Criminal Justice Concentration

Concentration Overview

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The concentration in Criminal Justice offered under the B.A.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, 3000 level or above, and no more than 6 credits at the 1000 level in the area of study.

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 academic advisor.

A. Intellectual and Practical Skills (15 Credits)

ENC-1010	Writing for Success	3
ENC-1020	Writing for Success II	3
COM-2090	Public Speaking	3
MAT-1050	Applied Liberal Arts Mathematics	3
SOS-1100	Fact, Fiction, or Fake? Information Literacy Today	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-1010	Our Changing World: An Introduction to Sociology	3
ETH-2200	Leading the Way: A Path Towards Ethical Leadership	3
POS-1100	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-2100	Marriage and the Family	3
HIS-1130	American History I	3
FIL-1100	Exploring American Cinema	3

Select two featured courses from the list below:

HIS-1140	American History II	3
HIS-1210	Introduction to World History I	3
HUM-1030	Introduction to the Humanities III: Music	3
PHI-1300	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-1010	General Earth Science	3
BIO-2080	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)

CRJ-1020	Introduction to Criminal Justice	3
CRJ-2800	Forensic Science	3
SOC-2910	Criminology	3
CRJ-3810	Victimology and Criminal Behavior	3
CRJ-3100	Criminal Law	3

Select one of the following courses:

CRJ-3030	White-Collar Crime	3
CRJ-3630	American Juvenile Justice System	3
CRJ-4840	Public Policy, Crime, and Criminal Justice	3

B. Complete 24 Credits of Liberal Studies Courses

For additional TESU course options, please contact an academic advisor.

C. Capstone (3 Credits)

LIB-4950

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.