Criminal Justice Major

The Bachelor of Science major in Criminal Justice offers an interdisciplinary foundation within the liberal arts and sciences. Beyond the core of criminal justice academic work, students choose a focus to prepare for a variety of professional roles, including corrections, offender rehabilitation, substance abuse counseling, conflict resolution, policy development, law enforcement and law.

All major requirements must be completed with a grade of 'C' or higher (unless otherwise indicated below).This major requires a minimum of 42 credits.

In order to earn a Bachelor's degree at Charter Oak, all Major, General Education, Liberal Arts , elective, and Upper Division credit must equal 120 or more credits.

Major Requirements

* Grade of C- or higher required for MAT 105 and PSY 216. All other major courses require a grade of C or higher.

Students enrolled in the Criminal Justice Major, must choose one of the Concentrations below (15 credits):

1. General Criminal Justice Concentration:

   Courses for this concentration may include (a minimum of 9 upper level credits are required):

   • CRJ 210: Forensic Science
   • CRJ 360: Homeland Security and Criminal Justice
   • PLG 211: Criminal Law
   • PSY 333: Social Psychology and Deviance
   • PSY 336: Abnormal Psychology
   • SOC 320: Urban Youth in American Society
   • SOC 449: Social Problems: Impact on Workplace
   • No more than 6 credits from the following Victim Advocacy courses can be used in the General CJ Concentration: CRJ340, CRJ 335, CRJ 355, CRJ 405.

2. Victim Advocacy Concentration:

   Courses for this concentration must include the following (12 required, 3 elective):

   • CRJ 340: Sexual and Domestic Violence
   • CRJ 335: Victimology
   • CRJ 355: Mental Health/Substance Abuse in Criminal Justice
   • CRJ 405: Victim’s Rights and Services
   • One additional 3-credit elective in Criminal Justice

Program Learning Outcomes

Students who graduate with a major in Criminal Justice will be able to:

• explain the scope and nature of the three major components of the criminal justice system: police, courts, and corrections;
• apply the theoretical models that attempt to explain the causes of crime;
• explain how the fair and just operation of the criminal justice system is dependent upon the ethical and professional behavior of those working in the criminal justice system;
• apply research and statistics to the analysis of data; and
• communicate effectively.

Students who graduate with a major in Criminal Justice with a Concentration in Victim Advocacy will be able to:

• distinguish between ethical and unethical behavior as it applies to the criminal justice field,
• relate the types and patterns of family and sexual violence, including myths and realities, cross-cultural and international patterns to prevention and punishment practices and policies,
• analyze the impact of criminal justice and the courts policies and practices on victims who have mental health or substance abuse disorders,
• apply victim rights to criminal-case scenarios and explain how victims can be assisted in dealing with the effects of crime and the criminal justice system,
• identify and analyze victim participation in the criminal justice decision-making, victim services and restitution, and restorative justice initiatives, and
• explain how to be an effective victim advocate.