Criminal Justice Degree Online

Course requirements in the minor are organized into required and 1 criminal justice elective course. The required component includes courses to provide a general foundation in the discipline. The elective allows students to pursue one additional course of their particular interest.

The total minor consists of 6 courses, or 18 credit hours. A grade of C- or higher is required for each course in the minor.

Required Courses (15 credit hours):

CJ 101 Introduction to Criminal Justice (3 hrs)
CJ 203 Policing (3 hrs)
CJ 244 Corrections (3 hrs)
CJ 297 Criminal Law (3 hrs)
CJ 299 Criminal Justice Information, Communication, & Ethics (3 hrs)
- prerequisite: grade of C- in general education writing course

Elective Course (15 credit hours):

One (1) additional course from the criminal justice major curriculum.
(Students still must meet semester hour requirements and course prerequisites.)

Please see the admission section of our current college catalog (pdf) for more information about requirements and admission procedures.

CRJ 501 MODERN AMERICAN JUSTICE
This course provides an overview of current American criminal justice theories and practices. The focus of the class is on developing an in-depth understanding of criminality and police practices with respect to American justice. Particular emphasis will be placed on practical applications. Current theoretical approaches to understand American justice will be studied as well as modern American policing. 30 lecture hours per semester.
3 Credits.

CRJ 502 CONSTITUTIONAL LAW AND LEGAL ISSUES
This course will critically examine constitutional and legal issues which are essential components of the modern criminal justice system of the United States. In recent decades, court cases and legislation have had a profound impact in shaping our modern criminal justice system. Examples of court cases and their progeny that will be examined include Miranda v. Arizona, Terry v. Ohio and Mapp v. Ohio among others. Theories on the judiciary will also be examined such as the additional model versus the legal model of jurisprudence. 30 lecture hours. 3 Credits.

CRJ 503 RESEARCH METHODS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE
This course provides the student with a graduate-level introduction to criminal justice research, statistics, and methodologies. Criminal justice research keeps policy makers and social scientists informed of vital updates in the field. As such, research techniques and methods will be strongly emphasized. Both qualitative and quantitative studies will be critically analyzed. In addition, the course will closely examine the scientific method and how this method influences research. Prerequisites: Undergraduate statistics course or permission of Director. 30 lecture hours per semester. 3 Credits.

CRJ 504 ETHICS AND MORALITY IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE
Ethics and morality are incorporated into every aspect of criminal justice. From the police officer patrolling the street, to the parole officer checking on his/her parolees, the role of ethics and morality should not be underestimated. This course examines real-life ethical decisions that occur everyday in the criminal justice field. Using case studies and hypothetical scenarios, the student will be able to understand the complexities of criminal justice ethics. 30 lecture hours. 3 Credits.

CRJ 510 VIOLENCE IN AMERICAN SOCIETY
Violence has become commonplace to Americans. This course will provide an overview of the nature of American society and explore why American society, in particular, is so violent. This course will examine violence through case studies of American violence including: workplace violence, relationship violence, child abuse, organizational violence, school violence, gang violence, militia violence, serial killers, and other types of violence. Prerequisites CRJ 501 and CRJ 503. 30 lecture hours per semester. 3 Credits.

CRJ 511 CRIMINAL JUSTICE TECHNOLOGY
Technology has revolutionized the field of criminal justice. From policing to after-the-fact crime analysis, the use of technology has greatly advanced the war on crime. Some hands-on examples of these techniques will be demonstrated; DNA fingerprinting, photographic imaging, bomb detection, and other developments in technology will be covered. Additionally, technology has also created severe problems for law enforcement. The availability of information to construct Weapons of Mass Destruction or even fairly destructive bombs are now commonplace. Also, criminals have the ability to commit crime transnationally using computers. Such problems for law enforcement will be closely examined. Prerequisites: CRJ 501, 503, and permission of the Director. 30 lecture hours per semester. 3 Credits.

CRJ 512 DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM
This course provides an overview of terrorism with a focus on the United States. It will examine the history, the threat of terrorism on U.S. soil, efforts by American officials at identifying priorities and solutions, future threats, and the impact on society. Prerequisites: CRJ 501 and CRJ 503. 30 lecture hours per semester. 3 Credits.

CRJ 513 Modern Law Enforcement
This course provides a thorough survey of modern law enforcement agencies and practices and how these aspects have evolved over time. Topics include the professionalization of police officers, community policing, broken windows, Compstat,
and how these influence law enforcement administration and procedure. Prerequisites: CRJ 501. 30 lecture hours per semester. 3 Credits.

CRJ 514 SURVEY OF INTERNATIONAL MODERN JUSTICE SYSTEMS
This course will survey various justice systems throughout the world. It will focus on a wide variety of countries: India, Brazil, China, Nigeria, Russia, United States, and others. Each country’s system will be explored and evaluated. Specific issues regarding each country will be addressed. For example, the Russian Federation, as a new democracy, is dealing with many problems, especially but not exclusively, corruption. These issues will be closely examined country by country. Additionally, the interconnections between countries and the handling of transnational crime will be addressed. Prerequisites: CRJ 501 and CRJ 503. 30 lecture hours per semester. 3 Credits.

CRJ 515 ADVANCED CRIMINAL JUSTICE INTERNSHIP
This course provides an internship in a criminal justice agency. This course provides a real-life experience in the field. The student will spend a minimum of 150 hours interning in a criminal justice agency performing supervised fieldwork. The student will learn through both observation and some participation. This class is designed for those who are not criminal justice practitioners. Prerequisites: CRJ 501 and permission of Director. 3 Credits

CRJ 516 ADVANCED RESEARCH METHODS AND STATISTICS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE
This course provides an in-depth overview of advanced criminal justice research methods. The topics covered include the use of multivariate statistics as well as additional advanced
methods. The student will utilize advanced methods in writing their own research paper. The importance of scientific research in criminal justice will be stressed. The course is designed for students interested in research and perhaps advancing to the doctoral level of study. Prerequisites: CRJ 501, CRJ 503, undergraduate statistics course, and permission of Director. 30 lecture hours per semester. 3 Credits.

CRJ 517 IDEOLOGY, SOCIOECONOMICS, AND POLITICS OF CRIME AND TERRORISM
The role that ideology and socioeconomic factors play in crime and punishment are enormous in American society. This course will analyze how the topic of crime traditionally
has been used by politicians seeking public support. The influences that social and economic factors have on criminal behaviors and criminal justice reactions will be investigated. Additionally, this course will focus on how terrorism is used as an ideological and political pawn, and how this “use” of crime and terrorism is received by the public when these political promises fail. Prerequisites: CRJ 501. 30 lecture hours per semester.
3 Credits.

CRJ 518 MODERN CORRECTIONAL SYSTEMS
In American society, the reliance on formal social control mechanisms to restrict unwanted behaviors is exceptional. The United States has one of the most populous criminal justice
systems in the world. Strategies employed by correctional 13 agencies to change behaviors will be explored. Discussion will focus on both traditional and non-traditional methods. Emphasis will be placed on evaluating and critiquing these strategies. Prerequisites: CRJ 501. 30 lecture hours per semester. 3 Credits.

CRJ 590 ADVANCED TOPICS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE
This course will focus on topics, updated each semester, that reflect the ever-changing and evolving field of criminal justice. These topics will not duplicate issues discussed in other criminal justice graduate course. Discussion of the topic will include an in-depth analysis of research findings in the field. Prerequisites: CRJ 501. 30 lecture hours per semester.
3 Credits.

Required Courses:Course# Course Title Hours
LGS110 American Legal System 3
LGS215 Introduction to Criminal Justice 3
LGS301 Juvenile Law & Procedure 3
LGS408 Children & the Law 3

Electives:

Required Courses:Course# Course Title Hours
LGS110 American Legal System 3
LGS215 Introduction to Criminal Justice 3
LGS305 Criminal Law 3

Electives: Upper Level Legal Studies Electives 3 hours
Upper Level Legal Studies Electives 3 hours
Upper Level Legal Studies Electives 3 hours

Liberal Arts and Sciences (31 credits)
EGL 101 Composition:Rhetoric……………………… 3
EGL 102 Composition:Literature……………………. 3
MTH 110 Statistics ……………………………………… 3
BIO 120 General Biology……………………………… .4
HIS 126 The West and the World…………………… 3
PSY 101 Introduction to Psychology …………… .3
PSY 235 Abnormal Psychology…………………….. 3
SOC 122 Introduction to Sociology……………….. 3
SOC 223 Social Issues and Institutions or
SOC 224 Urban Sociology or
SOC 225 Sociology of Marriage and the Family…..3
SOC 229 Minorities in American Society or
SOC 231 Promises & Challenges of
Multiculturalism………………………………………….. 3
Required:
Criminal Justice (30 credits)
CRJ 100 Introduction to Criminal Justice………. 3
CRJ 101 Enforcement &
Community Relations…………………………………… 3
CRJ 102 Juvenile Delinquency………………………. 3
CRJ 115 Computer Forensics………………………… 3
CRJ 200 Criminal Investigation…………………….. 3
CRJ 201 Criminalistics…………………………………. 3
CRJ 203 Criminology…………………………………… 3
CRJ 204 Criminal Law…………………………………. 3
CRJ 205 Criminal Procedure Law………………….. 3
CRJ 211 Law Enforcement Administration……… 3
Total Credits:…………………………….61
Credits may be granted for successfully
completed Municipal Police Training Council
Basic or Intermediate Schools.

MAJOR COURSES CREDIT HOURS
SOSC 2253 Introduction to Criminal Justice 3
FRSC 2103 Introduction to Forensic Science 3
RSCH 3803 Research Methods 3
SOSC 4153 Behavioral Theories of Deviance 3
STAT 3203 Statistics 3
SOSC 2123 Race and Ethnic Relations 3
SOSC 3503 Social Problems 3
SOSC 4803 Practicum in Social Science 1

Capstone requirement 3
TWO OF THE FOLLOWING THREE COURSES CREDIT HOURS
MGMT 3313 Principles of Management 3
MGMT 3353 Organizational Behavior 3
SOSC 3433 Criminal Justice Management 3
INDEPENDENT STUDY OR CAPSTONE COURSE CREDIT HOURS
At least three credit hours in an independent study or capstone course in Criminal justice or a related area, including either a comprehensive examination or original research and/or independent study in a topic related to criminal justice. The following may count toward fulfillment of this criterion:
SOSC 490-8 Independent Study 3
SOSC 400 Studies in Social Sciences 3
SOSC 4703 Capstone Course in Social Science 3
SOSC 4993 Major Honors 3
AT LEAST TWELVE CREDIT HOURS FROM THE FOLLOWING: CREDIT HOURS
FRSC 3101 Forensic Science Seminar 1
MGMT 3203 Introduction to Business Law I 3
PSYC 3353 Forensic Psychology 3
PSYC 4413 Abnormal Psychology 3
PSYC 4453 Negotiation and Conflict Resolution 3
SOSC 2283 Police and Community 3
SOSC 3413 Criminal Law 3
SOSC 3453 Criminal Investigation 3
SOSC 3471 Special Topics in Criminal Justice 1
Any Forensic Science courses
SUMMARY CREDIT HOURS

One credit hour seminars may include topics such as fingerprinting, Prison ministry, and restorative justice.

Note: At least 30 credit hours must come from courses that are 300-level or above.
General Education Requirements 54
Major Requirements 42
Electives 32

Foundation Courses – 15 credit hours
Introduction to Criminal Justice 101
Criminological Theory 400
Introduction to Law Enforcement 102
Contemporary Corrections 231
The Constitution and Criminal Justice 411

CJ Core Courses – 21 credit hours
Applied Criminal Justice Issues 250
Criminal Law and Procedure 222
Criminal Justice Statistics and Methods 330
Juvenile Justice 316
Practicum (6 credit hours) 421
Seminar in Criminal Justice 407

Justice Subsystems – 12 credit hours – Students would complete courses in 2 of the following 3 areas:

Policing Area
Police, Problems, and Practices 303
Criminal Evidence and Investigation 342

Corrections Area
Offender Treatment: Methods and Theories 313
Probation, Parole, and Community Corrections 314

Crime Prevention and Security
Crime Prevention Strategies 241
Public and Private Security 340

Electives – 6 credit hours
Sociology of Substance Abuse SOC 321
Crime Policy Analysis 410
Introduction to Psychology and the Law PSYC 321
Psychology of Criminal Behavior PSYC 325
Comparative Justice Systems 499
Directed Readings 402
Deviant Behavior SOC 320
Social Psychology SOC 313
Race, Class, and Criminal Justice 487
Organized and White Collar Crime 432
Workshop 403

Dr. Raymond R. Rainville, Chairperson of the Department
Degree Requirements for Criminal Justice Major

Degree of Bachelor of Arts

In addition to fulfilling the core curriculum requirements, Criminal Justice majors must complete the following courses:
CJ165 Introduction to Criminology (3 crs)
CJ170 Introduction to Criminal Justice (3 crs)
CJ280 Juvenile Delinquency (3 crs)
CJ/So253 Social Deviance (3 crs)
CJ285 Criminal Corrections Systems (3 crs)
CJ315 Criminal Procedure (3 crs)
CJ316 Criminal Evidence (3 crs)

As/Ur/So412
or Po231
or As/So200
or CJ210 Ethnicity and Race in Urban History
Racial and Ethnic Policies in the
Ethnicity and Racial Relations
Multiculturalism in Criminal Justice (3 crs)
(3 crs)
(3 crs)
(3 crs)
CJ350 Research Techniques & Data Analysis in Criminal Justice (3 crs)
CJ489 Seminar in Criminal Justice (3 crs)
CJ/Po/Ps/Bm Specialization Courses (9-12 crs)
Free Electives (15-18 crs)
60 credits

Special Notes on Core Curriculum Requirements for Criminal Justice Major
Bi/Ch237 Forensic Science is the preferred second natural science requirement.
Ps151 Introduction to Psychology or Cs155 Special Section: Introduction to Computers (or equivalent) is the third natural science requirement.
Po100 Perspectives on Politics is a core social science requirement.
One additional social science core course, either Po121 Introduction to Sociology or Ec101 Marcoeconomics Principles.
Completion of CJ258 Criminal Justice Ethics is the core values requirement
All Criminal Justice majors are required to maintain a 2.25 average in major courses.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE CONCENTRATIONS

Through a carefully-constructed balance of theory and practical application, students completing the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Criminal Justice at Saint Peter’s College enter the field well-prepared to make a difference. With a solid foundation in the Jesuit educational principles of justice and social equality, our students will explore diverse areas within the field. Each Criminal Justice major must fulfill the concentration requirements for at least one of the four areas of degree specialization options. These specializations are as follows: Corrections, Police Administration, Investigative Sciences, Criminal Research and Intelligence Analysis, and Computer Science and Crime Forensics. Specific requirements for each concentration are provided below.
CORRECTIONS (3 Courses - 9 Credits):

Explores both the societal and individual aspects of punishment in America —including the ever-present tension between incarceration and rehabilitation. Students interested in careers with county or state corrections management agencies, or those seeking to enter the world of federal prison management or probation should consider this option.

Courses are as follows: CJ/Pl258 (Required)

And Select TWO of the Courses Below:
CJ290 CJ222 CJ486
CJ395 PS260 CJ487
PS250 CJ485

POLICE ADMINISTRATION (3 Courses - 9 Credits):

This specialization is geared primarily towards those students aspiring to obtain supervisory or management positions in state, county, or local public safety agencies. Courses such as community policing, police culture, patrol theory, police administration, and managing non-profit organizations serve to strengthen the student’s skills in the area of police administration.

Course requirements are as follows: CJ175 (Required)

And select TWO of the Courses below:CJ177 CJ400 CJ299
CJ260 CJ359 CJ486
CJ396 CJ435 CJ487

INVESTIGATIVE SCIENCES (3 Courses - 9 Credits):

For those students who desire to enter the forensic sciences, this concentration provides an excellent foundation in biology, chemistry, and social psychology. Students enrolled in this concentration are strongly advised to complete a second major in biology, chemistry, or psychology. The Investigative Sciences specialization tracks well with graduate-level programs in criminalistics and forensic psychology.

Students enrolled in this specialization must successfully complete the following courses: CJ/Pl258 (Required)

And select THREE of the Courses below:Ps250 CJ406 CJ486
Ps435 CJ418 CJ487
CJ405 CJ299

CRIMINAL RESEARCH and INTELLIGENCE ANALYSIS (3 Courses – 9 Credits):

Designed for students who desire careers such as intelligence research specialists or criminal analysts, this concentration emphasizes financial transaction fraud, crimes involving information technology, and related white-collar, drug trafficking, and money laundering offenses. Students are also strongly encouraged to pursue a minor in Accountancy, Modern Languages, or Mathematics. At present, Saint Peter’s College is one of only a few select colleges in the United States to offer a specialization in intelligence analysis.

Courses within this specialization include the following: Ac151 (Required)

And select TWO of the Courses below:CJ240 CJ418
CJ486
CJ358 CJ419 CJ487

ALL STUDENTS must complete an Internship during their Junior/Senior year and are also strongly encouraged to complete supplementary double majors or minors from areas such as Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Accounting, English, History, Political Science, or Modern Languages.

COMPUTER SCIENCE AND CRIME FORENSICS:

Courses to take include:
CJ418 IS481
IS420 CS599
CS/CJ223

SEQUENCE OF COURSES

Freshman Sophomore Junior Senior
Mod. Lang (6) Philosophy (6) CJ170 (3) Specialization Courses
(9-12)
HS111-112 (6) El123 (3) CJ280 (3) CJ489
(3)
Cm120 or equiv. (3) Ns110 (3) CJ285 (3) Free Electives
(15-18)
Ar127 or 128 (3) CJ253 (3) CJ315 (3)
CJ121 or Ur151 (3) Po100 (3) CJ316 (3)
CJ165 (3) Th110-120 (6) CJ350 (3)
MA105-106 (6) El134 (3) As/Ur/So412 (3)
Ps151 or Cs155 (3) or As/So200
or Po231
Pl240 (3)
Bi/Ch237 (3)
Cu315 (3)

Total Credits (30) Total Credits (30) Total Credits (30) Total Credits
(30)

Minor Program in Criminal Justice

A minor in Criminal Justice may be obtained by taking the following six courses (18 credit hours):
CJ165 Introduction to Criminology
CJ170 Introduction to Criminal Justice
CJ285 Criminal Corrections Systems
CJ253 Social Deviance
CJ315 Criminal Procedure
CJ350 Research Techniques & Data Analysis In CJ

CRM 101:
Introduction to Criminal Justice
3

CRM 202:
Crime, Deviance and Social Control
3

CRM 301:
Criminal Law
3

CRM 302:
Criminology Theory and Methods
3

CRM 401:
Intern Criminology/Crim Just
12

PSY 101:
Introductory Psychology
3

PSY 328:
Personality Theory & Dynamics
4

PSY 336:
Abnormal Psychology and Psychopathology
3

SOC 101:
Introduction to Sociology
3

SOC 302:
Ethnic Diversity
3

SS 231:
Statistics for Social Science
3

SS 402:
Seminar in Applied Social Science
3

Choose one of the following:

POL 321:
Constitutional Law: Civil Liberties and Rights
3

POL 324:
Legislative Process and Behavior
3

Choose one of the following:

POL 120:
American Government
3

POL 130:
State and Local Government
3

Choose one of the following:

SOC 406:
Theories of Collective Beh/Social Movements
3

SOC 407:
Micro Social Theory: Mind, Self, Society
3

Issues in Criminal Justice

Choose two of the following courses.

CRM 211:
Relations of Law Enforcement
3

CRM 221:
Criminal Investigation
3

CRM 231:
Courts, Prosecution & Defense
3

CRM 232:
Punishment, Treatment, and Corrections
3

CRM 234:
Juvenile Justice
3

CRM 295:
Intro Topics in Criminology
3

Issues in Criminology

Choose two of the following courses.

CRM 303:
Victimology
3

CRM 311:
Organized Crime
3

CRM 312:
Predatory Crime and Violence
3

CRM 322:
White Collar and Corporate Crime
3

CRM 323:
Juvenile Delinquency
3

CRM 395:
Intermediate Topics in Criminology
3

Plus one additional CRM course.
Field Periods

Two in criminology and criminal justice settings.

CRM 390:
JR Crimin/Crime Just Fld Per
3

CRM 490:
SR Criminol/Crim Just Fld Per

CRM 101:
Introduction to Criminal Justice
3

CRM 202:
Crime, Deviance and Social Control
3

CRM 302:
Criminology Theory and Methods
3

CRM 390:
JR Crimin/Crime Just Fld Per
3

SOC 101:
Introduction to Sociology
3

Choose one of the following:

CRM 211:
Relations of Law Enforcement
3

CRM 221:
Criminal Investigation
3

CRM 231:
Courts, Prosecution & Defense
3

CRM 232:
Punishment, Treatment, and Corrections
3

CRM 234:
Juvenile Justice
3

CRM 295:
Intro Topics in Criminology
3

Choose one of the following:

CRM 303:
Victimology
3

CRM 311:
Organized Crime
3

CRM 312:
Predatory Crime and Violence
3

CRM 322:
White Collar and Corporate Crime
3

CRM 323:
Juvenile Delinquency
3

CRM 395:
Intermediate Topics in Criminology
3

Choose one additional CRM course.