Degree Requirements

Catalog:  Fall Semester 2009

Criminal Justice - B.A. Degree in Criminal Justice (46 Credits)
 Department: Sociology and Criminal Justice

 Core Requirements (19 Credits)

 The following courses constitute the Core Requirements for the Criminal Justice major. In addition to the Core Requirements, all students must complete (1) a nine credit concentration in Political Science, Psychology, Social Work or Sociology and (2) a related research tool requirement.

CJ 200 Introduction to Criminal Justice (4)
CJ 300 Criminology (3)
CJ 309 Law and Society (4)
CJ 335 Criminal Law (3)
CJ 337 Criminal Procedure (3)
CJ 400 Seminar in Criminal Justice (1-4)

Restricted Electives (12 Credits)

 Students must choose at least twelve credits from the following list of courses. Of the twelve credits, at least nine must be taken at the upper division (300 or 400) level.

CJ 390 Topics in Criminal Justice (1-3)
POL 230 Introduction to the Law (3)
POL 330 The Judicial System (3)
POL 332 Constitutional Law I: Institutional Powers and Constraints (3)
POL 333 Constitutional Law II: Civil Rights and Liberties (3)
PSY 261 Personality (3)
PSY 317 Alcoholism and Drug Abuse (3)
PSY 463 Abnormal Psychology (3)
SOC 220 Social Deviance (3)
SOC 303 Punishment and Prisons (3)
SOC 304 Community Corrections (3)
SOC 307 Sociology of Courts (3)
SOC 311 Sociology of Law Enforcement (3)
SOC 390 Topics in Sociology (1-3)
SW 402 Child Welfare Services (3)
SW 411 Chemical Dependency (3)
SW 490 Topics in Social Work (1-3)

Related Requirements (6 Credits)

 At least six credits in "methods" courses must be completed to satisfy this requirement. The usual practice is for a student to complete a methodolgy sequence in the same social science field of concentration chosen to satisfy that requirement within the major. However, students may satisfy this requirement by completing any of the folowing two course sequences:

MATH 234 Introduction to Probability and Statistics (4)
POL 310 Political Science Research Methods (3)
PSY 231 Psychological Statistics and Methodology I (3)
PSY 232 Psychological Statistics and Methodology II (3)
SOC 350 Methods and Statistics for Social Research (4)
SOC 351 Quantitative Methods (3) or
SOC 352 Qualitative Methods (3)
SW 400 Research Methods in Social Work (3)

Recommended (3 - 12 Credits)

 An internship is not required for the major. Internships are important as networking opportunities for those seeking employment. These are usually completed in the Junior or Senior year and may be taken in any academic term. Most students intern during the summer. Internship credits do not apply toward the Criminal Justice major requirement total of 46 credits.

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