The Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice offers an in-depth scientific study of crime, criminal behavior, digital forensics investigations, and the importance of scientific analysis as evidence presented in the criminal justice system. Forensic science is the application of scientific methods and analysis of scientific data to support the law. You will study the theory of forensic science, including the nature and scope of the discipline, the application of forensic science to crime, police investigation and the adjudication process, and the legal and ethical issues associated with forensics. You will also examine the importance of scientific analysis of digital evidence and its place in the judicial system, while receiving a solid foundation of analytical and communication skills required in complex criminal justice fields.
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.
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
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Recognize and explain the major international, U.S., and localized law enforcement systems and organization.
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Describe and analyze the political and public administrative aspects of law enforcement organizations.
Criminal Justice Theories and Concepts
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Communicate and apply the major theories and concepts of crime, criminal justice, and criminology.
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Conduct research associated with criminal justice and criminology theories.
Criminal Justice Operations, Practices, and Processes
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Assess the operations, practices, and processes associated with leading standards of evidence and law.
Digital Forensics
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Examine common incident response procedures via basic computer investigation processes and a good computer forensics lab for the development of investigative reports following first responder procedures.
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Investigate forensics of wireless network attacks caused by mobile and wireless peripheral devices, and then evaluate security and access procedures within wireless Internet use of subject search warrants and chain of custody in a forensic investigation.
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Explore web attacks, router forensics, email tracking techniques, email crime, and network forensics through investigation logs.
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Discuss corporate espionage and prevention techniques and computer-related crimes, such as sexual harassment and child pornography and the law.
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Analyze image files using forensic processes, recovered files on deleted partitions, data acquisition and duplication procedures, and steganography tools to create a forensic investigation case.
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Analyze file systems, hard disks, various types of digital media, tools, and applications that utilize password cracking on various operating systems.
Degree at a Glance
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Requirements | 30 | |
| Major Required | 30 | |
| Concentration in Digital Forensics | 27 | |
| Final Program Requirement | 3 | |
| Elective Requirements | 30 | |
| 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 | ||
| Social Media and Society | ||
| Intercultural Communication | ||
| 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 (30 semester hours)
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CMRJ201 | Criminal Justice Administration | 3 |
| CMRJ303 | Criminology | 3 |
| CMRJ306 | Criminal Investigation | 3 |
| SSGS300 | Research Design and Methods | 3 |
| CMRJ308 | Ethics in Criminal Justice | 3 |
| CMRJ329 | Criminal Profiling | 3 |
| CMRJ335 | Crime Analysis | 3 |
| CMRJ341 | Criminalistics | 3 |
| LSTD301 | Constitutional Law | 3 |
| LSTD302 | Criminal Law | 3 |
| Total Semester Hours | 30 | |
Concentration in Digital Forensics (27 semester hours)
Offers an in-depth scientific study of crime, criminal behavior, crime scene investigation theories, and the importance of scientific analysis as evidence. Focuses on cybercrime and computer forensics with emphasis on wireless networks and devices, operating systems, intrusions, and the related investigative procedures.
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ISSC343 | Wireless Networks | 3 |
| ISSC351 | Computer Forensics | 3 |
| ISSC451 | Cybercrime | 3 |
| ISSC455 | Digital Forensics: Investigation Procedures and Response | 3 |
| ISSC456 | Digital Forensics: Investigating Wireless Networks and Devices | 3 |
| ISSC457 | Digital Forensics: Investigating Network Intrusions and Cybercrime Security | 3 |
| ISSC458 | Digital Forensics: Investigating Data and Image Files | 3 |
| ISSC459 | Digital Forensics: Hard Disc and Operating Systems | 3 |
| LSTD400 | Criminal Legal Process | 3 |
| Total Semester Hours | 27 | |
Final Program Requirement (3 semester hours)
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CMRJ497 | Criminal Justice Capstone - Digital Forensics | 3 |
| Total Semester Hours | 3 | |
| 1 | Prerequisite: Senior Standing and completion of all major courses prior to enrollment. |
Elective Requirements (30 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. | 30 | |
| Total Semester Hours | 30 | |