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 (DPR) 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

General Education Requirements36
Core Requirement18
Foundation Requirements18-27
Foreign Culture6
Concentration Requirement18
Additional Credits for Graduation *24-15
Total Hours120
*

Bachelor's degrees require a minimum of 120 credit hours for graduation.

Recommended General Education Courses

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 Foundations12
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 Learning2
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 Hours36

College of Arts & Sciences Requirement

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

POLIT:100Government & Politics in the United States3
CRJU:100Introduction to Criminal Justice3
CRJU:202Principles of Criminal Law3
CRJU:203Corrections3
CRJU:205Police Studies3
SOCIO:100Introduction to Sociology3
Total Hours18

Foundation Requirements

Part I
POLIT:301Introduction to Political Research3
or SOCIO:301 Social Research Design
Part II
POLIT:361Politics of the Criminal Justice System3
POLIT:395Internship in Government & Politics 13
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:320Social Inequalities3
SOCIO:330Criminology3
Part III
POLIT:401Advanced Topics in Research Methods3
or POLIT:480 Policy Problems in Political Science
or SOCIO:302 Data Analysis
or SOCIO:401 Advanced Topics in 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 Hours18
1

Minimum internship or research requirement is three credit hours.

Foreign Culture

Foreign Culture 16
Select at least six credits
Total Hours6
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

Select one of the following concentration areas:18
Policing Concentration
CRJU:305Policing Administration and Management3
CRJU:307Foundations of Crime Analysis3
CRJU:405Policing Theory and Strategy3
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:335Law & Society3
or SOCIO:441 Sociology of Law
POLIT:360The Judicial Process3
or CRJU:404 Criminal Procedure
CRJU:302Theory of Criminal Law3
or CRJU:414 Evidence Law
Complete three courses from the program elective list9
Corrections Concentration
SOCIO:431Theories and Practices of Correctional Systems3
or POLIT:450 Administering Prisons, Probation, and Parole
SOCIO:350Drugs in Society3
SOCIO:430Juvenile Delinquency3
Complete three courses from the program elective list9
Criminology Concentration
SOCIO:433Sociology of Deviant Behavior3
SOCIO:441Sociology of Law3
or POLIT:335 Law & Society
Complete four courses from the program elective list12

Program Elective List

Electives in Criminal Justice Studies
CRJU:302Theory of Criminal Law3
CRJU:305Policing Administration and Management3
CRJU:307Foundations of Crime Analysis3
CRJU:325Information Privacy3
CRJU:386Courtroom Proceedings and Testimony3
CRJU:398Police Accountability and Risk Management3
CRJU:401Legal Research and Writing3
CRJU:404Criminal Procedure3
CRJU:405Policing Theory and Strategy3
CRJU:407Advanced Crime Analysis3
CRJU:414Evidence Law3
CRJU:457Crime Analysis Applications3
CRJU:465Crisis & Trauma: Assessments & Interventions3
CRJU:480Special Topics in Criminal Justice1-3
CRJU:495Professional Pathways in Criminal Justice3-12
CRJU:497Independent Study and Research1-3
CRJU:498Honors Research in Criminal Justice1-3
Electives in Political Science
POLIT:334Law, Mediation, and Violence3
POLIT:335Law & Society3
POLIT:337Terrorism: Perpetrators, Politics and Response3
POLIT:339Terrorism and the Constitution3
POLIT:360The Judicial Process3
POLIT:363Crime, Punishment, Politics: A Comparative Perspective3
POLIT:370Public Administrtion: Concepts & Practices3
POLIT:395Internship in Government & Politics3
POLIT:400Political Extremism & Violence3
POLIT:401Advanced Topics in Research Methods3-6
POLIT:403Media, Crime and Public Opinion3
POLIT:406Comparative Constitutional Law3
POLIT:418Weapons of Mass Destruction3
POLIT:419Homeland Security Policy and Process3
POLIT:443Political Scandals & Corruption3
POLIT:446National Security Intelligence3
POLIT:447Counterterrorism3
POLIT:448Intelligence Analysis3
POLIT:450Administering Prisons, Probation, and Parole3
POLIT:461The Supreme Court & Constitutional Law3
POLIT:462The Supreme Court & Civil Liberties3
POLIT:481The Challenges of Police Work3
POLIT:482Criminal Justice Topic: Current Issues3
POLIT:483Constitutional Problems in Criminal Justice3
Electives in Sociology
SOCIO:310Social Problems3
SOCIO:324Social Movements3
SOCIO:350Drugs in Society3
SOCIO:360Social Effects of Crime in the Media3
SOCIO:365Special Topics in Sociology1-3
SOCIO:401Advanced Topics in Research Methods3-6
SOCIO:415Women in Prison3
SOCIO:416Women and Crime3
SOCIO:421Race & Ethnic Relations3
SOCIO:428Victim in Society3
SOCIO:430Juvenile Delinquency3
SOCIO:431Theories and Practices of Correctional Systems3
SOCIO:433Sociology of Deviant Behavior3
SOCIO:441Sociology of Law3
SOCIO:450Sociology of Mental Illness3
SOCIO:455Family Violence3
SOCIO:495Field Internship2-4
SOCIO:496Senior Honors Project1-3
Electives in Emergency Management and Homeland Security (Police Academy)
EMHS:201Police Academy: Administration & Legal3
EMHS:202Police Academy: Homeland Security3
EMHS:203Police Academy: Traffic3
EMHS:204Police Academy: Practicals I3
EMHS:205Police Academy: Practicals II3
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.

Plan of Study Grid
1st Year
Fall SemesterHours
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
 Hours16-15
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
 Hours16
2nd Year
Fall Semester
CRJU:203 Corrections 3
CRJU:205 Police Studies 3
SOCIO:301
Social Research Design
or Introduction to Political Research
3
Natural Science Requirement 3
Arts/Humanities Requirement 3
 Hours15
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
 Hours15-18
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
 Hours18
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
 Hours15
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
 Hours15
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
 Hours10-9
 Total Hours120-121
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.