Program Overview

Introduction to the Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice

The Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice requires 120 credit hours. The program includes four main areas: IU Indianapolis Common Core, O'Neill General Education/baccalaureate requirements, Program/Major requirements, and Open electives.

IU Indianapolis Common Core (30 Credits)

Students at IU Indianapolis will complete 30 hours of general education coursework prior to graduation with a baccalaureate degree. The coursework is aligned with the Indiana Common Core. The requirements include:

• Core Communication (2 courses; 6 credits)
  • At least one writing course (ENG-W 131 - Reading, Writing and Inquiry I or ENG-W 140 Honors Composition I)
  • At least one speaking and listening course (COMM-R 110 - Public Speaking)
• Analytical Reasoning (2 courses, 6 credits)
  • At least one college-level math course
• Life and Physical Sciences (2 courses, 6 credits)
  • At least two courses and six credits toward the life and physical sciences
• Cultural Understanding (1 course; 3 credits)
  • At least one course
• Arts & Humanities and Social Sciences (3 courses; 9 credits)
  • At least three credits from the Arts & Humanities list and at least 3 credits from the Social Sciences list

Baccalaureate Requirements: O'Neill Core General Education Requirements (21 credits)

Classes in this area must be a minimum of three credits each. The requirements include:

• Choose one course:
  • ENG-W 231 Professional Writing Skills (3 cr.)
  • ENG-W 270 Argumentative Writing (3 cr.)
  • BUS-X 204 Business Communications (3 cr.)
• Choose one course:
  • SPEA-V 261 Using IT in Public Affairs (3 cr.)
  • BUS-K 201 Computers in Business (3 cr.)
• Required Courses:
  • HIST-H 105 - American History I (3 cr.)
  • HIST-H 106 - American History II (3 cr.)
  • Select from any approved list of IU Indianapolis Common Core courses (9 cr.)

Criminal Justice Major (16 courses; 48cr.)

The major includes:

• Criminal Justice Core Courses (11 courses; 33 credits)
  • SPEA-J 101 The American Criminal Justice System (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-J 150 Public Safety in America (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-J 201 Theoretical Foundations of Criminal Justice Policies (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-J 202 Criminal Justice Data, Methods, and Resources (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-J 206 The Criminal Courts (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 252 Career Development and Planning (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-J 275 Diversity Issues in Criminal Justice (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-J 311 Criminal Law and Procedure (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-J 321 American Policing (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-J 331 Corrections (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-J 439 Crime and Public Policy Capstone (3 cr.)
• Choose FIVE Criminal Justice Electives from approved list (15 credits- 9 credits must be at 300/400 level)
  • SPEA-J 205 Juvenile Justice (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-J 211 Introduction to Criminal Law and Procedure (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-J 220 Criminal Investigation (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-J 232 Investigating Post-Blast Crime Scenes (1-3 cr.)
  • SPEA-J 238 Introduction to Modern Police Practices (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-J 260* Topics in Criminal Justice (1-3 cr.)
  • SPEA-J 272 Terrorism and Public Policy (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-J 303 Evidence (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-J 380/SPEA-V 380* Internship in Criminal Justice (0-6 cr.)
  • SPEA-J 327/SPEA-V 328 Applied Research Experience (0-3 cr.)
  • SPEA-J 376 Principles of Public Safety (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-J 382 Foundations of Emergency Management (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-J 387 Foundations of Homeland Security (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-J 426 (if not used for computer requirement) Mapping & Analysis-Public Safety (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-J 470 Seminar in Criminal Justice (1-3 cr.)
  • SPEA-J 480/SPEA-V 480 Research in Criminal Justice (1-6 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 221 Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 263 Public Management (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 264 Community Structures and Policy (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 265 Challenges in Social Policy (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 280 Understanding Policy Making (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 362 Nonprofit Management and Leadership (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 366 Managing Behavior in Public Organizations (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 367 Project Planning and Management (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 376 Law and Public Policy (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 408 Individual Rights, Common Goods, and Public Policy (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 412 Leadership and Ethics (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 435 Negotiation and Alternative Dispute Resolution (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 443 Managing Workforce Diversity (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 450* Contemporary Issues in Public Affairs (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 482* Overseas Study

Open Electives (credit hours vary)

Additional courses beyond the IU Indianapolis Common Core, O'Neill General Education requirements, and Major requirements to total 120 credit hours.

Important Notes

• Students may transfer to O'Neill School of Public & Environmental Affairs once they acquire 12 credit hours, an overall cumulative GPA of 2.0, and a previous semester GPA of 2.0.
• On the Indianapolis campus, no more than 50 percent of courses taken to satisfy the requirements of the Criminal Justice major may be transfer courses from other accredited institutions of higher learning; including all IU campuses.
• O'Neill Good Standing requires: a previous semester 2.0 GPA and a cumulative 2.0 GPA.