Criminal Justice, B.A.

Course Requirements

 Bison image - General Education Course

 Cap graduation image - Milestone course: a key success marker for your major. See your advisor to discuss the importance of this course in your plan of study.

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/.

Core Curriculum
Core 1: Critical Thinking
FYS 100First Yr Sem Critical Thinking3
MTH 160 Bison image Applied Math Reasoning (CT)5
Critical Thinking Course3
Core 2
ENG 101 Bison image  Cap graduation image Beginning Composition3
ENG 201 Bison image  Cap graduation image Advanced Composition3
CMM 103 Bison image  Cap graduation image Fund Speech-Communication3
MTH 160 Bison image  Cap graduation image Applied Math Reasoning (CT)5
FSC 224 Bison image Intro to Forensic Science4
Core II Humanities3
CJ 200 Bison image Intro to Criminal Justice (Core II Social Science)3
Core II Fine Arts (milestone course)3
Additional University Requirements
Writing Intensive3
CJ 492 Bison image Senior Seminar (Writing Intensive)3
Multicultural or International3
CJ 492 Bison image Senior Seminar3
Major-Specific
CJ 200 Bison image  Cap graduation image Intro to Criminal Justice3
Select one of the following, based on Area of Emphasis: 13
Intro to Law Enforcement
Intro to Criminal Courts
Intro to Corrections
CJ 302 Cap graduation image CJ Research Methods3
CJ 322 Cap graduation image Criminal Law3
CJ 404 Cap graduation image Theoretical Criminology3
CJ 492 Bison image  Cap graduation image Senior Seminar3
CIT 150Spreadsheet and Database Apps3
or MIS 200 Bus Computer Applications
FSC 224 Bison image Intro to Forensic Science4
CS 105 Bison image Expl World with Computing (CT)3
or CFS 200 Introduction to CFS
MTH 160 Bison image Applied Math Reasoning (CT)5
Physical/Natural Science Elective4
300/400 CJ Concentration Elective outside AoE3
300/400 CJ Concentration Elective outside AoE3
300/400 CJ Concentration Elective3
300/400 CJ Concentration Elective3
300/400 CJ Concentration Elective3
300/400 CJ Concentration Elective3
300/400 CJ Concentration Elective3
300/400 CJ Concentration Elective3
300/400 Free Elective3
300/400 Free Elective3
300/400 Free Elective3
300/400 Free Elective3
Free Elective3
Free Elective3
Free Elective3
Free Elective3
Free Elective3
Free Elective1
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.)
    • General: Students who do not select an area of emphasis take both CJ 211 Intro to Law Enforcement and CJ 231 Intro to Corrections as well as a variety of criminal justice electives to suit their career interests to complete the 24 hours of CJ electives.

 Bison image - General Education Course

 Cap graduation image - Milestone course: a key success marker for your major. See your advisor to discuss the importance of this course in your plan of study.

Semester Plan

 Bison image - General Education Course

 Cap graduation image - Milestone course: a key success marker for your major. See your advisor to discuss the importance of this course in your plan of study.

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:

  1. public service (i.e., law enforcement, courts and administration, probation, parole, jails and prisons, juvenile justice, victims’ services, and training/teaching);
  2. law school;
  3. graduate school; or
  4. 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.

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
First SemesterCredit Hours
CJ 200 Bison image  Cap graduation image Intro to Criminal Justice 3
CMM 103 Bison image  Cap graduation image Fund Speech-Communication 3
ENG 101 Bison image  Cap graduation image Beginning Composition 3
FYS 100 First Yr Sem Critical Thinking 3
Free Elective 3
UNI 100 Freshman First Class 1
 Credit Hours16
Second Semester
MTH 160 Bison image  Cap graduation image Applied Math Reasoning (CT) 5
Select one of the following: 3
CJ 211 Bison image  Cap graduation image
Intro to Law Enforcement
CJ 221 Bison image  Cap graduation image
Intro to Criminal Courts
CJ 231 Bison image  Cap graduation image
Intro to Corrections
Core II Fine Arts 3
Core I Critical Thinking 3
 Credit Hours14
Second Year
First Semester
ENG 201 Bison image Advanced Composition 3
CIT 150
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 Hours15
Second Semester
CS 105 Bison image
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 Hours16
Third Year
First Semester
CJ 322 Cap graduation image 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 Hours15
Second Semester
FSC 224 Bison image Intro to Forensic Science 4
300/400 CJ Concentration Elective 3
300/400 CJ Concentration Elective 3
CJ 302 Cap graduation image CJ Research Methods 3
300/400 Free Elective 3
 Credit Hours16
Fourth Year
First Semester
300/400 CJ Concentration Elective 3
300/400 CJ Concentration Elective 3
CJ 404 Cap graduation image Theoretical Criminology 3
300/400 Free Elective 3
300/400 Free Elective 3
 Credit Hours15
Second Semester
CJ 492 Bison image Senior Seminar 3
300/400 CJ Concentration Elective (outside AoE) 3
300/400 CJ Concentration Elective (outside AoE) 3
Free Elective 4
 Credit Hours13
 Total Credit Hours120