The Criminal Justice and Criminology Program introduces students to the study of criminal behavior and the criminal justice system from a multidisciplinary, liberal-arts perspective. Students seeking a degree in criminal justice and criminology will study the complex social, political, historical, and psychological influences affecting crime, legal processes, and individuals involved in the criminal justice system. Our courses are taught by faculty from diverse backgrounds and help students gain a foundational understanding of criminological theory, criminal justice research, and processes of law enforcement, adjudication, and punishment. Students will learn why and how people commit crimes, various society responses to crime and deviance, the relationship between criminal justice and social justice, and how to utilize and evaluate research methodologies to address crime and justice issues. Flexible elective options allow students to tailor their academic experience around their specific areas of interest. CJC majors may also complete an additional major or minor in a variety of complementary fields such as psychology, political science, or forensic science.
In addition to course-based learning, students have the opportunity to gain valuable, real-world experience outside of the classroom through internships, learning-based community service, and undergraduate research. Local community partnerships include law enforcement agencies, emergency/transitional housing services, youth and victim-based organizations. On campus, students have the opportunity to join the Criminal Justice and Criminology Association (CJCA), a student-led club where they can connect with other students who share similar academic interests and gain leadership experience. The CJCA centers on educational, social, and career development and strives to improve criminal justice through educational activities that promote professional, academic, and public awareness of criminal justice issues.
After obtaining a degree in Criminal Justice and Criminology, many of our graduates begin successful careers in law enforcement, corrections, court-based services, government agencies, organizations working with at-risk youth or crime victims, or they attend graduate or law school in order to pursue careers in criminal justice research, higher education, practice criminal law, or they qualify for high-level or managerial positions in the criminal justice field.
Learning Outcomes
- Students will understand the major components of the criminal justice system and processes of law enforcement, adjudication, and punishment.
- Students will demonstrate the ability to evaluate, synthesize, and conduct criminological research.
- Students can apply discipline knowledge to analyze criminal justice issues and evaluate criminal justice policies and practices.
- Students can comprehend, apply, and critically evaluate theories of crime and delinquency.
- Students can effectively communicate about crime and justice issues and the criminal justice system.
Bachelor of Science Degree Criminal Justice and Criminology
The Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice and Criminology requires 42 credit hours: 33 in CJC, 6 in IDS and 3 in CART. All students must have a cumulative 2.0 average to earn a BS degree. Every student must also complete Kentucky Wesleyan College’s degree requirements of 120 total credit hours, which will include the required General Education Requirements and 42 credit hours of upper-division coursework. All Criminal Justice and Criminology majors must complete the following to meet the requirements for a
B.S. degree. It is incumbent upon the student to know the requirements for their major and make continual progress toward their degree.
For any questions, please contact our Criminal Justice and Criminology faculty.
Major Requirements
42 Semester Credit Hours
Core Course Requirements
- CART 141 – Basic Public Speaking (3) 18 Semester Credit Hours
- CJC 100 – Introduction to Criminal Justice (3)
- CJC 350 – Criminology (3)
- CJC 480 or CART 499 – Advanced Research Methods or Criminal Justice Senior Seminar (3)
- IDS 202 – Statistics in the Behavioral Sciences (3)
- IDS 203 – Research Methods in Behavioral Sciences (3)
Must complete at least six hours from the following:
- CJC 310 – Critical Issues in Policing (3)
- CJC 340 – Courts and Procedure (3)
- CJC 345 – Juvenile Delinquency (3)
- CJC 370 – Corrections (3)
Elective Course Requirements
18 Semester Credit Hours
Must complete at least 18 hours from the following:
- CJC 210 – Criminal Investigation (3)
- CJC 230 – Global Perspective on Crime and Justice (3)
- CJC 301 – Practicum in Criminal Justice (1-3)
- CJC 310 – Critical Issues in Policing* (3)
- CJC 325 – Forensic Psychology (3)
- CJC 340 – Courts and Procedure* (3)
- CJC 344 – Minority Relations (3)
- CJC 345 – Juvenile Delinquency* (3)
- CJC 347 – Drugs, Crime and Justice (3)
- CJC 360 – Criminal Law (3)
- CJC 370 – Corrections* (3)
- CJC 390 – Deviant Behavior (3)
- CJC 401 – Independent Study (1-3)
- CJC 405 – Offender Rehabilitation (3)
- CJC 415 – Gender and Crime (3)
- CJC 420 – Contemporary Issues in Criminal Justice (3)
- CJC 450 – Terrorism and Counterterrorism (3)
- CJC 460 – Victimology (3)
- CJC 470 – Advanced Criminology (3)
- CJC 480 – Advanced Research Methods* (3)
*If not completed for core content credit
Sample Four-Year Plan for B.S. in Criminal Justice and Criminology
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Spring Semester | ||
| CJC 100 | 3 | ENGL 112 | 3 |
| ENGL 111 | 3 | EXSC 101 | 3 |
| General Education Course (Social Science) | 3 | General Education Course (Science-w Lab) | 4 |
| General Education Course (MATH) | 3 | General Education Course (Religion) | 3 |
| General Education Course (HIST) | 3 | CL 101 | 1 |
| KW 101 | 0 | Semester Hours | 14 |
| Semester Hours | 16 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall Semester | Spring Semester | ||
| IDS 202 or IDS 203 | 3 | IDS 202 or IDS 203 | 3 |
| Core Content Course (CJC 340 or CJC 370) | 3 | Core Content Course (CJC 310 or CJC 345) | 3 |
| CART 141 | 3 | General Education Course (Literature) | 3 |
| General Education Course (Science) | 3 | General Education Course (Humanities) | 3 |
| General Education Course (Aesthetics) | 3 | CJC Elective | 3 |
| Semester Hours | 15 | Semester Hours | 15 |
| Third Year | |||
| Fall Semester | Spring Semester | ||
| CJC 350 | 3 | Core Content Course (CJC 310 or CJC 345) | 3 |
| Core Content Course (CJC 340 or CJC 370) | 3 | CJC Upper-Level Elective | 3 |
| Core Content Course or CJC Upper-Level Elective | 3 | Core Content Course or CJC Upper-Level Elective | 3 |
| CJC Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| Semester Hours | 15 | Semester Hours | 15 |
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall Semester | Spring Semester | ||
| CJC 480 or CJC Upper-Level Elective | 3 | CJC 499 or CJC Upper-Level Elective | 3 |
| CJC Upper-Level Elective | 3 | CJC Upper-Level Elective | 3 |
| Upper-Level Elective | 3 | Upper-Level Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| Semester Hours | 15 | Semester Hours | 15 |
| Total Program Hours | 120 | ||
At least one course above must be multicultural, or a separate multicultural course is required.
Criminal Justice and Criminology Minor
18 Semester Credit Hours
Requirements for Criminal Justice and Criminology Minor
Core Course Requirements
6 Semester Credit Hours
- CJC 100 – Introduction to Criminal Justice (3)
- CJC 350 – Criminology (3)
Must complete an additional twelve (12) elective credit hours in CJC.