Choose from two majors:
- Criminal Justice Comprehensive - requires a total of 19 courses, or 58 credit hours in the major
- Criminal Justice Traditional - requires a total of 12 courses or 36 credit hours in the major plus an additional 24 credit hours for a minor, for a total of 60 credit hours
Both major options include nine core courses, which are required for every student. Students may start their program in any semester, including summer.
| Required Courses |
28 credit hours |
CJUS 101GS, CJUS 103, CJUS 215, CJUS 230, CJUS 326, CJUS 340, and CJUS 480; plus choose from CJUS 250 or SWOK 440; and take 6-9 credit hours CJUS 475 |
| Criminal Justice Electives |
21 credit hours |
Elective criminal justice courses are dependent upon selected criminal justice major. Students should work with their adviser when choosing electives. |
| Social Science Electives |
9 credit hours |
Elective criminal justice courses are dependent upon selected criminal justice major. Students should work with their adviser when choosing electives. |
Note: Recommended prerequisites include an associate's degree or the majority of the general studies requirements completed.
Students are strongly recommended to have had completed the general studies courses necessary for a bachelor's degree independently, before beginning the degree completion coursework. If general studies courses are not yet complete, students will need to work with the program coordinator to determine best options for completing the necessary courses.
Introduction to Criminal Justice
CJUS 101GS
3
This course is intended to provide a broad understanding of the functional components of the criminal justice system and their interrelationship. It will also provide a basic understanding of the American crime problem.
Orientation to Criminal Justice
CJUS 103
1
This course provides a review of academic, professional and career planning issues of a criminal justice major.
Correctional Services and Systems
CJUS 215
3
This course covers the historical development of corrections leading to an analysis of our correctional process and systems in contemporary America.
The Police Service
CJUS 230
3
This course is intended to introduce students to the major developments and problems in policing. Topics will include rights and responsibilities of the uniformed officer, patrol and manpower distribution theories, police unionism, ethics and corruption, community relations, and the police subculture as a distinct value system.
Criminal Justice Research Methods I
CJUS 250
3
A course intended to give students some fundamentals in planning, research, and grant writing for criminal justice subsystems, (Program planning and evaluation).
Theories of Crime and Criminal Law
CJUS 326
3
This course is intended to introduce students to the philosophical foundations of criminal law, as well as the various theories that have been proposed to address criminal offending and the prevention of crime. Students will evaluate each theory within the context of the crime and the criminal justice system in the United States
Criminal Evidence, Procedure and the Courts
CJUS 340
3
The emphasis of this course will be on the concept of evidence and the rules governing its admissibility. There will also be theoretical and pragmatic considerations of constitutional requirements affecting evidence and procedure.
Internship
CJUS 475
6 or 9
Prereq: junior or senior standing, permission of instructor and department chair. Designed to give students on-the-job exposure to their areas of interest within the criminal justice system. Offered only as credit/no credit.
Senior Seminar: Professional Ethics and Career...
CJUS 480
3
Senior Seminar: Professional Ethics and Career Development
Graduating seniors must take this class in the school year they plan on graduating. This is a capstone course for the criminal justice program and will include assessment methods. Emphasis of the course will be on ethics in the criminal justice profession and the continued development of skills that will aid in the student's career development.
Fundamentals of Research in Social Welfare
SOWK 440
3
This course will introduce students to the concepts and principles of social work research methodology, educate them about the ethics and politics involved, and promote their understanding of research issues relevant to diversity, multiculturalism, as well as social and economic injustices