Program Overview

Introduction to the Criminal Justice Program

The Criminal Justice program at Middle Tennessee State University is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the criminal justice system, including law enforcement, courts, corrections, and homeland security. The program aims to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and values necessary to succeed in a variety of careers related to criminal justice.

Program Description

The Criminal Justice program is available on-ground and online, offering students the flexibility to choose the format that best suits their needs. The program is designed to promote an orderly society through the proper administration and enforcement of the criminal justice system.

Career Opportunities

Graduates of the Criminal Justice program often find employment in a variety of settings, including:

• Customs and Border Protection
• Community Health Programs
• Department of Corrections
• Federal Bureau of Prisons
• Immigration and Customs Enforcement
• Drug Enforcement Agencies
• Private Security Agencies
• Local, State, and Federal Law Enforcement
• Counseling of crime victims and perpetrators
• Colleges and Universities

Program Requirements

The Criminal Justice program requires a total of 120 hours, including:

• True Blue Core (41 hours)
• Major Requirements (36 hours)
• Minor (15-18 hours)
• Electives (25-28 hours)

True Blue Core (41 hours)

The True Blue Core includes courses in Foundational Skills, such as Written Communication, Information Literacy, Non-Written Communication, and Quantitative Literacy, as well as Knowledge Domains, including Human Society and Social Relationships, Scientific Literacy, Creativity and Cultural Expression, and History and Civic Learning.

Major Requirements (36 hours)

The Major Requirements include:

• Major Core (15 hours)
• Major Electives (21 hours)

Major Core (15 hours)

The Major Core includes courses such as:

• CJA 2100 - Criminal Theory
• CJA 2200 - Prevention and Control of Crime
• CJA 2400 - Judicial Process
• CJA 2600 - Corrections
• CJA 3200 - Research Methods with Computer Technology

Major Electives (21 hours)

Major Electives include courses such as:

• Any CJA course (3 credit hours)
• FSCJ 4330 - Criminal Investigations
• FSCJ 4340 - Crime Scene Investigation
• FSCJ 4360 - Crime Scene Photography and Documentation
• FSCJ 4530 - Criminal Evidence and Procedures
• HLTH 4400 - Drugs and Violence in Public Health
• PS 3370 - American Constitutional Law I: Government Powers
• PS 3380 - American Constitutional Law II: Civil Liberties and Civil Rights
• PS 4590 - Administrative Law
• PSY 4120 - Psychology of Criminal Behavior
• PSY 4220 - Correctional Psychology
• SOC 3511 - Social Justice
• SW 2000 - Social, Economic, and Environmental Justice

Curriculum

The curriculum for the Criminal Justice program includes a suggested pattern of study, with courses such as:

• CJA 2100 - Criminal Theory
• CJA 2200 - Prevention and Control of Crime
• CJA 2400 - Judicial Process
• CJA 2600 - Corrections
• CJA 3200 - Research Methods with Computer Technology

Faculty

The faculty for the Criminal Justice program includes:

• Dr. Joshua Harms, Interim Chair
• Mr. Paul J Fantuzzi, Lecturer
• Dr. Thomas J. Jurkanin, Professor
• Dr. Robert D. Rogers, Associate Professor
• William L. Shulman, Associate Professor
• Dr. Carter F. Smith, Associate Professor
• Dr. Ben Stickle, Professor
• Dr. Lee Wade, Professor
• Christopher Paul Westmoreland, Instructor
• Lynda R. Williams, Professor
• Dr. Elizabeth Quinn Wright, Professor

Other Programs

The Department of Criminal Justice Administration also offers other programs, including:

• B.S. Emergency Management and Homeland Security
• B.S. Law Enforcement
• M.C.J. Criminal Justice Administration