The Criminal Justice curriculum is designed to skillfully integrate theory and academic constructs in direct relationship with the operational realities that influence and shape the ever-changing nature and composite of the United States criminal justice system.

The curriculum closely examines: the nature and incidence of crime; theories of criminality and punishment; the interdependent operation of the various components of the criminal justice system, which comprise police and law enforcement, the courts and adjudication process, and corrections; the organizational and personnel management theories relevant to criminal justice management and administration; the use and application of the state-of-the art computers and information technologies; forensic psychology; the forensic sciences; the impact of major social problems on crime and the criminal justice system, and the growing implications of cyber-crime, terrorism, and transnational crime.

Program Outcomes

  • Knowledge and Understanding: Consistent with the criteria established by the Academy of Criminal Justices Sciences (ACJS), students will acquire a thorough knowledge and understanding of administration of justice; corrections; criminological theory; law adjudication, law enforcement; and research and analytic methods.
  • Critical Thinking: Students will learn and demonstrate critical thinking, skeptical inquiry, and the scientific approach to problem solving by selecting and organizing information, identifying assumptions and causal relationships, distinguishing between verifiable facts and value claims, determining the credibility of sources, distinguishing between warranted or unwarranted reasons or conclusions, detecting biases, and evaluating appropriate problem solving strategies, their feasibility and efficacy.
  • Effective Communication: Students will be able to communicate effectively, in writing and verbally, in a clear, concise, articulate, literate, and professional manner consistent with the conventions of the English language, of college writing, and with those specific to the discipline of law and criminal justice
  • Information and Technological Literacy: Students will be able to demonstrate information literacy and technological competency utilizing the most current computer-based library computer systems and academic databases, governmental resources, and other bona-fide informational resources to facilitate the study of criminal justice and criminology.
  • Ethical and Professional Behavior: Students will learn to identify, evaluate, assess, and employ appropriate legal, ethical, and professional behaviors and practices within all aspects of their life, including, but not limited to an academic and criminal justice environment.

Degree Plan

NOTE: All students are required to complete the General Education Requirements of their campus in fulfillment of their Bachelor degree requirements.

Required courses (33 credits)

Major electives (12 credits)

Criminal Justice majors are advised to refer to Self-Service or the current Undergraduate Studies Bulletin for criminal justice courses that may fulfill their major elective courses.  Students considering the BA/MA Combined Degree Program are advised to confer with their advisor before registering for major elective courses.

For More Information

Contact Doug Evans, Department Deputy Chair, 201-692-2467, devans@fdu.edu