Sociology & Criminal Justice Programs
CRIMINAL JUSTICE
Mission Statement
The Criminal Justice major provides the opportunity to systematically examine criminal justice systems and the administration of justice, analyzing the causes and patterns of crime and criminal behavior and the ways in which institutional responses address these social problems. The curriculum emphasizes social justice and the promotion of human rights throughout the globe. Criminal Justice courses highlight practical problem-solving using research, theory, and analytic skills relevant to careers in criminal justice, legal studies, community and social service.
Curriculum
Core courses in the Criminal Justice major are designed to expose students to the range and variation of crime and criminal behavior, the criminal justice systems, and the administration of justice that attempt to control and mitigate social problems both domestically and globally with an emphasis on social justice and human rights. Students will review: the major systems of social control, policies, and practice; consider the social and personal consequences of crime and criminal behavior on victims; look at the issues of juvenile justice and corrections, including the history and practice and the range of institutions meant to treat offenders; understand the nature and causes of crime, crime typologies, offenders, and victims; examine criminal law and procedure, understanding how the courts work and how legal decisions are made; examine the history, theory, and practice of police organizations, including internal views that consider police subculture; discuss issues of ethics in law enforcement and criminal justice; explore how individual human differences such as race, class and gender relate to the criminal justice system; consider the implications of systems and policies on social justice and human rights; and be grounded and informed in methods, both quantitative and qualitative, for conducting and analyzing criminal justice research and theory.
Elective courses in the major are designed to provide a detailed focus on some area of criminal justice and consider the broader theoretical issues of crime and other significant social problems. Related requirements are courses found outside of the major in other disciplines that have strong relevance for criminal justice.
Upon completion of this program, majors will have an understanding of the importance of an effective criminal justice system in a just society. Majors, and to a lesser extent minors, will be exposed to the primary components of criminal justice systems, both domestically in the Anglo-American legal tradition, and globally in other major legal traditions, with a focus on justice as a goal.
For the criminal justice course offerings, CJ 1000 provides a comprehensive descriptive overview at the introductory level, 2000- level courses provide an in-depth specialized study of a particular case, area, or social phenomenon and introduce theoretical perspectives, and 3000-level courses apply theory critically in specific cases and consider the consequences of various theories on social policy and strategies for social change.
CJ 1000 is required as a prerequisite for any 2000-level criminal justice course and any 2000-level criminal justice course is a prerequisite for any 3000-level criminal justice course. Any student who has grounds to request a waiver of this requirement may do so by contacting the criminal justice area coordinator for a decision. This request must be made prior to enrolling in the upper level criminal justice course.
Grade Requirements for Criminal Justice Majors
Students who major in Criminal Justice must achieve a grade of C- or above in all core courses in the major.
If a student receives a lower grade than a C-, that student will need to repeat the course.
| Credits |
|---|---|
Prerequisite: | |
CJ 1000 Introduction to Criminal Justice Systems and the Administration of Justice | 3 |
Core Requirements: | |
CJ 2000 Criminology | 3 |
CJ 2020 Criminal Law | 3 |
CJ 2030 Criminal Procedure | 3 |
CJ 2100 Corrections | 3 |
CJ 2212 Policing | 3 |
CJ/SOC 2350 Human Diversity in Criminal Justice | 3 |
CJ/SOC 2600 Methods in Social Research | 3 |
CJ 3300 Justice and Human Rights Advocacy | 3 |
CJ 3900 Capstone Seminar: Criminal Justice | 3 |
Criminal Justice Electives: | |
Six credits, one each at the 2000- and 3000- level. | 6 |
(May also be used to fill a concentration.) |
|
| 33 |
Requirements in Related Areas: | |
MATH 1150 Statistics I | 3 |
OR | |
CJ/SOC 1140 Quantitative Data Analysis for the Social Sciences | |
Related requirements outside of the Criminal Justice Major | 6 |
Two related requirements (six credits) outside the major. May also be used to fulfill a concentration.
The six credits must be from two different academic disciplines except for foreign language sequences. Students who, in addition to the Criminal Justice major, are also a major or minor in another discipline are exempt from Criminal Justice Related Requirements.
AC 2010 Identity Theft |
BLKS/SOC 2000 Contemporary Black Worlds |
BLKS/P&H 2330 African-American History |
BLKS/P&H 2450 Introduction to African-American Cultures |
BLKS/PRS 2541 Race and Religion in America |
BLKS/HW 3050 Race, Class, Gender and Health |
BUS 2610 Crisis Management |
COM 2010 Public Speaking |
COM 2020 Intercultural Communication |
COM 2100 Managerial Communication |
COM 2112 Conflict Management |
COM 2230 Writing for Communication |
ED 2455 Programming for Positive Youth Development |
FSC 1700 Forensic Photography |
FSC 2700 Intro to Forensic Science |
IT 2216 Network Security |
P&H 2310 American Constitutional Law |
PRS 2210 Ethics |
PRS 2470 Social and Political Philosophy |
PSY 2100 Adolescent Psychology |
PSY 2125 Substance Use Counseling |
PSY 2200 Behavior Disorders in Children |
PSY 2250 Family Life |
PSY 2300 Abnormal Psych |
PSY 2310 Psychology of Criminal Behavior |
PSY 2320 Psychology and the Law |
PSY 2330 Drugs and Behavior |
PSY 3130 Brain and Behavior |
PSY 3200 Stress, Coping and Adaptation |
PSY 3210 Stereotypes and Prejudice |
PSY 3260 Psychology of Violence and Terror |
SOC 2050 Social Problems |
SOC 2200 Race and Ethnicity |
SOC/SWK 2420 Working with Groups |
SOC 2470 Sex, Gender & Sexuality |
SOC 2760 Wealth, Poverty, and Social Class |
SOC 2490 Grassroots: Organizing, Leadership and Change |
SOC 2510 Social Movements |
SOC/SWK 3390 Crisis Intervention |
SOC/BLKS 3600 Chocolate Cities |
SPE 2600 Introduction to Special Education |
SWK 2310 Introduction to Social Work |
SWK 2410 Working with Individuals |
SWK 3000 Advocacy in Social Work Practice: Community Organization, Management and Policy |
Any foreign language course |
Please note, some of the above courses may have a prerequisite. |
CONCENTRATIONS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE
Courses may be used to meet elective and related requirements.
Survivor/Witness/Victim Advocacy Concentration
The concentration, by promoting empathy and human rights, helps prepare students for careers in informed advocacy for people who have witnessed or have been victimized by crime.
| Credits |
|---|---|
Required: 12 credits | |
CJ/SOC 2350 Human Diversity in Criminal Justice | 3 |
CJ 3300 Justice and Human Rights Advocacy | 3 |
SWK 2310 Introduction to Social Work | 3 |
SOC/SWK 3390 Crisis Intervention | 3 |
Choose one of the following: 3 credits | |
CJ/SOC 2160 Urban Life: Culture and change | 3 |
CJ 2170 Population, Immigration, and Crime | 3 |
CJ/SOC 2402 Domestic Violence: Family and Intimate Partner Violence | 3 |
SWK 2410 Working with Individuals | 3 |
SOC/SWK 2420 Working with Groups and Communities | 3 |
CJ 3212 Community Policing: Case Studies and Problem Solving | 3 |
CJ/SOC 3404 Sociology of Violence | 3 |
CJ/SOC 3640 Deviance and Social Control | 3 |
Total: | 15 |
Requirements for a Minor in Criminal Justice: 15 credits
Students can earn a minor in Criminal Justice by taking CJ 1000 and four courses in the Criminal Justice curriculum at the 2000-level or above (excluding CJ/SOC 2340), with at least one course at the 3000-level.
Internships:
Criminal Justice majors are encouraged to do internships in Criminal Justice, CJ 3450, in practitioner settings and are required to take the requisite CJ 3450 SM Criminal Justice Internship Seminar. Students may earn only three credits for each internship/field experience.
Prerequisites for an internship include:
Completion of SOC/CJ 2340 with a grade of C or better;
A 2.75 cumulative academic average;
A 3.0 cumulative academic average in the CJ major;
And, no outstanding “Incomplete” in a previous field placement.