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

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.

Course requirements in the major are organized into required and criminal justice elective courses. The required component includes those courses essential to building a strong general foundation in the discipline. The electives allow students to pursue particular areas of interest.

The total major consists of 14 courses, or 41 credit hours. A grade of C- or higher is required for each course in the major or minor.

Required Courses (11 courses, 32 hours):

CJ 101 Intro to Criminal Justice (3 hrs)
- majors must complete before other CJ courses
CJ 112 Careers in Criminal Justice (2 hrs)
- strongly suggest completing during first semester in major; pass/fail
CJ 154 Criminal Justice Theory (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
CJ 302 Criminal Justice Research Methods (3 hrs)
- prerequisites: CJ 154 & CJ 299
CJ 305 White-Collar Crime (3hrs)
CJ 365 Diversity & the Criminal Justice System (3 hrs)
CJ 410 Senior Thesis (3 hrs)
- prerequisites CJ 154,CJ 299 & CJ 302

Criminal Justice Electives (3 additional courses, 9 hours):

CJ 228 Juvenile Justice (3 hrs)
CJ 246 Criminal Investigation (3 hrs)
CJ 350 Trial Evidence (3 hrs)
- prerequisite CJ 297, & suggest CJ 355
CJ 355 Criminal Procedure (3 hrs)
- prerequisite: suggest CJ 297
CJ 372 Drugs & Crime (3 hrs)
CJ 390 Special Topics in Criminal Justice (3 hrs)
CJ 422 Women & Crime (3 hrs)
CJ 420 Victims & Crime (3 hrs)
CJ 426 Media & Crime (3 hrs)
CJ 428 Internship (1 - 6 hrs)
- prerequisite CJ 112, junior/senior in good standing; pass/fail

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

Whether students are interested in law enforcement, corrections, law, juvenile justice or private security, Mount Mercy’s criminal justice major provides a unique blend of courses taught by professors with a broad range of experiences. Students progress through a liberal arts-based criminal justice curriculum, preparing for graduate school and/or careers in criminal justice-related fields.

Deb Brydon Associate Professor of Criminal Justice
223 Donnelly | x1535 | dbrydon@mtmercy.edu

Amanda Humphrey Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice
121 Donnelly | x1268 | ahumphrey@mtmercy.edu

Chad Loes Associate Professor of Criminal Justice
224 Donnelly | x1536 | cloes@mtmercy.edu

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

You can view specific course offerings and descriptions in the current college catalog (pdf). Please keep in mind that these are representative of current offerings for the academic year. Classes can be added or changed as needed.

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

Course requirements in the major are organized into required and criminal justice elective courses. The required component includes those courses essential to building a strong general foundation in the discipline. The electives allow students to pursue particular areas of interest.

The total major consists of 14 courses, or 41 credit hours. A grade of C- or higher is required for each course in the major or minor.

Required Courses (11 courses, 32 hours):

CJ 101 Intro to Criminal Justice (3 hrs)
- majors must complete before other CJ courses
CJ 112 Careers in Criminal Justice (2 hrs)
- strongly suggest completing during first semester in major; pass/fail
CJ 154 Criminal Justice Theory (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
CJ 302 Criminal Justice Research Methods (3 hrs)
- prerequisites: CJ 154 & CJ 299
CJ 305 White-Collar Crime (3hrs)
CJ 365 Diversity & the Criminal Justice System (3 hrs)
CJ 410 Senior Thesis (3 hrs)
- prerequisites CJ 154,CJ 299 & CJ 302

Criminal Justice Electives (3 additional courses, 9 hours):

CJ 228 Juvenile Justice (3 hrs)
CJ 246 Criminal Investigation (3 hrs)
CJ 350 Trial Evidence (3 hrs)
- prerequisite CJ 297, & suggest CJ 355
CJ 355 Criminal Procedure (3 hrs)
- prerequisite: suggest CJ 297
CJ 372 Drugs & Crime (3 hrs)
CJ 390 Special Topics in Criminal Justice (3 hrs)
CJ 422 Women & Crime (3 hrs)
CJ 420 Victims & Crime (3 hrs)
CJ 426 Media & Crime (3 hrs)
CJ 428 Internship (1 - 6 hrs)

Whether students are interested in law enforcement, corrections, law, juvenile justice or private security, Mount Mercy’s criminal justice major provides a unique blend of courses taught by professors with a broad range of experiences. Students progress through a liberal arts-based criminal justice curriculum, preparing for graduate school and/or careers in criminal justice-related fields.