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    Jan 31, 2025  
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog

Criminal Justice, BS


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A Bachelor of Science with a major in criminal justice educates you in the theoretical, practical and empirical aspects of criminal justice in preparation for your career or for graduate studies.


Candidates for the Bachelor of Science degree with a major in criminal justice must meet the following requirements.

Hours required and general/college requirements


A minimum of 120 semester hours, of which 42 must be advanced, and fulfillment of degree requirements for the Bachelor of Science degree as specified in the “University Core Curriculum ” in the Academics section of this catalog and the College of Health and Public Service  requirements.

Major requirements


42 hours, including 33 hours in criminal justice:

Supporting courses, 9 hours


Minor


None required

Electives


Hours required for electives may vary based on course selection and the University Core Curriculum requirements. Electives may be required to satisfy the advanced hour requirement (42) and/or the minimum total hours required for the degree. For specific information, see an academic advisor in the College of Health and Public Service.

Other requirements


All students entering the Criminal Justice program must have a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 or otherwise be in good academic standing.

Four-year degree plan (example)


The following four-year plan is one example of a variety of ways in which you can complete your chosen degree in four years and will serve as a guide for you to design your pathway to degree completion. Variations will depend on whether you need to take prerequisites or have college credit from exams or dual enrollment.

Year 1

Semester 1 Semester 2
CJUS 2100 - Crime and Justice in the United States   3 hours   CJUS 3500 - Inequality, Crime and Justice   3 hours  
ENGL 1310 - First-Year Writing I   3 hours   ENGL 1320 - First-Year Writing II   3 hours  
HIST 2610 - United States History to 1865    3 hours   HIST 2620 - United States History Since 1865   3 hours  
MATH 1680 - Elementary Probability and Statistics   3 hours   PSYC 1630 - General Psychology I   3 hours  
Creative Arts core     3 hours Life and Physical Sciences core   3 hours
Total 15 hours Total 15 hours

 

Year 2

Semester 1 Semester 2
CJUS 3600 - Criminology   3 hours   CJUS 4600 - What is Justice?   3 hours  
PSCI 2306 - US and Texas Constitutions and Institutions   3 hours    PSCI 2305 - US Political Behavior and Policy   3 hours  
Component Area Option A core   3 hours TECM 2700 - Technical Writing   3 hours  
Language, Philosophy and Culture core   3 hours Life and Physical Sciences core   3 hours
Elective 3 hours Elective 3 hours
Total              15 hours Total             15 hours

 

Year 3

Semester 1 Semester 2
CJUS 3900 - Research Methods in Criminal Justice   3 hours   Criminal Justice elective

3 hours

Component Area Option B core   3 hours Criminal Justice elective 3 hours
Criminal Justice elective 3 hours Minor/Elective 3 hours
Minor/Elective 3 hours Minor/Elective 3 hours
Elective- advanced 3 hours Elective 3 hours
Total 15 hours Total 15 hours

 

Year 4

Semester 1 Semester 2
CJUS 4901 - Criminal Justice Capstone Experience   3 hours   Criminal Justice elective 3 hours
Criminal Justice elective  3 hours Minor/Elective 3 hours
Minor/Elective 3 hours Minor/Elective 3 hours
Elective - advanced 3 hours Elective - advanced 3 hours
Elective - advanced 3 hours Elective - advanced 3 hours
Total 15 hours Total 15 hours

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