With today's increasing security concerns, numerous positions and different career paths exist in the areas of criminal justice and public safety. Our Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice program can help prepare you for a professional position in the public or private sectors of law enforcement, corrections, or security.
As a criminal justice student, you may choose electives to tailor the program to your law enforcement career goals. Our broad-based academic program emphasizes both criminal justice education and general education, giving you the opportunity for a well-rounded education.
Externships can provide you with the practical experience needed to be successful in your chosen career field. Upon successful completion of the program, graduates are awarded a bachelor of science degree.
Criminal Justice Program Features
- Emphasis on applying skills to the real world
- Hands-on approach to theories and techniques used in law enforcement
- Available externships to gain valuable hands-on experience
Potential Criminal Justice Career Opportunities
As a graduate of this degree program you may seek future entry-level employment opportunities in:
- Local law enforcement
- Court system personnel
- Private security
- Federal or state government
- Other related industries
Criminal Justice Courses and Typical Length of Study
The approximate length of study for this program is 120 semester credit hours.
Major Requirements
and Electives |
Semester
Credit Hours |
| CRJS111 |
Introduction to Criminal Justice |
3 |
| CRJS115 |
Corrections: Policies and Procedures |
3 |
| CRJS155 |
Criminal Law and Judicial Process |
3 |
| CRJS241 |
Juvenile Justice and Delinquency |
3 |
| CRJS251 |
Constitutional Law and Procedure |
3 |
| CRJS271 |
Criminology |
3 |
| CRJS321 |
Critical Issues in Criminal Justice |
3 |
| CRJS322 |
Research Methods in Criminal Justice |
3 |
| CRJS491 |
Planning, Policy Development, and Leadership |
3 |
| CRJS211 |
Criminal Justice Externship I–OR–Criminal Justice elective |
3 |
| CRJS |
Electives (300 level or higher) |
3 |
| HUMN115 |
Introduction to Philosophy |
3 |
| HUMN365 |
Ethics |
3 |
| |
Humanities Electives (one 300–400 level) |
3 |
| MATH295 |
Statistics II |
3 |
| PSYC102 |
Introduction to Psychology |
3 |
| SOCI111 |
Introduction to Sociology |
3 |
| |
Social Science electives (three 300 level or higher) |
9 |
| OPEN |
Non-CRJS electives |
12 |
General Education Courses |
|
| GNED111 |
First Semester Seminar |
3 |
| GNED211 |
Critical Thinking Workshop |
3 |
| |
Upper Seminar |
3 |
| CRJS495 |
Senior Research Seminar |
3 |
| ENGL103 |
English Composition |
3 |
| ENGL106 |
English Composition II |
3 |
| ENGL110 |
Oral Communications |
3 |
| |
Mathematics elective (100 level or higher) |
3 |
| MATH195 |
Statistics I |
3 |
| NSCI |
Natural Science elective |
3 |
| SOCI † |
Social Science courses (2) – one 200 level or higher |
6 |
| HUMN |
Humanities course (2) – one 200 or higher |
6 |
| Total Credit Hours |
120 |
Degree Program Outcomes
The criminal justice degree program is designed to prepare graduates meet the following outcomes:
- Demonstrate an understanding of biological, sociological, and psychological theories of crime causation and disciplinary-specific evaluation of human behavior
- Demonstrate the ability to apply principles of criminal law to criminal justice practice and understand the civil liabilities of criminal justice agencies and practitioners
- Demonstrate the ability to apply scientific methods of inquiry to arrive at reasoned decisions regarding professional practice
- Analyze the roles of organizational culture, behavioral theory, planning, and community relations in criminal justice leadership strategies and practice
- Demonstrate the ability to utilize information and resources to make sound operational decisions in criminal justice agencies
- Understand the impact of emerging technologies on the investigation of crime, as a tool for criminal enterprise, and on the operations of criminal justice agencies
- Recognize and evaluate transnational criminal enterprises, and analyze the role of culture on criminal behavior and systems of justice
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