BA in Liberal Studies: Criminal Justice Concentration

Concentration Overview

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The concentration in Criminal Justice offered under the BA degree in Liberal Studies is an 18-credit program that focuses on the interdisciplinary study of crime and the functioning of the criminal justice system, and develop critical analytical skills, and knowledge of the research findings and methods used in the field. Students who complete this concentration may also earn an Undergraduate Certificate in Criminal Justice.

Degree Requirements

A minimum of 18 credits must be upper level, 300 level or above, and no more than 6 credits in the area of study at the 100 level.

Credit Distribution

I. General Education Featured Courses (45 Credits)

TESU Featured Courses are listed as a guide. Other courses may satisfy the areas and can be viewed on our website under General Education Courses. For more information see About Our General Education Program. To plan your program please contact an Advisor.

A. Intellectual and Practical Skills (15 Credits)

ENC-101	English Composition I	3
ENC-102	English Composition II	3
COM-209	Public Speaking	3
MAT-105	Applied Liberal Arts Mathematics	3
SOS-110	Critical Information Literacy	3

For all TESU course options that will satisfy this area of the degree, go to Intellectual and Practical Skills.

B. Civic and Global Leadership (9 Credits)

SOC-101	Our Changing World An Introduction to Sociology	3
ETH-230	Ethics in the Digital Age	3
POS-110	American Government	3

For additional TESU course options that will satisfy this area of the degree, go to Civic and Global Leadership.

C. Knowledge of Human Cultures (15 Credits)

SOC-210	Marriage and the Family	3
HIS-113	American History I	3
FIL-110	American Cinema	3

Select two featured courses from the list below

SOC-291	Criminology	3
HIS-114	American History II	3
HIS-121	Introduction to World History I	3
HUM-103	Introduction to the Humanities III: Music	3
PHI-130	Introduction to Critical Reasoning	3

For additional TESU course options that will satisfy this area of the degree, go to Knowledge of Human Cultures.

D. Scientific Knowledge (6 Credits)

EAS-101	General Earth Science	3
BIO-208	The Science of Nutrition	3

For additional TESU course options that will satisfy this area of the degree, go to Scientific Knowledge.

II. Area of Study (45 Credits)

A. Concentration (18 Credits)

AOJ-102	Introduction to Criminal Justice	3
AOJ-280	Forensic Science	3
SOC-291	Criminology	3
AOJ-381	Victimology and Criminal Behavior	3
AOJ-310	Criminal Law	3

Select one of the following courses

AOJ-303	White-Collar Crime	3
AOJ-363	American Juvenile Justice System	3
AOJ-484	Public Policy, Crime, and Criminal Justice	3

B. Complete 24 Credits of Liberal Studies Courses

For additional TESU course options, please contact an Advisor.

C. Capstone (3 Credits)

LIB-495

Liberal Arts Capstone

III. Electives (30 Credits)

For TESU course options, go to Elective Courses.

TESU accepts credits in transfer from accredited institutions as well as non-collegiate providers. View information and resources on where you may find additional learning experiences.

Total Credit Hours: 120

Learning Outcomes

Graduates of the Criminal Justice concentration will be able to:

verbally communicate in a clear professional manner and produce reports and policy papers that are organized, focused and make sound critical arguments;
display logical and critical evaluation and analysis of social and criminal justice research literature as well as prevailing criminal justice theories and policies;
demonstrate knowledge of the basic criminal justice process, its structure and the context of the interrelationships between each component of the criminal justice system; and
demonstrate knowledge of the legal aspects of policing in the United States including the concepts of due process, equal protection and the rules of criminal procedure.