CRIMINAL JUSTICE
DEPARTMENT
Associate in Applied Science Degree (Criminal Justice),
Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice (Police Administration, Correctional Administration)
Criminal Justice Minor
A major in criminal justice offers students the opportunity to prepare to enter careers in law enforcement, criminal justice planning and research, probation, parole, institutional corrections, youth services, or police management at all levels of government. The degree program also offers an excellent background for individuals interested in private and/or industrial security. The well-rounded academic experience offered by the Criminal Justice Program additionally serves as a strong foundation for students interested in graduate study in criminal justice.
Curriculum
The criminal justice curriculum is designed for students currently employed in a criminal justice related occupation; for students planning to pursue a BachelorÕs degree in criminal justice or a related discipline; or for students wishing to be employed in other areas of criminal justice.
Program Areas
The criminal justice academic program offers graduates the opportunity to obtain the knowledge to:
Ð understand the American system of criminal justice in relation to the political, socioeconomic, religious, and philosophical influences which affect it;
Ð cooperate with the various agencies which make up the American criminal justice system;
Ð understand the basic concepts behind laws, the actions of law enforcement agencies, court proceedings, and correctional ideologies and practices;
Ð know and communicate the rights of individuals under criminal proceedings as enumerated in the U.S. Constitution and the U.S. Bill of Rights;
Ð identify the different components of the criminal justice system and the purposes and objectives of these components and their places in our society;
Ð apply the above concepts in practical settings and situations;
Ð transfer to an upper division academic institution to attain a higher degree in criminal justice or closely related discipline;
Ð meet or exceed minimal education requirements for employment in a variety of criminal justice agencies.
PROGRAM OF STUDY
Associate in Applied Science Ð Criminal Justice
Criminal Justice 21 hours
General Education Core Curriculum 41 hours
Electives 3 hours
Total 65 hours
Freshman Year
First Semester Credit hours
CJSA 1322 Introduction to Criminal Justice 3
ENGL 1301 Composition I ** 3
SOCI 1301 Introduction to Sociology 3
SPCH 1315 Fundamentals of Speech 3
KINE KINE activity or health/wellness course 1
ELCT Elective*** 3
Total hours 16
Second Semester Credit hours
CRIJ 1310 Fundamentals of Criminal Law 3
ENGl 2311 Technical and Business Writing** 3
HIST 1301 U.S. to 1877 3
ARTS 1301 Art Appreciation or
MUSI 1306 Music Appreciation 3
COSC 1310 Computer Literacy+ 3
KINE Any KINE activity 1
Total hours 16
Summer Session
PSYC 2301 Introduction to Psychology 3
Sophomore Year
First Semester Credit hours
CRIJ 2313 Correctional Systems & Practices* 3
CRIJ 2322 Juvenile Justice Systems* 3
GOVT 2301 American Government I 3
CRIJ Elective (1000 or 2000 level) 3
MATH 1332 Math for Liberal Arts** 3
Total hours 15
Second Semester Credit hours
CRIJ 2328 Police Systems & Practices* 3
HIST 1302 United States from 1877 3
ENGL English Literature (2000 level) 3
GOVT 2302 American Government II 3
CJSA 2388 Criminal Justice External Learning 3
Total hours 15
Total number of hours required 65 hours
*Must have completed ENGL 1301 and ENGL 2311 with a grade of ÒCÓ or better. ENGL 2311 may be concurrent enrollment with approval from instructor.
**Must pass with a minimum grade of ÒC.Ó
*** Electives may be any non-developmental college course not previously taken, preferably in the Social Science, Computer Science, Biological Science or Modern Language area.
+Can substitute COSC 1305 or any higher COSC course if proficiency allows.
PROGRAM OF STUDY
Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Ð Police Administration
The Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice degree with an emphasis in police administration offers students the opportunity to prepare to enter a career in law enforcement at any level of government or in the field of private/corporate security. The criminal justice degree in police administration is a four-year degree program. The police administration major is a broad field major incorporating sociology, psychology and government.
General Education Core Curriculum 48 hours
Criminal Justice Core 27 hours
CRIJ 1301 Introduction to Criminal Justice
CRIJ 1310 Fundamentals of Criminal Law
SOCI 1301 Introduction to Sociology
CRIJ 1313 Juvenile Justice System
CRIJ 3302 Current Lit and Research in Criminal Justice
CRIJ 3303 Nature of Crime
CRIJ 4301 Practicum-Field Experience
GOVT 4321 American Constitutional Law: Civil Liberties
CRIJ 4370 Senior Seminar in Criminal Justice Policy Issues
Police Administration Concentration 15 hours
CRIJ 2328 Police Systems and Practices
CRIJ 3315 Legal Aspects of Evidence
CRIJ 4311 Advanced Police Organization & Administration
CRIJ 4312 Principles of Law Enforcement
CRIJ 4313 Seminar of Issues in Law Enforcement
Criminal Justice Electives 12 hours
Select four courses from those designated as CRIJ not previously taken for credit.*
Interdisciplinary Social Science Support Courses 18 hours
Six advanced (3000-4000 level) semester credit hours from each of the following three disciplines: sociology, psychology, government.
Free Electives 6 hours
Total hours 126 hours
*CRIJ 4362 Special Topics in Criminal Justice may be taken twice for credit.
Courses taken in high school law enforcement programs under Tech-Prep must be evaluated by the studentÕs criminal justice faculty advisor to ensure they are applied to the appropriate degree. CJSA courses do not apply to this degree.
PROGRAM OF STUDY
Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Ð Correctional Administration
The Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice degree with an emphasis in corrections offers students the opportunity to prepare to enter a career in various aspects of adult and juvenile corrections whether at institutions or in probation, parole, or other forms of community-based correctional treatment. The corrections major is also a broad field major incorporating sociology, psychology and government.
General Education Core Curriculum 48 hours
Criminal Justice Core 27 hours
CRIJ 1301 Introduction to Criminal Justice
CRIJ 1310 Fundamentals of Criminal Law
SOCI 1301 Introduction to Sociology
CRIJ 1313 Juvenile Justice System
CRIJ 3302 Current Lit and Research in Criminal Justice
CRIJ 3303 Nature of Crime
CRIJ 4301 Practicum-Field Experience
GOVT 4321 American Constitutional Law: Civil Liberties
CRIJ 4370 Senior Seminar in Criminal Justice Policy Issues
Correctional Administration Concentration 15 hours
CRIJ 2313 Correctional Systems and Practices
CRIJ 3331 Legal Aspects of Corrections
CRIJ 3345 Correctional Administration
CRIJ 4341 Correctional Casework and Counseling
CRIJ 4343 Seminar of Issues in Corrections
Criminal Justice Electives 12 hours
Select four courses from those designated as CRIJ not previously taken for credit.*
Interdisciplinary Social Science Support Courses 18 hours
Six advanced (3000-4000 level) semester credit hours from each of the following three disciplines: sociology, psychology, government.
Free Electives 6 hours
Total hours 126 hours
*CRIJ 4362 Special Topics in Criminal Justice may be taken twice for credit.
Courses taken in high school law enforcement programs under Tech-Prep must be evaluated by the studentÕs criminal justice faculty advisor to ensure they are applied to the appropriate degree. CJSA courses do not apply to this degree.
Criminal Justice Minor
The minor in Criminal Justice is intended for students whose area of major academic expertise could benefit from a specified concentration of criminal justice coursework.
Requirements: 18 semester hours of Criminal Justice, 9 hours of which must be advanced (3000-4000 level); must include CRIJ 1301 and CRIJ 3302.