Program Description

The Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Studies cultivates in students the capacity to critically assess the retributive lens of the existing criminal justice system with an aim to improving its condition and function through a restorative lens. Restorative justice views crime as harm to people and human relationships, in contrast to retributive justice, which views crime as harm to the State.

The professional skills students develop through this major prepare them for either careers or graduate study in the fields of criminal and social justice, law enforcement, community justice and intervention, civic activism, legislation, and social science research.

Admission
For admission to the major, students must meet the general university admission requirements and declare the major.

Degree Requirements

For the major in the Criminal Justice Studies program, a minimum of 45 credit hours is required. Required courses include: CJ 100 Introduction to Criminal Justice; CJ 101 Introduction to Restorative Justice; CJ 103 Theories of Criminology; CJ 216 Criminal Procedure; CJ 220 Race, Crimes, and Restorative Justice, CJ 225 Juvenile Justice and Restorative Justice, CJ 230 Police Problems and Practices, CJ 235 Punishment, Prisons, and Justice, CJ 290 Special Topics in Criminal Justice Studies, CJ 315 Research Methods, CJ 330 Rehabilitation of the Offender, CJ 340 Victimology and Restorative Justice, CJ 410 Socioeconomic Problems, Crime and Solutions, CJ 440 Criminal Justice Internship, and CJ 480 Capstone Research Project.

Also required are 58 credit hours in University Studies (general education) and 17 credit hours that may be used for a minor or elective courses. See the Program Sheet link below.

Minors (18 credit hours)

Criminal Justice Reform Minor

Students complete an 18-credit hour minor in criminal justice reform to complement their major discipline, such as African-American Studies, Communication, Creative Writing, Criminal Justice Studies, Interdisciplinary Studies, Psychology, or Social work. Students complete the required course CJR 425 Criminal Justice Policy Writing Workshop and 15 credit hours from among the following elective courses: CJR 310, CJR 315, CJR 320, CJR 325, CJR 330, CJR 335, CJR 340, JR 345, CJR 350, and CJR 355.

Criminal Justice Studies Minor

Students complete an 18-credit hour minor in criminal justice studies to complement their major discipline, such as African-American Studies, Biology, Business Administration, Communication, Creative Writing, Health Science, Interdisciplinary Studies, Natural Science, Psychology, or Social work. Students complete required courses CJ 100 Introduction to Criminal Justice and CJ 101 Introduction to Restorative Justice, and 12 credit hours from among the following courses: AAS 103, CJ103, CJ 216, CJ 220, CJ 225, CJ 230, CJ 235, CJ 290, CJ 315, CJ 330, CJ 340, CJ 410, CJR 310, CJR 315, CJR 320, CJR 325, CJR 330, CJR 335, CJR 340, JR 345, CJR 350, CJR 355, CJR 360, CJR 425, and RJ 101.

Restorative Justice Minor

Students complete an 18-credit hour minor in restorative justice reform to complement their major discipline, such as African-American Studies, Communication, Creative Writing, Criminal Justice Studies, Interdisciplinary Studies, Psychology, or Social work.

All Restorative Justice minor students, regardless of their major, complete the following three required courses: RJ/CJ 101 Introduction to Restorative Justice, RJ 303: Restorative Mediation, and RJ 309: Restorative Justice Facilitation and Skill Building Intensive.

Students majoring in Criminal Justice Studies will also complete 9 credit hours from among the following courses: AAS301, AAS303, ANTH 305, ANTH 315, ANTH 325, BA 205, ECON 280, PSY 103, PSY 332, RJ 304, RJ 305, RJ 306, RJ 307, RJ 308, RS 363, SOC 301, SS 305, SW 230, SW 240, SW 310.

Students majoring in any discipline other than Criminal Justice Students will also complete 3 credit hours from among the following criminal justice courses: CJ 220, CJ 225, CJ 230, CJ 235, CJ 330, CJ 340, or CJ 410. Students will complete the remaining 6 credit hours from among the following courses: AAS301, AAS303, ANTH 305, ANTH 315, ANTH 325, BA 205, CJ 220, CJ 225, CJ 230, CJ 235, CJ 330. CJ 340, CJ 410, ECON 280, PSY 103, PSY 332, RJ 304, RJ 305, RJ 306, RJ 307, RJ 308, RS 363, SOC 301, SS 305, SW 230, SW 240, SW 310. Students may not use the same criminal justice (CJ) course to fulfill multiple requirements for the minor; each CJ course may only be counted once towards the completion of the minor. 

Program Sheets:
Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Studies
Criminal Justice Reform Minor
Criminal Justice Studies Minor
Restorative Justice Minor