Minimum credits: 27
Program Description
The Criminal Justice major is comprised of 49 credits including a foundational core of sociology, psychology, and criminal justice and an advanced core of law enforcement, judicial process, criminology, law, punishment and corrections, ethics, theory, internship, and research design. Once accepted to this program, students will be assigned an advisor who will guide them in registering and selecting appropriate internships for their skills and interests. Students will also complete a senior thesis project and engage in community service learning.
Student Learning Outcomes
- Demonstrate an understanding of–and encourage a deep critical engagement with–behavioral science theory, ethics, case law, law enforcement, the criminal court system, and corrections, and criminology.
- Utilize basic social science and professional research methods associated with criminal justice, including design, data analysis, and interpretation of different official crime indexes.
- Demonstrate an awareness of the myriad of factors and diversity of populations contributing to crime, its prevention, and intervention.
- Experience fieldwork related to their pursuit of careers and undergraduate study in the field of criminal justice.
- Demonstrate effective oral and written communication skills within a liberal arts foundation to better prepare them for any career in the criminal justice system or graduate school.
Students interested in focusing on restorative justice can take the following 18 credits:
CRJ 2150 - Community and Restorative Justice
CRJ 2030 - Victimology
CRJ 2410 - Race, Class, Gender, and Crime
CRJ 3210 - Punishment and Corrections
CRJ 3310 - Applying Restorative Justice Methods
CRJ 3410 - Peace Making
Note: SSC 1040 is recommended for all first year CRJ students.