Criminal Justice Requirements
The degree requires the successful completion of no less than 128 semester credit hours, which includes an internship and capstone. Also required are the RU core coursework and 12 semester hours of related upper division courses chosen under the direction of the major advisor. Successful completion of the Criminal Justice program will require a criminal background check prior placement in an internship placement. The presence of any criminal conviction on a student’s record may affect his/her eligibility for participating in the internship and/or securing a job in the student’s field.
A distinguishing element to the Rockhurst University Criminal Justice program is that students have the option to pursue either a minor or certificate in paralegal studies. This option provides students with an additional professional credential: a Certificate in Paralegal Studies. As the profession has become increasingly more recognized and diversified, paralegals with a variety of skills and backgrounds are being sought. Therefore, the certificate is complementary to a major in Criminal Justice. Students would have other minor courses of study available to them as well.
| Required Coursework for the Major | |
|---|---|
|
Lower Division Courses (5 courses) |
Credit Hours |
|
CJ1000 Introduction to Criminal Justice PA2000 Legal Theory and Practice CJ2000 Criminology CJ2100 Juvenile Delinquency & Justice PY2100 Introduction to Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences Total Lower Division Credit Hours |
3 3 3 3 3 15 |
|
Upper Division Courses (9 courses) |
Credit Hours |
|
CJ3000 Law Enforcement & Policing CJ3100 Correctional Institutions CJ3500 Criminal Law and Procedures CJ3700 Research Methods in Criminal Justice CJ4940 Criminal Justice Capstone CJ4970 Criminal Justice Internship
Ethics Focus (Completion of one the following two courses):
PA3400 Ethics and Professionalism OR PL4500 Ethical Problems
Completion of two of the courses listed below. Students are to consult with their academic advisor and consider what their intended professional and educational future goals are within the field of Criminal Justice when selecting these two courses:
CJ3600-3699 Special Topics in Criminal Justice 3 OLS3000 Leadership Theory and Practice 3 OLS3600 Conflict Resolution 3 PS3130 American State and Local Politics 3 PS3500 U.S. Intelligence Operations 3 PY3810 Psychology and the Law 3 Total Upper Division Credit Hours
Note: “The curriculum in interdisciplinary programs may include 30 credit hours of course work from several disciplines in lieu of the minimum of 18 hours in one discipline and 12 hours in a related area.” (P.46 RU catalog) |
3 3 3 3 2 2
3
3
3 3 3 3 3 3 25 |
|
|
|
|
Minor in Criminal Justice |
|
|
The minor in Criminal Justice consists of 18 semester hours. It is highly recommended that students seeking a minor in Criminal Justice consult with the program director of Criminal Justice. Course work for the minor: |
|
|
Lower Division Prerequisites (2 courses) |
Credit Hours |
|
CJ1000 Introduction to Criminal Justice CJ2200 Criminology |
3 3 |
|
Upper Division Requirements (4 courses) |
Credit Hours |
|
CJ3100 Correctional Institutions CJ3500 Criminal Law and Procedures
And two courses (6 credit hours) from the following list:
CJ3600-3699 Special Topics in Criminal Justice OLS3000 Leadership Theory and Practice OLS3600 Conflict Resolution PS3130 American State and Local Politics PS3500 U.S. Intelligence Operations PY3810 Psychology and the Law |
3 3
3 3 3 3 3 3 |