Criminal Justice Studies

FACULTY Williams (Chair; Criminal Justice Studies), Curtis (Political Science), Scott (History), Toxqui (History), Zant (Sociology), Crawford (Sociology).

Criminal Justice is an evolving, multidisciplinary social science which addresses the presence, causes, consequences, and prevention/control of crime in society. The Criminal Justice Studies program at Bradley represents a collaborative effort of the faculties of Criminal Justice Studies, History, Political Science, and Sociology. It is designed to foster active and critical engagement with theoretical, ethical, and practical concerns of crime and justice in human society, and to prepare students for a variety of career opportunities, as well as for graduate studies in criminology, criminal justice, law, and related fields.

Transfer Students

Transfer students who have earned the Associate of Arts degree in criminal justice will have fulfilled the designated CJS course work required for the degree.

Students who elect the academic exploration program or another major may change to Criminal Justice Studies if they have a cumulative GPA exceeding 2.0 and a GPA exceeding 2.0 in previously taken Criminal Justice Studies major requirements (see list).

Major Requirements (48 hours)

Lower Division Courses (21 hours)

• CJS 110 Introduction to the Criminal Justice System - 3 hrs.
• CJS 225 Criminal Law - 3 hrs.
• CJS 250 Police Organization and Administration - 3 hrs.
• HIS 201 Violence, Crime, and Punishment in U.S. History - 3 hrs.
• PLS 105 Introduction to American Government - 3 hrs.
• PLS 202 State and Local Government - 3 hrs.
• SOC 100 The Sociological Perspective - 3 hrs.

Research Requirement (3 hours)

• PLS 209 Scope and Methods of Political Science or
  SOC 240 Research Methods

Upper Division Courses (21 hours)

• HIS 309 History of U.S. Law Enforcement – 3 hrs.
• PLS 360 Judicial Politics- 3 hrs.
• PLS 419 Introduction to Public Administration
  or PLS 420 Public Management - 3 hrs.
• SOC 330 Perspectives on Deviance – 3 hrs.

Two of the following courses - 6 hours

• SOC 331 Correctional Policies & Society
• SOC 332 Juvenile Delinquency
• SOC 333 Sociology of Violence
• SOC 334 Crime & Society
• approved SOC 390 courses.

One of the following courses - 3 hours

• SOC 302 The Sociology of Diversity
• SOC 312 Social Inequality
• SOC 313 Race, Ethnicity and Power
• SOC 342 Social Policy

Internship Requirement (3 hours)

• PLS 480 Internship in Political Science or SOC 391/392 Internship in Applied Sociology

Strongly Recommended Electives (not required)*

• CJS 130 Introduction to Investigation
• CJS 230 Introduction to Computer Forensics
• CJS 330 Advanced Computer Forensics
• HIS 303 American Urban History
• PLS 440 Public Policy Analysis
• PLS 422 Urban Politics
• PLS 459 Constitutional Law
• PLS 460 Constitutional Law
• SOC 322 Self and Social Interaction
• SOC 340 Demography and Urban Studies

* Recommended electives also include any of the alternative courses noted above which were not taken as a requirement.

Please note: To graduate, CJS majors must have a cumulative GPA exceeding 2.0 for all courses numbered 200 or above in the CJS major requirement. 

Minor in Criminal Justice Studies

The purpose of the minor in Criminal Justice Studies is to provide interested students the opportunity to pursue study of crime and justice in a way that supplements their major area(s) of study. A minimum of fifteen hours of coursework, at least nine of which must be at the 300-level or above, is required to complete the minor. No more than six credit hours of courses from a major course of study may be used to satisfy the requirements of the Criminal Justice Studies minor. Students must fulfill the following requirements:

1. CJS 110 Introduction to the Criminal Justice System - 3 hrs.
2. CJS 301 Theories of Crime and Justice - 3 hrs.
3. SOC 240 or PLS 209.
   Note: This requirement may be waived for students who have taken HIS 350, SW 260, PSY 206, or similar research methods course in the social or behavioral sciences as part of their major area of study.
4. At least three (3) courses from the following:
   CJS 380 (may be repeated under different topic for up to 6 hours of credit); CJS 401; HIS 309; SOC 331, 332, 333, 334 (Note: Other courses, selected in consultation with the Chair of Criminal Justice Studies, may be used to fulfill this requirement.)

This is the official catalog for the 2016-2017 academic year. This catalog serves as a contract between a student and Bradley University. Should changes in a program of study become necessary prior to the next academic year every effort will be made to keep students advised of any such changes via the Dean of the College or Chair of the Department concerned, the Registrar's Office, u.Achieve degree audit system, and the Schedule of Classes. It is the responsibility of each student to be aware of the current program and graduation requirements for particular degree programs.