CRIMINAL JUSTICE
Bachelor of Arts B.A.
This interdisciplinary program includes core courses in political science and sociology. The curriculum in the program provides students with knowledge of the criminal justice system and how it functions. In addition, students learn theories of criminal behavior as well as administration and policies of law enforcement, criminal law, and the functioning of the court system. Overall, the program provides a broad-based liberal arts education, which enable students a facility for life-long learning and to understand the complexities of groups and organizations.
Course # |
Course Title |
Credit Hours |
GENERAL EDUCATION |
|
56 hours |
Area I |
|
12 hours |
ENG 101 |
Academic Writing and Reading (4) credit hours) (requires placement test) |
|
ENG 102 |
Writing in Academic Discourse (4) |
|
MTH 145 |
Mathematics and the Modern World (4) (requires placement test) |
|
Area 2 (select one from each category) |
|
8 hours |
History: HST 101, 102, 103 or CLS 150 |
|
|
Non-Western World: CSE 250, CST 221, CST 231, CST 232, CST 241, CST 242, CST 243, CST 251, HTL 202, RSE 260, RST 261, RST 262, RST 271, RST 281, RST 291, SW 272 or URS 200 |
|
|
Area 3 (select two courses from different categories) |
|
8 hours |
Economic (WI): EC 200 or EC 290 |
|
|
Political Science: PLS 200 |
|
|
Psychology: PSY 105 |
|
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Sociology (WI): SOC 200 or WMS 200 |
|
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Area 4 (select one) |
|
4 hours |
Great Books (WI): CSL 204, ENG 204, PHL 204, or REL 204
OR
Fine and Performing Arts:
ART 214, MUS 214 or TH 214
MP 131
MUS 290 |
|
|
Area 5 (select three courses - lecture and lab. At least one must be WI) |
|
12 hours |
PHY 105/115, PHY 106/116 PHY 107/117 or |
|
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BIO 105, 106, 107 or |
|
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CHM 105, 106, 107 or |
|
|
EES 105, 106, 107 |
|
|
Area 6 (choose one course specific to the college of your major – College of Liberal Arts) |
|
4 hours |
AFS 200, ATH 241, ATH 242, CSE 250, CLS 204, CLS 260, CST 221, CST 232, CST 241, CST 242, CST, 243, CST 251, EC 290, ENG 204, HST 200, HST 220, HST 221, MUST 290, PHL 200, PHL 204, REL 204, RSE 260, RST 261, RST 262, RST 271, RST 281, RST 291, SOC 200, SW 272, TJ 250, URS 200, or WMS 200 |
|
|
Additional Courses from areas 2, 3, and 4 |
|
8 hours |
|
Select two additional courses from Areas 2,3, or 4; one course from two of these three areas. Except Area 2, the course selected must come from different subcategory than the courses(s) chosen to meet that area requirement. |
|
CORE REQUIREMENTS |
|
20 hours |
PLS 442 |
Criminal Justice System (4) |
|
PLS 210 |
Quantitative Methods of Political Science (4) |
|
SOC 306 |
Introduction to Research Methods (4) Class counts for Liberal Arts research methods also. |
|
SOC 406 |
Applications Research Methods (4) |
|
SOC 433 |
Internship in Corrections and Family (4) |
|
CRIMINAL JUSTICE FOUNDATION AREAS |
|
36 hours |
Area I: Behavior (12 hours required)
SOC 330
SOC 332
SOC 442 |
Criminology (4)
Juvenile Delinquency (4)
Race and Ethnicity (4) |
|
Area II: Institutions (12 hours required)
PLS 341
PLS 344
PLS 345 or
SOC 432 |
Fundamentals of Criminal Investigation (4)
Police Procedures and Operations (4)
Advanced Criminal Investigations (4) or
Penology (4) |
|
Area III: Law (12 hours required)
PLS 342
PLS 436
SOC 422 or
PLS 431 |
Civil Liberties I: First Amendment (4)
Criminal Law (4)
Sociology of the Courts, Law and Justice (4)
CyberCrime (4) |
|
ADVANCED CRIMINAL JUSTICE ELECTIVES* |
|
12 hours |
PLS 444 |
Topics in Criminal Justice (4) Small Law Enforcement Agency Operations |
|
SOC 459 or
Other PLS or SOC advanced course |
Explaining Crime: From Beccaria to Thornberry (4) or
PLS or SOC class (4) with advisor approval
|
|
Elective* |
Advanced Criminal Justice elective* (4) such as PLS 448 Gender Violence and American Politics |
|
Foreign Language and Research Methods Requirement |
|
24-32 hours |
|
*Students must demonstrate proficiency in a foreign language at the 202 level or American Sign Language at the 230 level by satisfactorily completing course work or by taking an examination. (12-20 credit hours) |
|
|
*Students must complete a block of 3 courses in research methods (including SOC 306), one each in computers, logic, and statistics and quantitative methods. (12 credit hours) |
|
Electives* |
|
36-44 hours |
|
*Students select, in consultation with their advisor, courses that complement their major interest. |
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*Must be approved by academic advisor. Students will be assigned a Criminal Justice advisor to plan their academic program.
Total Quarter Hours: 192
For academic advising, please call Student Services at 419-586-0300.
Faculty Contact Information:
James Steinberg, Ph.D.
248 Dwyer Hall
419-586-0342
james.steinberg@wright.edu |
Admission Information:
Students admitted into the Criminal Justice Program must have earned a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.3 and have completed a minimum of 24 credit hours, including ENG 101 and 103 with a C grade or higher, and any other three General Education courses from Areas II, III, or IV.
Students that choose to major in Criminal Justice at the Lake Campus will consult with their advisor and follow the Lake Campus Criminal Justice course offerings. Transfer students will require admissions application and course credit review.
Other Information:
Students participate in the practice of criminal justice through an internship in law enforcement, pre-law, or social service agencies.
Majors are required to complete five Criminal Justice core requirements, including an internship, three courses in Criminal Justice Foundation Areas of Behavior, Institutions, and Law, and three Criminal Justice electives.
A minor in Criminal Justice requires 36 hours.
Final Degree Checklist:
Number of hours needed |
192+ |
Total Liberal Arts hours |
100 |
Total Upper Level Credits of 300 and above 30 of which should be from Wright State |
60 |
Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC) Courses |
4 General Education plus 2 in major |
Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) |
2.0 or higher |
Total Hours at Wright State |
15 of last 45 hours |
Major Hours |
68 maximum |
Page last modified: September 1, 2010
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