Criminal Justice, B.S.

Objectives for the Major in Criminal Justice

The Criminal Justice Major provides students with courses which lead to a Bachelor of Science Degree and provides a foundation for employment in the Criminal Justice field and graduate work. The program is PCIPP approved.

Student Learning Outcomes

• Understand crime, criminology and the criminal justice system from a number of disciplinary perspectives—biological, psychological, sociological, political science, historical, and economic – in addition to criminology.
• View crime as an aspect of human behavior whose explanation is consistent with explanations of other aspects of human behavior, and as a dynamic phenomenon that is inevitably embedded in any society.
• Undertake the systematic study of the criminal justice system from a number of different perspectives – scientific, legal, and ethical.
• Identify important issues and problems as they affect individuals and society and suggest policy changes to address these issues.
• Gather, evaluate, summarize and interpret qualitative and quantitative data using appropriate technology.
• Develop oral and written skills to communicate their analyses and recommendations.
• Develop both the computer and other technology skills that are inextricably integrated into the modern world, and the capacity to adapt to the ever-changing technological and computing landscape.
• Become aware of, and sensitive to, issues of ethics and diversity in the criminal justice system and to commit to becoming agents of change and justice.

Requirements for the Criminal Justice Major

The Criminal Justice Program requires every major to complete 45 credits of CJ requirements and a minimum of 120 credits for the degree. These include core CJ required courses (24 credits), additional CJ required courses (6 credits) and CJ electives (15 credits). Specific courses are also required in Liberal Arts and Sciences (12 credits).