Criminal Justice, B.A.

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The criminal justice major is an interdisciplinary program of study stressing knowledge of theory and practice. It emphasizes a comprehensive understanding of both criminal behavior and the criminal justice system as basic preparation for careers in such fields as corrections, human services, research and planning, and law enforcement. An internship in a criminal justice agency is an integral part of the major, which enables students to add practical experience to their academic programs.

The Criminal Justice program is available to students matriculated in the College of Arts and Sciences, the Barney School of Business, or the College of Education, Nursing and Health Professions. Majors in criminal justice will be assigned an advisor in the college of their matriculation who assists in selecting a sequence of courses that corresponds to students’ academic interests and career objectives. In addition to meeting the general education or distribution requirements of their colleges, students complete the following requirements for the criminal justice major:

General Education Requirements (A&S)

In addition to major requirements, students must meet the General Education Requirements that correlate to their degree.

For B.A. and B.S. degrees, see General Education Requirements for the B.A. and B.S. Degrees (A&S) .
For Transfer students, see General Education Requirements for Transfer Students (A&S) .

Major GPA and Grade Requirements

Students must maintain a minimum grade point average of 2.0 in courses required to complete the major. All courses required for the major must be taken for a letter grade.

Requirements for the Major

Required credits: 40

Required courses

(seven courses, 22 credits)

SOC 170 - Introduction to Criminal Justice 3 credit(s)
SOC 242 - Methods of Social Research 4 credit(s)
POL 250 - Law and the Justice System 3 credit(s)
SOC 271 - Deviance 3 credit(s)
SOC 318 - Internships 3 credit(s)
SOC 470 - Criminology 3 credit(s)
SOC 473W - Crime, Law, and Administration of Justice 3 credit(s)

Electives

Group A: Perspectives on Human Behavior

(three courses, 9 credits)

SOC 273 - International Organized Crime 3 credit(s)
SOC 278 - Drugs and Society 3 credit(s)
SOC 372 - Women and Crime 3 credit(s)
SOC 376 - Juvenile Delinquency 3 credit(s)
SOC 378 - Studies in Criminal Behavior 3 credit(s)
SOC 382 - Race and Ethnic Relations 3 credit(s)
SOC 475 - Race, Ethnicity, and Crime 3 credit(s)
SOC 476 - Street Gangs 3 credit(s)
PHI 233 - Organizational Ethics 3 credit(s)
POL 421 - Political Violence 3 credit(s)
PSY 242 - Adolescent and Emerging Adult Development 3 credit(s)
PSY 262 - Abnormal Psychology 3 credit(s)

Group B: Law and the Response to Social Conflict

(three courses, 9 credits)

SOC 274 - Sociological Analysis of Prisons and Corrections 3 credit(s)
SOC 277 - Policing Society 3 credit(s)
SOC 319 - Internships 3 credit(s)
SOC 330 - The Law and Forensic Evidence 3 credit(s)
SOC 375 - Social Control 3 credit(s)
SOC 379 - Studies in Crime Control 3 credit(s)
POL 351 - Criminal Law and Procedure 3 credit(s)
POL 450 - Constitutional Law 3 credit(s)
POL 451 - Civil Rights and Liberties 3 credit(s)
POL 452 - Jurisprudence 3 credit(s)