Program Overview

Introduction to the Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and Criminology

The Bachelor of Science (BS) in Criminal Justice and Criminology is a comprehensive program designed to introduce students to theories of criminal behavior, concepts of justice, and all aspects of contemporary criminal justice systems, while providing a strong background in the liberal arts.

Program Overview

The program requires students to complete a total of 12 criminal justice and criminology courses, totaling 36 credit hours, in addition to the required courses identified by Loyola University Chicago for students to receive a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree from the university.

Curriculum

The curriculum includes:

• Required Courses:
  • CJC 101: Criminal Justice in a Global Context
  • CJC 201: Theories of Criminal Behavior
  • CJC 205: Research Methods 1
  • Select two of the following:
    • CJC 202: Criminal Courts
    • CJC 203: Policing
    • CJC 204: Corrections
    • CJC 323: Criminal Procedure
• Elective Courses:
  • Select six (6) electives from CJC 200-Level or 300-Level courses, as well as a statistics course in the Sociology, Psychology, or Statistics Department.
  • Alternatively, select five (5) electives from CJC 200-Level or 300-level courses and CJC 206: Statistics.
• Capstone:
  • CJC 399: Senior Capstone
  • or CJC 390: Capstone Experience Internship

Suggested Sequence of Courses

Students can begin the Criminal Justice and Criminology (BS) degree at any point in their undergraduate studies, in consultation with their advisor. A suggested sequence of courses is provided for students who declare a CJC major as freshmen.

College of Arts and Sciences Graduation Requirements

All Undergraduate students in the College of Arts and Sciences are required to take two Writing Intensive courses (6 credit hours) as well as complete a foreign language requirement at 102-level or higher (3 credit hours) or a language competency test.

Additional Undergraduate Graduation Requirements

All Undergraduate students are required to complete the University Core, at least one Engaged Learning course, and UNIV 101, with exceptions for certain programs.

Learning Outcomes

The CJC undergraduate curriculum incorporates five Student Learning Outcomes:

• Theoretical Knowledge: Demonstrate a working understanding of the theoretical knowledge base in criminology and criminal justice.
• Critical Thinking Skills: Critically analyze criminology and criminal justice issues utilizing theoretical, methodological, and statistical bases.
• Application to Real-World Situations: Apply learned terminology and theory to real-world situations that both relate to and expand outside the fields of criminology and criminal justice.
• Critical Research Skills: Apply acquired research and statistical skills to evaluate the quality of scholarly work and its contribution to the fields of criminology and criminal justice.
• Communication Skills: Communicate effectively, in oral and written form, understanding and analyses of criminology and criminal justice issues.