Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice (BSCJ & BSPS) Learning Outcomes
Describe major elements of the criminal justice system, policing, courts and corrections
- Summarize basic terms and definitions critical to criminal justice
- Define crime, legally and socially, discuss how it is measured, and current trends in crime.
- Interpret contemporary events, people, trends, social movements within the broader context of criminal justice.
- Examine the criminal justice system using multi-disciplinary perspectives that recognize both formal and informal ways of giving
Evaluate ethics, values, norms, and motivations in criminal justice, policing, courts, and corrections
- Examine meanings and motivations of different actors in the criminal justice system through diverse perspectives
- Explain critiques of the criminal justice system
- Recognize and interpret key ethical concepts and dilemmas
- Evaluate and apply ethical schools of thought in relation to activities and decision-making in the criminal justice system
Analyze elements of the criminal justice system considering the diverse experiences and view points present in society (PLUS: Innovator)
- Identify the size, scope, types, roles and limitations of the criminal justice system
- Differentiate the roles and relationships among institutions and actors in the criminal justice system
- Explain the role of competing viewpoints and systemic pressures and change
- Gather and analyze data related to the criminal justice sector from credible sources to inform, research, practice, and/or decision-making
- Evaluate theories that explain the origins and purposes of different elements of the criminal justice system
- Compare and contrast the approaches and impact of criminal justice systems on the local, national, and global levels.
Communicate about criminal justice issues effectively with varied audiences (PLUS: Communicator)
- Discuss the constitutional foundations of the criminal justice system, especially the tensions between individual rights and public order
- Demonstrate the ability to listen to, question, and articulate ideas through discussions, interviews, and research
- Demonstrate principles of effective written and verbal communication
Engage with individuals, organizations and communities to address the operation of and challenges in the criminal justice system (PLUS: Problem Solver)
- Describe personal orientations and positions on criminal justice questions
- Produce leadership and consensus-building strategies for addressing issues in the criminal justice system
- Evaluate and develop diverse collaborative approaches for addressing issues of justice and the criminal justice system
Translate understanding of the criminal justice system into strategies to resolve problems or issues in the criminal justice system (PLUS: Community Contributor)
- Apply criminal justice knowledge to theory to analyze, evaluate and contribute to the development of solutions for criminal justice problems and issues.
- Describe their capacity to participate in system change and problem solving
- Identify career options that aligned with their values and civic identity
- Critique personal and professional experiences related to the roles and actions of elements of the criminal justice system to inform future actions
Students will be able to demonstrate additional learning specific to their major.
Criminal Justice MajorThe criminal justice major is concerned with the functioning of the major elements of the criminal justice system, policing, courts and corrections, including both public and non-governmental agencies. Students learn what crime is, why and how often it occurs, how we attempt to prevent it, and how we punish those who commit crimes. Criminal justice graduates will be able to:
- Define crime, legally and socially, discuss how it is measured, and current trends in crime.
- Describe major theories of crime and discuss corresponding public policies to reduce crime.
- Discuss the constitutional foundations of the criminal justice system, especially the tension between individual rights and public order.
- Discuss the history and evolution of policing, the role of discretion, the nature and effectiveness of police activities, and issues of police misconduct.
- Describe the structure, process, and actors in the court system, as well as current issues in processing criminal cases.
- Describe the major philosophies of punishment, the history and evolution of corrections systems, and the current issues in corrections.
- Describe current crime control strategies, and discuss the strengths and limitations of various approaches.
- Read criminal justice research and communicate findings clearly, and apply basic research methods to criminal justice research questions.
The public safety management major is intended to prepare students to work in agencies that ensure public safety, such as fire departments, emergency management and homeland security agencies. Public safety management graduates will be able to:
- Define public safety, and discuss the major components of the public safety system and how they operate.
- Define and describe homeland security, how federal state and local agencies work to maintain homeland security, and how it relates to public safety, in theory and in practice.
- Discuss the constitutional foundations of public safety, especially the tension between individual rights and public order.
- Discuss the history and evolution of terrorism, the motivations that lead to terrorism, and the nature and effectiveness of responses to terrorism.
- Describe emergency service agencies, and current issues and trends in emergency service in the United States and around the world.
- Discuss technology and how it relates to maintaining public safety, particularly the use of geographic information systems.
- Describe current public safety strategies, and discuss the strengths and limitations of various approaches.
- Read public safety research, communicate findings clearly, and apply basic research methods to criminal justice research questions.
- Articulate methods of recognizing and resolving crisis situations, including crisis planning, crisis management and ethical decision making processes and practices.
- Describe the dynamics and processes (individual, group, institutional bureaucratic and psychological) that can impact decision making during crises, and articulate methods of learning from past approaches/ experience to build future strategies for managing disasters or crises.
