Criminology & Criminal Justice, BS
Bachelor of Science in Criminology & Criminal Justice (380001BS)
More on the Criminology & Criminal Justice major
The criminology and criminal justice program prepares students for careers in policing, courts, corrections, and criminology at any level of government or in the private sector. This program is also appropriate for students who desire to pursue graduate or law school. Students will take a broad core of criminal justice courses, and then select courses from concentrations in policing, courts, corrections, or criminology. Students have a number of electives to tailor their degrees to particular career paths of interest.
The following information has official approval of The Department of Criminal Justice Studies and The Buchtel College of Arts & Sciences, but is intended only as a supplemental guide. Official degree requirements are established at the time of transfer and admission to the degree-granting college. Students should refer to the Degree Progress Report (Stellic) which is definitive for graduation requirements. Completion of this degree within the identified time frame below is contingent upon many factors, including but not limited to: class availability, total number of required credits, work schedule, finances, family, course drops/withdrawals, successfully passing courses, prerequisites, among others. The transfer process is completed through an appointment with your academic advisor.
Requirements
Summary
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Requirements | 36 | |
| Core Requirement | 18 | |
| Foundation Requirements | 18-27 | |
| Foreign Culture | 6 | |
| Concentration Requirement | 18 | |
| Additional Credits for Graduation * | 24-15 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
- *
Bachelor's degrees require a minimum of 120 credit hours for graduation.
Recommended General Education Courses
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Students pursuing a bachelor’s degree must complete the following General Education coursework. Diversity courses may also fulfill major or Breadth of Knowledge requirements. Integrated and Applied Learning courses may also fulfill requirements in the major. | ||
| Students are not required to enroll in the specific courses listed below. However, to facilitate successful degree completion, the academic department strongly encourages completion of the following recommendations. | ||
| Academic Foundations | 12 | |
Mathematics, Statistics and Logic: 3 credit hours | ||
Speaking: 3 credit hours | ||
Writing: 6 credit hours | ||
| Breadth of Knowledge | 22 | |
Arts/Humanities: 9 credit hours | ||
Natural Sciences: 7 credit hours | ||
Social Sciences: 6 credit hours | ||
| Government & Politics in the United States | ||
| Introduction to Sociology | ||
| Diversity | ||
Domestic Diversity | ||
| Introduction to Sociology | ||
Global Diversity | ||
| Integrated and Applied Learning | 2 | |
Select one class from one of the following subcategories: | ||
Complex Issues Facing Society | ||
| Sociology of Deviant Behavior | ||
| Social Inequalities | ||
Capstone | ||
Review the General Education Requirements page for detailed course listings. | ||
| Total Hours | 36 | |
College of Arts & Sciences Requirement
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Students must also complete a minimum of 40 credits (excluding workshops) consisting of either: | ||
Upper-level (300/400) courses both in and outside of the student’s major; | ||
or other courses outside the major department approved by the student’s major department chair (permission should be obtained prior to enrollment); these may not include workshops | ||
Core Requirement
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| POLIT 100 | Government & Politics in the United States | 3 |
| CRJU 100 | Introduction to Criminal Justice | 3 |
| CRJU 202 | Principles of Criminal Law | 3 |
| CRJU 203 | Corrections | 3 |
| CRJU 205 | Police Studies | 3 |
| SOCIO 100 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
| Total Hours | 18 | |
Foundation Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Part I | ||
| POLIT 301 | Introduction to Political Research | 3 |
| or SOCIO 301 | Social Research Design | |
| Part II | ||
| POLIT 361 | Politics of the Criminal Justice System | 3 |
| POLIT 395 | Internship in Government & Politics 1 | 3 |
| or POLIT 497 | Senior Honors Project in Political Science | |
| or SOCIO 495 | Field Internship | |
| or SOCIO 496 | Senior Honors Project | |
| or CRJU 495 | Professional Pathways in Criminal Justice | |
| or CRJU 498 | Honors Research in Criminal Justice | |
| SOCIO 320 | Social Inequalities | 3 |
| SOCIO 330 | Criminology | 3 |
| Part III | ||
| POLIT 401 | Advanced Topics in Research Methods | 3 |
| or POLIT 480 | Policy Problems in Political Science | |
| or SOCIO 302 | Data Analysis | |
| or SOCIO 401 | Applied Research Methods | |
| or CRJU 401 | Legal Research and Writing | |
| or GEOG 405 | Geographic Information Systems | |
| or PSYC 410 | Psychological Tests & Measurements | |
| or STAT 360 | Statistical Investigations | |
| or STAT 462 | Applied Regression and ANOVA | |
| or STAT 465 | Design of Sample Surveys | |
| or STAT 466 | Applied Nonparametric Statistical Methods | |
| Total Hours | 18 | |
- 1
Minimum internship or research requirement is three credit hours.
Foreign Culture
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Foreign Culture 1 | 6 | |
| Select at least six credits | ||
| Total Hours | 6 | |
- 1
At least six credits of coursework which will introduce the student to a foreign culture. Such courses shall be selected from the department approved list.
Concentration Requirement
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select one of the following concentration areas: | 18 | |
| Policing Concentration | ||
| CRJU 305 | Policing Administration and Management | 3 |
| CRJU 307 | Foundations of Crime Analysis | 3 |
| CRJU 405 | Policing Theory and Strategy | 3 |
| Complete three courses from the program elective list. The electives requirement may be filled by prior learning assessment or police academy credit (EMHS 201 - 205) | 9 | |
| Courts and Law Concentration | ||
| POLIT 335 | Law & Society | 3 |
| or SOCIO 441 | Sociology of Law | |
| POLIT 360 | The Judicial Process | 3 |
| or CRJU 404 | Criminal Procedure | |
| CRJU 302 | Theory of Criminal Law | 3 |
| or CRJU 414 | Evidence Law | |
| Complete three courses from the program elective list | 9 | |
| Corrections Concentration | ||
| SOCIO 431 | Theories and Practices of Correctional Systems | 3 |
| or POLIT 450 | Administering Prisons, Probation, and Parole | |
| SOCIO 350 | Drugs in Society | 3 |
| SOCIO 430 | Juvenile Delinquency | 3 |
| Complete three courses from the program elective list | 9 | |
| Criminology Concentration | ||
| SOCIO 433 | Sociology of Deviant Behavior | 3 |
| SOCIO 441 | Sociology of Law | 3 |
| or POLIT 335 | Law & Society | |
| Complete four courses from the program elective list | 12 | |
Program Elective List
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Electives in Criminal Justice Studies | ||
| CRJU 302 | Theory of Criminal Law | 3 |
| CRJU 305 | Policing Administration and Management | 3 |
| CRJU 307 | Foundations of Crime Analysis | 3 |
| CRJU 325 | Information Privacy | 3 |
| CRJU 386 | Courtroom Proceedings and Testimony | 3 |
| CRJU 398 | Police Accountability and Risk Management | 3 |
| CRJU 401 | Legal Research and Writing | 3 |
| CRJU 404 | Criminal Procedure | 3 |
| CRJU 405 | Policing Theory and Strategy | 3 |
| CRJU 407 | Advanced Crime Analysis | 3 |
| CRJU 414 | Evidence Law | 3 |
| CRJU 457 | Crime Analysis Applications | 3 |
| CRJU 465 | Crisis & Trauma: Assessments & Interventions | 3 |
| CRJU 480 | Special Topics in Criminal Justice | 1-3 |
| CRJU 495 | Professional Pathways in Criminal Justice | 3-12 |
| CRJU 497 | Independent Study and Research | 1-3 |
| CRJU 498 | Honors Research in Criminal Justice | 1-3 |
| Electives in Political Science | ||
| POLIT 334 | Law, Mediation, and Violence | 3 |
| POLIT 335 | Law & Society | 3 |
| POLIT 337 | Terrorism: Perpetrators, Politics and Response | 3 |
| POLIT 339 | Terrorism and the Constitution | 3 |
| POLIT 360 | The Judicial Process | 3 |
| POLIT 363 | Crime, Punishment, Politics: A Comparative Perspective | 3 |
| POLIT 370 | Public Administrtion: Concepts & Practices | 3 |
| POLIT 395 | Internship in Government & Politics | 3 |
| POLIT 400 | Political Extremism & Violence | 3 |
| POLIT 401 | Advanced Topics in Research Methods | 3-6 |
| POLIT 403 | Media, Crime and Public Opinion | 3 |
| POLIT 406 | Comparative Constitutional Law | 3 |
| POLIT 418 | Weapons of Mass Destruction | 3 |
| POLIT 419 | Homeland Security Policy and Process | 3 |
| POLIT 443 | Political Scandals & Corruption | 3 |
| POLIT 446 | National Security Intelligence | 3 |
| POLIT 447 | Counterterrorism | 3 |
| POLIT 448 | Intelligence Analysis | 3 |
| POLIT 450 | Administering Prisons, Probation, and Parole | 3 |
| POLIT 461 | The Supreme Court & Constitutional Law | 3 |
| POLIT 462 | The Supreme Court & Civil Liberties | 3 |
| POLIT 481 | The Challenges of Police Work | 3 |
| POLIT 482 | Criminal Justice Topic: Current Issues | 3 |
| POLIT 483 | Constitutional Problems in Criminal Justice | 3 |
| Electives in Sociology | ||
| SOCIO 310 | Social Problems | 3 |
| SOCIO 324 | Social Movements | 3 |
| SOCIO 350 | Drugs in Society | 3 |
| SOCIO 360 | Social Effects of Crime in the Media | 3 |
| SOCIO 365 | Special Topics in Sociology | 1-3 |
| SOCIO 401 | Applied Research Methods | 3-6 |
| SOCIO 415 | Women in Prison | 3 |
| SOCIO 416 | Women and Crime | 3 |
| SOCIO 421 | Race & Ethnic Relations | 3 |
| SOCIO 428 | Victim in Society | 3 |
| SOCIO 430 | Juvenile Delinquency | 3 |
| SOCIO 431 | Theories and Practices of Correctional Systems | 3 |
| SOCIO 433 | Sociology of Deviant Behavior | 3 |
| SOCIO 441 | Sociology of Law | 3 |
| SOCIO 450 | Sociology of Mental Illness | 3 |
| SOCIO 455 | Family Violence | 3 |
| SOCIO 495 | Field Internship | 2-4 |
| SOCIO 496 | Senior Honors Project | 1-3 |
| Electives in Emergency Management and Homeland Security (Police Academy) | ||
| EMHS 201 | Police Academy: Administration & Legal | 3 |
| EMHS 202 | Police Academy: Homeland Security | 3 |
| EMHS 203 | Police Academy: Traffic | 3 |
| EMHS 204 | Police Academy: Practicals I | 3 |
| EMHS 205 | Police Academy: Practicals II | 3 |
| Students interested in pursuing Criminal Justice degrees and certificates come to the University of Akron with a variety of career, training, and life experiences. There are several methods to evaluate prior learning experiences for college credit including credit by exam, prior learning portfolios, and alternative credit for military and professional training. Please contact the Department of Criminal Justice Studies if you are interested in a prior learning assessment. | ||
Recommended Sequence
THIS PLAN OF STUDY IS INTENDED FOR STUDENTS ADMITTED TO THIS PROGRAM FOR FALL 2017 OR LATER.
| 1st Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Hours | |
| SOCIO 100 | Introduction to Sociology 3 | 3 |
| CRJU 100 | Introduction to Criminal Justice | 3 |
| Speaking Requirement | 3 | |
| English Composition I 1 | 3 | |
| Mathematics, Statistics, and Logic Requirement 2 | 4-3 | |
| Hours | 16-15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| POLIT 100 | Government & Politics in the United States 3 | 3 |
| CRJU 202 | Principles of Criminal Law | 3 |
| English Composition II 1 | 3 | |
| Natural Science w/ lab Requirement | 4 | |
| Arts/Humanities Requirement | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| 2nd Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| CRJU 203 | Corrections | 3 |
| CRJU 205 | Police Studies | 3 |
| SOCIO 301 or POLIT 301 | Social Research Design or Introduction to Political Research | 3 |
| Natural Science Requirement | 3 | |
| Arts/Humanities Requirement | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| SOCIO 302 | Data Analysis or Policy Problems in Political Science or Advanced Topics in Research Methods or Legal Research and Writing | 3-6 |
| SOCIO 320 | Social Inequalities | 3 |
| Humanities/Arts Requirement | 3 | |
| Open Elective 4 | 3 | |
| Open Elective 4 | 3 | |
| Hours | 15-18 | |
| 3rd Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| SOCIO 330 | Criminology | 3 |
| Concentration Requirement 5 | 3 | |
| Concentration Elective 5 | 3 | |
| Foreign Culture Requirement 6 | 3 | |
| Open Elective 4 | 3 | |
| Open Elective 4 | 3 | |
| Hours | 18 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| POLIT 361 | Politics of the Criminal Justice System | 3 |
| Global Diversity Requirement | 3 | |
| Concentration Requirement 5 | 3 | |
| Concentration Elective 5 | 3 | |
| Open Elective 4 | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| 4th Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| Concentration Requirement/Elective 5 | 3 | |
| Open Elective/Program Elective 4 | 3 | |
| Foreign Culture Requirement 6 | 3 | |
| Concentration Elective 5 | 3 | |
| Open Elective 4 | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| POLIT 395 | Internship in Government & Politics or Senior Honors Project in Political Science or Field Internship or Senior Honors Project or Professional Pathways in Criminal Justice or Honors Research in Criminal Justice | 3 |
| Open Elective 4 | 3 | |
| Open Elective/Program Elective 4 | 4-3 | |
| Hours | 10-9 | |
| Total Hours | 120-121 | |
- 1
ENGL 111 English Composition I and ENGL 112 English Composition II are the recommended classes to meet the General Education Writing requirement. ENGL 222 Technical Report Writing can be used to fulfill the English Composition II requirement.
- 2
While a variety of mathematics and statistics courses can be taken to meet this requirement, it is strongly recommended that students take a statistics course. Students planning on graduate school should take STAT 261 and 262, and a higher level STAT course for the Foundation Part III requirement.
- 3
POLIT 100 Government & Politics in the United States and SOCIO 100 Introduction to Sociology are required and will fulfill the General Education Social Science requirement.
- 4
Open electives can be any course not already required by your major and Upper Level (300/400) electives can be any course in or outside your major excluding workshops.
- 5
For the Criminology and Criminal Justice Degree, students select a concentration area. Each of these requires 18 credits, with 2-3 required courses and 3-4 elective courses from the Program Electives List.
- 6
There is no language requirement for the Criminology and Criminal Justice degree. However, students who complete the first year of a foreign language will fulfill the Foreign Cultures requirement. If students elect not to complete the first year of a foreign language, 6 credits from coursework designed to introduced the student to a foreign culture are required. An approved list of courses is available from the program advisors.