Criminal Justice
Our Mission
To provide an understanding of the fields of criminal justice, security and emergency management, and crime scene investigation. Our faculty members have a broad knowledge base and extensive experience in the field, which includes forensics, criminal justice, psychology, sociology, intelligence, security, political science, and emergency response and disaster management. We strive to provide students with tools for critical thinking, reasoning, writing, research, and applying knowledge.
Upon Graduation
Students may pursue graduate study leading to teaching and research at the university level, law school, or assume employment within law enforcement, corrections, court administration, security and emergency management, or other law related and social service areas within the federal, state and local government agencies or the private sector.
Learning your way
We offer courses in the traditional classroom format along with out-of-class field practicum exercise, internships, and evening/night classes. There are also Summer sessions to help you reach your goals faster. To fit your unique schedule and learning style, all of our courses are also available online.
Program Requirements
- Two of the following courses:
- Introduction to US Government (PS 241)
- General Psychology (PY 201)
- Introductory Sociology (SO 221)
- Current Social Problems (SO 222)
- One of the following courses:
- Business Applications of Microcomputer Software (CIS 125)
- Computer Skills for Problem Solving (CS 135)
- Introduction to Criminal Justice (CJ 250)
- Criminology (CJ 323)
- Professional Ethics and Legal Liabilities (CJ 326)
- Research Methods in Criminal Justice (CJ 440W)
- Research Practicum in Criminal Justice (CJ 441)
- 21 hours of Criminal Justice Electives
Total = 45 credit hours
- CJ majors must complete an additional minor, second major, or second degree
- Introduction to Criminal Justice (CJ 250)
- Corrections (CJ 285)
- Criminal Law (CJ 295)
- 9 hours Criminal Justice Electives (300 level or higher)
Total = 18 credit hours
- Crime in America (CJ 618)
- Methods of Research in Criminal Justice (CJ 640)
- Criminological Theory (CJ 650)
- 21 hours Criminal Justice Electives (500 level or higher) from the following:
- Criminal Investigation (CJ 505)
- Forensic Investigation (CJ 506)
- Criminal Evidence (CJ 530)
- Criminal Procedure (CJ 534)
- Theory and Control of Crime (CJ 550)
- Psychological Dimensions of Criminal Justice Practice (CJ 580)
- Special Topics (CJ 591)**
- Contemporary Issues in Juvenile Justice (CJ 606)
- Nature and Function of the American Judicial System (CJ 610)
- Management and Policy in Criminal Justice Organizations (CJ 614)
- Contemporary Issues in Corrections (CJ 622)
- Victimology (CJ 630)
- Advanced Criminal Procedure (CJ 634)
- Advanced Statistical Procedure (CJ 645)
- Comparative Criminal Justice (CJ 660)
- Contemporary Issues in Law Enforcement (CJ 690)
- Special Topics (CJ 691)
- Thesis (CJ 695)
- Independent Study/Research (CJ 699)
Total = 30 credit hours
- 30 THESIS OPTION: Students choosing the Thesis Option must complete a minimum of 6 semester hours of CJ 695, Thesis, in addition to 9 semester hours of core and 15 additional semester hours of 500-600 level criminal justice electives.
- NON-THESIS OPTION: Students choosing the Non-Thesis Option must, in the last semester in which all other course requirements are expected to be completed, register for CJ 698 (Comprehensive Examination) in order to take a written comprehensive examination prior to graduation in order to complete the program.
* A maximum of 15 hours can be taken at the 500 level. Students are not permitted to receive credit for a 500-level course if they received credit for the comparable senior-level undergraduate course. Up to six hours of electives may be taken outside the Department of Criminal Justice with prior approval from the Department of Criminal Justice.
- Public Policy and Administration (PS 244)
- Criminal Justice, Public Policy, and Administration (CJ 450)
- Ethics in Administrative Leadership (CJ 415)
- Public Organization/Bureaucratic Theory (CJ 413)
- Three course from the following:
- Police Organizations and Community Relations (CJ 255)
- Regulating Vice In American Cities (CJ 418)
- Corrections (CJ 285)
- Interagency Cooperation (CJ 350)
- Community-Based Corrections (CJ 336)
- Current Social Problems (SO 222)
- Nonprofit Management and Leadership (SO 225)
- Public Administration (PS 311)
- Religion, Politics, and Public Policy (PS 411)
- Introduction to Public Policy (PS 412)
- Urban Politics (PS 414)
Total = 21 credit hours
- Introduction to Criminal Justice (CJ 250)
- Forensic Investigation (CJ 406/406L)
- Criminal Evidence (CJ 430)
- Principles of Blood Pattern Analysis (CJ 431/431L)
- Crime Scene Reconstruction (CJ 432)
- Evidence Management (CJ 433)
Total = 20 credit hours
- Juvenile Delinquency (CJ 306 or SO 306)
- Introduction to Sociology (SO 221)
- Introduction to Social Work (SO 230)
- General Psychology (PY 201)
- Three courses from the following:
- Family Violence (CJ 330)
- Substance Abuse (CJ 390)
- Studies in Family Justice (CJ 493)
- Internship in Family Justice (CJ 494)
- Psychological Dimensions of Criminal Justice Practice (CJ 480)
- Special Topics (CJ 491)
- Introductory Spanish (SP 101)
- Human Behavior and Social Environment I : Infancy to Young Adulthood (SW 315)
- Services to Families and Children (SW 420)
- Child Welfare Practices and Policies (SW 425)
- Family Diversity and Social Change (SO 410)
- Cultural Diversity and Social Inequality (SO 421)
- Parenting and Socialization (SO 301)
- Departmental Service Learning (SO 399)
- Developmental Psychology (PY 344)
- Introduction to Developmental Disabilities (PY 454)
- Introduction to Applied Behavior Analysis (PY 455)
Total = 21 credit hours
- Police Organization and Community Relations (CJ 255)
- The Justice System: Race, Class, Gender (CJ 345)
- Criminal Investigation (CJ 405)
- Evidence Management (CJ 433)
- APOST Law Enforcement Preparation (CJ 485/485L)
- Three courses from the following:
- Juvenile Delinquency (CJ/SO 306)
- Substance Abuse (CJ 390)
- Psychological Dimensions of Criminal Justice Practice (CJ 480)
- Criminal Law (CJ 295)
- Internship in Criminal Justice (CJ 495)
- International Law Enforcement and Emergency Management (CJ 420)
- Terrorism and Terrorist Operations (CJ 410)
- Introductory Spanish (SP 101)
- Introductory Sociology (SO 221)
- Cultural Diversity and Social Inequality (SO 421)
- Sociology of Community (SO 305)
- General Psychology (PY 201)
- Disaster Response and Recovery (SEM/CJ 406)
- Special Topics (CJ 491)
- Introduction to Restorative Justice (CJ 260)
- Research Methods in Criminal Justice (CJ 440W)
- The Justice System: Race, Class, Gender (CJ/SO/WS 345)
- Restorative Storytelling (EN 492/592 or PS 490 or CJ 491)
- Two courses from the following:
- Criminology (CJ/SO 323)
- Topics in Psychology (PY 490)
- Reading and Writing Through Harm (EN 397)
- Survey of Homeland Security (SEM 250)
- Intro to EM & Civil Response (SEM 255)
- 12 hours SEM Electives (300 level or higher)
- Or CJ with departmental approval
Total = 18 credit hours
- Survey of Homeland Security (SEM 250)
- Intro to EM & Civil Response (SEM 255)
- 6 hours SEM Electives (300 level or higher)
Total = 12 credit hours
- 41-47 hours General Education Courses
- 10 hours Required SEM and IDS Courses
- 24 hours SEM Emphasis Courses (300 level or higher)
- 49 hours additional SEM and Electives
Total = 128 credit hours