- Understand the structure and function of the criminal justice system at the federal, state, and local levels.
- Apply knowledge of diverse criminal justice systems.
- Utilize scientific research and statistical techniques in the study of crime.
- Analyze criminological theories and their application to understanding crime.
Examples of Outcome Assessments
- Evaluation of examinations, research projects, and written assignments.
- Senior Seminar projects and internship reports.
- Exit questionnaires administered to graduating students.
- Alumni surveys evaluating program relevance.
- Institutional and external data used to assess program effectiveness.
Requirements for the Bachelor of Science Degree with a Major in Criminal Justice
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Curriculum | 60 | |
| Core IMPACTS (See VSU Core Curriculum) | 42 | |
| Core Field of Study | 18 | |
| CRJU 1100 | Introduction to Criminal Justice | 3 |
| ENGL 2020 | Writing for Criminal Justice Professions | 3 |
| SOCI 1101 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
| or SOCI 1160 | Introduction to Social Problems | |
| Electives | 9 | |
| Introduction to Anthropology | ||
| Human Communication | ||
| Public Speaking | ||
| Principles of Logic and Argumentation | ||
| Introduction to General Psychology | ||
| World Religions | ||
| Introduction to Sociology | ||
| Introduction to Social Problems | ||
Foreign Language 1001 | ||
Foreign Language 1002 | ||
Foreign Language 2001 | ||
Foreign Language 2002 | ||
| Senior College Curriculum | 60 | |
| Upper-level courses in Criminal Justice | 27 | |
| CRJU 3300 | Criminal Law | 3 |
| CRJU 3310 | Criminal Procedure | 3 |
| CRJU 3401 | Social Science Statistics | 3 |
| CRJU 3402 | Social Science Research Methods | 3 |
| CRJU 3600 | Criminology | 3 |
| CRJU 3700 | Ethics in Criminal Justice | 3 |
| CRJU 4100 | Seminar in Law Enforcement | 3 |
| CRJU 4200 | Seminar in Corrections | 3 |
| CRJU 4400 | Seminar in Juvenile Justice | 3 |
| Criminal Justice Electives | 21 | |
| Open Electives | 12 | |
CRJU 4910 Criminal Justice Internship may be taken as an open elective for 3 to 6 hours of credit. At least 6 hours of coursework numbered 3000 or above must be taken in a single discipline outside the major. | ||
| Total hours required for the degree | 120 | |
Additional Departmental Requirement
The grade earned in all Core Field of Study courses and each CRJU course taken for the major must be a “C” or better.
The Accelerated Undergraduate-to-Graduate Track
The Accelerated Undergraduate-to-Graduate Track is an undergraduate-to-graduate degree program. Students in this track will complete up to 12 hours of graduate course work at the 7000 level in Criminal Justice that will count toward the completion of the Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice. These 12 hours may then be applied toward the completion of degree requirements for the Master of Science in Criminal Justice Administration degree upon admission to the graduate program at Valdosta State University. To be admitted to the Accelerated Undergraduate-to-Graduate
degree program, students must have:
- Completed 60 credit hours
- Completed CRJU 3401, 3402, 3600, and 3700 with a minimum grade of B (or course equivalent);
- Acquired a cumulative VSU GPA of 3.0 or higher
- Submit a personal statement to the Criminal Justice Graduate coordinator describing their education and career goals and how the program will assist the students to achieve their goals. The essay should not exceed 2 pages and should be submitted via email.
Once admitted to the program, a specific course of study will be developed with the student's undergraduate advisor, as the student can take one or more graduate courses in the terms remaining to complete the undergraduate degree. Graduate courses taken as an undergraduate will count toward the student's undergraduate degree requirements but will not count toward the student's undergraduate GPA or the calculation of academic honors.
Upon admission to the Accelerated Undergraduate-to-Graduate Track, students must maintain an overall GPA of 3.0 to remain in good standing. Students who do not remain in good standing or who do not wish to continue with the track may complete the remaining requirements for the B.S. in Criminal Justice.
Successful completion of the Accelerated Undergraduate-to-Graduate Track requires that the student earn a grade of B or better in all graduate level coursework. A grade of C earned in a graduate course can still be used for credit toward the
undergraduate degree, but such a grade will affect the student's graduate GPA as a grade of C creates one deficiency point at the graduate level.
Students interested in continuing their graduate education may apply for admission to the Master of
Science in Criminal Justice Administration (MSCJA) program in their senior year or upon completion of their undergraduate degree. Students in the Accelerated Undergraduate-to-Graduate Track will not be required to take additional admission tests but must meet all other graduate admission requirements. Students who have completed the Accelerated Undergraduate-to-Graduate Track will complete an additional 24 hours of graduate criminal justice classes
to meet the MSCJA degree requirement of 36 hours. Upon application to the Graduate School, students who have made a 11C11 or less in any of their graduate courses taken as undergraduate will be subject to the MSCJA Retention Policy regarding deficiency points.
Accelerated Undergraduate-to-Graduate Track
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Curriculum | 60 | |
| Core IMPACTS (See VSU Core Curriculum) | 42 | |
| Core Field of Study | 18 | |
| CRJU 1100 | Introduction to Criminal Justice | 3 |
| ENGL 2020 | Writing for Criminal Justice Professions | 3 |
| SOCI 1101 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
| or SOCI 1160 | Introduction to Social Problems | |
| Electives | 9 | |
| Introduction to Anthropology | ||
| Human Communication | ||
| Public Speaking | ||
| Principles of Logic and Argumentation | ||
| Introduction to General Psychology | ||
| World Religions | ||
| Introduction to Sociology | ||
| Introduction to Social Problems | ||
Foreign Language 1001 | ||
Foreign Language 1002 | ||
Foreign Language 2001 | ||
Foreign Language 2002 | ||
| If SOCI 1101, SOCI 1160, or any of the above electives are taken in the Humanities area or the Social Sciences area, the student will select another course from the electives listed above. | ||
| Senior College Curriculum | 60 | |
| Upper-level Courses in Criminal Justice | 27 | |
| CRJU 3300 | Criminal Law | 3 |
| CRJU 3310 | Criminal Procedure | 3 |
| CRJU 3401 | Social Science Statistics | 3 |
| or SOCI 3000 | Social Science Statistics | |
| CRJU 3402 | Social Science Research Methods | 3 |
| or ANTH 3510; SOCI 3510 | ||
| CRJU 3600 | Criminology | 3 |
| CRJU 3700 | Ethics in Criminal Justice | 3 |
| CRJU 4100 | Seminar in Law Enforcement | 3 |
| CRJU 4200 | Seminar in Corrections | 3 |
| CRJU 4400 | Seminar in Juvenile Justice | 3 |
| Criminal Justice Electives | 18 | |
| CRJU 7000 | Organizational Culture and Criminal Justice Administration | 3 |
| CRJU 7020 | Leadership and Ethics for the Criminal Justice Executive | 3 |
| Two CRJU courses at the 7000-level (excluding MSCJA required courses) | 6 | |
| Open Electives | 12 | |
At least 6 hours of coursework numbered 3000 or above must be taken in a single discipline outside the major. | ||
| Total hours required for the degree | 120 | |
Additional Departmental Requirement
The grade earned in all Core Field of Study courses and each CRJU course taken for the major must be a “C” or better.
