Criminal Justice (BSCJ)
The Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice requires 120 credit hours. The program includes four main areas: I. IU Indianapolis Common Core, II. O'Neill General Education/baccalaureate requirements, III. Program/Major requirements, and IV. Open electives.
I. IU Indianapolis Common Core (30 Credits)Students at IU Indianapolis will complete 30 hours of general education coursework prior to graduation with a baccalaureate degree. The coursework is aligned with the Indiana Common Core (formerly known as INSTGEC). For more information, please click here.
- Core Communication (2 courses; 6 credits) From approved list, students must take at least one writing course (ENG-W 131 - Reading, Writing and Inquiry I or ENG-W 140 Honors Composition I) and one speaking and listening course (COMM-R 110 - Public Speaking) for a total of two courses and six credits.
- Analytical Reasoning (2 courses, 6 credits) From approved list, at least one college level math course. It is recommended that O'Neill students take Math-M 118 (finite) and SPEA-K 300 (Statistical Techniques).
- Life and Physical Sciences (2 courses, 6 credits) From approved list, at least two courses and six credits toward the life and physical sciences.
- Cultural Understanding (1 course; 3 credits) From approved list, at least one course. O'Neill students are encouraged to complete first year competency in a foreign language.
- Arts & Humanities and Social Sciences (3 courses; 9 credits) From approved list, students must take at least three credits from the Arts & Humanities list and at least 3 credits from the Social Sciences list for a total of nine credits.
Classes in this area must be a minimum of three credits each.
Choose one course:
- ENG-W 231 Professional Writing Skills (3 cr.)
- ENG-W 270 Argumentative Writing (3 cr.)
- BUS-X 204 Business Communications (3 cr.)
Choose one course:
- SPEA-V 261 Using IT in Public Affairs (3 cr.)
- BUS-K 201 Computers in Business (3 cr.)
Required Courses:
- HIST-H 105 - American History I (3 cr.)
- HIST-H 106 - American History II (3 cr.)
- Select from any approved list of IU Indianapolis Common Core courses (9 cr.)
*If HIST-H 106, HIST-H 106, and/or SPEA-K 300 are used to meet a core requirement, the student must take additional credits from any of the core curriculum general areas (Core Communication, Mathematics/Analytical Reasoning, Life and Physical Sciences, Cultural Understanding, Arts & Humanities, Social Sciences) to achieve the additional O'Neill core general education requirement credits. Though, students are not limited to only the core course listings and are encouraged to take higher level courses in those areas, depending on interests, minors, or certificates. Course selection and approval should be done in consultation with a O'Neill Academic Advisor.
All O'Neill students are encouraged to complete First Year Competency in a foreign language.
Students cannot double count courses in this area with their major requirements.
III. Criminal Justice Major (16 courses; 48cr.)
Criminal Justice Core Courses (10 courses; 30 credits)- SPEA-J 101 The American Criminal Justice System (3 cr.)
- SPEA-J 150 Public Safety in America (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 206 The Criminal Courts (3 cr.)
- SPEA-J 275 Diversity Issues in Criminal Justice (3 cr.)
- SPEA-J 311 Criminal Law and Procedure (3 cr.)
- SPEA-J 321 American Policing (3 cr.)
- SPEA-J 331 Corrections (3 cr.)
- SPEA-J 439 Crime and Public Policy Capstone (3 cr.)
Choose SIX Criminal Justice Electives from approved list (18 credits- 12 credits must be at 300/400 level)
- SPEA-J 205 Juvenile Justice (3 cr.)
- SPEA-J 211 Introduction to Criminal Law and Procedure (3 cr.)
- SPEA-J 220 Criminal Investigation (3 cr.)
- SPEA-J 232 Investigating Post-Blast Crime Scenes (1-3 cr.)
- SPEA-J 238 Introduction to Modern Police Practices (3 cr.)
- SPEA-J 260* Topics in Criminal Justice (1-3 cr.)
- SPEA-J 272 Terrorism and Public Policy (3 cr.)
- SPEA-J 280/SPEA-J 380/SPEA-V 380 Internship in Criminal Justice (0-6 cr.)
- SPEA-J 327/SPEA-V 328 Applied Research Experience (0-3 cr.)
- SPEA-J 387 Foundations of Homeland Security (3 cr.)
- SPEA-J 426 (if not used for computer requirement) Mapping & Analysis-Public Safety (3 cr.)
- SPEA-J 433 Institutional Corrections (3 cr.)
- SPEA-J 460 Police in the Community (3 cr.)
- SPEA-J 470 Seminar in Criminal Justice (1-3 cr.)
- SPEA-J 480/SPEA-V 480 Research in Criminal Justice (1-6 cr.)
- SPEA-V 252 Career Development (3 cr)
- SPEA-V 263 Public Management (3 cr.)
- SPEA-V 362 Nonprofit Management and Leadership (3 cr.)
- SPEA-V 366 Managing Behavior in Public Organizations (3 cr.)
- SPEA-V 376 Law and Public Policy (3 cr.)
- SPEA-V 412 Leadership and Ethics (3 cr.)
- SPEA-V 435 Negotiation and Alternative Dispute Resolution (1-4 cr.)
- SPEA-V 443 Managing Workforce Diversity (3 cr.)
- SPEA-V 482 Overseas Study*.(Review AAR or iGPS to view course titles)
*May count toward this requirement, but are limited to a maxiumum of 3 credits each. With approval by the faculty advisor, other non-criminal justice O'Neill courses may be substituted. SPEA-J 260 and SPEA-J 380 may count toward this requirement, but are limited to a maximum of three credits each.
IV. Open Electives (credit hours vary)Additional courses beyond the IU Indianapolis Common Core, O'Neill General Education requirements, and Major requirements to total 120 credit hours (these are not required to be O'Neill courses but could be).
Only college level course work will count toward open electives. Remedial courses in areas such as math and English do not count.
Important notes:Students may transfer to O'Neill School of Public & Environmental Affairs once they acquire 12 credit hours, have a cumulative GPA of 2.3 in O'Neill major courses (section III), an overall cumulative GPA of 2.0 and a previous semester GPA of 2.0.
On the Indianapolis campus, no more than 50 percent of courses taken to satisfy the requirements of the Criminal Justice major may be transfer courses from other accredited institutions of higher learning; including all IU campuses.
O'Neill Good Standing requires: a previous semester 2.0 GPA and a cumulative 2.0 GPA.
Please see your O'Neill Academic Advisor with any questions. To make an appointment with your advisor, call O'Neill Student Services at 317-274-4656.
