Description
The Criminal Justice Program offers students a contemporary education by providing a comprehensive and critical understanding of the criminal justice system and the society in which it functions. The program prepares students for criminal justice careers and postgraduate work as liberal-arts educated, intellectually mature, ethically aware, and culturally sensitive professionals. The program provides students with opportunities to examine critically the broad questions of how justice is administered locally and nationally in American society and to confront the fundamental issues of criminal justice that they will face as professionals and involved citizens.
Practitioners in the field of criminal justice teach in the program, bringing real work experience into the classroom and providing specialized career preparation and connections for students. Students are supported by engaged faculty and staff who deliver ono-on-one attention that embodies Stevenson University Online’s commitment to student success. To meet the needs of working professionals with busy lifestyles, most courses are scheduled in an 8-week online format. Some courses, such as statistics, are offered in a 16-week online format.
Objectives
Upon completion of the Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice, graduates will be able to:
- Analyze the theories, practices, and policies of the branches of criminal justice including governmental agencies and other institutions of social control.
- Apply principles of substantive criminal law and procedure to criminal justice practice.
- Utilize appropriate oral and written communication, critical thinking, and research skills for the criminal justice discipline.
- Demonstrate ethical decision-making practices while working in the criminal justice field.
- Apply academic preparation to professional experience in the criminal justice field.
Policies
Students must earn a minimum GPA of 2.00 in the major. Furthermore, the lowest acceptable grade is a “C” in all major courses. No student, regardless of major, will be permitted to advance to the next major course without earning a grade of “C” or better in the prerequisite course(s). When a grade below a “C” is earned in a major course, the student must repeat that course. The lowest acceptable grade in Stevenson Educational Experience (SEE) courses is a “D,” with the exception of ENG 151 and ENG 152, for which the lowest acceptable grade is a “C.” If a SEE course is required for the major the lowest acceptable grade is a “C.”
A course may be repeated once without special permission. Criminal justice majors must apply in writing to the Program Coordinator requesting permission to attempt a course for a third time.
Requirements
The courses listed below are required for completion of the bachelor's degree in criminal justice. Students must also complete the requirements for the Stevenson Educational Experience (SEE).
Specific pre- and co-requisites for each course are listed in the course descriptions.
Major Requirements:
| CJUS 101 | Introduction to Criminal Justice | 3 credits |
| CJUS 205 | Ethics Principles in Criminal Justice | 3 credits |
| CJUS 210 | Writing for Criminal Justice | 3 credits |
| CJUS 275 | Corrections | 3 credits |
| CJUS 280 | Law Enforcement | 3 credits |
| CJUS 285 | Criminology | 3 credits |
| CJUS 385 | Research Methods in Criminal Justice | 3 credits |
| CJUS 495 | Criminal Justice Capstone | 3 credits |
| GPS 200 | Adult Learning Theory & Practice | 3 credits |
| LAW 204 | Constitutional Law | 3 credits |
| LAW 215 | Criminal Law | 3 credits |
| LAW 322 | Criminal Investigation and Procedure | 3 credits |
| MATH 136 | Introduction to Statistics | 4 credits |
| | or | |
| PSY 136 | Statistics for the Behavioral and Social Sciences | 4 credits |
| POSCI 205 | State & Local Government | 3 credits |
Select Six Criminal Justice Electives (18 credits):
| | See advisor for list of program specific electives. | |
Minor in Criminal Justice
A minor in criminal justice is available. All course prerequisites must be met to be eligible to take the selected course for a minor. Please see a Student Success Coach for more information. Specific information regarding minor requirements may be found in the Academic Information section of the catalog.
Other Options
Bachelor's to Master's Option: The bachelor's to master's option is available for students majoring in criminal justice who wish to combine their bachelor's coursework with work toward a master's degree in one of Stevenson's graduate programs. Students choosing this option may earn their master's degree in as little as one year after their bachelor's degree. Interested students must formally apply for entrance into a bachelor's to master's option in their junior year. Once admitted into this program, students develop an educational plan in consultation with their Student Success Coach. For more information on this program, see the Admissions section of this catalog.