The Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice provides you with sound knowledge in the areas of U.S. law enforcement, criminology, investigations, law, and community relations. A wide range of course offerings enable you to focus on juvenile issues, causes of crime and criminal behavior, corrections and incarceration, investigative procedures and techniques, leadership, maritime law, or forensics. This bachelor’s degree will complement your professional career path if you are currently in the criminal justice field, or can provide a good foundation for those interested in the fields of criminology, agent, or investigator in federal, state or local law enforcement, judicial, and other organizations.
Our criminal justice programs are among the most popular at the university, bringing you peer interactions and an expanded network of criminal justice professionals who are dedicated to safeguarding their communities and nation. Courses in this program are taught by highly credentialed and experienced instructors, many who hold key positions in government agencies or criminal justice organizations.
Note: for a more in-depth study in forensics, consider our Criminal Justice B.S. degree.
Degree Program Objectives
In addition to the institutional and degree level learning objectives, graduates of this program are expected to achieve these learning outcomes:
Criminal Justice Administration and Organization
- Recognize and explain the major international, U.S., and localized law enforcement systems and organization.
- Describe and analyze the political and public administrative aspects of law enforcement organizations.
Criminal Justice Theories and Concepts
- Communicate and apply the major theories and concepts of crime, criminal justice, and criminology.
- Conduct research associated with criminal justice and criminology theories.
Criminal Justice Operations, Practices, and Processes
- Assess the operations, practices, and processes associated with leading standards of evidence and law.
While learning objectives that are specific to the academic discipline have been identified for each degree program, the University System also outlines general education outcomes (Level 1 and 2) that are sought throughout the institution and at each degree level.
Degree at a Glance
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Requirements | 30 | |
| Major Required | 27 | |
| Select one of the following concentrations: | 15 | |
| Final Program Requirements | 3 | |
| Elective Requirements | 45 | |
| Total Semester Hours | 120 | |
Degree Program Requirements
General Education Requirements (30 semester hours)
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Arts and Humanities (6 semester hours) 1 | ||
| Select 2 courses from the following: | 6 | |
| Arabic I | ||
| Arabic II | ||
| Art Appreciation | ||
| Survey of Photography | ||
| Film and Literature | ||
| Image Enhancement using Adobe Photoshop® | ||
| French I | ||
| French II | ||
| German I | ||
| German II | ||
| Introduction to Japanese | ||
| Literature of American Encounters, Revolution, and Rebellion | ||
| From Abolition to #MeToo: Literature of the American Civil Rights Movement | ||
| Pivotal Figures in Early British Literature | ||
| British Literature from Wordsworth through the Wasteland | ||
| Leadership in World Literature: Antiquity to the Early Modern Period | ||
| Literature of the Newly Globalized World: The Individual’s Struggle to Adapt | ||
| Music Appreciation | ||
| Jazz and Rock | ||
| World Music and Cultures | ||
| Introduction to Philosophy | ||
| Critical Thinking | ||
| Introduction to Ethics | ||
| Philosophy of Science | ||
| Introduction to Brazilian Portuguese | ||
| Introduction to the Study of Religion | ||
| Introduction to World Religions | ||
| Russian I | ||
| Spanish I | ||
| Spanish II | ||
| Thinking and Acting Ethically | ||
| Civics, Political and Social Sciences (6 semester hours) 1 | ||
| Select 2 courses from the following: | 6 | |
| Introduction to Anthropology | ||
| World Archaeology | ||
| Introduction to Cultural Anthropology | ||
| Human Sexuality | ||
| Planning Your Future with Purpose in Security & Global Studies | ||
| Social Media and Society | ||
| Microeconomics | ||
| Macroeconomics | ||
| Humane Education: A Global Interdisciplinary Perspective | ||
| Introduction to Geography | ||
| Practical Food Safety and Awareness | ||
| International Relations I | ||
| Forgotten America--Under Represented Cultures in American Literature | ||
| Introduction to Political Science | ||
| American Government I | ||
| Introduction to Psychology | ||
| Death and Dying | ||
| Race & Religion | ||
| Hope and Resilience | ||
| Introduction to Sociology | ||
| Social Problems | ||
| American Popular Culture | ||
| Exploring Society and Cultures via Science Fiction | ||
| Communication: Writing, Oral, and Multimedia (9 semester hours) | ||
| COMM120 | Information and Digital Literacy | 3 |
| ENGL110 | Making Writing Relevant | 3 |
| Select 1 course from the following: | 3 | |
| Public Speaking | ||
| Proficiency in Writing | ||
| Argumentation and Rhetoric | ||
| Introduction to Literature | ||
| Technical Writing | ||
| Scientific Writing | ||
| Effective Business Communication | ||
| Human Relations Communication | ||
| Information Literacy and Global Citizenship | ||
| Introduction to Information Technology Writing | ||
| Human Relations | ||
| History (3 semester hours) | ||
| Select 1 course from the following: | 3 | |
| American History to 1877 | ||
| American History since 1877 | ||
| World Civilization before 1650 | ||
| World Civilization since 1650 | ||
| Western Civilization before The Thirty Years War | ||
| Western Civilization since The Thirty Years War | ||
| African-American History before 1877 | ||
| African-American History since 1877 | ||
| History of the American Indian | ||
| History of Science | ||
| The History and Context of STEM | ||
| Mathematics and Applied Reasoning (3 semester hours) | ||
| Select 1 course from the following: | 3 | |
| Accounting for Non Accounting Majors | ||
| Fundamentals of Programming | ||
| College Algebra | ||
| College Trigonometry | ||
| Pre-Calculus | ||
| Introduction to Statistics | ||
| Math for Liberal Arts Majors | ||
| Calculus | ||
| Natural Sciences (3 semester hours) | ||
| Select 1 course from the following: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Biology | ||
| Introduction to Human Anatomy and Physiology | ||
| Introduction to Chemistry | ||
| Introduction to Meteorology | ||
| Introduction to Geology | ||
| Introduction to Environmental Science | ||
| Introduction to Physics | ||
| Introduction to Astronomy | ||
| Introduction to STEM Disciplines | ||
| Total Semester Hours | 30 | |
| 1 | All literature courses require successful completion of ENGL101 - Proficiency in Writing or ENGL110 - Making Writing Relevant. |
Major Required (27 semester hours)
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CMRJ302 | U.S. Law Enforcement | 3 |
| CMRJ303 | Criminology | 3 |
| CMRJ306 | Criminal Investigation | 3 |
| SSGS300 | Research Design and Methods | 3 |
| CMRJ308 | Ethics in Criminal Justice | 3 |
| CMRJ316 | Corrections and Incarceration | 3 |
| LSTD301 | Constitutional Law | 3 |
| LSTD302 | Criminal Law | 3 |
| LSTD400 | Criminal Legal Process | 3 |
| Total Semester Hours | 27 | |
General Concentration Requirements (15 semester hours)
This general concentration allows you to select from many different concentration courses offered within this program, enabling you to create your own focused area of study.
Concentration Requirements (15 semester hours)
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select 5 courses from the following: | 15 | |
| Introduction to Forensic Anthropology | ||
| Introduction to Law Enforcement | ||
| Evidence and Procedures | ||
| Criminal Justice Administration | ||
| Stress Management in Law Enforcement | ||
| Patrol Methodologies & Community Policing | ||
| Rape and Sexual Violence | ||
| Juvenile Delinquency | ||
| Law Enforcement Intelligence Applications | ||
| The History of Organized Crime | ||
| Criminal Profiling | ||
| Crime Analysis | ||
| Criminalistics | ||
| Human Trafficking | ||
| The Pathology of Death Investigations | ||
| Intercultural Communication | ||
| Interpersonal Communications | ||
| Emergency and Disaster Incident Command | ||
| International Criminal Organizations | ||
| Criminal Intelligence Analysis | ||
| Introduction to the Courts | ||
| Evidence | ||
| Global Terrorism | ||
| Principles and Theory of Security Issues | ||
| Total Semester Hours | 15 | |
Concentration in Entrepreneurship (15 semester hours)
Brings the knowledge, skills, and abilities of the entrepreneur or small business owner to the study of Criminal Justice. Examines key concepts and principles of the successful small business owner including leadership practices, idea feasibility, funding, and customer service.
Concentration Requirements (15 semester hours)
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ENTR150 | Idea Generation | 3 |
| ENTR200 | Leadership in Small Business Ventures | 3 |
| ENTR312 | Social Entrepreneurship | 3 |
| ENTR315 | Financing a New Venture | 3 |
| ENTR340 | Small Business Customer Service | 3 |
| Total Semester Hours | 15 | |
Concentration in Maritime Law Enforcement (15 semester hours)
Analyzes policy and operational strategies used to ensure the security of border and coastal access including defensive measures to protect ports from disruption. Explores laws and doctrines governing navigation and shipping, as well as the law of the sea. Looks at chemical, biological, and radiological classification and response to incidents involving hazardous materials.
Objectives
Upon successful completion of this concentration, the student will be able to:
- Analyze various policy and operational strategies used to ensure the security of border and coastal access.
- Examine ports to trade and their vulnerability to disruption and attack, as well as defensive measures to protect ports from disruption.
- Identify chemical, biological, and radiological bases for classification of, and emergency response to incidents involving, hazardous material.
- Assess the impact of terrorism on U.S. national security.
- Explore the laws and doctrines governing navigation and shipping, as well as the law of the sea.
Concentration Requirements (15 semester hours)
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| EDMG240 | Chemistry of Hazardous Materials | 3 |
| HLSS311 | Border and Coastal Security | 3 |
| HLSS312 | Port Security | 3 |
| INTL451 | Terrorism and U.S. National Security | 3 |
| LSTD401 | Maritime Law | 3 |
| Total Semester Hours | 15 | |
Concentration in Organizational Law Enforcement Leadership (15 semester hours)
Provides a solid foundation in the leadership process and its benefits to law enforcement, including identifying one’s personal style, judging the value of diversity in leadership roles, and making socially responsible decisions. Topics include gender roles in leadership, conflict resolution, human resource innovation in the workplace, budgeting, and managing an organization during a paradigm shift.
Objectives
Upon successful completion of this concentration, the student will be able to:
- Identify your personal leadership style and explain the benefits of your leadership style on the organization.
- Analyze necessary organizational leadership skills in given situations and prepare a plan of action for improving organizational leadership abilities.
- Contrast the value of diversity and apply its strengths in leadership roles.
- Develop critical thinking skills about decisions in a manner that is socially responsible and responsive.
- Demonstrate a persuasive and collaborative approach which encourages a teaming environment.
- Employ organizational accountability to build innovative organizations that respond to ever changing environments.
Concentration Requirements (15 semester hours)
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| FINC405 | Budget Development and Execution | 3 |
| HRMT407 | Human Resource Management | 3 |
| HRMT411 | Dispute Resolution | 3 |
| MGMT312 | Leadership & Motivation | 3 |
| MGMT313 | Organizational Change | 3 |
| Total Semester Hours | 15 | |
Final Program Requirements (3 semester hours)
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CMRJ499 | Senior Seminar in Criminal Justice (to be taken as the last course before graduation) 1 | 3 |
| Total Semester Hours | 3 | |
| 1 | Prerequisite: Senior Standing and completion of all major courses prior to enrollment. |
Elective Requirements (45 semester hours)
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select any courses not already taken to fulfill the requirements listed above. Credits applied toward a minor or certificate in an unrelated field may be used to fulfill elective credit for the major. | 45 | |
| Total Semester Hours | 45 | |