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Undergraduate Catalog 2024-2025



Criminal Justice (BS)

Description

Courses in this program lead to a Bachelor of Science with a major in Criminal Justice, which prepares one to work in a wide variety of careers, public and private, at various levels of responsibility. These careers include federal, state and local policing, other regulatory agencies of various branches of government, various levels of private investigation and private security and a variety of careers in corrections, including parole and probation as well as institutional corrections. Students planning on pursuing a law degree have often found criminal justice a relevant major.

Criminal Justice is an interdisciplinary area that draws much of its content from law, psychology, political science and sociology. The goal of the Criminal Justice curriculum is to make students aware of the key issues, concepts and theories involved in understanding the operation of the criminal justice system. With this knowledge, students are taught to analyze the practical issues and controversies of the field from a social justice perspective. Problem-solving, the ability to make discriminating judgments and the application of theory to practice are key skills that the program fosters.

Degree Requirements - Bachelor of Science with a major in Criminal Justice (120 credits)

To obtain this undergraduate degree, the student must fulfill the requirements of the University Core Curriculum, the requirements for the program major (45 credits) and complete a minimum of 120 credit hours.

Required Criminal Justice Classes (30 credits):

  • CJS 1300 Introduction to Criminal Justice (3 credits)
  • CJS 1310 Introduction to Corrections (3 credits)
  • CJS 2500 Introduction to Police Administration (3 credits) OR CJS 4800 Theory of Law Enforcement (3 credits)
  • CJS 3950 Criminal Investigation (3 credits) OR CJS 3900 Introduction to Forensic Science (3 credits)
  • CJS 4100 Criminal Law (3 credits)
  • CJS 4150 Juvenile Justice (3 credits) OR CJS 4160 Gangs and Juvenile Delinquent Groups (3 credits)
  • CJS 4200 Evidence and Criminal Procedure (3 credits)
  • CJS 4510 Criminology and Penology (3 credits) 
  • CJS 4540 Sociology of Deviant Behavior (3 credits)
  • CJS 4920 Senior Seminar: Theory and Research in Criminal Justice (3 credits)

Required Supportive Courses (9 credits):

  • POL 1000 Introduction to Political Science (3 credits) OR POL 2100 American Politics (3 credits)
  • PYC 3420 Abnormal Psychology (3 credits)
  • SOC 1000 Introduction to Sociology (3 credits)

Principle Electives - Choose Two (6 credits):

The student must also take two elective criminal justice courses*.

  • CJS 3980 Technology and Criminal Justice (3 credits)
  • CJS 3990 Narcotics and the Police (3 credits)
  • CJS 4020 Court Structures and Functions (3 credits)
  • CJS 4160 Gangs and Juvenile Delinquent Groups (3 credits)
  • CJS 4500 Institutional Corrections (3 credits)
  • CJS 4520 Organized Crime (3 credits)
  • CJS 4560 Managing Aggressive Behavior (3 credits)
  • CJS 4580 Profiling and Threat Assessment (3 credits)
  • CJS 4600 Community Corrections (3 credits)
  • CJS 4800 Theory of Law Enforcement (3 credits)
  • CJS 4810 Women Crime and Justice (3 credits)
  • CJS 4820 Terrorism (3 credits)
  • CJS 4830 Family Violence: Spouse and Child Abuse (3 credits)
  • CJS 4840 Psychology Psychiatry and Law (3 credits)
  • CJS 4850 Critical Issues in Criminal Justice (3 credits)
  • CJS 4870 Victimology (3 credits)
  • CJS 4880 Sex Crimes (3 credits)
  • CJS 4890 White Collar Crime (3 credits)
  • CJS 4900 Internship in Criminal Justice Studies (3 credits)
  • CJS 4950 Criminalistics (Forensic Science) (3 credits)
  • CJS 4990 Violence in the Workplace (3 credits)
  • SEC 4010 Security Systems and Crime Prevention (3 credits)

*Note: This may include courses with an SEC or HUS prefix, with advisor's approval.

Field Experience

Field experience is recommended, but not required for students who expect to work in law enforcement or corrections. The Criminal Justice major may obtain field experience in two programs:

  1. Cooperative Education—planned paid experience in federal, state, and local law enforcement and correctional agencies as well as private security and campus police.

  2. Internship—students have a 180-hour supervised experience under the direction of a faculty member. (See CJS 4900 Internship in Criminal Justice Studies)

Program Contact Information

Erick Barnes
Lecturer and Chair
Department of Criminal Justice
Briggs Building, Room 221
McNichols Campus

Email: barnese@udmercy.edu
Telephone: 313-578-0363
Fax: 313-993-1166