The Department of Criminal Justice offers an option for a minor in Criminal Justice that provides an overview of the criminal justice system that includes:
- Law enforcement
- Corrections
- Court systems
Students completing a minor in Criminal Justice may find entry-level employment with local and state policing agencies, jails and prisons, local and state court systems, victim’s advocacy offices, and counseling and rehabilitation facilities.
Degree Requirements
The curriculum includes a minimum of 18 credit hours in Criminal Justice (CJ prefix) - 9 hours must be upper division in some fashion. All CJ students are encouraged to meet with a CJ faculty advisor annually for course and program advisement. The College of Social & Behavioral Sciences General Education Advisors can answer questions about general education requirements for an associate's degree.
Grade Requirements: A grade of “C” or better in all CJ courses is required for this minor in addition to an overall GPA of 2.5 or higher.
Program Requirements: Students obtaining a minor in criminal justice are required to complete a minimum of 18 credit hours in courses with a CJ prefix. At least 9 credit hours must be upper division CJ courses (3000 level or higher).
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Required Breadth Courses (6 credit hours)
Take two of the following four courses:
- CJ 1300 - Corrections: History, Theory and Practice (3)
- CJ 1330 - Criminal Law and Courts (3)
- CJ 2300 - Policing: History, Theory and Practice (3)
- CJ 4200 - Ethical Issues in Criminal Justice
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Elective Courses (18 credit hours)
Select an additional 6 credit hours of CJ courses. You may select any CJ courses offered so long as the prerequisites for the course are satisfied (EXCEPT CJ 4830 and CJ 4950).
Criminal Justice Course Offerings (not necessarily a comprehensive list)
- CJ 1340 - Criminal Investigation
- CJ 1350 - Introduction to Forensic Science
- CJ 2330 - Juvenile Justice
- CJ 2340 - Crime Scene Investigation
- CJ 2350 - Laws of Evidence
- CJ 3020 - Criminal Justice Management
- CJ 3040 - Community Policing
- CJ 3060 - Corrections in the Community
- CJ 3120 - Professional Practice for the Forensic Expert
- CJ 3130 - Investigation of Computer Crime
- CJ 3340 - Crime Scene Photography
- CJ 3344 - Advanced Forensic Photography
- CJ 3350 - The American Jail
- CJ 3360 - Prisons: Contemporary Issues and Dilemmas
- CJ 3370 - Death Penalty
- CJ 3400 - Drugs and Crime
- CJ 3700 - Women and Criminal Justice
- CJ 3800 - White Collar Crime
- CJ 4000 - Critical Legal Studies
- CJ 4065 - Law and Society
- CJ 4110 - Physical Methods in Forensic Science
- CJ 4115 - Friction Ridge Analysis
- CJ 4116 - Friction Ridge Development
- CJ 4125 - Research Methods in Forensic Science
- CJ 4165 - Constitutional Rights
- CJ 4300 -History of Law Enforcement
- CJ 4700 - International Criminal Justice
- CJ 4710 - Race, Crime and Justice
- CJ 4810 - Experimental Course (Taught as various topics. Look for specific course title in class schedule)
- CJ 4830 - Directed Readings and Special Projects (Requires faculty mentor and approval from CJ department chair)
- CJ 4860 - Criminal Justice Internship (For more information, visit the CJ Internship website)
- CJ 4900 - Current Issues in Criminal Justice (Taught as various topics. Look for specific course title in class schedule)
- CJ 4920 - Short Courses, Workshops, Institutes and Special Programs
- CJ 4950 - Field Trips/Travel Study
