Bachelor of Science Degree Program
Minor
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
General Electives
Public Affairs and Policy
Criminal Justice Concentration
General education at IU Southeast includes both campuswide requirements, which apply to all baccalaureate degrees, and requirements that are specific to each degree. Some degrees have extensive general education requirements of their own, whereas others have relatively few requirements beyond those established by the campus.
The purpose of this section is to describe the campuswide general education program and its requirements. Requirements that are specific to each degree are set out in the section which describes that degree.
Campuswide general education requirements include Category 1, Category 2, and Category 3 courses. Category 1 courses have a substantial emphasis on the general education goal(s) and learning outcomes they address. They are typically courses taught at the 100 or 200 level, with few if any prerequisites, and are suitable for students from any major. Category 1 courses will count toward any degree program. Students should plan to take their Category 1 courses during the first 60 credit hours of their degree.
Category 2 courses have a substantial emphasis on the general education goal(s) and learning outcomes they address, whereas Category 3 courses have a significant emphasis on the goal(s) and learning outcomes they address. The purpose of Category 2 and 3 courses is to reinforce and further develop the knowledge and skills acquired in Category 1 courses. They are designated for each degree and may consist of courses in the major or any other courses that meet the criteria specified above. Category 2 and 3 courses may be taught at any level at the university.
In many cases, a requirement states that students must choose courses from a list of approved courses. Students should consult their advisors or go to www.ius.edu/generaleducation for the current list of approved courses.
Written Communication
Students are required to take the Category 1 course, ENG-W 131 Elementary Composition, and two additional courses chosen from a list of approved courses. At least one of the additional courses must be from Category 2.
Placement in English Composition
In order to enter ENG-W 131, a student must first complete the Writing Placement process administered by the Student Development Center. On the basis of the results, the student will be placed in the appropriate writing course. The placement process is administered throughout the year and by appointment. Students must pass ENG-W 131 with a grade of C or higher.
Exemption
Students who desire an exemption with or without credit from ENG-W 131 should consult the Writing Program Coordinators. All requests for exemption and credit for this course should be made within the student's first 30 credit hours of course work at Indiana University Southeast.
Oral Communication
Students are required to take the Category 1 course, SPCH-S 121 Public Speaking, and one Category 3 course chosen from a list of approved courses.
Quantitative Reasoning
Students are required to choose one Category 1 course and one Category 3 course (or two Category 1 courses) from the list of approved courses. Note: degree programs vary significantly in the level of mathematical preparation they require for successful completion. Students should take this into consideration in choosing courses to meet this requirement.
Placement
In order to enter a mathematics course, a student must first take a placement test administered by the Student Development Center. On the basis of this score, the student will be placed in a course that best matches his or her knowledge of mathematics. The test is given throughout the year and by appointment.
Exemption
A student may achieve exemption from the mathematics requirement by earning a sufficiently high score, as determined by the mathematics faculty, on the American College Test (ACT) or Scholastic Achievement Test
(SAT), or by testing out of the appropriate class. For more information, see the Dean of Natural Sciences.
Information Technology Fluency
Students are required to take one Category 2 course from the list of approved courses.
Information Literacy
The Information Literacy outcomes are infused into the curriculum at three levels. They are introduced to all students in the required First Year Seminar class; they are further developed and elaborated in at least two required courses in the major (chosen by program faculty).
Central Ideas, Issues, and Methods of Inquiry
Students are required to take one course in the Humanities and one course in the Arts from the list of approved courses in those disciplines.
Students are required to take two courses from different disciplines from the list of approved courses in the Natural Sciences. One course must include a laboratory component.
Students are required to take two courses from different disciplines from the list of approved courses in the Social and Behavioral Sciences.
Critical Thinking
Students are required to take three courses from the list of approved critical thinking courses; at least one of these courses must be designated as a Category 1 critical thinking course. Each of these three courses will also meet one or more of the other general education requirements, e.g., Central Ideas, Issues, and Methods of Inquiry.
Diversity
Students are required to take one Category 1 course and one Category 3 course (or two Category 1 courses) from the list of approved courses in diversity.
Reasoning about Moral and Ethical Issues
Students are required to take one Category 1 course and one Category 3 course (or two Category 1 courses) from the list of approved courses in moral and ethical reasoning.
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Additional courses beyond the general education, core, and concentration requirements are needed to complete the Bachelor of Science degree requirement of 120 credit hours.
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(Four courses for a minimum of 12 credit hours)
The following courses:
SPEA-E 162 Environment and People (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 170 Introduction to Public Affairs (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 263 Public Management (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 264 Urban Structure and Policy (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 348 Management Science (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 372 Government Finance and Budget (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 373 Human Resources Management in the Public Sector (3 cr.) or POLS-Y 404 Political Issues in Public Personnel Administration (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 376 Law and Public Policy (3 cr.)
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(Eleven courses for a minimum of 33 credit hours)
The following eight courses:
SPEA-J 101 The American Criminal Justice System (3 cr.) Note: This is a required course and prerequisite for all other criminal justice courses.
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.) or
SPEA-J 401 Criminal Law & Procedure (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 additional criminal justice courses chosen in consultation with an advisor.
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Any Indiana University Southeast student enrolled in a bachelor’s program may pursue the Criminal Justice Minor.
Criminal Justice Minor
Requirements (Five courses)
The following course:
SPEA-J 101 The American Criminal Justice System (3 cr.)
One of the following courses:
SPEA-J 201 Theoretical Foundations of Criminal Justice Policies (3 cr.)
SPEA-J 301 Substantive Criminal Law (3 cr.)
Three of the following courses:
SPEA-J 201 Theoretical Foundations of Criminal Justice Policies (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.)
Note: SPEA-J 201 and SPEA-J 301 can be taken only once each for credit.
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