Criminal Justice, BA

Program Description

The Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice is an interdisciplinary degree that prepares students for a variety of professional careers related to law enforcement, social services and criminal investigation. In addition, the degree provides excellent preparation for graduate education in criminology and public policy. The major offers two emphasis areas: the General Emphasis Area and the Legal Emphasis Area. The General Emphasis Area allows students to pursue a science-oriented education while still selecting from a wide variety of course options. The Legal Emphasis Area prepares students for careers and future study in the field of law. The Criminal Justice degree requires a total of 120 credits, including 34 credits in criminal justice as outlined in the curriculum. In addition, students take a modern language and nine additional credits of relevant social science or humanities courses. These additional courses provide students a greater depth and broader diversity of skills and knowledge useful for careers in these fields. Courses that fulfill General Education requirements and departmental social science and humanities courses may also fulfill minor requirements. Courses that fulfill core, methods, and emphasis area requirements may not double count with minor requirements.

Emphasis Areas

• General Justice Emphasis Area requires eighteen credits selected from any 3000- or 4000-level JUST courses not used to satisfy other requirements, or ANTH 4280 , POSC 4360 , POSC 4370 , or SOC 3920 .
• Legal Emphasis Area requires JUST 3280  and JUST 4280 ; one of JUST 4290 , JUST 4480 , JUST 4920 , POSC 4370 , or POSC 4380 ; and nine additional credits selected from any 3000- or 4000-level JUST courses not used to satisfy other requirements, or ANTH 4280 , POSC 4360 , POSC 4370 , or SOC 3920 .

No more than six credits of JUST 4860  or six credits of JUST 4990  may be counted toward the requirements of either emphasis area.

Program Requirements