Requirements for a Criminal Justice Degree

Required Credits: 40

The Criminal Justice program has three components. The first component includes the required courses, including two internship courses. The second component includes courses on "Perspectives on Human Behavior;" two courses are required from this category. The third componet includes courses on "Law and Responses to Social Conflict;" three courses are required from this category. Courses numbered above the 300 level should be taken only after meeting the prerequisite(s) or after significant coursework in Sociology or Politics and Government.

 

Required Courses (25 credits)

SOC 170 Social Responses to Crime
SOC 242 Methods of Social Research
POL 250 Law and the Justice System
SOC 271 Deviance
SOC 318 Internship
SOC 319 Internship
SOC 470 Criminology
SOC 473 Crime, Law and Administration of Justice


Group A:

Perspectives on Human Behavior (choose any 2 courses)

EDP/PSY132 Human Development

PHI 233 Organizational Ethics

PSY 242 Adolescent and Emerging Adult Development

PSY 262 Abnormal Psychology
SOC 273 International Organized Crime
SOC 372 Women and Crime
SOC 376 Juvenile Delinquency
SOC 382 Race and Ethnic Relations
POL 421 Political Violence

 

Group B:

Law and the Response to Social Conflict (choose any 3 courses)

SOC 274 Sociological Analysis of Prisons and Corrections
SOC 277 Policing Society
EDG 331 Helping Skills and Interpersonal Relations
EDG 333 Strategies of Prevention and Intervention
SOC 375 Social Control
POL 450 Constitutional Law
POL 451 Civil Liberties and Rights
POL 452 Jurisprudence

 

Recommendations
SOC 242 should be taken by the end of the junior year. It is only offered in the fall semester. SOC 318 and SOC 319 are not taken until the junior or senior year. SOC 470 and SOC 473 are taken during the senior year. Elective and core courses are offered on a regular basis, but are not offered every semester. Majors should consult their advisors to plan their coursework.

 

Minor in Criminal Justice

Required Credits: 19

Students must take the SOC course listed below plus one additional SOC course from Group A, Group B or an SOC internship.

SOC 170 Social Responses to Crime
SOC 242 Methods of Social Research
SOC 271 Deviance
SOC 470 Criminology
SOC 473 Crime, Law and Administration of Justice
SOC ___ ________________________