Contact Information

R. Bruce McBride
Director, Criminal Justice Program

Major in Criminal Justice 


School of Business and Justice Studies 


(Bachelor of Science Degree)

Criminal justice is the study of crime, its causes, and its effects on society. It is concerned with preventing and deterring criminal behavior, rehabilitating the offender, and providing a system where justice and rights are served. Graduates of the program have opportunities in a variety of criminal justice fields including policing, law, probation, juvenile services, private security, public administration/planning, counseling, research, and regulatory enforcement.

In addition to entry level employment opportunities, graduates may pursue advanced study in fields such as public administration, criminal justice and criminology, management, and law.

Total credit hours required for degree: 120

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS


Students in criminal justice are required to achieve a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.5 (on a 4.0 scale) across major, major-related, major elective, and major concentration courses by the first semester of their junior year and to maintain that average thereafter.


ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS


(See also General Education Core)

Course Credit Hours Year Taken
Core 34-55  
Major Course Requirements
Criminal Justice System
Criminal Justice 103 Introduction to Criminal Justice 3 1
Criminal Justice 351 Comparative Criminal Justice Systems 3 3,4
Criminal Justice 461 Senior Seminar 3 4
  9

  
Law
Government and Politics 341 Jurisprudence of the Criminal Law 3 3,4
Criminal Justice 342 Constitutional Law in the Criminal Process 3 3,4
  6

  
Research and Theory
Criminal Justice 101 Introduction to Criminal Justice Research Methods 1 1
Sociology 274 Criminology 3 2,3
Sociology 376 Criminological Research Methods 3 3,4
  7

  
Internship
Criminal Justice 470 Internship 6 – 15 4
  6-15  
Major Electives
Choose four or more of the following, two of which must be 300 or 400 level courses:
Criminal Justice 212 American Policing 3 2,3
Criminal Justice 221 Issues in Juvenile Justice 3 2,3
Criminal Justice 224 American Corrections 3 2,3
Criminal Justice 250 Probation/Parole and Sentencing Alternatives 3 2,3
Criminal Justice 300 Special Topics   2,3,4
Criminal Justice 314 Modern Techniques in Crime Investigation 3 3,4
Criminal Justice 334 Economic Crime Investigation 3 3,4
Criminal Justice 335 Cybercrime Law and Investigations 3 3,4
Criminal Justice 343 Law of Economic Crime 3 3,4
Criminal Justice 345 Criminal Evidence 3 3,4
Criminal Justice 382 Administrative Issues in Criminal Justice 3 3,4
Criminal Justice 441 Applied Legal Research 3 4
  12+  
Major-Related Requirements
Psychology 101 Introduction to Psychology 3 1,2
Psychology 372 Counseling and Interviewing Process 3 3,4
Sociology 151 Human Society 3 1,2
Sociology 252 Racial and Cultural Minorities 3 2,3
Mathematics 112 Statistics 3 1,2,3,4
or
Psychology/Sociology 211 Statistics in the Behavioral Sciences 3 2,3
or
Economics 241 Statistics 3 2,3
 
One of the following:
Psychology 322 Adolescence 3 3,4
Psychology 331 Introduction to Social Psychology 3 3,4
Psychology 361 Abnormal Psychology 3 3,4
  18  
Electives
The student must complete sufficient elective courses to earn at least the minimum credit hours required for this degree, and at least 60 credit hours of the 120 required must be in the liberal arts and sciences.


* Students wishing information about the criminal justice retention policy should consult with their academic adviser.