Bachelor of Science Degree Program
Associate of Science Degree Program
The School of Public and Environmental Affairs recognizes the complex problems facing our society, such as community and police relations, urban crime, and correctional facilities problems. Through the bachelor of science degree program the school develops its students’ problem-solving abilities and organizational skills so that they may contribute possible solutions to these and other problems.
The Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice degree is excellent preparation for a career in corrections, law enforcement, or probation. Students could also continue their education by studying public affairs, law, social work, and other social sciences.
Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice
The Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice requires 120 credit hours.
DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
The program includes four main areas:
General Education
Distribution Requirements
Public Affairs and Policy
Criminal Justice Concentration
Return to Top
Communications
(Three courses for a minimum of 9 credit hours)
The following course:
ENG-W 131 Elementary Composition (3 cr.) (C or higher)
The following writing course:
ENG-W 231 Professional Writing Skills (3 cr.)
The following speech course:
SPCH-S 121 Public Speaking (3 cr.)
Quantitative Methods
(Three courses for a minimum of 9 credit hours)
One of the following mathematics courses:
MATH-M 118 Finite Mathematics (3 cr.)
MATH-M 119 Brief Survey of Calculus I (3 cr.) or
other approved mathematics courses higher than MATH-M 118
The following statistics course:
SPEA-K 300 Statistical Techniques (3 cr.) or
another approved statistics course
One of the following computer courses:
CSCI-A 110 Introduction to Computers and Computing (3 cr.)
CSCI-C 201 Computing Program II (3 cr.)
CSCI-C 202 Introduction to Software Systems (3 cr.)
CSCI-C 237 Operating Systems and Job Processing (3 cr.)
Or other approved CSCI courses
Support Course Requirements
(Four courses for a minimum of 12 credit hours)
HIST-H 105 American History I (3 cr.)
HIST-H 106 American History II (3 cr.)
POLS-Y 304 American Constitutional Law I (3 cr.)
POLS-Y 305 American Constitutional Law II (3 cr.)
Return to Bachelor of Science Degree Program
Humanities and Fine Arts
Two courses for a minimum of 6 credit hours selected from the following subject areas that are not used to satisfy other degree requirements:
Afro-American Studies
Classical Studies
Comparative Literature
English (Recommended: ENG-W 231)
Fine Arts
Folklore
Foreign Languages and Literature
History (other than support courses)
Music
Philosophy
Religion
Speech
Theatre and Drama
Natural Sciences
Two courses for a minimum of 6 credit hours (not including the quantitative requirement) in two disciplines selected from the following subject areas in consultation with an advisor. One of these courses must include a laboratory component.
Astronomy
Biology
Chemistry
Geology
Physical Geography
Physics
Plant Sciences
Zoology
Behavioral and Social Sciences
(Three courses for a minimum of 9 credit hours)
Three of the following courses:
PSY-P 103 General Psychology (3 cr.)
PSY-P 324 Abnormal Psychology (3 cr.)
SOC-S 100 Introduction to Sociology (3 cr.)
SOC-S 101 Social Problems and Policies (3 cr.)
SOC-S 320 Deviant Behavior and Social Control (3 cr.)
SOC-S 325 Criminology (3 cr.)
Or other approved courses in consultation with an advisor.
General Electives
Additional courses beyond the general education, core, and concentration requirements are needed to complete the Bachelor of Science degree requirement of 120 credit hours.
Return to Bachelor of Science Degree Program
(Four courses for a minimum of 12 credit hours)
The following courses:
SPEA-V 170 Introduction to Public Affairs (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 366 Managing Behavior in Public Organizations (3 cr.) and
two additional public affairs and policy courses approved in consultation with an advisor.
Return to Bachelor of Science Degree Program
(Eleven courses for a minimum of 33 credit hours)
The following eight courses:
SPEA-J 101 The American Criminal Justice System (3 cr.)
SPEA-J 201 Theoretical Foundations of Criminal Justice Policies (3 cr.)
SPEA-J 202 Criminal Justice Data, Methods, and Resources (3 cr.)
SPEA-J 301 Substantive Criminal Law (3 cr.)
SPEA-J 306 The Criminal Courts (3 cr.)
SPEA-J 321 American Policing (3 cr.)
SPEA-J 331 Corrections (3 cr.)
SPEA-J 439 Crime and Public Policy (3 cr.)
Three other criminal justice courses chosen in consultation with an advisor.
Return to Bachelor of Science Degree Program
Return to Top
The School of Public and Environmental Affairs offers an associate degree program. Courses that meet associate degree requirements generally can be applied to a subsequent bachelor’s degree program. The following are general requirements for the completion of an associate degree:
- A minimum of 60 credit hours with a 2.00 cumulative average or higher and a 2.30 average or higher in core and concentration courses is required. All requirements for this degree must be satisfied before earning 86 credit hours.
- A limited number of courses may be transferred from other accredited institutions or be taken through independent study.
- Courses taken to meet specific degree requirements cannot be double-counted (used to satisfy any other requirement for the same degree).
- A maximum of two elective courses may be taken pass-fail in this degree.
Associate of Science in Criminal Justice
DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
The SPEA curriculum is divided into four categories:
General Education
Distribution Requirements
Public Policy Course
Criminal Justice Concentration
Return to Top
(The following courses for a minimum of 9 credit hours)
ENG-W 131 Elementary Composition (3 cr.)
ENG-W 231 Professional Writing Skills (3 cr.)
SPCH-S 121 Public Speaking (3 cr.)
Return to Associate of Science Degree Program
Humanities and Fine Arts
One course, for a minimum of 3 credit hours, from one of the following subject areas:
English
Fine Arts
Foreign Languages and Literature
History: H105 or H106 recommended
Music
Philosophy
Religion
Speech
Theatre and Drama
Behavioral and Social Sciences
(Two courses, for a minimum of 6 credit hours, are required, and they must come from different subject areas.)
Anthropology
Behavioral and Social Science
Economics
Geography
Journalism
Political Science
Psychology
Sociology
Natural Sciences
One course, for a minimum of 3 credit hours, from one of the following subject areas:
Anatomy and Physiology
Astronomy
Biology
Chemistry
Geology
Physics
Plant Sciences
Zoology
Or the following cross-listed course:
GEOG-G 107 Physical Systems of the Environment (3 cr.)
Quantitative Methods
An approved course (must be at least 3 credit hours) from one of the following subject areas:
Computer Science
Mathematics
Statistics
General Electives
Additional courses beyond the general education, core, and concentration requirements are needed to complete the Associate of Science degree requirement of 60 credit hours.
Return to Associate of Science Degree Program
The following course:
SPEA-V 170 Introduction to Public Affairs (3 cr.)
Return to Associate of Science Degree Program
Requirements
(Six courses)
The following course:
SPEA-J 101 The American Criminal Justice System (3 cr.)
Three of the following courses:
SPEA-J 301 Substantive Criminal Law (3 cr.)
SPEA-J 306 The Criminal Courts (3 cr.)
SPEA-J 321 American Policing (3 cr.)
SPEA-J 331 Corrections (3 cr.)
Two additional SPEA criminal justice courses for a minimum of 6 credit hours. SPEA-J 201 and SPEA-J 202 recommended.
Return to Associate of Science Degree Program
Return to Top
