Criminal Justice (B.A.)

Student Learning Outcomes for Criminal Justice:

Students will be able to:

• Design a professional-quality research proposal that incorporates one of several data measurement tools used to study crime and the criminal justice system.

• Compare social theories, theories of crime, deviance, and the criminal justice system in order to explain the world in which we live.

• Critically evaluate current and historical studies of crime and the criminal justice system.

• Explain the relationships between social forces, social control, and social justice.

• Defend the value of cultural diversity in heterogeneous societies.

• Analyze the various forms and distribution patterns of crime in the United States. 

• Articulate a perspective appropriate to Criminal Justice in order to make a personally meaningful contribution to self and society.

With a focus on social justice, the Criminal Justice major emphasizes the prevention aspects of the criminal justice system. Students learn basic social science theories on the sources of conflict in America, such as race and ethnic relations and deviant behavior. Majors also acquire the analytical tools and knowledge necessary to collect and interpret crime data. As liberal arts majors, students broaden their learning outside of sociology in such fields as ethics, political science, psychology and statistics. In addition, criminal justice majors elect subjects relevant to modern criminology such as management, foreign language, human genetics, law, professional writing or social work.

The Criminal Justice major consists of 40 required credits and eight credits of approved electives.