The Criminal Justice program prepares students for a career in law enforcement or corrections. The degree program provides students with knowledge in the areas of U.S. law enforcement, criminology, criminal investigation and community relations. Available areas of study help students focus on juvenile issues, causes of crime and criminal behavior, corrections and incarceration, investigative procedures and/or forensics and investigative techniques.  A concentration is also available providing students greater knowledge in the specific area of interest. The Criminal Justice program provides the student with an understanding of the United States Criminal justice system. The Curriculum offers a useful educational experience and academic skills for students who wish to pursue graduate study or possibly a career as a Police or Corrections Officer, Criminal Investigator, Probation Officer, Customs Officer, Secret Service Officer or Special Agent.

Degree Program Objectives

In addition to the institutional and general education level learning objectives, the Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice also seeks the following specific learning outcomes of its graduates.  With reference to each of the respective areas of criminal justice, graduates in this degree program will be able to:           

Criminal Justice Administration and Organization

• Recognize and explain the major international, U.S., and localized law enforcement systems and organization.
• Describe and analyze the political and public administrative aspects of law enforcement organizations.

Criminal Justice Theories and Concepts

• Communicate and apply the major theories and concepts of crime, criminal justice, and criminology.
• Conduct research associated with criminal justice and criminology theories.

Criminal Justice Operations, Practices, and Processes

•  Assess the operations, practices, and processes associated with leading standards of evidence and law.

Degree Program Requirements

RQ295 / COL 100 Foundations of Online Learning (fomerly Academic and Career Planning) (3 semester hours) - Required as the first course in all undergraduate programs.

General Education Requirements (34 semester hours)
English Composition - 6 semester hours
EN101 / ENG 101 - Proficiency in Writing (Required)
EN102 / ENG 102 - Effectiveness in Writing or
EN202 / ENG 200 - English Composition and Literature

Social Sciences - 6 semester hours
SS101 / ECO 101 - Microeconomics
SS102 / ECO 102 - Macroeconomics
SS111 / GEO 101 - Introduction to Geography
SS133 / SOC 111 - Introduction to Sociology
SS134 / PSY 101 - Introduction to Psychology 
SS190 / ANT 100 - Introduction to Anthropology
SS210 / CFD 220 - Human Sexuality  
SO220 / SOC 220 - American Popular Culture

Science - 4 semester hours including required 1 hour labs
SC100 / SCI 100 - Introduction to Biology
SC198 / SCI 100 L - Introduction to Biology Lab
SC101 / SCI 110 - Introduction to Chemistry
SC199 / SCI 110 L - Introduction to Chemistry Lab   
SC102 / SCI 102 - Introduction to Human Anatomy & Physiology 
SC122 / SCI 102 L - Introduction to Human Anatomy & Physiology Lab
SC103 / SCI 103 - Introduction to Physics 
SC123 / SCI 103 L - Introduction to Physics Lab
SC104 / SCI 104 - Introduction to Astronomy
SC124 / SCI 104 L - Introduction to Astronomy Lab
SC106 / SCI 106 - Introduction to Oceanography 
SC126 / SCI 106 L - Introduction to Oceanography Lab
SC107 / SCI 107 - Introduction to Meteorology
SC127 / SCI 107 L - Introduction to Meteorology Lab

Mathematics - 3 semester hours
MA110 / MA112 / MAT 110 - Introduction to College Algebra and Trigonometry / College Algebra, or
MA111 / MA113 / MAT 111 College Algebra and Trigonometry / College Trigonometry, or
MA125 / MAT 125 - Math for Liberal Arts Majors, or
MA225 / MAT 225 - Calculus

History - 6 semester hours
HS101 / HIS101 - American History to 1877
HS102 / HIS 102 - American History since 1877
HS111 / HIS 111 - World Civilization I
HS112 / HIS 112 - World Civilization II
HS121 / HIS 121 - Western Civilization Before The Thirty Years War
HS122 / HIS 122 - Western Civilization Since Thirty Years War
HS215 / HIS 223 - History of the American Indian
HS217 / HIS 221 - African-American History before 1877
HS218 / HIS 222 - African-American History since 1877

Humanities - 3 semester hours
HM101 / SPA 100 - Spanish I 
HM102 / SPA 101 - Spanish II (Prerequisite: HM101) - or other foreign language
HM200 / MUS 200 - Music Appreciation
HM230 / REL 201 - Introduction to World Religions  
HM240 / ART 200 - Art Appreciation  
HM277 / PHI 200 - Introduction to Ethics
PH101 / PHI 101 - Introduction to Philosophy

Literature - 3 semester hours
HM201 / LIT 220 - American Literature before the Civil War
HM202 / LIT 221 - American Literature from Civil War to Present
HM221 / LIT 210 - English Literature: Beowulf to 18th Century
HM222 / LIT 211 - English Literature: 18th Century to Present
HM211 / LIT 201 - World Lit through the Renaissance
HM212 / LIT 202 - World Lit since the Renaissance

Political Science - 3 semester hours
SS121 / POL 210 - American Government I
SS131 / INR 210 - International Relations
 

Core Courses (30 semester hours)
CJ301 / CRJ 201 - Criminal Justice Administration
CJ300 / CRJ 300 - Research Methods of Criminal Justice & Security
CJ302 / CRJ 302 - U.S. Law Enforcement
CJ303 / CRJ 303 -Criminology
CJ306 / CRJ 306 - Criminal Investigation
CJ308 / CRJ 308 - Ethics in Criminal Justice
CJ316 / CRJ 316 - Corrections and Incarceration
CJ330 / LST 301 - Constitutional Law
CJ331 / LST 302 - Criminal Law
CJ305 / LST 400 - Criminal Evidence and Legal Process

Major Courses (15 semester hours)
Criminal Justices majors must take five (5) courses from any of the courses listed below.  Students who wish to focus their study in the Forensics Concentration must take the five courses from that concentration.  A concentration is optional.

General Program Courses
CJ100 / CRJ 100 - Introduction to Law Enforcement
CJ101 / CRJ 101 - Evidence and Procedures
CJ102 / CRJ 102 - Introduction to Federal Law Enforcement Agencies
CJ200 / CRJ 200 - Police and Society
CJ312 / CRJ 202 - Stress Management in Law Enforcement
CJ333 / CJ203 / CRJ 203 - Patrol Procedures / Patrol Methodologies and Community Policing
CJ368 / CRJ 205 - Rape and Sexual Violence
PY359 / CRJ 206 - Juvenile Delinquency
CJ309 / CRJ 309 - Judicial Process
CJ310 / CRJ 310 - Drug Dynamics in Criminal Justice
CJ314 / CRJ 314 - Contemporary Criminal Justice Issues
CJ317 / CRJ 317 - Probation and Parole
CJ320 / CRJ 320 - Law Enforcement Intelligence Applications
CJ322 / CRJ 322 - Crime and the Family
CJ324 / CRJ 324 - The History of Organized Crime
CJ327 / CRJ 327 - Gang Theory, Practice, & Suppression
CJ329 / CRJ 329 - Criminal Profiling
CJ341 / CRJ 341 - Criminalistics
CJ335 / CRJ 401 - Crime Analysis
CJ304 / CRJ 402 - The Pathology of Death Investigations
CJ490 / CRJ 490 - Independent Study: Criminal Justice
CJ319 / SCM319 - Global Terrorism
CJ370 / SCM 370 - Principles and Theory of Security Issues

Concentration in Forensics
CJ368 / CRJ 205 - Rape and Sexual Violence
CJ329 / CRJ 329 - Criminal Profiling
CJ341 / CRJ 341 - Criminalistics
CJ335 / CRJ 401 - Crime Analysis
CJ304 / CRJ 402 - The Pathology of Death Investigation

Electives (39 semester hours)
Select any courses that have not been used to fulfill core or major requirements. Credits applied toward a minor or certificate in an unrelated field may be used to fulfill elective credit for the major.

Total = 121 semester hours