Criminal Justice Degree Online

Unlike some careers, the criminal justice field demands that students maintain a clean record. Most criminal justice agencies and organizations require criminal background checks. Criminal background checks are even required for internship and some volunteer placements. Therefore, it is essential that criminal justice students use good judgment and avoid developing a criminal record, including an excessive number of speeding tickets, underage drinking, and fake ID charges.

Increasingly, criminal justice organizations also requiring credit checks, polygraph testing, and/or psychological evaluations.

In addition, most employers take references from our criminal justice faculty very seriously. Students should know that faculty are formally and informally assessing their academic performance, attendance, timeliness, honesty, professionalism, and social skills during their time at Mount Mercy. These faculty are often asked to reflect on these character issues for references

Fall: All Years Spring: All Years
Overview of the criminal justice field focusing on the history and description of the contemporary United States system. The overview will include both the adult and the juvenile justice system.

CJ 300 Criminology (3)
Fall: All Years
This course will survey the history of crime in society, including theories, research and commentaries on crime and delinquency.

CJ 309 Law and Society [ W ] (4)
Fall: All Years Spring: All Years
Relationships of law and society; social forces in law making; dynamics of law administration; social, cultural and behavioral effects of law; history and development of the legal profession; analysis of legal language and reasoning. Prerequisite may be waived with the consent of the instructor. Same as SOC 309.

CJ 312 Criminal Investigation (3)
Spring: All Years
This course will cover a variety of topics that would assist law enforcement officers in conducting investigations.

CJ 335 Criminal Law (3)
Fall: All Years
Substantive criminal law, development and meaning of principles of criminal law, current issues. Same as POL 335

CJ 337 Criminal Procedure (3)
Spring: All Years
The course will examine contemporary interpretations of the U.S. Constitution’s protections for the criminally accused, which are primarily found in the 4th, 5th, 6th, 8th, and 14th Amendments.

CJ 390 Topics in Criminal Justice (1-3)
Fall: On Demand Spring: On Demand
This is an upper division course with varying topics from the discipline of criminal justice.

CJ 400 Seminar in Criminal Justice (1-4)
Fall: All Years Spring: All Years
An in-depth analysis of a topic in criminal justice. Students may apply up to 8 credits to the degree.

CJ 430 Minnesota Criminal Law and Procedure (4)
Fall: All Years
The Minnesota criminal statutes as well as the Minnesota rules of criminal procedure are examined. Technical study of police report writing designed to meet the standards of the POST Board licensing examination will be covered.
Prerequisite: CJ 335 OR POL 335

CJ 469 Internship (1-12)
Fall: All Years Spring: All Years Summer: All Years
A supervised, practical experience in criminal justice. A maximum of 12 internship credits may be applied to the degree. Credits may not be applied to the criminal justice major.

CJ 497 Readings in Criminal Justice (1-3)
Fall: All Years Spring: All Years Summer: All Years
Selected readings in Criminal Justice under the close supervision of a member of the CJ program.

MSUM’s Criminal Justice Program is a multidisciplinary major with classes from several departments. Students, working with a faculty advisor, have significant flexibility to choose their coursework. Six classes are required and remaining classes are tailored to each student’s interests in criminal justice. Students interested in Law Enforcement usually do additional coursework.

The basic philosophy of the major is to provide a broad background in the social sciences. Our graduates understand that the criminal justice system involves more than formal criminal procedure. This social science background teaches students about the many ways criminal justice issues and practices relate to what is occurring in the larger society.

Some of the topics studied include criminal law, relationships between law and the larger society, victim issues, how the courts operate, why people commit juvenile and adult crimes, and the psychology of abnormal individuals.

There is a separate Law Enforcement track for students seeking peace officer careers in Minnesota. This track is certified by the Minnesota Peace Officers Standards and Training Board (POST). Minnesota is a leader in law enforcement and the Minnesota standards for entering law enforcement careers are among the most rigorous in the nation. Most MSUM graduates perform very well on the entrance examination.

Criminal Justice students take classes in sociology, psychology, political science, and sometimes social work. It is common for students to major in both criminal justice and one of these four disciplines.

Career Opportunities
Students majoring in criminal justice are well prepared for careers as probation officers, as correctional counselors and as police officers. Graduates are also qualified to work as prison staff, as researchers and as professionals in other areas of the system. Each year, several graduates go beyond the bachelor’s degree and attend law school or graduate school. MSUM criminal justice graduates have made impressive careers in police departments throughout Minnesota and North Dakota, in county and state probation offices and in counseling positions. Some very good students are in federal law enforcement agencies.

In the past decade, internships have become almost mandatory to secure probation and other corrections positions. They are currently becoming critical in law enforcement. Internships, while not required, are therefore strongly recommended. They are best done during the summer between a student’s junior and senior year, but may be done any time after a student becomes a junior.

Program Benefits
A four year Bachelor of Arts degree that emphasizes both high professional standards and an intellectually rigorous approach to criminal justice.
A program that allows a second major in a social science.
Excellent law enforcement career preparation.
Excellent correctional career preparation.
Excellent preparation for law school and other professional and graduate work.
Sufficient flexibility to accommodate unique student interests.
Excellent faculty contacts with local and state agencies.
An active criminal justice student association.
Available computer labs and student tutors.
Regular field trips and invited guest speakers.
Opportunities for students to work with faculty on social research.

The Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Criminal Justice is an interdisciplinary major which prepares students for careers in the criminal justice system. Coursework in the Criminal Justice program combines traditional social science classes like sociology and psychology with specialized classes in areas such as criminology, forensics and law enforcement administration. By developing students’ critical thinking skills and providing a solid understanding of core issues in criminal justice, the program prepares students for professional work or graduate training.

Degree Overview:

To earn a B.S. students complete 120 credits of coursework that includes general education classes and liberal arts electives in addition to classes in criminal justice.

Students pursuing a B.S. in Criminal Justice choose one of two concentrations: Police Science or Social Science.
The Police Science concentration focuses on law enforcement administration and community-police relations.
The Social Science concentration focuses on the sociology of crime and law enforcement, as well as the psychology of criminal behavior.

Students in either concentration complete foundation classes in sociology and psychology, along with a series of core classes in criminal justice. Students also complete 12-16 credits worth of advanced classes that are chosen to match a student’s concentration and career interests. For example, a student interested in working with young offenders may choose electives such as Juvenile Delinquency, Sociology of Violence and Sociology of Deviance. A student interested in forensics could choose electives such as Forensic Psychology, Psychology of Criminal Behavior, and Forensic Science.

Who Should Apply?

The Criminal Justice program attracts students from a wide variety of academic and professional backgrounds. Some students are already working in the criminal justice field and are seeking a college degree in order to advance their career. The program is also appropriate for students who don’t have a great deal of coursework or work experience in criminal justice and are looking for an introduction to the field.

Careers and Advanced Degrees

Careers and Jobs
Law enforcement and administration, corrections, forensics, customs, public administration, criminal investigation, private and corporate security, counseling, homeland security, FBI, CIA, DEA, ATF, Secret Service, and Military Intelligence.

Advanced Degrees
Master of Arts in Criminal Justice, Master of Arts in Forensic Psychology, Master of Science in Forensic Science and Master of Science in Protection Management.

The Criminal Justice program emphasizes a multidisciplinary approach to understanding deviant behavior and crime, the nature of law and social control, the organization and management of criminal justice agencies, and the use of research and evaluation for planned change in criminal justice. Criminal Justice is an interdisciplinary field that includes material from sociology, political science, and psychology.

Washington State University Spokane offers the Master of Arts degree in Criminal Justice and, in collaboration with our Pullman campus, a PhD in Criminal Justice.
Students

The program is designed for those who have an interest in understanding societal issues associated with crime, the work performed by criminal justice professionals, and the impact public policy decisions have on the operation of the criminal justice system.

Our student body is comprised both of traditional students who have recently completed their undergraduate degrees and working professionals interested in furthering their careers in criminal justice. Classes are held in the evening, making the program accessible to both full-time and part-time students.
Scholarship

The program is taught by highly qualified faculty in small seminar settings. Excellence in scholarship, combined with applications of knowledge useful to practitioners in the field, provides students with both an understanding of the criminal justice system and opportunities to engage in meaningful research in the community.

The Criminal Justice program prepares students for positions of leadership in law enforcement, court administration, corrections, and academia.
Research

WSU Spokane is home to the Western Regional Institute for Community Oriented Public Safety (WRICOPS), the Washington State Institute for Community Oriented Policing (WSICOP), and a branch of WSU’s Division of Governmental Studies and Service (DGSS).

These units are closely associated with the Criminal Justice program, and offer opportunities for master and doctoral candidates to work on a variety of applied research projects.
Heritage

Established in 1941 as the Department of Police Science and Administration, the WSU Criminal Justice program is among the oldest in the country. It is ranked in the top twenty criminal justice programs nationally. Degrees in Criminal Justice are offered at two of WSU’s four campuses: WSU Spokane (MA, PhD [in collaboration with the Pullman campus]); and WSU Pullman (BA, MA, PhD).
WSU Spokane Campus Academic Director:

David Brody, JD, PhD
E-mail: brody@wsu.edu
Telephone: 509.358.7952
Program Director, WSU Pullman:

Jeff Bouffard
E-mail: jbouffard@wsu.edu
Telephone: 509.335.0942

Saint Francis University offers a broad, integrated program to prepare students for work in criminal justice and related fields. The Sociology/Criminal Justice degree features major criminal justice courses, such as Crime and Delinquency, Criminal Justice System, the American Courts System, Policing, Corrections, and Juvenile Justice, and internships with a wide variety of justice agencies - including federal and state prisons; police departments, the FBI, and prosecutor and public defender agencies. Beyond this, the Sociology/Criminal Justice major at Saint Francis University provides students with the background which will allow pursuit of a wide-range of justice-related careers. Sociology/Criminal justice students will complete coursework in a variety of related disciplines such as sociology, psychology, political science, business and forensic chemistry, with emphasis determined by the student’s interests and goals in criminal justice.

Graduates pursue a wide variety of careers including law school, law enforcement, corrections (including probation and parole), private security, youth agency work, and many others. This degree can also provide an excellent base for a career in social services, government, non-profit organizations, and business.

The program is geared towards students interested in pursuing a career within the field of criminal justice. Students will receive both theoretical and practical exposure to the system and will develop widely applicable skills in research design and data analysis.Required Courses (24 Credits):

SOC 100: Introduction to Sociology

SOC 158: Criminal Justice Administration

POL 203: Political and Civil Rights

SOC 243: Criminology

SOC 244: Sociology of Corrections

SOC 347: Sociological Theory

SOC 348: Research Methods

SOC 350: Applied Statistics (or equivalent)

What is nature of the Criminal Justice Major at STU?

The major in Criminal Justice is designed for the career oriented student who plans to go into law enforcement, judicial, or correctional services. It includes relevant coursework in the social sciences such as criminology, crime and delinquency, white collar criminality, victimology, and organized crime. In addition, students are prepared for administrative roles in such services through classes in police organization, planning and budgeting, and human resource management. Rounding out the interdisciplinary curriculum are courses in law, including constitutional law, criminal procedures, and the sociology of law. The program is proud of its liberal arts heritage and its academic emphasis. Students learn about crime, its causes and consequences, theories of criminal behavior, and how society organizes to promote peace, justice, and order and prevent violence, law breaking, and terrorism. Alternatively said, it is not a police training center teaching tactical operations, but a center for advancing your knowledge about the nature and scope of crime, the forces affecting its prevalence, the techniques used by its perpetrators, the consequences for its victims, as well as legal, social, psychological, and administrative aspects of running an effective criminal justice system.

What careers are available if I Major in Criminal Justice?

Students who graduate with a major in criminal justice can secure positions with the U.S. Marshal’s Service, the DEA, FBI, Treasury Department, U.S. Customs Officers, as well as local law enforcement agencies. They may also be eligible for work as probation or parole officers, victim assistance workers, correctional employees, private investigators, or postal investigators. Other less well known but exciting possibilities include the Air Marshal’s Service, Guardian Ad Litem, as well as numerous treatment program counselors. Students may also go on for higher degrees in public administration, criminology, criminal justice, or law.

What is special about the Criminal Justice major at STU?

The Criminal Justice major at STU boasts a well published faculty who are dedicated to the teaching enterprise as a full-time career, and unlike many other institutions, makes rare use of part-time adjuncts for whom teaching is only a hobby.

In addition, we take pride in the fact that our graduates include FBI Agents, US Customs Officers, the head of the US Marshal’s Service for the Southern District, numerous chiefs of police, members of the State’s Attorney’s office and the Public Defender’s office, members of the Marine Patrol, Immigration and Naturalization Service officers, and troopers with Border Patrol. Many of our graduates are currently pursuing careers with local police agencies including the Miami Police Department, Miramar , Metro-Dade, the Broward Sheriff’s Office, etc.

Another advantage of the Criminal Justice major at STU is that allows the student to carry a second major in psychology, political science, English, History, Environmental Justice, among others without having to take extra courses beyond those required for the BA degree.

Lastly, one can also obtain a certificate in Homeland Security and Terrorism Control while at the same time earning the Criminal Justice major.

Summary
Commencing Semesters

Program Code 2032
Delivery Mode Internal
Plan Location St Lucia
Course List See the Course List for courses that can be studied as part of the Criminal Justice plan/major in this program

Plan Description
This major gives students the background and skills to critically evaluate how we can better respond to emerging crime problems in our communities. Courses included in the major focus on the social factors leading to criminality and the response to criminal behaviour from the justice system. In contrast to the major in criminology for the BA which focuses more closely on theoretical and research skills in criminology, this major emphasises applied social policy issues relating to criminal justice. Students are given a broad introduction to the field in year 1, followed by upper level courses that focus on the social causes of offending and the various ways in which different parts of the justice system deal with criminal/offending behaviour.

The American Criminal Justice Association-Lambda Alpha Epsilon is a National Organization for criminal justice students, professionals in the criminal justice field, as well as those individuals retired from the criminal justice field. This Association has Chapters on both the East and West Coast. Coppin’s Chapter is Kappa Alpha Omega, which consist of criminal justice students alumni, and faculty. One of our goals is to improve criminal justice through educational activities.

In order to become a member of the American Criminal Justice Association you must fill out an application and pay a fee of $36.00 , with annual dues of $30.00 You must be a criminal justice student or work in or be retired from the criminal justice field in order to become a member. For more information, criminal justice students should contact the Department of Criminal Justice at (410) 951-3050.
Criminal Justice Club

Greetings from the President of the Criminal Justice Club:
In order to join the Criminal Justice Club, your major or minor must be in Criminal Justice. There are no applications to fill out, just look for meeting postings and come to the meetings. The purpose of the Criminal Justice Club is to promote scholarship and fellowship in the area of Criminal Justice. The club seeks to contribute positively to the legislative process and the criminal justice system, to make students more cognizant of the impact of local, state, and federal laws and public policies and the impact the laws have on the poor, minorities, and the general public. The Criminal Justice Club is also involved in community relations. The club has donated food and money to the Bea Gaddy Foundation, food and clothing to other churches in the community, fed the homeless, sponsored a Basketball tournament and a Halloween party for the youth of Baltimore City, and an Easter egg hunt, with many more fun time for the kids to come.