The Bachelor of Science program is structured to provide students with a multidisciplinary understanding of crime and justice within the framework of broader social processes. Required courses expose a criminology and criminal justice major to all elements of crime and the criminal justice system to foster a systematic understanding of how the entire system functions . Practical field experience can be arranged under the guidance of the internship coordinator.

The curriculum is designed to offer students a comprehensive education by providing a fundamental understanding of the causes and correlates of crime and the criminal justice system. Both analytical and writing skills are developed to prepare students for professional roles or advanced study in graduate or law school.

Core Criminal Justice courses include classes on theories of criminal behavior, criminal justice institutions, criminal justice research methods, and the criminal justice process. These courses are designed to give students an advanced understanding of crime, the criminal justice system, and contemporary criminal justice reform.  Criminal justice majors must maintain a minimum 2.0 grade point average overall and in the major.

Criminal Justice electives: A minimum of twenty-seven credits must be selected for elective course work in criminal justice. The approved criminal justice electives provide students with an opportunity to explore and critically analyze areas of personal interest.

Admission Requirements

Admission requirements for this program are satisfied by the general requirements for undergraduate admission to the University.

Candidates must complete 120 credits in course work including satisfaction of the University General Education Requirements and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Group Requirements, as well as the departmental major  requirements cited below. All course work must be completed in accordance with the regulations of the University and the College governing undergraduate scholarship and degrees.

It is the student’s responsibility to meet with a Criminal Justice Academic Advisor to officially declare their Major and to identify all major and degree requirements. 

Transfer Credit

Students should visit the transfer credit website and consult with the Criminal Justice Academic Advisor to determine the applicability of transfer credits toward the major.