The criminal justice program provides students with an understanding of the nature of crime and the personnel, institutions, and processes that prevent or respond to crime. Students learn both the theory and practice of the criminal justice system. The curriculum covers crime and criminal behavior, law enforcement, courts, corrections, security, and investigation. It provides a solid foundation for further study or entry into a variety of criminal justice professions.

The student who graduates with a Major in Criminal Justice will be able to

• Describe the history and development of criminal justice organizations in the United States.



• Analyze the operations, policies, and procedures within the criminal justice system.



• Explain the role of the criminal justice system (police, courts, and corrections) in the administration of justice in the United States and other countries.



• Analyze the theories related to deviance and critique the effectiveness of their practical application to behavioral change.



• Articulate the values and ethics that guide the criminal justice professions.



• Demonstrate the ability to access, interpret, and apply criminal justice empirical research findings.



• Demonstrate the ability to access, interpret, and apply legal research related to criminal law and court proceedings.

A degree with a major in criminal justice requires the successful completion of 120 credits of coursework, including 30 credits for the major (indicated by Δ), 41 credits in general education requirements (GERs); and 49 credits in the minor, electives, and other degree requirements. At least 15 credits in the major must be earned in upper-level courses (numbered 300 or above).

Coursework for a major in criminal justice includes the following:

• Required foundation course (3 credits): CCJS 100 or 105
• Required statistics course (3 credits): STAT 200
• Core courses (15 credits): CCJS 230 (or 234), 340 (or 320), 350 (or 461), 345 (or 430), and 497 (or 432)
• Supplemental major courses (9 credits, 3 of which must be upper level): Any CCJS courses or HMLS 495

The following course sequence will fulfill all the requirements for the Major in Criminal Justice. Since some recommended courses fill more than one requirement, substituting courses for those listed may make it necessary to take additional courses to meet degree requirements. Students should consult an advisor whenever taking advantage of other options. Information on alternate courses (where allowable) to fulfill general education requirements (in communications, arts and humanities, behavioral and social sciences, biological and physical sciences, mathematics, and interdisciplinary issues) may be found on the GER page.

First Courses (to be taken within the first 18 credits)
Note: Placement tests are required for MATH and WRTG courses.

LIBS 150 Information Literacy and Research Methods (1)

WRTG 101 Introduction to Writing (3)

MATH 107 Finite Mathematics (3)
or MATH 106 or a higher-level math course

Δ CCJS 100 Introduction to Criminal Justice (3)
or CCJS 105 Introduction to Criminology

Introductory Courses (to be taken within the first 30 credits)

GVPT 170 American Government (3)
or other ANTH, BEHS, ECON, GEOG, GVPT, PSYC, SOCY, or eligible AASP, CCJS, GERO, or WMST course to fulfill the first behavioral and social sciences requirement

Both BIOL 101 Concepts of Biology (3)
and BIOL 102 Laboratory in Biology (1)
or BIOL 103 Introduction to Biology
or other course(s) to fulfill the biological and physical sciences lecture and laboratory requirement

WRTG 291 Expository and Research Writing (3)
or other course to fulfill the communications/writing requirement

IFSM 201 Introduction to Computer-Based Systems (3)
or CMST 303 Advanced Application Software

Δ CCJS 230 Criminal Law in Action (3)
or CCJS 234 Criminal Procedure and Evidence

PHIL 140 Contemporary Moral Issues (3)
or a foreign language course
or other ARTH, ARTT, HIST, HUMN, MUSC, PHIL, THET, dance, or literature course to fulfill the arts and humanities requirement

Foundation Courses (to be taken within the first 60 credits)

Δ STAT 200 Introduction to Statistics (3)

PSYC 100 Introduction to Psychology (3)
or SOCY 100 Introduction to Sociology
or other course to fulfill the second behavioral and social sciences requirement (discipline must differ from first)

NSCI 100 Introduction to Physical Science (3)
or ASTR 100 Introduction to Astronomy
or other course to fulfill the biological and physical sciences lecture requirement

HIST 142 Western Civilization II (3)
or HIST 157 History of the United States Since 1865
or other ARTH or HIST course to fulfill the arts and humanities requirement in historical perspective (discipline must differ from other humanities course)

ANTH 344 Cultural Anthropology and Linguistics (3)
(recommended elective)

SPCH 100 Foundations of Speech Communication (3)
or COMM 380 Language in Social Contexts
or other course to fulfill the communications/writing or speech requirement

IFSM 304 Ethics in the Information Age (3)
or other course to fulfill the interdisciplinary issues/computing requirement

Additional Required Courses (to be taken after introductory and foundation courses)

Δ CCJS 340 Law-Enforcement Administration (3)
or CCJS 320 Introduction to Criminalistics

Δ CCJS 350 Juvenile Delinquency (3)
or CCJS 461 Psychology of Criminal Behavior

Δ CCJS 497 Correctional Administration (3)
or CCJS 432 Law of Corrections

WRTG 391 Advanced Expository and Research Writing (3)
or other course to fulfill the communications/upper-level intensive writing requirement

Δ CCJS 345 Introduction to Security Management (3)
or CCJS 430 Legal and Ethical Issues in Security Management

Δ CCJS 341 Criminal Investigation (3)

Δ CCJS 486A Internship in Criminal Justice through Co-op (3)
or other supplemental major course

Δ HMLS 495 Public Safety Policies and Leadership (3)
or other supplemental major course

Minor and/or Elective Courses (to be taken in the last 60 credits along with required major courses) (46)

Recommended Electives

CAPL 398A Career Planning Management
(for students not taking EDCP 100)

CCJS 360 Victimology

CJS 352 Drugs and Crime

Total credits for BS in Criminal Justice: 120