Description
The criminal justice program is committed to preparing students through education, research, and public service. The program offers students a state-of-the-art education in criminal justice by providing a comprehensive and critical understanding of the criminal justice system and the society in which it functions.
As part of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, the program also 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 in American society and globally as well as confront the fundamental issues of criminal justice which they face as professionals and involved citizens.
Students in the program have opportunities to assist faculty engaged in research and scholarship to address local and state issues in criminal justice. In addition, students work in the field and perform internships to prepare for a variety of careers in areas such as law enforcement, corrections, juvenile justice, security, and beyond. The program engages students in discipline-related clubs, activities, events, scholarship showcases, and academic conferences and provides extraordinary experiences through interaction with criminal justice professionals and visits to sites such as prisons and police training facilities. Practitioners throughout the field of criminal justice teach courses in the program, bringing real work experience into the classroom and providing exceptional career preparation and connections for students.
Outcomes
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. The lowest acceptable grade is a "C" in all courses listed in the catalog under "Program Requirements" for the major, including both courses in the major and SEE courses required by the major. No student, regardless of major, will be permitted to advance to the next 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.
A course may be repeated once without special permission. Criminal justice majors must apply in writing to the Dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences 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:
| FYS 100 | First Year Seminar | 1 credit |
| 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 220 | Criminal Law and Procedure | 3 credits |
| CJUS 275 | Corrections | 3 credits |
| CJUS 280 | Law Enforcement | 3 credits |
| CJUS 285 | Criminology | 3 credits |
| CJUS 345 | Victimology | 3 credits |
| CJUS 380 | American Courts and the Criminal Justice System | 3 credits |
| CJUS 385 | Research Methods in Criminal Justice | 3 credits |
| CJUS 417 | Internship | 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 |
Take 6 CJUS elective courses for 18 credits; one course must be at the upper-level.
Suggested Course Sequence
2024-25 SCS Criminal Justice
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. A minor in criminal justice requires a minimum of 6 courses (18 credits) with a CJUS prefix. Please see an academic advisor for more information. General guidelines regarding minors may be found in the Minors section of the catalog.
Other Options
BS/MS Option: The BS/MS 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 BS/MS option in their sophomore year. Once admitted into this program, students develop an educational plan in consultation with their undergraduate and graduate advisors. For more information on this program, see the Stevenson University Graduate Catalog.
Course Descriptions
See Criminal Justice Course Descriptions