Criminal Justice (Bachelor of Science, B.S.)

Our Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice prepares both entry-level and seasoned professionals in the theoretical foundations, knowledge, skills and practices of criminal justice administration inclusive of law enforcement, courts, and corrections. This program enables students to develop rational decisions and informed responses to the daily challenges of law enforcement, courts and corrections operations.

Students can tailor a degree to their own interests and career goals with two concentrations to choose from: Legal Studies or General.

The Legal Studies concentration offers criminal justice students the opportunity to explore the various roles, functions and responsibilities of the numerous civilian positions in the American legal system. You’ll come away an understanding of the history, principles, and purpose of legal institutions and their operation.

All students complete an applied learning requirement. In most cases students choose an internship and a senior capstone course. Students who have earned a Bachelor’s degree in this or any discipline may also choose to apply for admission into law school, which is a very competitive process based primarily on grades and scores on the Law School Admission Test (LSAT).

Upon completion of the program, graduates will be able to:

1. Demonstrate effective legal knowledge and practical skills necessary to perform substantive legal work under the direction of an attorney.
2. Demonstrate appropriate paralegal skill development and professionalism through practical experiences.
3. Demonstrate an understanding of their ethical responsibilities in the legal profession.
4. Articulate the paralegal’s role in the delivery of legal services to the public.
5. Write clearly and think analytically.
6. Read, analyze, and synthesize complex information in an organized and logical manner.
7. Utilize technology necessary to meet employer needs.
8. Manage multiple projects and tasks.

Students wishing to file a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice may do so upon successful completion of both CRJ 100 (Introduction to Criminal Justice) and LAT 101 (Introduction to Law) with a grade of C or higher in each course. For transfer coursework to qualify, the transferred course must meet current articulation requirements or be approved by the Chairperson of the Department of Criminal Justice and Legal Studies.

Dependent on if the student meets the above criteria will determine if they can declare the major or if they will be placed in a pre-admission status (pre-major). The advisor will assist with the coordination of this process.

Students who choose this bachelor degree program will have no more than 6 years from admission or subsequent declaration to meet the requirements listed below. If certification, accreditation or statutory requirements change and additional requirements become effective during this time, the new requirements take precedence.