Criminal Justice Degree Online

Director: Leonard G. Brown
W369 Thompson Hall
(716) 673-3421
Criminal.Justice@fredonia.edu

Department of Sociology & Anthropology, Social Work and Criminal Justice Home Page
Criminal Justice Faculty

Academic Programs

Criminal Justice: Bachelor of Arts

Criminal Justice: Minor

NOTE: Requirements may differ according to date of enrollment.
Current students should check their college catalog.

The Bachelor of Arts degree program in Criminal Justice is an interdisciplinary curriculum that offers broad based knowledge of crime and delinquency, criminal law and procedure, police science and security, and the juvenile justice system. The curriculum includes courses in criminal law and procedure, crime theory, human deviant behavior, police science, security, corrections, statistics and research methods. Graduates will be prepared for careers in the field of juvenile justice, court system administration, law enforcement, adult corrections, rehabilitation, crime data analysis and security at the city, county, state and federal level.

Internships are highly recommended. Participating internship sponsors include local police and sheriff departments, the county district attorney’s office, Department of Probation, New York State Department of Corrections, U.S. Customs, and the Chautauqua County Victim/Witness program. In addition to the Core Curriculum and elective requirements listed below, students are strongly urged to include elective courses that will help develop effectiveness in speaking and in writing. Students are required to be computer literate, able to use word processing software, conduct research, access internet data bases and communicate in cyberspace. Familiarity with bibliographic and data search routines is strongly encouraged.

Students are strongly advised to complete a minor in a related discipline given the interdisciplinary characteristics of the Criminal Justice major.

The Criminal Justice (BS) major provides a broad understanding of major components of the criminal justice system. It will interest students who plan careers in various law enforcement, judicial, or correctional agencies at the local, state, or federal level. It also provides an academic foundation for students who plan to attend graduate or professional schools. The Bachelor of Science degree differs from the Bachelor of Arts degree because of its emphasis on the institutions of criminal justice, particularly the police, courts and corrections.

Some details:
Part 1: Core Requirements
Part 2: Skills
Part 3: Police
Part 4: Law and the Courts
Part 5: Corrections
Part 6: Senior Requirement

Credits required: 33

Prerequisites: GOV 101 and SOC 101. Students are strongly urged to complete these courses during their first year in the College. These courses fulfill the College’s general education requirements in the social sciences. CRJ 101 is the required first course within the major and is a prerequisite for many subsequebt courses in the major.

Other courses also have prerequisites beyond courses previously taken in the major:
In Part 2, Category A, Police Science 216 requires an understanding of Windows software.
In Part 2, Category A, Public Administration 240 is a prerequisite for Public Administration 241.
In Part 2, Category B, English 250 or Speech 285 is a prerequisite for Law 350.
In Part 4, Psychology 101 is a prerequisite for Psychology 370/Law370, Public Administration 360 is a prerequisite for Law/Public Administration 420, and Public Administration 240 is a prerequisite for Public Administration 360.
In Part 5, Psychology 101 is a prerequisite for Psychology 272, and Corrections 201 is a prerequisite for Corrections 415

Advisor: Professor Barry Latzer, Department of Government (212.237.8192, blatzer@jjay.cuny.edu)

Baccalaureate/Master’s Program in Criminal Justice: Qualified undergraduate students may enter the Baccalaureate/Master’s Program and thereby graduate with both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in criminal justice. For additional information, contact Professor Chitra Raghavan, Department of Psychology (212.237.8417, bamadirector@jjay.cuny.edu).

Study abroad: Students in the College’s Study Abroad Program may use some of their study abroad credits to substitute for related courses in the major. With regard to particular courses, the student should consult with the advisor for the major. For information about the College’s Study Abroad Program, contact Mr. Paul A. Wyatt (212.237.8871, pawyatt@jjay.cuny.edu).

Additional requirement: As part of this major, at least one course from PART 3, PART 4 or PART 5 must be at the 300-level or above.

Additional information: Students who enrolled for the first time at the College in September 2008 or thereafter must complete the major in the form presented here. Students who enrolled prior to that date may choose the form shown here or the earlier version of the major. A copy of the earlier version can be obtained at the Office of Undergraduate Studies or at the Lloyd George Sealy Library.

PART 1. CORE REQUIREMENTS Subtotal: 6 credits

Criminal Justice 101 Introduction to Criminal Justice
Law 203 Constitutional Law

PART 2. SKILLS Subtotal: 6 credits

Category A. Computer Skills

Select one course from Category A and one from Category B.

Select one
Criminal Justice 255 Computer Applications in Criminal Justice
Mathematics 279 Data Communications and the Internet
Police Science 216 Crime Mapping
Public Administration 241 Computer Applications in Public Administration

Category B. Research Skills

Select one
Law 350 Introduction to Legal Research
Mathematics 220/Police Science 220/Fire Science 220 Survey of Concepts of Operations Research
Social Science Research 325 Research Methods in the Behavioral Sciences
Statistics 250 Principles and Methods of Statistics

PART 3. POLICE Subtotal: 6 credits

Select two
Criminal Justice 321/Philosophy 321 Police Ethics
Police Science 201 Police Organization and Administration
Police Science 202 Police and Community Relations
Police Science 204 The Patrol Function
Police Science 207 The Investigative Function
Police Science 210 Colloquium on Criminal Justice Literature
Police Science 227 Police Training Programs: Goals, Content and Administration
Police Science 235 Women in Policing
Police Science 245 Community Policing
Police Science 271/Psychology 271 Psychological Foundations of Police Work
Police Science 301 The Police Manager
Police Science 303 Personnel Administration and Supervision
Police Science 309 Comparative Police Systems
Police Science 315/Economics 315 An Economic Analysis of Crime
Police Science 340 Planning for Police Operations and Management
Police Science 350 Police Labor Relations
Police Science 355 Money and the Police Manager
Police Science 405 Organized Crime in America
Police Science 415 Seminar in Terrorism
Security 310 Emergency Planning

PART 4. LAW AND THE COURTS Subtotal: 6 credits

Select two
Anthropology 330 American Cultural Pluralism and the Law
Government 308 State Courts and State Constitutional Law
History 277 American Legal History
Law 202 Law and Evidence
Law 204 Criminal Law of New York
Law 206 The American Judiciary
Law 209 Criminal Law
Law 212 The Criminal Process and Code of Criminal Procedures
Law 259/Government 259 Comparative Criminal Justice Systems
Law 301 Jurisprudence
Law 310/Philosophy 310 Ethics and Law
Law 313/Government 313 The Law and Politics of Race Relations
Law 340 Employment Discrimination Law, Affirmative Action and Police Organization
Law 370/Psychology 370 Psychology and the Law
Law 401 Problems of Constitutional Development
Law 420/Public Administration 420 Contemporary Administration and the Judiciary
Public Administration 360 Court Administration
Sociology 305 The Sociology of Law

PART 5. CORRECTIONS Subtotal: 6 credits

Select two
Corrections 201 The Law and Institutional Treatment
Corrections 202 Administration of Correctional Programs for Juveniles
Corrections 230/Police Science 230 Sex Offenders in the Criminal Justice System
Corrections 282 Principles of Correctional Operations
Corrections 303 Comparative Correction Systems
Corrections 320 Race, Class and Gender in a Correctional Context
Philosophy 322/Criminal Justice 322 Judicial and Correctional Ethics
Psychology 272 Correctional Psychology
Sociology 216 Probation and Parole: Principles and Practices
Sociology 301 Penology

PART 6. SENIOR REQUIREMENT Subtotal: 3 credits

Select one
Corrections 415 Major Works in Corrections
Criminal Justice 425 Seminar on Major Works in Criminal Justice
Government 435 Seminar in Judicial Processes and Politics
Police Science 401 Seminar in Police Problems

Criminal Justice Course Requirements: (45 credits)
* CRM 105 Police Report Writing (3)
+ CRM 120 Criminal Investigation (3)
CRM 125 Criminal Procedure and Civil Rights (3)
CRM 127 Ethics in Law Enforcement (3)
+ CRM 225 Juvenile Procedures (3)
CRM 281 Rules of Evidence (3)
* CRM 282 Interviews and Interrogations (3)
+ CIS 102 Introduction to Computers and Information Systems (3)
* HSR 140 Survey of Psychiatric Rehabilitation (3)

Electives: Select 18 credits from the following:
+ CRM 101 Introduction to Law Enforcement (3)
CRM 102 Introduction to Probation and Parole (3)
CRM 103 Introduction to Corrections (3)
CRM 104 Introduction to Private Security (3)
+ CRM 210 Criminal Law (3)
* CRM 260 Police Organization and Administration (3)
CRM 271 Patrol Procedures (3)
CRM 283 Special Topics in Police Science (3)
* CRM 291 Internship (1-6)

General Education Course Requirements: (24 credits)
* ENG 101 Composition I (3)
SPH 201 Interpersonal Communications (3)
PSC 160 American National Government (3)
PSC 161 State and Local Government (3)
PSY 170 General Psychology (3)
SOC 190 Introduction to Sociology (3)
* SOC 291 Criminology (3)
FWS 265 Personal Fitness and Wellness (3)

*Course has a prerequisite–refer to course description.
+CRM Program courses that are typically accepted for transfer.

In today’s security-conscious society, the need for trained criminal justice professional continues to grow. In fact, the U.S. Department of Labor predicts that employment of police officers and detectives, for example, will grow as fast as the average for all occupations through 2014. Yet competition for high-level positions will remain keen. Candidates with a college degree in police science, relevant professional experience, or both should have the best opportunities.

The AIU Bachelor of Science s in Criminal Justice (BSCJ) is designed to help students acquire a deeper understanding of criminal justice and juvenile justice processes, criminology, law enforcement, the courts system and corrections. The primary goal of this program is to prepare students to become qualified criminal justice professionals.

The BSCJ degree program offers several career-relevant concentrations for students who wish to focus their education on a particular area of interest. The concentration in General Criminal Justice is for students who would like a more comprehensive look at the criminal justice field.
Career Opportunities

The BSCJ with a concentration in General Criminal Justice can help prepare students interested in developing and advancing a career* as a/an:
Private Detective
Director of Security
Probation or Parole Officer
Insurance Fraud Investigator

* Additional education and/or experience may be required for some positions.
Challenging, Relevant Coursework

The BSCJ with a concentration in General Criminal Justice features industry-relevant coursework taught by faculty members with real-world experience in the field. Key topics addressed in this degree program include the elements of a criminal investigation, relationship between drug use and crime, role of various criminal justice agencies, and probation and parole system.
Students who successfully complete the program should be able to:
Demonstrate appropriate knowledge, skills and abilities necessary for a vital career in criminal justice and related professions.
Demonstrate foundational knowledge of criminology, including the causes of crime, typologies, offenders and victims.
Demonstrate appropriate knowledge of the criminal justice and juvenile justice processes.
Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of law enforcement principles, including police organization, discretion, subculture and legal constraints.
Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of law adjudication, including criminal law, prosecution, defense, court procedures and legal decision-making processes.
Demonstrate knowledge of corrections and parole, including incarceration, community-based corrections and treatment of offenders, as well as alternatives to traditional parole.
Concentration courses for this program include:
Drugs and Crime
Criminal Investigation
Criminal Justice Administration
Probation and Parole

In today’s security-conscious society, the need for trained criminal justice professional continues to grow. In fact, the U.S. Department of Labor predicts that employment of police officers and detectives, for example, will grow as fast as the average for all occupations through 2014. Yet competition for high-level positions will remain keen. Candidates with a college degree in police science, relevant professional experience, or both should have the best opportunities.

The AIU Bachelor of Science s in Criminal Justice is designed to help students acquire knowledge and abilities in criminal justice and juvenile justice processes, criminology, law enforcement, law adjudication and corrections. The primary goal of this program is to prepare students to become qualified criminal justice professionals.

The BSCJ degree program offers several career-relevant concentrations for students who wish to focus their education on a particular area of interest. The concentration in Forensic Science can help prepare students to enter a fascinating field that combines scientific and criminal justice techniques.

The interdisciplinary major in Criminal Justice, offered by the Division of Social Sciences, is designed to provide students with a series of academic courses and related experiences appropriate for career interests in the following areas: probation and parole, law enforcement, juvenile justice and corrections. The sequence of courses will enable students to understand the psychological, sociological, economic and political factors underlying criminal, delinquent, asocial and anti-social behavior. A seminar at the senior level provides an integration of material regarding issues within the major areas of the criminal justice system.

The criminal justice major is also intended to provide students with academic preparation for graduate school in criminal justice or law and/or help prepare the student academically to become a practitioner in the criminal justice system. In order to “bridge” the transition from college to the world of work within the criminal justice system, students are strongly encouraged (optional) to complete a field experience (internship) in an area pertaining to their career aspirations. There are a variety of internship opportunities in the areas of local law enforcement, federal law enforcement, juvenile justice, probation and courts/law. Students should be aware that opportunities may vary from year to year; also, some internships are competitive in nature and require substantial lead time in terms of the application process.

The program in criminal justice is designed as both a four-year major and as an affiliated program for students transferring from community colleges. Students transferring to Baldwin-Wallace after completion of the A.A.S. (Associates of Applied Science) degree in law enforcement, criminal justice or police science will be awarded up to 62 semester hours of transfer credit as Criminal Justice majors if the A.A.S. degree is from Cuyahoga Community College or Lakeland Community College. A.A.S. degrees from other institutions will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Direct all questions related to the major in Criminal Justice to Dr. Louis San Marco, Director of the Criminal Justice Program, in the Department of Sociology.

Relevant
Whether your focus is on immediate employment or graduate or professional school studies, you’ll have the opportunity to gain the leadership attributes and academic preparation needed to succeed in this exciting and challenging field. You’ll employ critical thinking and problem-solving methods to real-world situations and learn how psychological, sociological, economic and political factors are related to the courts, corrections and law enforcement agencies.

Scholarly
An interdisciplinary program, criminal justice includes strong academics and experiential learning. Through internship opportunities and participation in the Criminal Justice/Sociology Club and the Criminal Justice Networking Program, you’ll meet professionals in your field and gain valuable career contacts.

Transfers
The program in criminal justice is designed as both a four-year major and as an affiliated program for students transferring from community colleges. Students transferring to Baldwin-Wallace after completion of the A.A.S. (Associates of Applied Science) degree in law enforcement, criminal justice or police science will be awarded up to 62 semester hours of transfer credit as Criminal Justice majors if the A.A.S. degree is from Cuyahoga Community College or Lakeland Community College. An A.A.S. degree from an institution other than those mentioned will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Versatile
Because of its diverse nature and projected growth in employment, criminal justice offers solid career opportunities.

The criminal justice program offers preparation for the following career areas:

corrections law enforcement at local, county and state levels juvenile justice positions
federal law enforcement
(FBI, DEA, ATF) law and courts
(lawyer, bailiff, judge)

Why choose Criminal Justice?
Does your idea of success combine professional opportunity with the chance to make the world a better place? If you’re concerned with justice and social issues, and want to make a difference, a career in criminal justice may be your path. Mountain State University offers online criminal justice programs for maximum convenience; earn an associate or bachelor’s degree from the convenience of your home or office.

Criminal Justice is a changing and dynamic profession, its growth spurred by new technologies, increased need for law enforcement personnel, and a continuing focus on homeland security. Whether you’re a seasoned professional looking to advance in your career, or someone new to the field, an MSU criminal justice degree, earned online or in classroom-based study, offers you the opportunity to pursue any field of study relating to police, courts, corrections, or homeland security.
What can I study at MSU?
MSU offers both online and classroom-based bachelor’s degree in criminal justice with three concentrations:
Homeland Security: The focus is on combating terrorism through investigation, detection, location, and apprehension of foreign and domestic terrorists. In this concentration, you will train for law enforcement response to incidents, disasters, and crisis management.
Police Science: This concentration focuses on employing a scientific approach to the management of crime scenes and administratively managing law enforcement agencies. If you are a potential leader in the field of criminal justice, this concentration is best suited for you.
Corrections Management: If you see yourself as a future leader in community corrections agencies, prisons, or jails, this concentration allows you to focus on a management and interdisciplinary approach to corrections.

MSU also offers an associate degree in criminal justice in both online and classroom-based formats.
Why choose MSU?
Gain both academic and field experience. To supplement the academic classes, MSU offers practicum exercises, internships, and job placement activities with local law enforcement agencies, correctional agencies, and the new homeland securities agencies here in West Virginia. This combination gives our students a competitive edge in the criminal justice field that requires both a college education and relevant field experience for the top jobs.

Homeland Security Emphasis. All of the bachelor’s degree concentrations include courses and training in homeland security, and MSU is the only university in West Virginia that offers a Criminal Justice concentration in Homeland Security.

Flexible Learning Delivery. Classes in the criminal justice program are offered on-campus, in cohort settings, and through individualized study. You can also receive credit for past academic courses and prior learning experience.

Active Student Organizations. Two student organizations, Alpha Phi Sigma Honor Society and American Criminal Justice Association - Lamba Alpha Epsilon chapter offer our students the opportunity to add to their Criminal Justice studies. Practical experience can be gained through tours of prisons or jails, courses in using firearms and self-defense, and viewing law enforcement demonstrations.

Career Opportunities
Criminal justice graduates will qualify for a variety of jobs:
Local police officer
Sheriff’s deputy
Correctional officer
Private security officer
Probation/parole officer
West Virginia State Police
Federal agent positions (with bachelor’s degree)
Homeland security specialist

MSU’s new concentration in its criminal justice programs reflect the need for more law enforcement professionals in all areas of local, state, and national government. The Occupational Outlook Handbook, published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, projects this area to grow faster than average, which means approximately a 21 to 35 percent increase in jobs between 2002 and 2012.

Since all bachelor’s degree programs feature elements of Homeland Security, graduates will be able to target more competitive areas within the federal government, such as the FBI, U.S Marshals, DEA, BATF, and U.S. Customs for career opportunities.

Please see our catalog for degree and program requirements.

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.

Adelphi offers a redesigned undergraduate major in Criminal Justice leading to the Bachelor of Science degree, with a concentration in either Police Science or Social Science. The program provides an interdisciplinary approach to the study of crime, delinquency, and social control and prepares students for graduate work or professional training.

Introduced in fall 2004, this revised major combines traditional liberal arts classes with courses in criminology, sociology of law, psychology, and law enforcement administration. The following six new classes have been added to the curriculum:
Crime and Punishment
Juvenile Delinquency
Gender Issues in Criminal Justice
Law and Social Inequality
Psychology of Criminal Behavior
Sociology of Law
The major is interdisciplinary in nature. Students may select courses in Adult Academic Programs in University College, the Derner Institute, the School of Social Work, and the departments of anthropology, political science, and sociology. Many of the required courses will be cross-listed, enabling students to receive credit toward their degree through University College or the College of Arts and Sciences.

Contact
For additional information, please contact:

Sally Ridgeway
Criminal Justice Program Director
Associate Professor
Department of Anthropology and Sociology
Blodgett Hall, Rm 105C
p - 516.877.4938
f - 516.877.4717
e - ridgeway@adelphi.edu