Criminal Justice, Bachelor of Science
The criminal justice major provides a general orientation to society and social processes, 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 three 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 36-39 credits. Students completing the criminal justice major are eligible for the bachelor of science degree.
Criminal Justice Major Requirements
Core Courses
CRJS 405 must be completed for three credits.
Students may substitute PSYC 101 General Psychology for SOCI 101 Principles of Sociology.
Two of the following
Group 1 (General)
Group 2 (Administration)
| CRJS 310 | Advanced Law Enforcement Administration | 3 |
Two of the following
| CRJS 303 | Law Enforcement Intelligence | 3 |
| CRJS 306 | Vice and Narcotics Investigation | 3 |
| CRJS 311 | Introduction to Homeland Security | 3 |
Typically, residential students will complete courses in Group 1 (General) and online students will complete Group 2 (Administration) courses, but any criminal justice major can choose to complete either group of courses. Students will complete 36 or 39 credits for the major depending on which group of courses selected.
| CRIMINAL JUSTICE REQUIREMENTS AT A GLANCE |
| Type of Credit |
Required Credits |
| General Education (For B.S.)* |
36 |
| Major |
36-39 |
| Elective |
45-48 |
| Total Credits to Earn Degree |
120 |
| *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. |