Criminal Justice degree at Mount Vernon Nazarene University
Program Objectives
The courses and curriculum of the criminal justice program are designed to achieve the following student outcomes:
• demonstrate an understanding of human society
through mastery of skills in theory, research methods,
organizational behavior, community dynamics, intercultural
and group relations informed by a Christian
worldview;
• demonstrate a comprehension of worldwide trends of
social and cultural change as well as the ability to
participate effectively in a multi-cultural world;
• embrace the opportunity to seek advocacy measures of
restorative justice in specific, while examining major
assumptions about crime and justice in general;
• perform competently at the entry level in criminal
justice and related careers;
• perform competently in graduate studies in sociology,
law, and other related disciplines; and
• transition into any number of related programs (e.g.,
police academy, security training, national security
programs, etc.).
Criminal Justice (CJU)
CJU1002 Field Observation in Criminal Justice [2]. Thirty volunteer hours of supervised observation and activity in a
criminal justice field. Corequisite: CJU1003.
CJU1003 Introduction to Criminal Justice [3]. An overview of the criminal justice system in the United States with specific
focus on its three major components: police, corrections, and courts. The nature and relationships of the various criminal justice
agencies are explored as well as violent, property, white collar, organized, and public order crime. The extent and measurement
of crime, delinquency, and victimization are address. The concept of restorative justice will also be introduced in this course.
Corequisite: CJU1002.
CJU2003 Introduction to Policing [3]. An examination of the philosophy, history, and agencies of law enforcement at the
local, state, and federal levels. Special emphasis is given to analyzing the roles and responsibilities of law enforcement in a
democratic society as well as contemporary issues of corruption, brutality, use of deadly force, and community-oriented policing.
Prerequisite: CJU1003.
CJU2013 Criminal Law and Procedures [3]. A course in basic principles of criminal law and analysis of criminal offenses.
Special emphasis is given to the constitutional aspects of criminal procedure related to investigations, arrests, search and seizures,
pretrial processes, trial rights, sentencing and appeals. Prerequisite: CJU1003.
CJU2023 Criminal Investigations [3]. An overview of investigations by examining the role of the investigator and how one
proceeds through an investigatory process. The course includes the study of basic concepts of the investigatory process, policies,
standards, and techniques. Prerequisite: CJU1003.
CJU2033 Contemporary Issues in Criminal Justice [3]. A study and analysis of the current key issues influencing the
criminal justice system.
CJU3013 Juvenile Justice [3]. A study of social deviance among youth including an examination of the manner in which
society responds to youth deviance. Prerequisite: CJU1003.