Criminal Justice

The purpose of the criminal justice minor is to provide an appropriate foundation for students seeking employment in fields related to criminal justice such as law enforcement, corrections and probation. This interdisciplinary minor draws on philosophy, political science, and sociology to develop the knowledge, values, and ethical consciousness required for entry-level criminal justice jobs. Students are introduced to issues such as family violence, juvenile delinquency, crime measurement and causation, methods of crime control in a democratic society as well as the courts, police, and corrections institutions.

Minor in Criminal Justice: 18 semester hours, including CJ 231, 331, SOC 374; plus nine hours selected from CJ 439, PHIL 333, POLS 332, 336, 431, or PSY 332.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE

CJ 231. Introduction to Criminal Justice (3:3:0)
An overview of the criminal justice system designed to introduce students to the history, organizational components, and philosophy of the criminal justice system and the interrelationship of its subsystems, punishment and its alternatives, the court system, prosecution and its corrections. (Also offered as SOC 231A.)

CJ 331. Criminal Law and Procedure (3:3:0)
An introduction to criminal law, both substantive and procedural, at the federal and state levels. Prerequisite: CJ 231. (Also offered as SOC 331A.)

CJ 379. Special Topic (3:3:0)
Designed to address special interests of advanced students, to provide extended examination of particular issues introduced by other departments or programs, or to test the integrity of innnovations in criminal justice. May be repeated for credit when topics are changed. Prerequisite: Department approval.

CJ 419, 429, 439. Internship in Criminal Justice (X:X:X)
Designed to provide criminal justice minors opportunities to work in government agencies, social service agencies, and other areas of the criminal justice system. Prerequisite: permission of instructor.