Criminal Justice (BS)

Summary

The B.S. in Criminal Justice is designed for individuals seeking a professional career in criminal justice and allows students to choose a specific focus in criminal justice, corrections, and law enforcement through a minor concentration and tailoring the major courses to meet individual interests. This degree also allows for professionals to complete their bachelor's degree as well as those transferring with their associate's degree to tailor their degree to meet their interests. 

Catalog Year

2021-2022

Degree

Bachelor of Science

Major Credits

37

Total Credits

120

Locations

Mankato

Program Requirements

Required General Education

Examines the making of criminal law, the evolution of policing, the adjudication of persons accused of criminal law violations, and the punishment of adult offenders.

Prerequisites: none

Goal Areas: GE-5, GE-9

Diverse Cultures: Purple

A critical consideration of definitions of juvenile delinquency, emphasis on micro and macro level of struggle in which delinquent behavior takes place, critique of current theories on delinquency, and the juvenile justice response to delinquency.

Prerequisites: none

Goal Areas: GE-5, GE-9

Diverse Cultures: Purple

Become informed enough to play your part in governing the United States. Start by learning about the Constitution, our rights and freedoms, how the national government works and the opportunities and challenges of citizen influence. Political Science methods, and the challenges of citizenship are emphasized.

Prerequisites: none

Goal Areas: GE-05, GE-09

Overview of the nature and characteristics of human societies; the structure and processes of social life; impact of social forces on individuals and groups; interdependence of society and the individual; emphasis on cultural diversity and globalism.

Prerequisites: none

Goal Areas: GE-05, GE-08

Diverse Cultures: Purple

Major Common Core

This course will introduce students to the numerous agencies and organizations that make up the criminal justice system and its components. A primary goal for this course is to help students prepare for, as well as succeed in, a criminal justice system career.

Prerequisites: none

The history, development, and application of criminal laws and criminal procedures in the criminal justice system.

Prerequisites: none

The course will examine ethics and leadership theory, interpretation, and application. Concepts such as vision, ownership, integrity, accountability, attitude, teamwork capability, monitoring, evaluation, and decision making will be interpreted through case studies of ethics and leadership in criminal justice.

Prerequisites: none

Research methodologies as they apply to correctional evidence-based practices are covered, as are strengths and limitations of various research practices, especially with respect to central correctional concepts such as risk, recidivism, and program evaluation. Students will gain experience with data sources, data collection, and basic interpretation of data analysis.

Prerequisites: none

A critical consideration of myths concerning crime, perspectives on crime and their assumptions, current criminology theory, and construction of alternative explanations related to crime.

Prerequisites: SOC 101 

A sociological perspective to examine the history of drug use and abuse in the United States. Multicultural issues in drug abuse, international drug distribution networks, prevention efforts, and legal issues will be discussed.

Prerequisites: none

Diverse Cultures: Purple

Major Restricted Electives

Victimology - Choose 3 Credit(s).

Overview of characteristics of victims, victim offender relationships, societal victimization, victim's rights and services, and restorative justice.

Prerequisites: none

The purpose of this course is to develop in the student an insight into the dynamics of interpersonal violence, particularly sexual violence. The focus will be on developing effective law enforcement responses to the victims/survivors and the perpetrators.

Prerequisites: none

Cultural Competency - Choose 3 Credit(s).

Assist the students in starting a healthy conversation on cultural competencies for correctional professionals, and develop resources, skills, and strategies needed to address racism and inequity. The idea is to take a journey in building a more inclusive, connected, and effective correctional organization. Students will discover a framework to help discuss issues related to cultural competency: learn about methods, practices, and values that define cultural competency and culturally based work in various fields and organizations; understand the complexities within ethnic communities; and gain insights into the nature of institutionalized racism.

Prerequisites: none

Diverse Cultures: Purple

This course is designed to provide law enforcement students with the basic information, tools, and skills needed to improve interpersonal communications with coworkers and citizens from all ethnic and cultural groups. It is also intended to provide some historical information so students can contextualize and better understand why particular groups may distrust and resist law enforcement and the criminal justice system as a whole.

Prerequisites: none

Diverse Cultures: Purple

Major Unrestricted Electives

Choose 12 Credit(s). Choose courses in area of specialization in consultation with advisor.

Prerequisites: none

Prerequisites: none

Prerequisites: none

Prerequisites: none

Minor

A minor in any discipline is required.

4-Year Plan

The 4-Year Plan is a model for completing your degree in a timely manner. Your individual 4-Year plan may change based on a number of variables including transfer courses and the semester/year you start your major. Carefully work with your academic advisors to devise your own unique plan.
* Please meet with your advisor on appropriate course selection to meet your educational and degree goals.

First Year

Fall - 14 Credits

Examines the making of criminal law, the evolution of policing, the adjudication of persons accused of criminal law violations, and the punishment of adult offenders.

Prerequisites: none

Goal Areas: GE-5, GE-9

Diverse Cultures: Purple

Overview of the nature and characteristics of human societies; the structure and processes of social life; impact of social forces on individuals and groups; interdependence of society and the individual; emphasis on cultural diversity and globalism.

Prerequisites: none

Goal Areas: GE-05, GE-08

Diverse Cultures: Purple

Become informed enough to play your part in governing the United States. Start by learning about the Constitution, our rights and freedoms, how the national government works and the opportunities and challenges of citizen influence. Political Science methods, and the challenges of citizenship are emphasized.

Prerequisites: none

Goal Areas: GE-05, GE-09

General Education Course * 4 credits

Spring - 16 Credits

This course will introduce students to the numerous agencies and organizations that make up the criminal justice system and its components. A primary goal for this course is to help students prepare for, as well as succeed in, a criminal justice system career.

Prerequisites: none

The history, development, and application of criminal laws and criminal procedures in the criminal justice system.

Prerequisites: none

General Education Course * 3 credits

General Education Course * 3 credits

General Education Course * 3 credits

Second Year

Fall - 15 Credits

A critical consideration of definitions of juvenile delinquency, emphasis on micro and macro level of struggle in which delinquent behavior takes place, critique of current theories on delinquency, and the juvenile justice response to delinquency.

Prerequisites: none

Goal Areas: GE-5, GE-9

Diverse Cultures: Purple

Research methodologies as they apply to correctional evidence-based practices are covered, as are strengths and limitations of various research practices, especially with respect to central correctional concepts such as risk, recidivism, and program evaluation. Students will gain experience with data sources, data collection, and basic interpretation of data analysis.

Prerequisites: none

Elective Course in Minor * 3 credits

Writing Intensive Course * 3 credits

General Education Course * 3 credits

Spring - 15 Credits

Overview of characteristics of victims, victim offender relationships, societal victimization, victim's rights and services, and restorative justice.

Prerequisites: none

A sociological perspective to examine the history of drug use and abuse in the United States. Multicultural issues in drug abuse, international drug distribution networks, prevention efforts, and legal issues will be discussed.

Prerequisites: none

Diverse Cultures: Purple

Elective Course in Minor * 3 credits

General Education Course * 3 credits

Diverse Cultures Course * 3 credits

Third Year

Fall - 15 Credits

A critical consideration of myths concerning crime, perspectives on crime and their assumptions, current criminology theory, and construction of alternative explanations related to crime.

Prerequisites: SOC 101 

Elective Course in Major * 3 credits

Elective Course in Minor * 3 credits

General Education Course * 3 credits

Writing Intensive Course * 3 credits

Spring - 15 Credits

The course will examine ethics and leadership theory, interpretation, and application. Concepts such as vision, ownership, integrity, accountability, attitude, teamwork capability, monitoring, evaluation, and decision making will be interpreted through case studies of ethics and leadership in criminal justice.

Prerequisites: none

Elective Course in Major * 3 credits

Elective Course in Minor * 3 credits

General Education Course * 3 credits

General Education Course * 3 credits

Fourth Year

Fall - 15 Credits

Assist the students in starting a healthy conversation on cultural competencies for correctional professionals, and develop resources, skills, and strategies needed to address racism and inequity. The idea is to take a journey in building a more inclusive, connected, and effective correctional organization. Students will discover a framework to help discuss issues related to cultural competency: learn about methods, practices, and values that define cultural competency and culturally based work in various fields and organizations; understand the complexities within ethnic communities; and gain insights into the nature of institutionalized racism.

Prerequisites: none

Diverse Cultures: Purple

Elective Course in Major * 3 credits

Elective Course in Minor * 3 credits

General Elective Course * 3 credits

General Education Course * 3 credits

Spring - 15 Credits

Elective Course in Major * 3 credits

Elective Course in Minor * 3 credits

General Elective Course * 3 credits

General Elective Course * 3 credits

General Elective Course * 3 credits