also fulfill the General Education Humanities requirement. The 16 credits may be fulfilled by taking four semesters of a foreign language or by testing out of a language and purchasing the credits. These credits are typically counted in the degree total at the bottom of the page. Consult your Student Success Advisor for details.

Criminal Justice Curriculum (42 Credits)

Core Requirements (21 Credits)

CJ 1010 - Introduction to Criminal Justice 3 Credit(s)
CJ 1330 - Criminal Law 3 Credit(s)
CJ 2500 - Research Methods in Criminal Justice 3 Credit(s)
CJ 3020 - Criminal Justice Management 3 Credit(s)
CJ 3270 - Criminological Theory 3 Credit(s)
CJ 4200 - Ethical Issues in CJ 3 Credit(s)
CJ 4990 - Criminal Justice Capstone 3 Credit(s)

Criminal Justice Electives (21 Credits)

Select 21 credits, 12 of which must be upper-division credit.
All CJ classes not included in the core count as CJ electives.
The following courses may be taken as CJ elective credit:
- POLS 3120 - Courts 3 Credit(s)
- POLS 3510 - Constitutional Law 3 Credit(s)
- PSY 4310 - Abnormal Psychology 3 Credit(s) *
- PSY 4530 - Forensic Psychology 3 Credit(s) *
- PSY 4550 - Drugs and Behavior 3 Credit(s) *
- SOC 3500 - Deviance 3 Credit(s)
- SOC 3610 - Juvenile Delinquency 3 Credit(s)

Note

* These courses require PSY 1010 - General Psychology as a prerequisite. The Department highly recommends students take PSY 1010 as part of their free electives or as their General Education Social and Behavioral Sciences Knowledge Area.

Free Electives (27-51 Credits)

Total elective credit is determined by General Education courses taken, degree type selected, additional credits earned, and any additional math or other prerequisite courses needed. For a bachelor’s degree, students must earn a minimum of 40 upper-division credits (courses numbered 3000-4999). Students may need to select additional upper-division courses not included in their major requirements in order to reach this minimum. Please consult your Student Success Advisor for details.