Program Overview

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Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice

About

The Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice is intended to provide students with a critical understanding of the nature and causes of crime and delinquency, the origins and meaning of law and social control (with emphasis on criminal law), the nature of the criminal justice system and the processing of cases through that system, and proposals for reducing crime and delinquency. The program is designed to broadly educate students, to prepare students for careers in various criminal justice settings, and to pursue graduate education.

Accreditation

For information regarding accreditation at UNLV, please head over to Academic Program Accreditations.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completing an undergraduate program in Criminal Justice, a student will:

• Have demonstrated an awareness of the history and nature of the major components of the criminal justice system: police, courts, and corrections.
• Be familiar with the basis of the law and the legal system, as well as decision-making in the criminal justice process, the social and political context of the legal system, important constitutional issues, and how criminal law differs from other forms of law.
• Have demonstrated knowledge of the overall problem of crime in the United States, in terms of being familiar with different types of crimes committed in society, as well as possessing knowledge of the distribution of these crimes.
• Understand issues related to crime prevention and the rehabilitation of offenders.
• Be familiar with various methods of social science research including survey research, field research, experimental research, and evaluation research, and demonstrate awareness of the linkage between theory and research.
• Have basic knowledge of statistical procedures commonly used in the social sciences, in particular, those involved with descriptive research and hypothesis testing.
• Be able to conduct a research project from beginning to end, including how to locate existing sources of relevant information, operationalize concepts of interest, collect data, interpret findings, and present information in a professional manner.
• Be cognizant of various ethical concerns relevant to the study of criminal justice issues, and the distribution of justice in society.

Career Possibilities

Individuals with a Criminal Justice background have a wide range of career opportunities.

Law Enforcement

• Federal Agent (FBI, DEA, Immigration, Secret Service, Federal Air Marshal, etc.)
• State of Local Police Officer
• Park Ranger
• Private Security
• Private Investigator
• Campus Police Officer
• Military Officer
• Cooperate Loss Manager

Investigation

• Arson Investigator
• Gaming Investigator
• IRS Special Agent
• Postal Inspector
• Coroner

Courts

• Attorney
• Law Clerk
• Paralegal
• Court Administrator
• Pre-Trial Services Officer
• Forensic Psychologist
• Drug Court Coordinator
• Crime Scene Investigator

Corrections

• Correctional Officer
• Correctional Treatment Specialist
• Warden
• Parole Officer
• Juvenile Detention Officer

Technical Support and Analysis

• Crime Analyst
• Forensic Technician
• Ballistics Expert

Social Services

• Social Worker
• Youth Advocate
• Victim Advocate
• Teacher

Requirements

Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice

The Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Criminal Justice is intended to provide students with a critical understanding of the nature and causes of crime and delinquency, the origins and meaning of law and social control (with emphasis on criminal law), the nature of the criminal justice system and the processing of cases through that system, and proposals for reducing crime and delinquency. The program is designed to broadly educate students, to prepare students for careers in various criminal justice settings, and to pursue graduate education.

Learning Outcomes

1. Demonstrate an awareness of the history and nature of the major components of the criminal justice system: police, courts, and corrections.
2. Be familiar with the basis of the law and the legal system, as well as decision-making in the criminal justice process, the social and political context of the legal system, important constitutional issues, and how criminal law differs from other forms of law.
3. Demonstrate knowledge of the overall problem of crime in the United States, in terms of being familiar with different types of crimes committed in society, as well as possessing knowledge of the distribution of these crimes.
4. Understand issues related to crime prevention and the rehabilitation of offenders.
5. Be familiar with various methods of social science research including survey research, field research, experimental research, and evaluation research, and demonstrate awareness of the linkage between theory and research.
6. Have basic knowledge of statistical procedures commonly used in the social sciences, in particular, those involved with descriptive research and hypothesis testing.
7. Be able to conduct a research project from beginning to end, including how to locate existing sources of relevant information, operationalize concepts of interest, collect data, interpret findings, and present information in a professional manner.
8. Be cognizant of various ethical concerns relevant to the study of criminal justice issues, and the distribution of justice in society.
9. Be able to apply his or her knowledge in a variety of criminal justice settings, whether it be at the federal, state, or local level, or to pursue graduate education in criminal justice or a related field.

Assessment of Learning Outcomes

Learning outcomes will be assessed by the administration of a Criminal Justice Department Exit Survey. The exit survey measures the extent to which required courses facilitated learning of each degree objective. In addition, students will complete a Criminal Justice Senior Assessment (CRJ 498) in their final semester.

Advising

Please see advising information at the UNLV Greenspun College of Urban Affairs Student Advising Center.

Accreditation

For information regarding accreditation at UNLV, please head over to Academic Program Accreditations.

University Graduation Requirements

Please see Graduation Policies for complete information.

Modality: Fully Online, Fully In-Person, or Blended

This Program is available Fully Online, Fully In-Person, or Blended. Students may select their preferred modality at the time of admission. Those who choose the fully online option are committing to complete their entire degree through online education and will be identified as fully online students in MyUNLV. If circumstances or preferences change after admission, students may request a change in modality through the official change of major process. Academic advisors are available to help students select the format that best supports their academic and personal goals and can assist with any changes needed.

Criminal Justice (BA) Degree Requirements - Total: 120 Credits

Recommended Courses That Meet General Education Core Requirements

The Greenspun College of Urban Affairs strongly recommends that students address their General Education Core curriculum requirements through our college. The following classes offered in our college meet graduation requirements.

General Education Requirements - Subtotal 37-47 Credits

First-Year Seminar - Credits: 2-3

English Composition - Credits: 6

• ENG 101 - Composition I
• ENG 102 - Composition II

Second-Year Seminar - Credits: 3

• GSC 300 - Second-Year Seminar: Civic Engagement in Urban Communities

Constitutions - Credits: 4-6

Mathematics - Credits: 3

MATH 120 or higher

Distribution Requirement - Credits: 19-20

Please see Distribution Requirements for more information

Humanities and Fine Arts - Credits: 9

• Two courses 3 credits each from two different humanities areas - 6 credits
• One course in fine arts - 3 credits

Social Science - Credits: 0

Automatically satisfied by Major requirements

Life and Physical Sciences and Analytical Thinking - Credits: 10-11

• Two courses from life and physical sciences category; at least one must have a lab
• Analytical Thinking 3 credit course

Multicultural and International - Credits: 0-6

• Multicultural, one 3 credit course required
• International, one 3 credit course required

These courses may overlap with general education and major requirements. A single course may not meet the multicultural and international requirements simultaneously. List of approved Multicultural and International courses.

Major Requirements - BA in Criminal Justice - Credits: 27

At least one course from each of the following three major content areas.

Criminal Justice Major Requirement - Credits: 18

• CRJ 104 - Introduction to Administration of Justice
• CRJ 130 - Survey of Criminal Law
• CRJ 270 - Introduction to Criminology
• CRJ 301 - Research Methods in Criminal Justice
• CRJ 302 - Quantitative Applications in Criminal Justice
• CRJ 432 - Criminal Justice Process
• CRJ 498 - Criminal Justice Senior Assessment

Nature of Crime Content Area - 3 credits

• CRJ 315 - Hate Crimes
• CRJ 325 - Serial Killers and Sexual Predators
• CRJ 400 - Theories of Crime
• CRJ 409 - Youth, Crime, and Society
• CRJ 410 - White Collar Crime
• CRJ 428 - Women and Crime
• CRJ 429 - Gender and Crime
• CRJ 442 - Victims of Sex Crimes
• CRJ 450 - Seminar in Criminal Justice
• CRJ 480 - Special Topics in Law and Social Control

Criminal Justice Organizations and Administration Content Area - 3 credits

• CRJ 311 - Forensic Science
• CRJ 313 - Community Policing and Problem Solving
• CRJ 405 - History of Criminal Justice
• CRJ 412 - Leadership and Administration in Problem Solving
• CRJ 425 - The Correctional Institution
• CRJ 437 - Delinquency Prevention and Control
• CRJ 445 - Police Administration
• CRJ 460 - Public Policy, Crime, and Criminal Justice
• CRJ 462 - Probation and Parole
• CRJ 490 - Crime Prevention

Law and Society Content Area - 3 credits

• CRJ 407 - Law in Non-Western Societies
• CRJ 411 - Comparative Criminal Justice Systems
• CRJ 419 - Law and Society
• CRJ 435 - Jury Decision-Making
• CRJ 436 - Sociology of Law
• CRJ 438 - Social Inequality and Crime
• CRJ 441 - Social Science in Law
• CRJ 469 - Psychology and the Legal System
• CRJ 480 - Special Topics in Law and Social Control

CRJ Electives - Credits: 21

Nine credits must be upper division

Related Areas - Credits: 18

Students must consult the Greenspun College of Urban Affairs Student Advising Center for a list of acceptable courses that meet this requirement.

General Electives - Credits: 7-17

Total Credits: 120

Notes

1. A student may elect to graduate under any one of the following catalogs: the year of admission, the year of graduation, or the year of the latest change of major. The catalog used cannot be more than ten years old at the time of graduation. Requirements for graduation may vary depending on the catalog one uses. If you have questions, consult your advisor.
2. All criminal justice majors must take a total of at least 42 credits in upper-division (300-400 level) courses, including 27 credits in upper-division criminal justice courses, and at least six successfully completed credits of Other Electives.
3. Criminal justice majors are required to complete a total of 48 credits in criminal justice. (Of this total, 27 hours must be in upper-division courses.)
4. A maximum of four (4) credits of PEX activity courses may apply to the Criminal Justice B.A. degree.
5. CRJ 301 is a Milestone Experience course for Criminal Justice B.A.
6. CRJ 498 is a Culminating Experience course for Criminal Justice B.A.

Documents/Downloads

Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice

• Plans of Study
  • 4 Year Plan
  • 4 Year Plan
  • 4 Year Plan
  • 4 Year Plan
  • 4 Year Plan
• Syllabi
  • CRJ
  • CRJ

• Degree Worksheets
• Careers
  • NA
• Graduate Handbooks
  • NA
• Additional Downloads
  • NA
• Related Links
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Contacts

Department of Criminal Justice

The Department of Criminal Justice provides undergraduate and graduate degree programs designed to give students comprehensive understanding of the nature and causes of crime. Our students also learn about the criminal justice processes, criminal justice organizations and agency practices, and the law and legal system.

Greenspun College of Urban Affairs

The Greenspun College of Urban Affairs is committed to creating contemporary solutions for resilient communities. Our academic programs focus on making effective public policy, creating support structures to meet behavioral and mental health challenges, ensuring cities are safe and prepared to meet emergency situations, effective and ethical journalism, and interpersonal and public communication strategies.