Program Overview

BA with a Major in Criminology, Law, and Justice

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences degree with a major in Criminology, Law, and Justice is offered by the Department of Criminology, Law, and Justice at the University of Illinois Chicago. This program provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the complex relationships between crime, law, and justice.

Degree Requirements

To earn a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences degree from UIC, students must complete university, college, and department degree requirements. The Department of Criminology, Law, and Justice degree requirements are outlined below.

• Major Requirements: 33 hours
• General Education and Electives to reach minimum Total Hours: 87 hours
• Total Hours: 120 hours

General Education

See General Education and Writing-in-the-Discipline in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences section for information on meeting these requirements.

Major Requirements

The following courses are required for the major:

• CLJ 101: Introduction to Criminology, Law, and Justice (3 hours)
• CLJ 200: Law and Society (3 hours)
• CLJ 210: Principles of Criminal Law (3 hours)
• CLJ 220: Criminology (3 hours)
• CLJ 261: Research Methods I (3 hours)
• CLJ 262: Research Methods II (3 hours)
• Select one of the following courses: (3 hours)
  • CLJ 303: Introduction to Forensic Science
  • CLJ 321: Youth, Crime, Law and Justice in Society
  • CLJ 345: Police in Society
  • CLJ 350: Courts in Society
  • CLJ 355: Punishment, Prisons and Corrections
  • CLJ 356: Community Corrections and Reentry
  • CLJ 361: Criminal Investigation
  • CLJ 363: Drugs and Addiction in Society
• Four courses at the 300 or 400 level (12 hours)

Recommended Plan of Study

The recommended plan of study for the BA with a Major in Criminology, Law, and Justice is as follows:

• First Year:
  • Fall Semester:
    • ENGL 160: Academic Writing I: Writing in Academic and Public Contexts (3 hours)
    • Foreign Language (4 hours)
    • General Education Requirement course (3-4 hours)
    • General Education Requirement course (3-5 hours)
  • Spring Semester:
    • ENGL 161: Academic Writing II: Writing for Inquiry and Research (3 hours)
    • CLJ 101: Introduction to Criminology, Law, and Justice (3 hours)
    • Foreign Language (4 hours)
    • General Education Requirement course (3 hours)
    • General Education Requirement course (3-5 hours)
• Second Year:
  • Fall Semester:
    • CLJ 200: Law and Society (3 hours)
    • Foreign Language (4 hours)
    • General Education Requirement course (3 hours)
    • General Education Requirement course (3 hours)
    • General Education Requirement course (3 hours)
  • Spring Semester:
    • CLJ 210: Principles of Criminal Law (3 hours)
    • Foreign Language (4 hours)
    • General Education Requirement course/Elective (3 hours)
    • General Education Requirement course/Elective (3 hours)
    • Electives (3 hours)
• Third Year:
  • Fall Semester:
    • CLJ 220: Criminology (3 hours)
    • CLJ 261: Research Methods I (3 hours)
    • Electives (9 hours)
  • Spring Semester:
    • CLJ 262: Research Methods II (3 hours)
    • One 300- or 400-level Elective in CLJ (3 hours)
    • Electives (9 hours)
• Fourth Year:
  • Fall Semester:
    • CLJ 303 or CLJ 321 or CLJ 345 or CLJ 350 or CLJ 355 or CLJ 356 or CLJ 361 or CLJ 363 (3 hours)
    • 400-level course to satisfy Writing-in-the-Discipline requirement (3 hours)
    • Electives (9 hours)
  • Spring Semester:
    • One 300- or 400-level Elective in CLJ (3 hours)
    • One 300- or 400-level Elective in CLJ (3 hours)
    • Electives (8-9 hours)