Criminal Justice Course Concentrations
The following tracks are recommended sets of criminal justice elective courses that will prepare students for different criminal justice careers. Completion of these tracks are not required, and students may select any combination of criminal justice electives to complete the requirements of a bachelor of science in criminal justice. Students should, however, consider their intended career when selecting elective courses.
In addition to the elective courses, criminal justice majors must complete all core courses.
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General Track
CRJ 200: Comparative criminal justice systems
CRJ 210: Development of the criminal justice system
CRJ 232: Diversity in criminal justice
CRJ 274: Policy, punishment, & society
CRJ 280: Ethics in criminal justice
The general track is designed to provide students with instruction in a variety of areas for a well-rounded knowledge in criminal justice. Two different groups of students should consider this track. Students who wish to work in a criminal justice field after graduation but have not decided on a particular area of specialization will be prepared to pursue a variety of different career opportunities. A broad understanding of the field of criminal justice will also benefit students who wish to obtain graduate degrees.
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Policing Track
CRJ 190: Federal law enforcement
CRJ 210: Development of the criminal justice system
CRJ 215: Introduction to crime mapping/ analysis
CRJ 280: Ethics in criminal justice
CRJ 281: Crime prevention
CRJ 301: Investigation and intelligence
CRJ 320: Evidence
Students who choose the policing track will receive an education aimed at preparing students to pursue careers with local, state, and federal police agencies. The suggested coursework will instruct students on police organization function and structure, legal concepts necessary for criminal prosecutions, analytic techniques for tracking crime patterns, and methods to both prevent and investigate crime problems.
Recommended minors: Forensic Science, Geography, Spanish
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Pre-Law and Paralegal Track
CRJ 210: Development of the criminal justice system
CRJ 274: Policy, punishment, & society
CRJ 280: Ethics in criminal justice
CRJ 320: Evidence
CRJ 321: Contemporary legal issues
Students who intend to enroll in law school or wish to work in the paralegal field should consider the pre-law and paralegal track. The suggested coursework will provide a thorough education in legal concepts and courtroom procedures. Students who are interested in the track are also highly encouraged to enroll in the B.S. Criminal Justice and Paralegal Studies program.
Recommended minors: History, Philosophy, Political Science, Spanish
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Corrections and Rehabilitation Track
CRJ 210: Development of the criminal justice system
CRJ 215: Introduction to crime mapping/ analysis
CRJ 221: Juvenile justice
CRJ 271: Substance abuse & crime
CRJ 272: Community corrections
CRJ 280: Ethics in criminal justice
CRJ 273: Career criminals / criminal careers
The corrections and rehabilitation track is designed for students who wish to become probation, parole, or correctional officers. The suggested courses cover contemporary methods for rehabilitating offenders who either under supervision in the community or currently incarcerated to maximize offenders’ chances of successfully reintegrating back into society.
Recommended minors: Psychology, Social Work, Spanish
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Private security and investigation
CRJ 170: Introduction to security management
CRJ 171: Loss prevention / asset protection
CRJ 215: Introduction to crime mapping/ analysis
CRJ 280: Ethics in criminal justice
CRJ 301: Investigation and intelligence
Private security and investigation continue to be growth areas for criminal justice related careers. Students who complete coursework from this track will be prepared for a variety of professions in these industries.
Recommended minors: Forensic Science, Geography, Spanish