The concentration in Criminal Justice offers an interdisciplinary foundation within the liberal arts and sciences. Beyond the core of criminal justice academic work, students choose a focus to prepare for a variety of professional roles, including corrections, offender rehabilitation, substance abuse counseling, conflict resolution, policy development, law enforcement and law. This concentration requires a minimum of 36 credits.

Concentration Requirements:

Requirement	Credits
Introduction to Criminal Justice	3 credits
One of the following: Criminology, Sociology of Crime, Nature of Crime, Theories of Crime	3 credits
Ethics in Criminal Justice	3 credits
Diversity in Criminal Justice (examples: ethnicity, gender or race)	3 credits
Statistics	3 credits
Evaluation Research or Research Methods	3 credits
One of the following: Computer Programming, Introduction to Computer Science*, Introduction to MIS*	3 credits
One of the following: Civil Liberties, Constitutional Law, Civil Rights	3 credits
Criminal Justice Electives: Additional credits in Criminal Justice subjects or related subject area	9 credits
Capstone - CRJ 499 (Culminating course in concentration)	3 credits
TOTAL	36

*Will not satisfy part of the upper level requirements in the concentration.

Notes: Only grades of C of higher may be included in the concentration.

Computer Science credits must have been earned no longer than 5 years prior to submitting the concentration proposal.

Student Learning Outcomes

Students who graduate with a concentration in Criminal Justice will be able to:

1. explain the scope and nature of the three major components of the criminal justice system: police, courts, and corrections;
2. apply the theoretical models that attempt to explain the causes of crime;
3. explain how the fair and just operation of the criminal justice system is dependent upon the ethical and professional behavior of those working in the criminal justice system;
4. apply research and statistics to the analysis of data; and
5. communicate effectively.

Concentration Plan of Study Forms

The concentration plan of study (CPS) is the tool you will use to plan your degree completion program. The CPS form offers information on how subject requirements can be met. You may download the form below as a Microsoft Word document (form will open in a new window). To request a course subsitution in a CPS, use the Request for Substitution Form. Additional information on the concentration is also available in the Official Catalog.

• Criminal Justice CPS Form (using Charter Oak courses exclusively)
• Criminal Justice CPS Form

Please Note: for prospective students this form should simply serve as a guide. Once you have matriculated (enrolled), you will receive personalized degree planning advice from your Academic Counselor.