Criminal Justice, B.S.
It is the purpose of the Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice to offer a program for Lock Haven University students which:
- Promotes in them the skills of critical thinking and creative problem solving,
- Encourages ethical decision making, and
- Promotes support for constitutional protections afforded the people of the United States.
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This major prepares students for a wide range of careers including probation, parole, drug and alcohol programs, victim-witness programs, correctional institutions, juvenile probation, juvenile correctional institutions, criminal justice planning, corporate and individual security, local and state police, federal law enforcement such as FBI, DEA and related areas.
The major includes 12 credits of "Career Component" which allows students to explore courses in areas related to the careers they intend to pursue. An internship is an optional feature of the program.
A. General Education
Criminal Justice majors must take these specific courses to meet the specific general education requirements. These are courses that all students at the University must take and include course work in lab science, philosophy, speech, math, English composition, and literature, among others.
B. Core Requirements for major
Following is a list of courses that all CJ majors must take:
CRJS102 Introduction to Criminal Justice 3 sh
CRJS205 Drug Abuse 3 sh
CRJS240 Introduction to Law Enforcement 3 sh
CRJS260 Criminal Law OR PLGL405 Criminal Law Practice 3 sh
CRJS290 World Criminal Justice Systems 3 sh
CRJS305 Corrections 3 sh
CRJS360 Criminal Procedure 3 sh
CRJS425 Senior Seminar in Criminal Justice 3 sh
CISC150 Introduction to Computers 3 sh
SOCI203 Social Problems 3 sh
SOCI205 Racial and Ethnic Relations 3 sh
SOCI301 Juvenile Delinquency 3 sh
SOCI302 Criminology 3 sh
SOCI404 Sociological Research 3 sh
In addition to the courses listed above, all CJ majors must also take Introduction to Psychology and Introduction to Sociology. These courses satisfy general education requirements but are specifically designated by the major.
C. Career Component (12.0 credits)
These courses are selected in conjunction with an academic advisor and serve to help a student explore or prepare for a particular career. Many students use this as an opportunity to develop a minor or an area of concentration in another discipline to complement their CJ course work. Popular minors for the CJ major include psychology and sociology. There is no foreign language requirement for the CJ degree. However, students are strongly encouraged to take some courses in foreign language and many use those courses to satisfy some of the credits in Career Component. Students should work with their academic advisors to select courses that will help them to develop an area of expertise that will prepare them to compete in their chosen professional area.
D. Criminal Justice Electives (14.0 credits)
These electives are in addition to the 10 credits of General Education Free Electives and different from, but in addition to, the 12 sh Career Component of the Criminal Justice major. They typically include course work outside the major in disciplines such as psychology, sociology, political science and foreign language. Many students use the career component or the criminal justice electives to develop a minor, such as psychology or sociology. The criminal justice program offers 2 courses within the major (CRJS 300 Forensic Criminology and CRJS 310 Criminal Investigation) that are electives. And, students can engage in Criminal Justice Internship (CRJS 369) to satisfy this area, as well. Criminal Justice majors do not have to take CRJS 300 and CRJS 310, but may do so if it makes sense in their overall course of study. Likewise, internships are not required of CJ majors, but may be used to satisfy course work in the elective or career component area.
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