COURSE CURRICULUM

The Criminal Justice program provides a comprehensive understanding of the American criminal justice system by exploring how laws are created and enforced, as well as the roles of law enforcement officers, legal professionals, offenders, victims, and the general public. Students also examine the social and individual causes of crime and study effective strategies for crime prevention. The curriculum begins with core courses such as Introduction to Criminal Justice, Introduction to Law and Criminal Justice, and Criminology, which establish a strong foundation in the structure and theory of the justice system. Students then develop analytical skills through a statistics requirement, choosing from courses such as Introduction to Statistics in Criminal Justice or related social science statistics courses, which help them interpret crime data and research findings. Research methods training is also a key component, with options including Introduction to Research Design in Criminal Justice, Social Research, or Experimental Psychology, preparing students to critically evaluate studies and conduct their own research. A senior-level, writing-intensive capstone seminar allows students to synthesize their knowledge and demonstrate advanced understanding of criminal justice issues. In addition, students complete 20 credits of upper-level electives in criminal justice, enabling them to specialize in areas of interest such as law enforcement, corrections, or criminological theory. Overall, the program equips students with strong analytical, research, and communication skills, preparing them for careers in law enforcement, policy, corrections, or further academic study in criminal justice and related fields.