Criminal Justice (B.A.)

This undergraduate program is offered by the College of Arts and Sciences.

Faculty

Mr. Vernon Scott, Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice (program chair)
Dr. E. Wairimu Mwangi, Assistant Professor of Sociology

Description

Criminal justice is the scientific study of criminal behavior. It focuses generally on, among other issues, the history of the criminal justice system; theories of crime and deviance; the origin and development of criminal law; the functions and operations of criminal justice agencies in a diverse society; the violations of criminal law and society’s responses to the violations of criminal law; the nature, meaning, and purposes of criminal punishment; and the nature and impact of criminal justice policy.

The Criminal Justice major at Trinity emphasizes three foundational areas: law enforcement, corrections, and juvenile justice. The Criminal Justice major prepares students for graduate school and a wide range of career opportunities in security and law enforcement, probation and parole, the court system, and corrections. Given the applied nature of criminal justice, experiential learning is an important part of the major. As such, all majors are required to complete an internship with a public or private organization that is involved in some aspect of criminal justice. The Criminal Justice major and minor are offered to students in the College of Arts and Sciences, and the major is offered in the School of Professional Studies.

Major Requirements

Required Courses (45 credits)

ALL of the following courses (33 credits):

SOCY 100 Introduction to Sociology
CJUS 100 Introduction Criminal Justice
CJUS 101 Criminal Law
CJUS 200 Corrections
CJUS 205 Criminology
CJUS 206 Juvenile Justice
CJUS 208 Introduction to Law Enforcement
CJUS 303 Inequality, Discrimination, and Gender in Criminal Justice
CJUS 307 Criminal Procedures
CJUS 410 Theories of Crime and Deviance
CJUS 499 Senior Seminar in Criminal Justice

Two research methods courses (6 credits):

MATH 110 Introduction to Statistics
SOCY 311 Research Methods for Social Scientists

One elective course (3 credits):

CJUS 309 Evidence
COM 312
CJUS 351 Probation, Parole, and Community Corrections
CJUS 366 Criminal Investigations
CJUS 381 Homeland Security
CJUS 388 International and Domestic Terrorism
CJUS 444 Constitutional Law
BIOL 220 Introductory Forensic Science

One internship (3 credits):

CJUS 492 Internship in Criminal Justice

Minor Requirements

Required Courses (21 credits)

CJUS 100 Introduction Criminal Justice
CJUS 101 Criminal Law
CJUS 200 Corrections
CJUS 206 Juvenile Justice
CJUS 208 Introduction to Law Enforcement
CJUS 303 Inequality, Discrimination, and Gender in Criminal Justice
CJUS 307 Criminal Procedures

Program Policies

Advanced Placement:
Credits earned through AP examinations do not fulfill requirements of the Criminal Justice major.

CLEP Policy:
Credits earned through CLEP examinations do not fulfill requirements of the Criminal Justice major.

Grades in Major Courses:
Students are required to earn a grade of “C” or better in all courses counted to fulfill requirements for the major. In addition, students must achieve a passing grade on the Senior Comprehensive portfolio.

Pass/No Pass:
Courses fulfilling major requirements may not be taken pass/no pass.

Senior Assessment:
Students are required to submit a Senior Comprehensive Portfolio Assessment Project prior to graduation. Specific requirements and due dates are distributed to seniors in their Senior Seminar course (CJUS 499 Senior Seminar in Criminal Justice).

TELL Policy:
Students applying for credit in experiential learning should consult with the program faculty.

Transfer Credits:
Credits in courses equivalent to those required for the major from a similar institution may be accepted toward a major. Students majoring in criminal justice must take a minimum of four criminal justice courses at Trinity.

Credits Counted toward Minor in Criminal Justice:
Other than courses that are required for both Sociology and Criminal Justice majors, students who major in Sociology and minor in Criminal Justice cannot double count criminal justice courses for sociology credits. Also, students who major in Human Relations and minor in Criminal Justice must fulfill their Sociology requirements separately from the minor requirements for Criminal Justice. If, however, someone is only majoring in Human Relations, she may take Criminal Justice courses to meet the Sociology requirements for Human Relations.

Course Descriptions

BIOL 220 Introductory Forensic Science
CJUS 100 Introduction Criminal Justice
CJUS 101 Criminal Law
CJUS 200 Corrections
CJUS 205 Criminology
CJUS 206 Juvenile Justice
CJUS 208 Introduction to Law Enforcement
CJUS 303 Inequality, Discrimination, and Gender in Criminal Justice
CJUS 306 Law Enforcement Administration
CJUS 307 Criminal Procedures
CJUS 309 Evidence
CJUS 341 Administrative Law
CJUS 344 Legal Decision Making: Theory and Challenges
CJUS 351 Probation, Parole, and Community Corrections
CJUS 366 Criminal Investigations
CJUS 377 Juvenile Delinquency: Theories and Challenges
CJUS 381 Homeland Security
CJUS 388 International and Domestic Terrorism
CJUS 410 Theories of Crime and Deviance
CJUS 444 Constitutional Law
CJUS 471 Law, Justice, and the American Family
CJUS 492 Internship in Criminal Justice
CJUS 497 Independent Study
CJUS 498 Senior Thesis in Criminal Justice
CJUS 499 Senior Seminar in Criminal Justice
COM 312
MATH 110 Introduction to Statistics
SOCY 100 Introduction to Sociology
SOCY 311 Research Methods for Social Scientists