Criminal Justice, BA or BS

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Requirements for the Criminal Justice Major

1.

Complete at least 67 credits in the major, 63 of which must be CCJ credits. Students may take up to 4 elective credits from a list of pre-approved courses outside the department at the direction of their academic advisor. Students must complete a minimum of 50 upper division required and elective credits in the major.

2.

Have earned a 2.4 GPA or above in all CCJ coursework; have earned no lower than a C- in any CCJ coursework.

3.

Fulfill the baccalaureate degree requirements.

4.

Criminal Justice majors are not eligible for the Criminal Justice minor.

Criminal Justice Capstone

Criminal Justice majors complete the capstone experience after earning at least 135 credits and finishing at least half of all required upper division coursework. The capstone involves an internship and research. The internship (CCJ 409L - Capstone: Practicum/Internship ) is usually a field experience appropriate for the student’s projected career. Students must complete 2 academic credits (60 internship hours) but may complete up to 14 academic credits (420 internship hours) of CCJ 409L. They are also required to enroll in a 4-credit research course (CCJ 400 ) in which they write a significant research paper on a criminal justice topic and make an oral presentation.

Required Courses for CCJ Majors

Lower Division

(21 credits)

CCJ 230 - American Criminal Justice System 4 credits
CCJ 231 - Introduction to Criminology 4 credits
CCJ 241 - Introduction to Law Enforcement 4 credits
CCJ 251 - Introduction to Criminal Law 4 credits
CCJ 271 - Introduction to Corrections 4 credits
CCJ 198 - Orientation to Criminology and Criminal Justice at SOU 1 credit

Upper Division

(34 credits)

CCJ 301 - CCJ Research & Writing I 4 credits
CCJ 302 - CCJ Research & Writing II 4 credits
CCJ 331 - Theories of Criminal Behavior 4 credits
CCJ 361 - Juvenile Delinquency 4 credits
CCJ 400 - Capstone: Research 4 credits
CCJ 409L - Capstone: Practicum/Internship 1 to 14 credits (2 credits required for major)
CCJ 411 - Criminal Law 4 credits
CCJ 413 - Law of Criminal Procedures 4 credits
CCJ 430 - Crime Control Theories and Policies 4 credits

Elective Courses

(12 credits)
Students must select at least three of the following elective courses.

CCJ 321 - Criminal Investigation 4 credits
CCJ 347 - Crime in Cyberspace 4 credits
CCJ 371 - Correctional Institutions 4 credits
CCJ 381 - Serial Killers 4 credits
CCJ 382 - The Making of a Criminal 4 credits
CCJ 383 - Women and Crime 4 credits
CCJ 384 - Criminal Violence 4 credits
CCJ 385 - Crime and the Media 4 credits
CCJ 386 - Hate Crimes 4 credits
CCJ 387 - Law Enforcement Test Prep 4 credits
CCJ 388 - Race and Crime 4 credits
CCJ 399 - Special Studies 1 to 20 credits
(only 4 credit courses qualify)
CCJ 407 - Seminar: Special Topics 4 credits
CCJ 412 - Law of Criminal Evidence 4 credits
CCJ 417 - Contemporary Issues in Policing 4 credits
CCJ 451 - Criminal Justice Leadership 4 credits
CCJ 460 - Transnational Crime and Justice 4 credits
CCJ 461 - Terrorism 4 credits
CCJ 462 - Criminal Forensic Investigations 4 credits
Students may count one of the following courses as a criminology and criminal justice elective with prior aproval of their academic advisor:
COMM 324 - Nonverbal Communication 4 credits
COMM 330 - Interviewing and Listening 4 credits
COMM 448 - Mediation 4 credits
PSY 445 - Organizational Psychology 4 credits
PSY 453 - Stress Management 4 credits
PSY 463 - Psychopathology of Childhood 4 credits
PSY 475 - Crisis Intervention Strategies 4 credits