Criminal Justice, B.A.
Course Requirements
The Core Curriculum is designed to foster critical thinking skills and introduce students to basic domains of thinking that transcend disciplines. The Core applies to all majors. Information on specific classes in the Core can be found at https://www.marshall.edu/gened/.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Curriculum | ||
| Core 1: Critical Thinking | ||
| FYS 100 | First Yr Sem Critical Thinking | 3 |
| MTH 160 | Applied Math Reasoning (CT) | 5 |
| Critical Thinking Course | 3 | |
| Core 2 | ||
| ENG 101 | Beginning Composition | 3 |
| ENG 201 | Advanced Composition | 3 |
| CMM 103 | Fund Speech-Communication | 3 |
| MTH 160 | Applied Math Reasoning (CT) | 5 |
| FSC 224 | Intro to Forensic Science | 4 |
| Core II Humanities | 3 | |
| CJ 200 | Intro to Criminal Justice (Core II Social Science) | 3 |
| Core II Fine Arts (milestone course) | 3 | |
| Additional University Requirements | ||
| Writing Intensive | 3 | |
| CJ 492 | Senior Seminar (Writing Intensive) | 3 |
| Multicultural or International | 3 | |
| CJ 492 | Senior Seminar | 3 |
| Major-Specific | ||
| CJ 200 | Intro to Criminal Justice | 3 |
| Select one of the following, based on Area of Emphasis: 1 | 3 | |
| Intro to Law Enforcement | ||
| Intro to Criminal Courts | ||
| Intro to Corrections | ||
| CJ 302 | CJ Research Methods | 3 |
| CJ 322 | Criminal Law | 3 |
| CJ 404 | Theoretical Criminology | 3 |
| CJ 492 | Senior Seminar | 3 |
| CIT 150 | Spreadsheet and Database Apps | 3 |
| or MIS 200 | Bus Computer Applications | |
| FSC 224 | Intro to Forensic Science | 4 |
| CS 105 | Expl World with Computing (CT) | 3 |
| or CFS 200 | Introduction to CFS | |
| MTH 160 | Applied Math Reasoning (CT) | 5 |
| Physical/Natural Science Elective | 4 | |
| 300/400 CJ Concentration Elective outside AoE | 3 | |
| 300/400 CJ Concentration Elective outside AoE | 3 | |
| 300/400 CJ Concentration Elective | 3 | |
| 300/400 CJ Concentration Elective | 3 | |
| 300/400 CJ Concentration Elective | 3 | |
| 300/400 CJ Concentration Elective | 3 | |
| 300/400 CJ Concentration Elective | 3 | |
| 300/400 CJ Concentration Elective | 3 | |
| 300/400 Free Elective | 3 | |
| 300/400 Free Elective | 3 | |
| 300/400 Free Elective | 3 | |
| 300/400 Free Elective | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 1 | |
- 1
One will be counted as a milestone course.
Major Information
- Students are required to know and track their degree requirements for graduation or for entrance to a professional school.
- In addition to the Core General Education requirements, the College of Science requires 40 hours of upper level credit.
- Coursework listed as “elective” may vary for each student. Students are encouraged to use elective hours toward a minor or toward prerequisites.
- Students are encouraged to complete an internship in the area of emphasis (CJ 490 Internship) in the summer before their senior year. Internships require approval from the CJ Department Chair.
- Course offerings and course attributes are subject to change. Please consult each semester’s schedule of courses for availability and attributes.
- Areas of Emphasis: 24 hours (18 hours in AoE plus 6 hours CJ coursework outside AoE; CJ 200 Intro to Criminal Justice, CJ 302 CJ Research Methods, CJ 322 Criminal Law, CJ 404 Theoretical Criminology and CJ 492 Senior Seminar do not count toward the 18 AoE or the 6 additional CJ electives.)
Semester Plan
The Criminal Justice and Criminology program provides undergraduate and graduate students with a high-quality criminal justice education to prepare them for future success in:
- public service (i.e., law enforcement, courts and administration, probation, parole, jails and prisons, juvenile justice, victims’ services, and training/teaching);
- law school;
- graduate school; or
- the private sector (i.e., loss prevention/security and corrections).
A unique contribution of the Criminal Justice and Criminology program is to develop students’ intellectual abilities, critical thinking skills, research skills, language/ communication skills, and problem-solving skills within a broadly based exposure to the study of the law, the legal system, and the practical realities of how social, economic, and political contexts influence the roles of professionals/practitioners and also the operation of the criminal justice system.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Credit Hours | |
| CJ 200 | Intro to Criminal Justice | 3 |
| CMM 103 | Fund Speech-Communication | 3 |
| ENG 101 | Beginning Composition | 3 |
| FYS 100 | First Yr Sem Critical Thinking | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| UNI 100 | Freshman First Class | 1 |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| MTH 160 | Applied Math Reasoning (CT) | 5 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Intro to Law Enforcement | ||
| Intro to Criminal Courts | ||
| Intro to Corrections | ||
| Core II Fine Arts | 3 | |
| Core I Critical Thinking | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 14 | |
| Second Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| ENG 201 | Advanced Composition | 3 |
| CIT 150 or MIS 200 | Spreadsheet and Database Apps or Bus Computer Applications | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Intro to Law Enforcement | ||
| Intro to Criminal Courts | ||
| Intro to Corrections | ||
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Core I: Multicultural/International | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| CS 105 or CFS 200 | Expl World with Computing (CT) or Introduction to CFS | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Intro to Law Enforcement | ||
| Intro to Criminal Courts | ||
| Intro to Corrections | ||
| Physical or Natural Science | 4 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Third Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| CJ 322 | Criminal Law | 3 |
| Core II Humanities (WI) | 3 | |
| 300/400 CJ Concentration Elective | 3 | |
| 300/400 CJ Concentration Elective | 3 | |
| 300/400 Free Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| FSC 224 | Intro to Forensic Science | 4 |
| 300/400 CJ Concentration Elective | 3 | |
| 300/400 CJ Concentration Elective | 3 | |
| CJ 302 | CJ Research Methods | 3 |
| 300/400 Free Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| 300/400 CJ Concentration Elective | 3 | |
| 300/400 CJ Concentration Elective | 3 | |
| CJ 404 | Theoretical Criminology | 3 |
| 300/400 Free Elective | 3 | |
| 300/400 Free Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| CJ 492 | Senior Seminar | 3 |
| 300/400 CJ Concentration Elective (outside AoE) | 3 | |
| 300/400 CJ Concentration Elective (outside AoE) | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 4 | |
| Credit Hours | 13 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 120 | |