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.

Program Requirements

General Education

CRIM 499C	Senior Criminology Capstone	3
Total Credit Hours:		36

Refer to the General Education section for a complete listing of general education requirements for the University.

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.

Core Requirements

CRIM 250	Introduction to the Criminal Justice System	3
CRIM 317	Police Culture	3
CRIM 380	Race, Class, Gender and Crime	3
CRIM 385	Contemporary Legal Issues in the Criminal Justice System	3
CRIM 388	Sociology of Punishment	3
CRIM 401	Criminology	3
CRIM 490	Practicum in Criminology	3
SOC 101	Introduction to Sociology	3
SOC 405	Sociological Theory	3
SOC 450	Research Methodology	3
SOC 451	Quantitative Data Analysis	3
Total Credit Hours:		33

Electives

Choose 15 hours from the following:

CRIM 300	Criminogenic Family	3
CRIM 302	Inside Out Prison Exchange Seminar	1
CRIM 303	Special Topics: Inside Out Prison Exchange Program	3
CRIM 306	Juvenile Delinquency	3
CRIM 315	Sociology of White Collar Crime	3
CRIM 316	Global Crime and Terrorism	3
CRIM 318	Criminal Evidence and Investigation	3
CRIM 333	Women and Partner Violence	3
CRIM 345	Correctional Institutions	3
CRIM 363	Sex Industry Perspectives	3
CRIM 372	Victimology	3
CRIM 395	Sociology of Serial Murder	3
CRIM 399	Special Class	3
CRIM 404	Crime and Justice Policies	3
CRIM 456	Organizations in Contemporary Society	3
CRIM 416	Working with Offenders	3
CRIM 461	Sociology of the Law	3
CRIM 465	Environmental Sociology	3
CRIM 476	Special Problems	1-3
Total Credit Hours:		15

Free Electives

Total Credit Hours:

Total Credit Hours: 120