Program Description

The BS in Criminal Justice Studies views crime as harm to people and human relationships, and seeks to develop in its students the capacity to critically assess the retributive structure of the existing criminal justice system with an aim at affirming humanity and dignity. The emphasis of the major is on developing analytical skills, ethical reasoning, and a capacity for solving problems that are grounded in spiritual values. The School’s liberal arts curriculum equips students to pursue advanced study and meaningful, rewarding careers in the public, private, and non-profit sectors. Our curriculum introduces students to foundational and newly emerging topics and prepares them for advancement within their chosen professions.

Learning Outcomes

Students will:

1. Critically evaluate ethical arguments regarding criminal justice policy decisions and reform.
2. Critically evaluate the impact of race, gender, and ethnicity on criminal justice policy decisions and reform.
3. Develop and refine written and oral communication skills including the presentation of data and analysis.
4. Critically examine the ways in which restorative justice and restorative practices are implemented within specific systems, agencies, organizations, and movements.
5. Critically examine and propose solutions to root causes, systemic inequalities, and social injustices that creates the conditions in which harm occurs.
6. Recognize and comprehend the concept of implicit bias and its impact on decision-making, including how it can influence interactions with individuals from different cultures.
7. Demonstrate the transformative power of mercy and forgiveness in the criminal justice system and its relationship to other American systems.
8. Develop a positive belief in their abilities and worth, or self-confidence.

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, CJR 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.

To find course descriptions for any of the courses listed above, please click on this link: Course Index

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