Criminal
Justice Studies
Office: 135 Briggs, McNichols Campus
Faculty: R. Homant (chair); E. Barnes; D. Kennedy; M. Witkowski
Telephone: (313) 578-0362
E-mail: homantr@udmercy.edu
Courses in criminal justice lead to a Bachelor of Science
degree in Criminal Justice, which prepares one to work in
a wide variety of careers, public and private, at various
levels of responsibility. These careers include federal, state,
and local policing; other regulatory agencies of various branches
of government; various levels of private investigation and
private security; and a variety of careers in corrections,
including parole and probation as well as institutional corrections.
Students planning on pursuing a law degree have often found
criminal justice a relevant major.
Criminal Justice is an interdisciplinary area that draws
much of its content from law, psychology, political science,
and sociology. The goal of the criminal justice curriculum
is to make students aware of the key issues, concepts, and
theories involved in understanding the operation of the criminal
justice system. With this knowledge, students are taught to
analyze the practical issues and controversies of the field
from a social justice perspective. Problem solving, the ability
to make discriminating judgments, and the application of theory
to practice are key skills that the program fosters.
Students are required to complete course requirements in
three general areas: (a) University core curriculum (approximately
45 cr.), (b) supportive courses and (c) major concentration.
To insure that they have a good background in the key areas
on which criminal justice is based, students will take at
least five courses in the social sciences: Sociology, Psychology,
and Political Science. Up to two courses in Human Services,
Social Work and Addiction Studies may also be counted toward
this requirement. (Note: All courses below are three credit
courses.)
The only specific supportive course that is required is:
PYC 342, Abnormal Psychology.
The Introductory courses, namely Sociology 100, Psychology
100, and Political Science 100 are recommended, though higher
level social science courses may be substituted with the advisor’s
approval.
Note that supportive courses may also meet University Core
Curriculum requirements.
Required (36 cr.) (All courses are 3-credit courses.)
CJS 130 Introduction to Criminal Justice
CJS 131 Introduction to Corrections
CJS 395 Criminal Investigation
CJS 410 Criminal Law
CJS 415 Juvenile Justice
CJS 420 Evidence and Criminal Procedure
CJS 451 Criminology and Penology
CJS 454 Sociology of Deviant Behavior.
CJS 492 Senior Seminar: Theory and Research in Criminal
Justice.
In addition to the above nine courses, the student must take
three elective Criminal Justice courses (this may include
courses with an SEC or HUS prefix, with advisor’s approval).
SEC 401 Security Systems and Crime Prevention
CJS 250 Introduction to Police Administration
CJS 398 Technology and Criminal Justice
CJS 399 Narcotics and the Police
CJS 402 Court Structures and Functions
CJS 416 Gangs and Deviant Social Groups
CJS 450 Institutional Corrections
CJS 452 Organized Crime
CJS 456 Aggressive Behavior
CJS 458 Profiling and Threat Assessment
CJS 460 Community Corrections
CJS 480 Theory of Law Enforcement
CJS 481 Women, Crime and Justice
CJS 482 Terrorism
CJS 483 Family Violence: Spouse and Child Abuse
CJS 484 Psychology, Psychiatry, and the Law
CJS 485 Critical Issues in Criminal Justice
CJS 487 Victimology
CJS 488 Sex Crimes
CJS 489 White Collar Crime
CJS 490 Internship in Criminal Justice Studies
CJS 495 Criminalistics
CJS 499 Violence in the Workplace
The Criminal Justice Studies major may obtain field experience
in two programs:
1. Cooperative Education—planned paid experience
in federal, state, and local law enforcement and correctional
agencies as well as private security and campus police.
2. Internship—students have a 180 hour supervised
experience under the direction of a faculty member. (See
CJS 490.)
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