Department of Behavioral Sciences

Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice and Criminology

The curriculum in Criminal Justice and Criminology is designed to prepare students for occupations in a wide variety of industries. This includes policing, security, corrections, social services, and transportation security.  The requirements are innovative and designed to meet policing needs in the 21st century.  These include a Spanish language requirement, a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) option, and a curriculum that encourages a second minor or major in diverse and impactful areas, including Cybersecurity and Emergency Management. The program affords a transition opportunity for students who have completed an AAS in Law Enforcement Certification or Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice. It gives a strong base for graduate study in law, criminal justice, or criminology. Also, completion of the program provides a foundation for the Behavioral Sciences' Master’s Degree in Applied Sociology, which has an emphasis in criminal justice studies.  

 

(1) Basic Requirements

• SPAN 1013 Beginning Spanish I
• SOC/PSY 2053 Statistics for Behavioral Sciences or GEOG 2833 Introduction to Geographic Information
• SOC/PSY 2063 Research Design for the Behavioral Sciences or EAM 4033 Emergency Management Research Methods/Analysis or POLS 2513 Research Design
• CJ/SOC 2003 Introduction to Criminal Justice
• CJ/SOC 2033 Social Problems
• CJ/SOC 2043 Crime and Delinquency
• 12 Hours of 3000-4000 level Criminal Justice courses

 (2) Policing: Choose 3 hours from:

• CJ/SOC 3153 Prison and Corrections
• CJ/SOC 3103 The Juvenile Justice
• CJ 4033 Policing and Society

(3) Courts: Choose 3 hours from:

• CJ/POLS 3023 Judicial Process
• CJ 4023 Law and the Legal System

(4) Society: Choose 3 hours from:

• CJ/SOC 3083 Social Deviance
• SOC 4003 Minority Relations
• SOC 4023 Sociology of Gender
• SOC 4063 Social Stratification

 (5) SOC 1003 Introductory Sociology, ANTH 2003 Cultural Anthropology or ANTH 1213 Introduction to Anthropology, and POLS 2003 American Government

 (6) Complete a minor, an associate's degree or a second degree in one of the following: Sociology, Cybersecurity,       Emergency Management, Political Science, Psychology, Pre-Law, Cybersecurity, or Law Enforcement

Curriculum

The matrix below is a sample plan for all coursework required for this program.

•  Freshman

  Fall		Spring
  ENGL 1013 Composition I1	3	ENGL 1023 Composition II1	3
  Social Sciences1	3	Social Sciences1	3
  POLS 2003 American Government	3	Science with Lab1	4
  TECH 1001 Orientation to the University	1	Mathematics1	3
  Elective2,3	6	CJ/SOC 2003 Introduction to Criminal Justice	3
  Total Hours	16	Total Hours	16

•  Sophomore

  Fall		Spring
  Fine Arts & Humanities1	6	PSY/SOC 2053 Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences or GEOG 2833 Introduction to Geographic Information Systems	3
  Science with Lab1	4	PSY/SOC 2063 Research Design for the Behavioral Sciences, EAM 4033  Emergency Management Research Methods/Analysis, or POLS 2513 Research Design	3
  SPAN 1013 Beginning Spanish I	3	Elective2,3	9
  Total Hours	13	Total Hours	15

•  Junior

  Fall		Spring
  SOC 1003 Introductory Sociology	3	ANTH 1213 Introduction to Anthropology or ANTH 2003 Cultural Anthropology	3
  CJ/SOC 2033 Social Problems	3	CJ/SOC 2043 Crime and Delinquency	3
  CJ Policing (3000-4000 level)4	3	CJ Courts (3000-4000 level)4	3
  Elective2,3	6	Elective2,3	6
  Total Hours	15	Total Hours	15

•  Senior

  Fall		Spring
  CJ Society (3000-4000 level)4	3	CJ Elective (3000-4000 level)	6
  CJ Elective (3000-4000 level)	6	Elective2,3	9
  Elective2,3	6
  Total Hours	15	Total Hours	15

¹See appropriate alternatives or substitutions in "General Education Requirements".
²A minor or second degree must be completed.
³At least 40 of the total hours required for graduation must be 3000 - 4000 level courses.
⁴See appropriate options in "Policing", "Courts", & "Society" areas:
Policing: Choose 3 hours (UD) from:
CJ/SOC 3153 Prisons and Corrections
CJ/SOC 3103 Juvenile Justice
CJ/SOC 4033 Policing and Society
Courts: Choose 3 hours (UD) from:
CJ/POLS 3023 Judicial Process
CJ 4023 Law and the Legal System
Society: Choose 3 hours (UD) from:
CJ/SOC 3083 Social Deviance
SOC 4003 Minority Relations
SOC 4023 Sociology of Gender
SOC 4063 Social Stratification