Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice: Curriculum
Curriculum Details
120 TOTAL CREDITS REQUIRED
The B.S. in Criminal Justice degree courses can prepare you to lead a successful career.
You’ll complete a total of 120 credit hours, comprising 34-55 core credits, major course requirements (10 credits), major related course requirements (33-36 credits), a specialization (12 credits), and electives (0-31 credits). You will choose from six specializations, so you can stand out from other criminal justice professionals.
Complete or transfer in core coursework requirements in Math, English, Foreign Language, Quantitative Reasoning, Written & Oral Communication, Humanities, Natural Sciences, and Social Sciences. In addition, at least 60 credit hours of the 120 required must be in the liberal arts and sciences.
The curriculum course abstracts on this page are meant to provide a high-level course overview and subject to change based on term, faculty, and/or institutional requirements. View the official course descriptions as written in the Utica University Academic Catalog and in adherence to regional compliance. Select the appropriate Undergraduate Catalog from the dropdown.
Major course requirement
Explore the history, theory, and structure of the criminal justice system. This course emphasizes substantive and procedural criminal law with additional examination of police, prosecution, defense, courts, and institutional and community corrections, as well as the juvenile justice subsystem.
Review the ethics, professionalism, and critical thinking involved in the criminal justice communication process. Gain an understanding of how research, writing, and oral and visual communication skills are related to criminal justice.
Prerequisite: CRJ 103
Major related requirements
Learn how evidence is used and understood differently in the practice of criminal justice versus the study of it. You’ll examine the purpose, role, uses, sources, and credibility of evidence in practice and theory. Consider what evidence is and is not, the types of questions for which evidence is needed, and the complementary roles of evidence and logic in answering criminal justice questions. Learn how to be a critical consumer of criminal justice claims and how evidence is used in criminological research.
Discover the foundational aspects of intelligence studies. You’ll learn about the collection and analysis of intelligence information from the perspective of national security, law enforcement, and business.
Prerequisite: CRJ 103
This examination of white-collar crime in the United States emphasizes investigatory techniques related to these types of crime.
Prerequisite: CRJ 103 or equivalent.
Study of the technology, laws, regulations, ethics and procedures for conducting computer network investigations.
Prerequisite: CYB 333
Get to know the types of proactive technology programs and tools that are used to prevent and detect the occurence of fraudulent face-to-face, e-commerce, and e-business transactions. You’ll also examine the development and implementation of business models for creating prevention and detection products and techniques.
Cross-Departmental
Gain an understanding of how to apply statistical methods to management and economics. Learn about descriptive statistics, probability, normal curve, sampling, confidence, and regression.
Prerequisites: Completion of mathematics and computer requirements in component one of core.
Students may not also take Psychology/Sociology 211 or Mathematics 112 for credit toward Core Goal 4: Quantitative Reasoning.
Explore statistical competencies as a non-mathematics major. You’ll explore probability theory topics, binomial distribution, normal distribution, descriptive statistics, frequency distribution, measures of central tendency, and hypothesis testing. Additionally, you’ll learn about confidence intervals, correlation, and prediction.
Prerequisites: MAT 100, or satisfactory performance in Mathematics Placement Test administered by the mathematics department, or permission of instructor. Students may not also take PSY 211, ECN 241, or SOC 211 for credit toward Core Goal 4: Quantitative Reasoning
Examine crime as a form of deviant behavior and its relationship to social values and social structure. You’ll also explore types of criminal behavior, theories of treatment and control, correctional methods, and the administration of criminal justice.
Gain an understanding of quantitative methods and their application in crime study. Through the analysis of scientific journals, you’ll test hypotheses and evaluate policy, in addition to exploring computer applications in processing data and data analysis.
Law
Gain an understanding of criminal law and the framework for substantive criminal law in the United States. You’ll explore how the Constitution affects the criminal studies system and the people in it.
Learn about criminal law as a process for dispute settlement and maintenance of order by the state. You’ll focus on legal reasoning, legal process, and necessity to maintain historical continuity and doctrinal consistency.
Technology
Computer hardware and peripherals and other digital media used in commission of cyber-crimes. Hands-on examination of devices, including building, configuring, upgrading, troubleshooting, diagnosis, and repair.
Professional Development
This capstone experience will integrate what you’ve learned in previous classes with a critical analysis of current research literature. You’ll develop action projects with fellow seminar members focused on selected topics of current interest.
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
Gain field experience by joining the staff of a criminal justice agency under co-supervision of school faculty and agency personnel. Your hands-on field experience will be combined with weekly readings, online discussions, and writing assignments designed to pair theory with professional practice.
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
Consult with a faculty supervisor to select a policy issue and conduct senior-level research.
Prerequisite: Permission of advisor.
Cyber criminology and policy specialization
Examine crime as a form of deviant behavior and its relationship to social values and social structure. You’ll also explore types of criminal behavior, theories of treatment and control, correctional methods, and the administration of criminal justice.
Study of the technology, laws, regulations, ethics and procedures for conducting computer network investigations.
Prerequisite: CYB 333
Get to know the types of proactive technology programs and tools that are used to prevent and detect the occurence of fraudulent face-to-face, e-commerce, and e-business transactions. You’ll also examine the development and implementation of business models for creating prevention and detection products and techniques.
Explore major theories of public policy making, mechanics of the process, methods of examining policy impacts, and how criminal studies policy can affect and be affected by research.
Prerequisites: CRJ 103 and CRJ 384
Discover the foundational aspects of intelligence studies. You’ll learn about the collection and analysis of intelligence information from the perspective of national security, law enforcement, and business.
Prerequisite: CRJ 103
Homeland security specialization
Examine the protection of proprietary information in both the corporate and government sectors. You’ll explore topics including information as a resource, legal issues, policy formulation, administrative and technical remedies, and case studies.
Learn the principles of privacy relating to non-public personal information and proprietary business or government information. You’ll examine policy issues and best practices, as well as legal, regulatory, and business controls.
Prerequisites: CRJ 103 or permission of instructor.
Policing, court, and correctional systems can vary drastically from one country to the next, with potentially serious consequences to a visitor unfamiliar with how a nation’s justice system works and interacts internationally. By conducting both macro- and micro-level research, you’ll expose differences and commonalities existing between countries around the world. You’ll also examine topical issues, like terrorism, and world events, such as the Olympics, to learn how criminal justice systems are impacted.
Prerequisite: CRJ 103
Legal issues in criminal justice
Explore topics ranging from computer crimes and e-commerce to internet fraud and threats to the national infrastructure. You’ll analyze policies, legal issues, and investigative techniques and strategies, as well as implications for investigation and enforcement on a global scale.
Gain an understanding of criminal law and the framework for substantive criminal law in the United States. You’ll explore how the Constitution affects the criminal studies system and the people in it.
Understand the government and judicial regulations designed to address economic crime, and how they impact financial institutions, commercial entities, their agents, and employees. You’ll also look at constitutional issues in investigations by governmental and corporate entities in both a substantive and procedural context.
Become familiar with the rules of evidence and trial procedures applicable to criminal cases at the state and federal levels. You’ll also gain experience as a witness and an attorney during an in-class mock trial.
Learn about criminal law as a process for dispute settlement and maintenance of order by the state. You’ll focus on legal reasoning, legal process, and necessity to maintain historical continuity and doctrinal consistency.
Examine the principles underlying American constitutional government with special attention to interpretation of the Federal Constitution.
Prerequisite: GOV 101
Public policy and leadership specialization
Explore the principles of management and organizational theory. You’ll gain an understanding of all functional areas of management, with an emphasis on the key management responsibilities of planning, organizing, controlling, leading, and staffing. You’ll also examine ethical and social responsibilities, change, and global challenges.
Prerequisites: MGT 101 or CMG 103
Explore major theories of public policy making, mechanics of the process, methods of examining policy impacts, and how criminal studies policy can affect and be affected by research.
Prerequisites: CRJ 103 and CRJ 384
White-collar crime specialization
Examine crime as a form of deviant behavior and its relationship to social values and social structure. You’ll also explore types of criminal behavior, theories of treatment and control, correctional methods, and the administration of criminal justice.
Learn about the development of organized crime in the United States and its impact on social, economic, and political institutions. You’ll examine the role of corruption as a facilitator of crime.
Prerequisite: CRJ 103 or equivalent.
A comprehensive look at the history of white-collar crime, including definitions and categories, trends, theories, and policies. You’ll also study offenders, victims, and societal reactions to corporate crime and other forms of white-collar crime.
Prerequisite: CRJ 103.
This examination of white-collar crime in the United States emphasizes investigatory techniques related to these types of crime.
Prerequisite: CRJ 103 or equivalent.
Understand the government and judicial regulations designed to address economic crime, and how they impact financial institutions, commercial entities, their agents, and employees. You’ll also look at constitutional issues in investigations by governmental and corporate entities in both a substantive and procedural context.
Get to know the types of proactive technology programs and tools that are used to prevent and detect the occurence of fraudulent face-to-face, e-commerce, and e-business transactions. You’ll also examine the development and implementation of business models for creating prevention and detection products and techniques.
Examine modern payment systems from a global perspective. You’ll become familiar with opportunities for fraud within payment systems, and learn techniques for preventing, detecting, and investigating fraud.
Prerequisite: CRJ 232 or permission of instructor.
General electives
Using a case-study investigation of local high-profile criminal cases, you’ll complete online assignments and discussions, readings, and a technology-based final project. May be repeated for up to 3 credits with different readings.
Explore and analyze one or more contemporary topics chosen by your instructor. Each topic variation may be taken for credit.
Policing, court, and correctional systems can vary drastically from one country to the next, with potentially serious consequences to a visitor unfamiliar with how a nation’s justice system works and interacts internationally. By conducting both macro- and micro-level research, you’ll expose differences and commonalities existing between countries around the world. You’ll also examine topical issues, like terrorism, and world events, such as the Olympics, to learn how criminal justice systems are impacted.
Prerequisite: CRJ 103
Learn about the development of organized crime in the United States and its impact on social, economic, and political institutions. You’ll examine the role of corruption as a facilitator of crime.
Prerequisite: CRJ 103 or equivalent.
Study the theory and practice of modern investigation methods for public and private sector agencies. Learn about the techniques and procedures for evidence collection, preservation, and presentation. Become acquainted with investigation resources, including crime laboratories and databases.
Prerequisite: CRJ 103 or equivalent.
Look at how crime, criminals, and the criminal justice system are represented in major literary works from countries around the world. May be repeated for up to 3 credits with different readings.
Prerequisites: CRJ 103 or SOC 274
A comprehensive look at the history of white-collar crime, including definitions and categories, trends, theories, and policies. You’ll also study offenders, victims, and societal reactions to corporate crime and other forms of white-collar crime.
Prerequisite: CRJ 103.
This examination of white-collar crime in the United States emphasizes investigatory techniques related to these types of crime.
Prerequisite: CRJ 103 or equivalent.
Explore topics ranging from computer crimes and e-commerce to internet fraud and threats to the national infrastructure. You’ll analyze policies, legal issues, and investigative techniques and strategies, as well as implications for investigation and enforcement on a global scale.
Understand the government and judicial regulations designed to address economic crime, and how they impact financial institutions, commercial entities, their agents, and employees. You’ll also look at constitutional issues in investigations by governmental and corporate entities in both a substantive and procedural context.
Become familiar with the rules of evidence and trial procedures applicable to criminal cases at the state and federal levels. You’ll also gain experience as a witness and an attorney during an in-class mock trial.
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