Criminal Justice, Bachelor of Science

The criminal justice major provides a general orientation to society and social processes (similar to that provided by sociology), but also includes a focused study of deviance, criminal behavior, and the criminal justice system. Course offerings leading to a major in criminal justice are open to students interested in a professional career or those planning to enter graduate school. Non-majors interested in the general area of deviance or criminology are encouraged to take courses in this major, provided they possess the stated prerequisites or comparable background.

The criminal justice program blends theoretical and applied orientations. A practicum experience of 6 – 10 semester hours is required of all majors. The practicum is designed to provide majors with first-hand field experience so that classroom learning may be applied and tested. It also affords the student with valuable experience in a possible career field, and allows the student to strengthen his or her résumé with applied hours in the field which may be viewed favorably by a graduate school or prospective employer.

It is expected that students majoring in criminal justice will be involved in a wide range of field activities throughout the time the major is being pursued. Field activities may be carried on in a variety of settings which may include: social work agencies serving those with histories of incarceration; public and private children's homes; homes for the delinquent; mental and penal institutions; probation and parole agencies; juvenile courts; inner-city ghettos; and depressed rural areas where significant substance abuse and other social problems are concentrated.

The criminal justice major requires completion of 39 credits. Students completing the criminal justice major are eligible for the bachelor of science degree.

Criminal Justice Major Requirements

Core Courses

CRJS 203/SOCI 203	Introduction to Criminal Justice	3
CRJS 351	Juvenile Delinquency	3
CRJS 405	Practicum	6
SOCI 101	Principles Of Sociology	3
SOCI 202/PSYC 202/SCWK 202	Statistics	3
SOCI 210/SCWK 210	Research Methods	3
SOCI 303	Crime and Social Deviancy	3
SOCI 304	Social Psychology	3
SOCI 380	Social Theory	3
	An additional cross cultural course or approved experience	3

Two of the following

CRJS 230	Criminal Law	3
CRJS 270	Law Enforcement	3
CRJS 275	Corrections	3

CRIMINAL JUSTICE REQUIREMENTS AT A GLANCE
Type of Credit	Required Credits
General Education (For B.S.)*	46
Major	39
Elective	41
Total Credits to Earn Degree	126
*Based on students arriving as first time freshmen. Some general education requirements are met through required major courses. This reduces the number of required general education credits.