Criminal Justice, Bachelor of Science
Greenville University has intentionally designed their criminal justice major to provide both a general orientation to society and social processes including a focused study of deviance, criminal behavior, and the criminal justice system, and assist law enforcement professionals who are seeking career advancement through the completion of a bachelor's degree. This is accomplished by offering required courses in two modalities: face-to-face and online.
Students who complete the criminal justice major will be prepared for a professional career and/or graduate school. Unique to Greenville University's program is its emphasis on developing the analytical skills to solve problems and make decisions, values and ethical practices, leading organizations, and the increased role of intelligence in countering domestic and global threats. 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 in-class 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/current 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.
Graduates may find employment as police officers, correctional officers, and probation or parole officers.
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 major requires completion of 39-40 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 a minimum of three credits. Students are allowed to complete up to 12 practicum credits per degree.
Students may substitute
PSYC 101 General Psychology for
SOCI 101 Principles of Sociology.
Two of the following
One of the following
In addition to the major requirements listed above, students will need to complete a general education curriculum and elective courses to earn 120 credits which is mandatory for earning a Greenville University degree. Details about the general education curriculum can be found in the Academic Information section of this catalog. Some general education requirements are met through required major courses which reduces the number of required general education credits. Students should work closely with their advisor to put together an academic plan to make sure all degree requirements are met in a timely manner.
The outcomes for this program can be found on the Greenville University Institutional Assessment webpage.