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Department of Criminal Justice

First launched in 2016, criminal justice is one of the most popular majors on campus.  The program emphasizes corrections and law enforcement, and requires major courses that range from Juvenile Justice to Constitutional Law, and Criminal Evidence and Procedure to Community Based Corrections.  Majors also take courses in psychology and history, to gain a better understanding of the national debates on the American criminal justice and prison systems.  Upon graduating, majors have the content knowledge and analytical skills to pursue careers in law enforcement, community corrections, and federal, state, and local agencies, such as the FBI, Alabama crime scene unit, and county sheriff’s office.  Majors might also apply to graduate school and law school, opening the possibility of academic and legal-related careers.

Upon completion of the Criminal Justice major, students will be able to:

  1. Discuss the evolution of the correctional system in the United States.
  1. Distinguish between criminal justice and corrections.
  2. Distinguish between parole and probation.
  3. Explain the legal issues and liabilities that relate to offenders and corrections personnel.
  4. Differentiate between public and private federal, state and local correctional systems.
  5. Analyze issues relating to corrections in scholarly writings (Critical Thinking).
  6. Develop skills of critical analysis, criminological research, and writings (Critical Thinking and Communication).
  7. Demonstrate knowledge of legal concepts and terminology.

Program Outcomes

As a result of successful completion of the Criminal Justice Program, graduates will:

  1. Demonstrate the professional values essential to employment by the city, county, state, and federal agencies, as well as private facilities.
  2. Find employment in the field of security of local, regional and national organizations.
  3. Pursue graduate degrees in criminal justice or related fields.

Major in Criminal Justice

Required courses for the major in Criminal Justice

The Criminal Justice major consists of a minimum of 30 hours of Criminal Justice courses and 21 hours of cognate courses.

Required Courses and Credits:

CJ 131 Introduction to Criminal Justice

3

CJ 132 Juvenile Justice

3

CJ 232 Community Based Corrections

3

CJ 331 Constitutional Law

3

CJ 332 Criminal Evidence and Procedure

3

CJ 333 Corrections

3

CJ 430 Senior Seminar in Criminal Justice

3

CJ 431 Penology

3

CJ 432 Public Policy and Criminal Justice

3

CJ 433 Research in Criminal Justice

3

BUS 233 Principles of Macroeconomics

3

GEO 231 World Regional Geography

3

HIS 132 Foundations of American Civilization

3

PSY 334 Abnormal Psychology

3

PSY 335 Social Psychology

3

MAT 132 Trigonometry and Analytic Geometry

3

MAT 233 Introduction to Statistics

3

Semester Plan

Below is a sample semester-by-semester plan for a major in Criminal Justice at ºÚÁÏÀÏ˾»ú.

Freshman Year: Fall Semester

ENG 131 English Composition I

3

REL 131 Introduction to the Old Testament

3

MAT 131 Algebra

3

HUM 130 African American Heritage

3

STI 111 Orientation

1

Sub-Total Credits

13

Freshman Year: Spring Semester

ENG 132 English Composition II

3

REL 132 Introduction to the New Testament

3

HIS 131 Foundations of World Civilization

3

PSY 230 Introduction to Psychology

3

BIO 131 Life Science

3

STI 114 Orientation II

1

Sub-Total Credits

16

Sophomore Year: Fall Semester

GEO 231 World Regional Geography

3

PHY 131 Physical Science

3

CSC 121 Computer Literacy

2

CJ 131 Introduction to Criminal Justice

3

BUS 233 Principles of Macroeconomics

3

HPR 121 Lifetime Wellness

2

Sub-Total Credits

16

Sophomore Year: Spring Semester

HIS 132 Foundations of American Civilization

3

MAT 132 Trigonometry and Analytic Geometry

3

SPE 232 Public Speaking

3

200-level Religion +

3

BUS 210 Financial Literacy

1

CJ 132 Juvenile Justice

3

Sub-Total Credits

16

Junior Year: Fall Semester

CJ 232 Community Based Corrections

3

PSY 334 Abnormal Psychology

3

CJ 333 Corrections

3

300-level Religion +

3

MAT 233 Introduction to Statistics

3

Sub-Total Credits

15

Junior Year: Spring Semester

CJ 332 Criminal Evidence and Procedure

3

LOG 330 Logic

3

CJ 331 Constitutional Law

3

EDU 310 Test Taking Strategies

1

PSY 335 Social Psychology

3

General Electives

3

Sub-Total Credits

16

Senior Year: Fall Semester

CJ430 Senior Seminar in Criminal Justice

3

CJ433 Research in Criminal Justice

3

General Electives

3

General Electives

3

General Electives

2

Sub-Total Credits

14

Senior Year: Spring Semester

CJ 432 Public Policy and Criminal Justice

3

CJ 431 Penology

3

General Electives

3

General Electives

3

General Electives

2

Sub-Total Credits

14

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