COURSE CURRICULUM

The Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice at Wichita State University requires 120 credit hours and provides a comprehensive study of the criminal justice system through coursework in law enforcement, courts, corrections, criminal investigations, and crime analysis. Students complete university General Education requirements, Liberal Arts and Sciences competency requirements, business and professional writing, and a foreign language component, including Spanish for Law Enforcement or another approved language sequence. The major core includes courses in Introduction to Criminal Justice, Professional Responsibility in a Multicultural Society, Criminal Procedure, Research Methods, Crime Causation and Criminal Justice Policy, and Contemporary Issues in Criminal Justice. Students select a gateway elective in areas such as Criminalistics, Criminal Mind and Behavior, Corrections, Law Enforcement, Courts and Judicial Systems, or Intelligence Process, followed by 18 credit hours of advanced criminal justice electives. These electives allow specialization in fields such as criminal law, victimology, cybercrime, homicide investigations, terrorism, juvenile justice, correctional administration, crime analysis, digital investigations, criminal intelligence, forensic photography, crime scene reconstruction, bloodstain pattern analysis, violent crime, sex crimes, forensic psychiatry, and related areas. The program combines theoretical knowledge with practical skills, helping students develop expertise in research, critical thinking, investigation, ethics, communication, and public safety. Additional open electives enable students to customize their studies and reach the required 120 credit hours. Graduates are prepared for careers in law enforcement, corrections, intelligence analysis, crime investigation, homeland security, forensic services, victim advocacy, and other criminal justice professions, as well as for advanced education in criminal justice, criminology, law, public administration, and related disciplines.