Criminology and Criminal Justice Area – Bachelor of Arts
The criminology program prepares students for a wide range of career opportunities in local, state and federal criminal justice agencies. Specific examples include correctional officer, probation and parole officer, counselor, case manager, police officer youth officer and others. The criminology and criminal justice area is designed to familiarize students with the 21st century's best practices within the criminal justice system, like problem-solving courts, drug and mental health treatment and innovations in theoretical and empirical work in the study of the etiology, prevention and treatment of crime.
Program Competencies
- Students will gain a fundamental knowledge of the criminal justice system, criminal justice courts, policing, the constitution and civil rights.
- Students will develop professional communication skills and ethics in working with offenders and victims and practice these applied skills in the criminology practicum.
- Students will become familiar with general sociological theory and theoretical explanations of crime and delinquency.
- Students will develop the ability to read and understand criminological and sociological research methods and interpret the findings of such research.
- Students will begin to understand the reciprocal relationships between the criminal justice system, criminal justice policies and crime.
- Students will develop a working knowledge of the general concepts of sociological analysis, including exposure to selected substantive areas of sociology.
- Students will develop skills in sociological research and reasoning, including research design, data analysis, report writing and computer literacy.
- Students will develop reading skills, writing abilities and oral communication skills, so that they can apply sociological and criminological principles to criminal justice roles and explanations of criminal behavior and criminal justice system behavior.
The Criminology Program prepares students for a wide range of career opportunities in local, state and federal criminal justice agencies. Specific examples include correctional officer, probation and parole officer, counselor, case manager, police officer, youth officer and others. The criminology and criminal justice area is designed to familiarize students with the 21st century's best practices within the criminal justice system, like problem-solving courts, drug and mental health treatment and innovations in theoretical and empirical work in the study of the etiology, prevention and treatment of crime.
Program Requirements
General Education
| | General Education courses | variable |
| CRIM 499C | Senior Criminology Capstone | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 36 |
Area Requirements
Students must earn a "C" or better in all course requirements. Students who do not earn a "C" must retake the course. Students must also maintain a 2.25 cumulative grade point average (GPA) across the area to continue in the program.
CCJ Area Requirements
Choose two of the following courses (six hours):
| CRIM 317 | Police Culture | 3 |
| CRIM 385 | Contemporary Legal Issues in the Criminal Justice System | 3 |
| CRIM 388 | Sociology of Punishment | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 39 |
Criminology Electives
| CRIM 300 | The Criminogenic Family | 3 |
| CRIM 306 | Juvenile Delinquency | 3 |
| CRIM 315 | White Collar Crime | 3 |
| CRIM 316 | Global Crime and Terrorism | 3 |
| CRIM 317 | Police Culture | 3 |
| CRIM 333 | Sociology of Gender Violence: Perspectives on Women and Intimate Partner Violence | 3 |
| CRIM 345 | Correctional Institutions | 3 |
| CRIM 363 | Cross-Cultural Perspectives on the Sex Industry | 3 |
| CRIM 385 | Contemporary Legal Issues in the Criminal Justice System | 3 |
| CRIM 388 | Sociology of Punishment | 3 |
| CRIM 395 | Sociology of Serial Murder | 3 |
| CRIM 399 | Special Class | 3 |
| CRIM 461 | Sociology of the Law | 3 |
| CRIM 465 | Environmental Sociology | 3 |
| CRIM 476 | Special Problems | 1-3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 9 |
Capstone
| CRIM 499C | Senior Criminology Capstone | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 3 |
(Capstone hours counted in general education)
Total Credit Hours: 120