Sep 19, 2024  
Academic Catalog 2024-2025 
    
Academic Catalog 2024-2025

Criminal Justice, Law and Society, BA


Introduction

The major in Criminal Justice, Law and Society (CJLS) is offered by the Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminal Justice, Law and Society. The CJLS major engages students in a multidisciplinary exploration of issues related to crime, justice, and social policy. The intersection of courses in CLJS, Politics and Government, Philosophy, Social Work, and Sociology provides students with an opportunity to explore theories and philosophies of law and justice in the United States and to grapple with the challenging nature of pursuing justice in a complex social world. By completing the liberal arts-focused CJLS major, students develop a strong foundation to pursue careers in social policy, the juvenile and criminal justice system, and numerous federal, state, and private organizations that address issues of justice in society. Students who complete the CJLS major also develop skills that prepare them for graduate education in a variety of fields, which include, but are not limited to justice studies, legal practice, criminology, political science, sociology, environmental justice, non-profit reform efforts, victim/survivor advocacy, and public administration.

Major Requirements: 42-46 credits


Complete the Following Introductory Courses (8 credits):


Complete One of the Following Criminology Courses (4 credits):


Complete One of the Following Social Change Courses (2-4 credits):


Complete the Following Methodology Courses (8 credits):


Complete the Following Practicum & Capstone Courses (6 credits):


Program Details


Program Length

Four years for a complete BA degree.  Two years for students transferring in with an AAOT degree.  Program length may vary depending upon the student’s course load and academic progress.

Program Learning Outcomes


Upon completing the Criminal Justice, Law and Society major, students will be able to:

  • Demonstrate an understanding of how historical and contemporary social and legal contexts have shaped the various components of the criminal justice system.
  • Apply criminological theories to explain deviant behaviors and the criminalization of non-conformity.
  • Explain the construction of social structures and categories (e.g., race, class, sex, gender, sexuality) and their influence on laws and law enforcement, including the confluence of resultant criminogenic factors.
  • Develop strategies to address issues of social change within the context of the criminal justice system.
  • Demonstrate an in-depth understanding of one aspect of criminology, criminal justice, or law and its relationship to larger social issues.
  • Communicate criminological concepts and/or research in a manner that is appropriate for the intended audience (e.g., academic, lay, professional).

Undergraduate Admission


Undergraduate Admission Requirements