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Bachelor of Science

The BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (B.S.) degree with a major in criminal justice features two predominant divisions with a total of nine separate areas. The lower division is designed to provide the student with a sound liberal arts experience. This division includes courses in the humanities, mathematics and the natural sciences, the social sciences, and selected elective courses that are particularly appropriate to the field of criminal justice. Courses taken in the lower division are at the freshman and sophomore levels.
The upper division is designed to provide the student with a depth and breadth of knowledge related to criminal justice. Courses in the upper division are usually at the junior and senior levels and are divided into three areas:

  • Core curriculum criminal justice courses are designed to give the student a basic understanding of the philosophical, theoretical, and structural aspects of the criminal justice system and its component parts. In addition, students are offered a professional internship experience.
  • Area of concentration courses focus on chosen areas of student interest in criminal justice and are selected by the student in consultation with an academic adviser.
  • Electives relevant to the degree are also selected by the student in consultation with the academic adviser. These courses allow students to explore an ancillary area of concentration. In addition, students may choose courses that broaden their understanding of the world at large.

 

The Criminal Justice Degree
The term "criminal justice" refers to police, courts and corrections as a system for the administration of city, county, state, and federal laws. The criminal justice curriculum in this department represents a broad range of study designed to meet the academic needs of both preprofessional students and those already employed in the wide range of agencies which make up the criminal justice and juvenile justice systems.

The primary focus of study is the justice system itself. The juvenile or adult who is accused of conduct which violates the law will be affected by law enforcement, prosecutorial, judicial, and correctional agencies. The requirements of degree programs in this department stress an integrated view of the criminal justice system. In this view all components of the system interrelate with all other components to provide coordinated justice administration. The criminal justice curriculum is designed to give students an understanding of the developing theoretical knowledge base in this field of study while simultaneously providing an understanding of how each of the component parts relate to one another.

Additionally, students learn how the justice system influences and is influenced by other institutions in society. Appropriate structuring of legislation, providing information and education within the system and to the public, crime prevention, psychological counseling, prisoner rehabilitation, working with juveniles, statistical research, guidance to probationers and parolees, assistance to citizen groups; these responsibilities are as much a part of the criminal justice field as police administration, correctional institution management, and court procedures.

Students' learning in the classroom is enhanced as faculty bring forth a myriad of expertise in criminal justice and criminology. Currently, faculty research topics highlight legal issues in the criminal justice system; the impact of race, sex, and class in criminal justice processing; communities and police; evaluation of criminal justice programs; comparative criminal justice; crime and the media; domestic terrorism; healthcare fraud; crime in organizations; juvenile delinquency; criminological theory; and the role of aggression in crime and delinquency. Faculty conduct research drawing on their expertise in a variety of quantitative and qualitative research methods, thus allowing them to bring not only their total topical experience, but also their methodological experience, into the learning environment.

Degree programs offered through the Department of Criminal Justice include Bachelor of Science in criminal justice and Master of Science in criminal justice. The bachelor's degree program complies with the core curriculum requirements of the University System of Georgia. A student must complete the lower-division core curriculum requirements prior to taking upper division courses.

Starting with the Fall 2005 Semester, the Department of Criminal Justice Bachelor of Science Degree will offer students the option of choosing the traditional Crime and Justice Track or a Legal Track. The Crime and Justice Track includes the traditional curriculum for criminal justice majors. The Legal Track is designed for criminal justice majors who are interested in an intensive exposure to law in preparation for law school. Students who fail to pick a track will automatically be placed in the Crime and Justice Track.

Change of Track Form 

Program Policies
A grade of C or higher is required in CrJu 1100 (or equivalent transfer course) and all 3000/4000-level Criminal Justice courses at Georgia State University (GSU). A grade of C or higher is required in all courses in Areas G-L.

  1. A minimum 2.00 cumulative grade point average at GSU is required to register for 3000/4000-level criminal justice courses. There are no exceptions to this policy.
  2. A minimum of 45 semester hours (15 courses) must be completed in 3000/4000-level criminal justice courses at Georgia State University. HHS 3000 is included in the 45 hours; CrJu 1100/3100 and CrJu 2200 are not included.
  3. The Department of Criminal Justice believes that all students who are in internship experiences (class and field) must be personally and psychologically equipped as well as academically prepared. A student may be denied entry into internship field experience based on departmental prerequisites or the professional judgment of faculty based on observed performance, behavior, or documentation which indicates erratic, unpredictable, or unsuitable conduct. This policy is based on the premise that criminal justice faculty should be part of the evaluation of a student’s ability to function adequately and safely in a criminal justice setting and that faculty has a right and responsibility to make such judgments prior to placing a student in an internship. The internship coordinator has the authority to withdraw a student from a classroom and/or field experience (i.e., CrJu 4930, CrJu 4940) if the student’s performance constitutes a detriment to the students in the class and/or to personnel at the field internship site. If such removal is necessary, the student will be given an F for the course(s).
  4. All completed applications and contracts must be turned in to the Department of Criminal Justice by the following dates in order to be considered for an internship that particular semester. There will be no exceptions. January 15 for summer semester; March 15 for fall semester; September 15 for spring semester.
  5. Please note that all criminal justice majors must complete an internship during their final semester in the program. Some students will select placement with an agency that deals with sensitive information. As a result, a background check might be a requirement for placement. Background checks include prior arrests and convictions, abuse of illegal drugs, and DUI convictions. If students have a criminal record either before they declare their major or acquire a criminal record after declaring their major, they might be prohibited from participating in the internship. Since the internship is a requirement, they might be excluded from the degree program.
  6. The Department has two options from which students must choose: the Crime and Justice Track or the Legal Track. The Crime and Justice Track includes the traditional curriculum for criminal justice majors. The Legal Track is designed for criminal justice majors who are interested in an intensive exposure to law in preparation for law school. Students who fail to choose a track will automatically be placed in the Crime and Justice Track.

Curriculum in Criminal Justice

Crime and Justice Track
Requirements for Areas A through E of the undergraduate core curriculum are listed in the “Core Curriculum” in the GSU undergraduate catalog. Semester hours are shown in parentheses following an entry. Area I courses can fulfill Area J requirements. Courses from Areas I and J can fulfill Area L requirements.
Area F: Courses Related to the Program of Study (18)
CrJu 1100 Introduction to Criminal Justice (3)
Anth 1102 Introduction to Anthropology (3)
Phil 2010 Great Questions of Philosophy (3)
Psyc 1101 Introduction to General Psychology (3)
Soci 1101 Introduction to Sociology (3)
Elective: Any elective (3)

Area G: Criminal Justice Core (15)
CrJu 3110 American Police System (3)
CrJu 3310 Corrections (3)
CrJu 3410 Criminology (3)
CrJu 3700 Judicial System (3)
HHS 3000 Communication/Cultural Diversity (3)

Area H: Methods of Analysis (6)
CrJu 3020 Research Methods in Criminal Justice (3)
CrJu 3610 Criminal Justice Statistics (3)

Area I: Legal Issues (6); select two
CrJu 3710 Legal Issues in Law Enforcement (3)
CrJu 4710 Legal Issues in Corrections (3)
CrJu 4760 Adjudication of Criminal Cases (3)
CrJu 4770 Legal Liabilities of CJ Personnel (3)
CrJu 4780 Criminal Law (3)
CrJu 4910 Selected Legal Issues in CJ (3)

Area J: Criminal Justice Issues (12); select four
CrJu 2200 Social Science and the American Crime Problem (3)
CrJu 3030 Criminal Justice Planning (3)
CrJu 3070 Race and the Criminal Justice System (3)
CrJu 3210 Juvenile Delinquency (3)
CrJu 3350 Correctional Institutional Systems (3)
CrJu 4010 Gender in Criminal Justice (3)
CrJu 4030 Origins of Criminal Justice (3)
CrJu 4040 Comparative Criminal Justice (3)
CrJu 4060 Ethics in Criminal Justice (3)
CrJu 4070 Family Violence and Criminal Justice (3)
CrJu 4080 Crime and the Media (3)
CrJu 4110 Principles of Investigation (3)
CrJu 4210 Juvenile Justice System (3)
CrJu 4230 Prevention and Correctional Strategies for Juvenile Offenders (3)
CrJu 4350 Correctional Alternatives (3)
CrJu 4360 Counseling & Supervising Offenders (3)
CrJu 4410 Advanced Criminology (3)
CrJu 4420 Crime Typologies (3)
CrJu 4430 Crime at Work (3)
CrJu 4500 Criminal Justice Management (3)
CrJu 4920 Community Policing (3)
CrJu 4960 Domestic Terrorism (3)
CrJu 4900 Selected Topics in Criminal Justice (3)
CrJu 4990 Readings in Criminal Justice (3)

Area K: Capstone: Internship (6)
CrJu 4930 Internship Seminar in Criminal Justice (3)
CrJu 4940 Criminal Justice Field Instruction (3)

Area L: Electives (15)
Students choose 15 credit hours from Criminal Justice courses or courses from other departments. Note: The 45-hour requirement in Criminal Justice courses at GSU must be met (see “Program Policies” #3).

TOTAL = 120 semester hours



Legal Track
Requirements for Areas A through E of the undergraduate core curriculum are listed in the “Core Curriculum” in the GSU undergraduate catalog. Semester hours are shown in parentheses following an entry. Area I courses can fulfill Area J requirements. Courses from Areas I and J can fulfill Area L requirements.

Area F: Courses Related to the Program of Study (18)
CrJu 1100 Introduction to Criminal Justice (3)
Anth 1102 Introduction to Anthropology (3)
Phil 2010 Great Questions of Philosophy (3)
Psyc 1101 Introduction to General Psychology (3)
Soci 1101 Introduction to Sociology (3)
Elective: Any elective (3)

Area G: Criminal Justice Core (15)
CrJu 3110 American Police System (3)
CrJu 3310 Corrections (3)
CrJu 3410 Criminology (3)
CrJu 3700 Judicial System (3)
HHS 3000 Communication/Cultural Diversity (3)

Area H: Methods of Analysis (6)
CrJu 3020 Research Methods in Criminal Justice (3)
CrJu 3610 Criminal Justice Statistics (3)

Area I: Legal Issues (15); select five
CrJu 3710 Legal Issues in Law Enforcement (3)
CrJu 4710 Legal Issues in Corrections (3)
CrJu 4760 Adjudication of Criminal Cases (3)
CrJu 4770 Legal Liabilities of CJ Personnel (3)
CrJu 4780 Criminal Law (3)
CrJu 4910 Selected Legal Issues in CJ (3)
CrJu 4030 Origins of Criminal Justice (3)
CrJu 4040 Comparative Criminal Justice (3)
CrJu 4060 Ethics in Criminal Justice (3)

Area J: Criminal Justice Issues (3); select one
CrJu 2200 Social Science and the American Crime Problem (3)
CrJu 3030 Criminal Justice Planning (3)
CrJu 3070 Race and the Criminal Justice System (3)
CrJu 3210 Juvenile Delinquency (3)
CrJu 3350 Correctional Institutional Systems (3)
CrJu 4010 Gender in Criminal Justice (3)
CrJu 4070 Family Violence and Criminal Justice (3)
CrJu 4080 Crime and the Media (3)
CrJu 4110 Principles of Investigation (3)
CrJu 4210 Juvenile Justice System (3)
CrJu 4230 Prevention and Correctional Strategies for Juvenile Offenders (3)
CrJu 4350 Correctional Alternatives (3)
CrJu 4360 Counseling & Supervising Offenders (3)
CrJu 4410 Advanced Criminology (3)
CrJu 4420 Crime Typologies (3)
CrJu 4430 Crime at Work (3)
CrJu 4500 Criminal Justice Management (3)
CrJu 4920 Community Policing (3)
CrJu 4960 Domestic Terrorism (3)
CrJu 4900 Selected Topics in Criminal Justice (3)
CrJu 4990 Readings in Criminal Justice (3)

Area K: Capstone: Internship (6)
CrJu 4930 Internship Seminar in Criminal Justice (3)
CrJu 4940 Criminal Justice Field Instruction (3)

Area L: Electives (15); select five
Students choose 15 credit hours from Criminal Justice courses or courses from other departments. Note: The 45-hour requirement in Criminal Justice courses at GSU must be met (see “Program Policies” #3).

TOTAL = 120 semester hours

Georgia State University Undergraduate Catalog