Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice (Students enrolled prior to April 1, 2024)

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**Students enrolling on or after April 1, 2024, click here for the BS Criminal Justice Program Outline.

Program Description

This program provides students with comprehensive academic knowledge of criminology, law enforcement, corrections, and the criminal justice system as well as the skills and techniques used in these disciplines. This degree can also provide advancement opportunities for law enforcement personnel requiring a bachelor’s degree when applying for or advancing within the profession. (Some states, including but not limited to Minnesota, require additional certification, licensing, and/or training academy completion to be eligible for employment in a law enforcement capacity.)

Program Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, the student should be able to:

Explain the inter relationship between law enforcement, our judicial system, and correctional agencies.
Evaluate social and ethical issues affecting public safety personnel.
Evaluate civil liability issues faced by public safety personnel and how this applies to their decision making.
Differentiate investigative techniques, evidence collection, and criminalistics for various criminal offenses.
Describe public safety issues created by acts of terrorism including public preparedness and response.

Program Content

A minimum of 120.00 semester credit hours is required for graduation.

Required Courses in Criminal Justice

All courses, 66.00 semester credit hours, are required.

CJ 105 - Introduction to Criminal Justice Semester Credit Hours: 3.00
CJ 115 - Criminal Law Semester Credit Hours: 3.00
CJ 120 - Introduction to Criminology Semester Credit Hours: 3.00
CJ 130 - Introduction to Law and Judicial Process Semester Credit Hours: 3.00
CJ 140 - Report Writing and Communication Semester Credit Hours: 3.00
CJ 200 - Introduction to Corrections Semester Credit Hours: 3.00
CJ 210 - Law Enforcement Security Semester Credit Hours: 3.00
CJ 220 - Ethics in Law Enforcement Semester Credit Hours: 3.00
CJ 230 - Evidence Forensics Semester Credit Hours: 4.00
CJ 240 - Patrol Procedures Semester Credit Hours: 3.00
CJ 250 - Juvenile Justice Semester Credit Hours: 3.00
CJ 300 - Criminalistics Semester Credit Hours: 4.00
CJ 310 - Criminal Investigation Semester Credit Hours: 4.00
CJ 320 - Civil Liability in Public Safety Semester Credit Hours: 3.00
CJ 340 - Probation and Parole Semester Credit Hours: 3.00
CJ 350 - Corrections Counseling Semester Credit Hours: 3.00
CJ 400 - Criminal Psychology Semester Credit Hours: 3.00
CJ 420 - Narcotics and Drug Abuse Semester Credit Hours: 3.00
HS 100 - Introduction to Homeland Security Semester Credit Hours: 3.00
PH 100 - Public Event Planning and Emergency Management Semester Credit Hours: 3.00
PH 200 - Community Health Semester Credit Hours: 3.00

Elective Courses

A minimum of 12.00 semester open elective credit hours is required. Qualified students will have the opportunity to elect to take masters-level courses as a part of the Dual-Credit Master of Business Administration (MBA).

Required Capstone or Internship

4.00 semester credit hours are required.

CJ 491 - Criminal Justice Capstone Project Semester Credit Hours: 4.00
HS 494 - Internship Semester Credit Hours: 4.00

Required Courses in General Education

Students enrolled in this bachelor’s degree must complete a minimum of 36.00 semester credit hours in general education distributed among the following disciplines. Refer to the General Education section of the catalog for specific information about courses within each discipline.

12.00 Semester Credit Hours in Communications

9.00 Semester Credit Hours in Humanities (must include 3 semester credit hours of cultural diversity)

6.00 Semester Credit Hours in Mathematics

3.00 Semester Credit Hours in Science

6.00 Semester Credit Hours in Social and Behavioral Sciences

Personal and Professional Development Courses

2.00 semester credit hours are required.

PD 121 - Professional Development I Semester Credit Hours: 1.00
PD 202 - Professional Development II Semester Credit Hours: 1.00