The Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice prepares students for effective professional careers in criminal justice, public service and other helping professions. Our program offers concentration options in justice or forensic crime scene investigation. Students also may prepare to pursue studies in law or graduate studies in criminal justice or areas of human services usually related to justice. Additionally, this department encourages in-service justice employees and others to enhance their professional career development through higher education.
Course Description
Curriculum
The B.S. in Criminal Justice requires a minimum of 120 university credits, 36 of which must be in criminal justice. Along with the general education requirements of the College of Humanities and Sciences and the Wilder School, the student majoring in criminal justice must take the following courses:
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CRJS 181 Justice System Survey
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CRJS 260 Criminal Law
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CRJS 355 Foundations of Criminal Justice
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CRJS 380 Research Methods in Criminal Justice
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CRJS 475 Case Studies in Criminal Procedure
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CRJS 480, 492 or 493 (application component)
Concentrations
The justice concentration is offered for those students who are interested in a broad theoretical and practical education in the field of criminal justice. Students in this concentration complete the 18-credit criminal justice core plus any six criminal justice electives.
The forensic crime scene investigation concentration is offered for those students who are interested in careers in crime scene investigation at the local, state, or federal levels. Students in this concentration are required to complete the criminal justice core as well as the six additional courses as specified below:
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CRJS 320 Principles of Criminal Investigation
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CRJS 370 Criminalistics and Crime Analysis
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CRJS 373 Crime Scene Evidence: Law and Trial Procedure
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CRJS 425 Violent Crime Scene Investigation
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CRJS 450 Computer Forensic Investigation
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CRJS 300- or 400-level criminal justice elective
