Criminal Justice, B.A.
The B.A. in Criminal Justice from Georgian Court University is a multidisciplinary degree designed to maximize student preparation for a rapidly expanding field of professional opportunities and research.
Students who pursue a major in Criminal Justice at GCU will find that our faculty members are passionate about their areas of scholarship and professional experiences in the field. We aim to instill in our students the ability to think critically about criminal justice systems and a desire to act with extraordinary integrity and professionalism. Our curriculum is designed with social justice and the development of concrete and translatable skills in mind. Such skills include the ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing, to understand strategies and tools of effective problem solving, and to evaluate the impact of diversity on criminal justice systems.
Upon successful completion of studies for Criminal Justice, the student will receive a B.A. in Criminal Justice and will have given evidence of the following outcomes and goals.
- Students will demonstrate knowledge across required content areas: administration of justice, corrections, criminological theory, law adjudication, law enforcement, research methods, and sociological theory and principles through course exams and papers evaluated by a common rubric.
- Students will demonstrate an ability to present work and to collaborate in course presentations evaluated by a common rubric.
- Students will identify and apply ethical decision making as it applies across theory, research, practice, and/or policy in program courses. Students will evidence competency in socially responsible and equitable behavior in case study responses evaluated by a common rubric.
To earn this degree, students must successfully complete at least 120 credits, including General Education requirements and the major requirements below.
Major Sequence
A minimum of 42 core credits, plus courses in related areas, is required for the Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice. Students who have no applied experience in the field must also complete an additional 3-credit internship. It is strongly recommended that students take MA103 Introduction to Statistical Thinking to satisfy the General Education Quantitative Analysis requirement.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Requirements | ||
| CJ111 | The Criminal Justice System | 3.0 |
| CJ167 | Race, Ethnicity & Criminal Justice | 3.0 |
| or AN112 | Cultural Anthropology | |
| CJ/SO200 | Theories of Crime | 3.0 |
| CJ210 | Introduction to Law Enforcement | 3.0 |
| or CJ212 | Introduction to Corrections | |
| CJ213 | Criminal Law & Practice | 3.0 |
| CJ320 | Special Populations in the CJ System 3 | 3.0 |
| CJ325 | Gender & Crime | 3.0 |
| CJ331 | Research Methods in Criminal Justice | 3.0 |
| CJ435 | Ethical Issues in Criminal Justice | 3.0 |
| CJ495 | Senior Seminar in Criminal Justice | 3.0 |
| SO101 | Principles of Sociology | 3.0 |
| SO/PO201 | Social Statistics | 3.0 |
| 2 CJ electives. PS320 and PS321 may be used as CJ electives | 6.0 | |
| Additional Course 1 | ||
| Internship in Criminal Justice | ||
| General Education Course 2 | ||
| World Language 2 | 3.0 | |
| Total Credits | 45.0 | |
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Students who have no applied experience in a work or voluntary capacity in a criminal justice agency or related organization will also be required to complete a 15th course, CJ333 Internship in Criminal Justice.
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World Language is required; Spanish is strongly recommended. Another language may be substituted with the approval of the student’s advisor.
- 3
CJ majors are expected to take CJ320. However, PS320 can be used to satisfy the CJ320 requirement. PS320 cannot be counted as a substitute for CJ320 and as a CJ Elective.
Concentrations in Criminal Justice
Criminal Justice majors who would like to focus on courses specific to their career or academic interests may elect to do a concentration in one of three areas: Cyber Crime, Global Justice and Society, or Law Enforcement and Corrections. Students wanting to add a concentration take courses as listed in the groups below or other concentration courses not listed that are offered on a rotating basis as designated by the department chair each semester. Two of the courses in the concentration may count toward the electives required for the major. Concentrations are an elective part of their major. Students may request to take alternate courses (e.g., in other departments) relevant to the concentration upon department chair and advisor approval.
Cyber Crime
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CJ301 | Cyber Security & GIS | 3.0 |
| CJ302 | Cyber Crime | 3.0 |
| CS123 | Computer Programming I | 4.0 |
| IS320 | Management Information Systems | 3.0 |
| IS422 | Enterprise Cybersecurity | 3.0 |
| Total Credits | 16.0 | |
Global Justice & Society
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select four of the following: | 12.0 | |
| Constitutional Law | ||
| Comparative Criminal Justice Systems | ||
| Victimology | ||
| Political Crimes & Terrorism | ||
| International Human Rights Law | ||
| Global Justice & Law | ||
| Selected Topics in Criminal Justice (dependent on semester, and when designated as concentration course by dept. chair) | ||
| Independent Research in Criminal Justice (dependent on research topic; dept. chair approval required) | ||
| Globalization & Sustainability | ||
| American National Government | ||
| Modern Political Thought | ||
| Comparative Politics | ||
| Human Rights & Social Justice | ||
| Total Credits | 12.0 | |
Law Enforcement & Corrections
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select four of the following: | 12.0 | |
| Race, Ethnicity & Criminal Justice (if also taking AN112 as a core CJ requirement) | ||
| Introduction to Law Enforcement (if also taking CJ212 as a core CJ requirement) | ||
| Juvenile Justice | ||
| Cyber Security & GIS | ||
| Cyber Crime | ||
| Criminal Investigation | ||
| Victimology | ||
| Selected Topics in Criminal Justice (dependent on semester, and when designated as concentration course by dept. chair) | ||
| Sex Crimes | ||
| Independent Research in Criminal Justice (dependent on research topic; dept. chair approval required) | ||
| Integrative Stress Management & Health | ||
| American National Government | ||
| State & Local Government in America | ||
| Forensic Psychology | ||
| Criminal Profiling | ||
| Total Credits | 12.0 | |
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Credits | |
| GEN101 | Pathway to the Bridge 1 | 2.0 |
| EN111 or EN221 |
Academic Writing and Research I 1 or Honors Argument: Rhetoric & Research |
3.0 |
| Modern Language (Spanish is strongly recommended) 1,3 | 3.0 | |
| SO101 | Principles of Sociology 1,2 | 3.0 |
| CJ111 | The Criminal Justice System 2 | 3.0 |
| Credits | 14.0 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| GEN199 | WI:Discovering Self in the Universe 1 | 3.0 |
| History 1,4 | 3.0 | |
| Literature 1 | 3.0 | |
| Select one of the following: | 3.0 | |
| Cultural Anthropology 1,2,5 | ||
| Race, Ethnicity & Criminal Justice 2,5 | ||
| Elective | 3.0 | |
| Credits | 15.0 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| CJ200 | Theories of Crime 2 | 3.0 |
| CJ210 or CJ212 |
Introduction to Law Enforcement 2 or Introduction to Corrections |
3.0 |
| Quantitative Analysis 1,6 | 3.0-4.0 | |
| Select one of the following: | 3.0 | |
Social Science (if took CJ167) 1 |
||
Elective |
||
| Elective | 3.0 | |
| Credits | 15.0-16.0 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| Natural Science w/ Lab 1,8 | 4.0 | |
| Religious Studies 1 | 3.0 | |
| CJ213 | Criminal Law & Practice 2 | 3.0 |
| SO/PO201 | Social Statistics 2 | 3.0 |
| Elective | 3.0 | |
| Credits | 16.0 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| PL245 | Philosophical Inquiry 1 | 3.0 |
| CJ320 | Special Populations in the CJ System 2,7 | 3.0 |
| CJ331 | Research Methods in Criminal Justice 2 | 3.0 |
| CJ333 | Internship in Criminal Justice 2 | 3.0 |
| Elective | 3.0 | |
| Credits | 15.0 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| WS311 | Shaping Lives: Women & Gender 1 | 3.0 |
| Ethics 1 | 3.0 | |
| Visual & Performing Arts 1,8 | 3.0 | |
| CJ325 | Gender & Crime 2 | 3.0 |
| Elective | 3.0 | |
| Credits | 15.0 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| CJ435 | Ethical Issues in Criminal Justice 2 | 3.0 |
| GEN400 | WI:Visioning a Future 1 | 3.0 |
| CJ Elective 2 | 3.0 | |
| Elective | 3.0 | |
| Elective | 3.0 | |
| Credits | 15.0 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| CJ495 | Senior Seminar in Criminal Justice 2 | 3.0 |
| CJ Elective 2 | 3.0 | |
| Elective | 3.0 | |
| Elective | 3.0 | |
| Elective | 3.0 | |
| Credits | 15.0 | |
| Total Credits | 120.0-121.0 | |
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General Education
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Major
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Spanish strongly recommended. Students should take https://gcu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1NeckgPVNDlYLvT for correct placement.
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GE-History can be taken during the first semester if one of the other required courses is full.
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CJ167 Race, Ethnicity & Criminal Justice does not fulfill the general education requirement for social science. If SO101 Principles of Sociology and AN112 Cultural Anthropology are taken, social science requirements are fulfilled and an elective can be taken in the fall of the second year. If both CJ167 Race, Ethnicity & Criminal Justice and AN112 Cultural Anthropology are taken, CJ167 Race, Ethnicity & Criminal Justice will fulfill one of two CJ electives.
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MA103 Introduction to Statistical Thinking strongly recommended. Should be taken semester before SO201 Social Statistics.
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CJ majors are expected to take CJ320 Special Populations in the CJ System. However, PS320 Forensic Psychology can be used to satisfy the CJ320 Special Populations in the CJ System requirement. PS320 Forensic Psychology cannot be counted as a substitute for CJ320 Special Populations in the CJ System and as a CJ Elective.
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GE-Natural Science with Lab and GE-Visual & Performing Arts can be taken any semester depending on scheduling needs.