Faculty
- Craig Allen, M.S. Chair
- Kimberly Dayton, J.D.
- Tony Parnell, LCSW, ACSW, LCPAA
- Ray Scifres, D.M.
Degrees
To earn a degree, students must complete the curriculum and meet other requirements for a degree listed in the academic policy section of this catalog.
Minors
To earn a minor, students must complete the curriculum and meet other requirements listed in the academic policy section of this catalog.
Criminal Justice
The purpose of a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice is to prepare students to deal with the challenges of a career as a criminal justice professional in a changing society. The criminal justice program will instill in students a comprehensive knowledge of the criminal justice system while educating them to be critical thinkers who can communicate their thoughts effectively in oral and written form. The curriculum will familiarize students with facts and concepts while also teaching them to engage in ethical behavior when applying this knowledge to related problems and changing situations. Graduates from this program will be members of professional organizations dedicated to selfless public service and will be vital in maintaining peace and curtailing lawlessness in our society. Criminal justice graduates find gainful employment in law enforcement, security, the courts, and correctional facilities. Graduates with a degree in criminal justice may find employment in juvenile and adult probation, municipal and county law enforcement, private security, hospital security, investigations, and warrant offices. Many graduates continue their education in law school or other graduate school. Minimum employment requirements in law enforcement generally include the following:
- Be at least 21 years old
- Have no convictions for Class A misdemeanor or felony offense
- Have no convictions for Class B misdemeanor offense in the past 10 years
- Possess good mental and physical health
- Meet varying eyesight standards
- Have good moral character
- Possess a valid Texas driver’s license with minimum violations
The criminal justice degree is designed to meet the standards established by the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences (ACJS). ACJS encourages baccalaureate programs to reflect a balanced presentation of a broad scope of criminal justice studies. The criminal justice degree focuses specifically on the five core areas identified by ACJS:
- Criminal justice and juvenile justice processes–law, crime, and administration of justice
- Criminology–causes of crime, typologies, offenders, and victims
- Law enforcement–police organization, discretion, subculture, and legal constraints
- Law adjudication–criminal law, prosecution, defense, and court procedures and decision-making
- Corrections–incarceration, community-based corrections, and treatment of offenders
Criminal Justice Transfer Credit
To be considered for criminal justice transfer credit, courses must be completed with a grade of C or higher and must be of similar content and level. Courses taken at other institutions are evaluated by the Director of Criminal Justice to determine if and where they will be applied to the criminal justice degree plan. Courses taken five or more years prior to transfer may not be approved for major or supporting course. Transfer credit for CRJ4333 (Professionalism and Ethics in Criminal Justice) and CRJ4140 (Senior Assessment Seminar) is not accepted and must be completed in residence.
Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice
- General Education Core (45 hours)
- Quantitative Literacy (QL): 3 hours from
- ACC2301 Principles of Financial Accounting
- BUA2310 Business Statistics
- MAT1311 College Algebra (recommended)
- MAT1312 Trigonometry
- MAT1313 Precalculus
- MAT1316 Business Calculus
- MAT1402 Analytical Geometry and Calculus
- MAT3303 Probability and Statistics
- PSY3310 Psychological Statistics
- Scientific Reasoning (SR): 3-4 hours from
- BIO1300 Human Biology
- BIO1303/1003 Integrated Science I and Lab
- BIO1304/1004 Integrated Science II and Lab
- BIO1405 Majors Biology I
- BIO2401 Human Anatomy and Physiology I
- CHE1306/1106 Introductory Chemistry
- CHE1307/1107 General Chemistry I
- NRC1300 Introduction to Wildlife Management
- PHY1303/1103 General Physics I
- PHY2301/2101 Engineering Physics I
- Health and Wellness (HW):
- ESS1200 Personal Fitness and Wellness
- Social Science Literacy (SSL):
- PSY1300 General Psychology
- Communication Proficiency (CP); Digital Information Literacy (DIL)
- ENG1301 Composition Studies
- ENG1302 Composition and Literature
- 3 hours from
- COM2340 Communication for the Professional
- COM3342 Communication and Life Work (H)
- EDS2320/EEL2320 Instructional Technology
- ENG3308 Technical Writing
- IST1301 Foundations of Information Systems & Technology
- Creative Arts Literacy (CAL): 3 hours from
- AFA2350 Introduction to Fine Arts
- ART1305 Two-Dimensional Design
- ART1303 Drawing I
- ART2307 Art History Survey I
- ART2308 Art History Survey II
- ART3306 Art and Children
- ENG3305 Introduction to Creative Writing
- ENG3326 Introduction to Film Studies
- MUS1301 Music Literature
- MUS3300 Survey of the Music of Worship
- MUS3303 Music History I
- MUS3304 Music History II
- THA1361 Introduction to Acting
- Intercultural Competence (IC): 3 hours from
- COM3372 Intercultural Communication
- ENG3321 African-American Literature
- GBC3310 Global Experience
- FOL courses
- LIN2302 How Language Works
- MIS3312 Intercultural Engagement
- PSY2340 Psychology of Diversity
- REL3301 World Religions
- REL3313 World Christianity
- Christian Wisdom (CW):
- BIB1310 Introduction to the Old Testament
- BIB1320 Introduction to the New Testament
- BIB3305 Christian Heritage
- BIB3310 Christian Life
- Civic Engagement (CE): 3 hours
- GOV2301 National Government
- GOV2302 Texas State and Local Government
- Human Experience (HE): 3 hours from
- HIS2301 History of the United States I
- HIS2302 History of the United States II
- UNI1170 University Seminar
- UNI2000 University Skills
- Quantitative Literacy (QL): 3 hours from
- Major (37 hours)
- CRJ2301 Introduction to Criminal Justice
- CRJ2302 Fundamentals of Texas Criminal Law
- CRJ2303 Criminal Investigation
- CRJ2304 Legal Aspects of Law Enforcement
- CRJ2305 Courts and Criminal Procedure
- CRJ3301 Criminology
- CRJ3302 Juvenile Delinquency
- CRJ3312 Violent Offenders
- CRJ3322 Social Deviance
- CRJ3324 Corrections, Probation and Parole
- CRJ4140 Senior Assessment Seminar
- CRJ4313 Legal Writing and Analysis
- CRJ4333 Professionalism and Ethics in Criminal Justice
- Supporting Courses (21 hours)
- SOC1300 General Sociology
- 18 hours from
- CRJ3311 White Collar Crime
- CRJ3321 Understanding Sexual Offending
- CRJ4326 Terrorism and Homeland Security
- CRJ4327 Cyber Crimes
- CRJ4329 Gangs
- FOL1401 Beginning Spanish I
- FOL1402 Beginning Spanish II
- GOV4305 Constitutional Law
- HSC3326 Family, Stress, Crisis, and Resilience
- PSY4321 Forensic Psychology
- PSY4322 Drugs, Alcohol, and Behavior
- SOC2320 Social Problems
- PSY2340 Psychology of Diversity
- SWK3314 Family and Community Violence
- Electives (15-17 hours)
- Total (120 hours)
Note: CRJ4140 and CRJ4333 must be taken at the university.
Minor in Criminal Justice
(18 hours)
- CRJ2301 Introduction to Criminal Justice
- CRJ2305 Courts and Criminal Procedure
- CRJ3301 Criminology
- 9 hours from
- CRJ3302 Juvenile Delinquency
- CRJ3312 Violent Offenders
- CRJ3322 Social Deviance
- CRJ3324 Corrections, Probation, and Parole
- CRJ4325 Forensic Cyber Evidence Examination
- CRJ4326 Terrorism and Homeland Security
- CRJ4333 Professionalism and Ethics in Criminal Justice
- PSY4321 Forensic Psychology