Criminal justice is a multidisciplinary major consisting of a core of required courses in criminal justice combined with a foundation in the discipline of sociology. Beyond the core of academic work in this major, students may choose a concentration of study to prepare for a variety of professional settings. Hands-on learning is available through internships and field experiences in a variety of settings, such as prisons, juvenile services, courts, and mediation centers. The criminal justice major emphasizes the philosophy of restorative justice in courses and applied work. This foundation, with the criminal justice courses and related electives, provides a unique and rigorous major of 56 hours.
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Major (56 hours)
Required courses: (44 hours)
CRJ 180 Law, Justice and Society (3)
CRJ 200 Introduction to the Criminal Justice System (3)
CRJ 201 Introduction to the Juvenile Justice System (3)
CRJ 275 Criminology (3)
CRJ 303 Constitutional Law (3)
CRJ 340 Conflict Transformation and Mediation (3)
CRJ 345 Restorative Justice Theory and Practice (3)
CRJ 351 Corrections (3)
CRJ 385 Criminal Justice Practicum (3-6)
PSY 110 Introduction to Psychology (3)
PSY 310 Personality (3)
or PSY 340 Abnormal Psychology (3)
SOC 152 Introduction to Sociology (3)
SOC 264 Sociological Theory (3)
SOC 362 Methods of Social Research (3)
SOC 466 Senior Seminar (2)
Electives from the following: (12 hours)
CRJ 310 Criminal Law and Procedure (3)
CRJ 320 Family Violence (3)
CRJ 325 Interventions in Corrections (3)
CRJ 350 Law Enforcement: Theory and Practice (3)
CRJ 380 Integrative Studies in the Criminal Justice System (3)
CRJ 390 Independent Study (1-3)
HPR 167 Drug Education* (2)
PSY 258 Social Psychology (3)
PSY 310 Personality (3)
or PSY 340 Abnormal Psychology (3)
REL 373 War, Peace and Nonviolence (3)
SOC 225 Race and Ethnicity in American Society: History and Current Realities (3)
SOC 242 Social Problems and Public Policy (3)
SWK 141 Understanding Social Welfare (3)
* HPR 167 is required for registration as a candidate for certification as a chemical dependency counselor. Other courses will also support this registration process; please consult criminal justice/sociology faculty for additional related materials.
Minor (21 hours)
Required:
CRJ 180 Law, Justice and Society (3)
CRJ 200 Introduction to the Criminal Justice System (3)
CRJ 201 Introduction to the Juvenile Justice System (3)
CRJ 275 Criminology (3)
CRJ 340 Conflict Transformation and Mediation (3)
CRJ 345 Restorative Justice Theory and Practice (3)
One additional criminal justice course (3)
Courses
CRJ 180 Law, Justice and Society (3)
An examination of the different policy options for the criminal justice system, with particular attention to the connection between law and justice. The limits of law as a means of resolving disputes and maintaining social order are also examined. The course addresses the complex elements of "justice" and the difficulties of administering justice in a democratic society by examining the social construction of law throughout history. The course looks at one particular alternative to the present criminal justice system and administration of law called restorative justice. The third section of the course critically addresses a number of specified legal policies in the United States.
CRJ 200 Introduction to the Criminal Justice System (3)
A study of the agencies, institutions, and processes of the criminal justice system - legislature, police, attorney, courts, and corrections; the definitions of crime, legal defenses, and limits of the law; constitutional and procedural considerations affecting arrest, search, and seizure; kinds and degrees of evidence; cases and materials affecting criminal law, prosecution, defense, and the courts.
CRJ 201 Introduction to the Juvenile Justice System (3)
A study of the agencies, institutions, and processes of the juvenile justice system; historical and social-scientific evaluation of judicial decisions affecting the development and operation of the juvenile justice system from the police investigation to adjudication and final disposition.
CRJ 275 Criminology (3)
A social-scientific, theoretical survey of the nature of crime, including causal factors and theories and procedures in prevention and treatment; evaluation of basic assumptions and philosophies of corrections. Prerequisite: SOC 152 or PSY 110. This course is also listed as SOC 275.
CRJ 303 Constitutional Law (3)
A specialized course of study focusing upon a significant theme or topic in political science. Topics may include Canadian or European politics, the American presidency, voting behavior, state and local government, or international conflict resolution. May be taken more than once with different topics.
CRJ 310 Criminal Law and Procedure (3)
This course focuses on the study of substantive criminal law and criminal procedure in the courts of Ohio and the U.S. Federal system. A case study method is used to analyze criminal law in the United States, the manner in which cases are processed through the criminal system, and the influences affecting their outcome. Prerequisites: CRJ 180 and CRJ 200.
CRJ 320 Family Violence (3)
Violent family life has largely been hidden from public analysis. In this class we critically examine the emergence of intimate violence as a social problem, are exposed to experiences of persons involved with family violence, explore various explanations for violence in families, and analyze various prevention and policy measures. In each of these cases, attention is paid to the impact (or non-impact) of demographic factors, such as ethnicity, race, and religion, on the occurrence and effect of intimate violence. This course is also listed as SOC 320. This course may be taken as part of the Women's Studies minor.
CRJ 325 Interventions in Corrections (3)
Survey of the theoretical basis for assessing the social and/or therapeutic approaches to the control and rehabilitation of criminal behavior in a correctional context.
CRJ 340 Conflict Transformation and Mediation (3)
This course has three primary goals: 1) to provide students with an overview of the conflict transformation movement; 2) to provide basic introductory training for students in the practice of interpersonal conflict resolution and mediation in a variety of settings; 3) to encourage students to consider the deeper issues that underlie conflict, violence, and war in our society, including issues of culture, power, and politics. The issues involved in this class concern matters ranging from interpersonal relationships to youth violence and international peace and reconciliation. This course may be taken as part of the Peace and Conflict Studies minor.
CRJ 345 Restorative Justice Theory and Practice (3)
An exploration of the philosophy and practice of restorative justice, a new paradigm for how we view and treat criminal events. The course is designed to encourage an in-depth understanding of the needs of victims, offenders, and communities in the processing and comprehension of criminal events. The course takes a critical look at the current system of criminal justice and critically examines the alternatives that restorative justice offers. This course may be taken as part of the Peace and Conflict Studies minor.
CRJ 350 Enforcement: Theory and Practice (3)
Survey of the police role in American life. Focus shared between the police as a formal organization in patrol and investigative operations and the police as a social, psychological, or subcultural type. Primary attention given to the relationship of communal security and consent to governmental authority and to the role of the police in the maintenance of order.
CRJ 351 Corrections (3)
Survey of the correctional system from both a historical and analytical perspective. The course focuses on a variety of topics including sentencing strategies and punishment rationale in democratic societies, the philosophy and effectiveness of rehabilitation, individual adjustment and inmate organization in both male and female prisons, constitutional issues, access and remedies in addressing prisoner’s rights, and emerging restorative alternatives to corrections.
CRJ 380 Integrative Studies in the Criminal Justice System (3)
An interdisciplinary study of management, institutional, philosophical, or research concerns in selected system-wide problems and topics in criminal justice.
CRJ 385 Criminal Justice Practicum (3-6)
A supervised work/study placement in a setting consistent with the student's interests and career goals. Prerequisites: junior or senior status in the major (or related major) and permission of the faculty supervisor. May be repeated for a total of 6 hours; with 3 hours credited to general electives and/or a related major (with permission of major professor).
CRJ 390 Independent Study (1-3)
By arrangement.
