Program Overview

Foundations of Criminal Justice - UC

The Foundations of Criminal Justice certificate introduces students to the core components of the criminal justice system.

About This Certificate

Completion requires three courses totaling nine credit hours, beginning with the required course CJ 1010 Introduction to Criminal Justice, which provides an overview of law enforcement, the courts, corrections, and criminology. Students then select two electives from the following:

• CJ 1300 Introduction to Corrections
• CJ 1330 Criminal Law
• CJ 1340 Criminal Investigations
• CJ 1390 Introduction to Policing This certificate is available to everyone but targets concurrent enrollment students that want to build a solid academic foundation before they arrive on campus.

What You Will Learn

Students will gain foundational knowledge of how the criminal justice system operates, including the roles, responsibilities, and challenges of policing, courts, and corrections. Through their selected electives, they will explore topics such as criminal procedures, correctional philosophies, investigative techniques, and the principles of criminal law. Together, these courses provide a broad understanding of system functions, legal processes, and frontline criminal justice workpreparing students for further study or entry-level engagement in the field.

At a Glance

• College: College of Arts & Sciences
• Department: School of Social Sciences
• USU Locations:
  • Logan campus
  • Statewide campuses
  • USU Online

Program Requirements

• Foundations of Criminal Justice - Certificate

Career And Outcomes

Job Outlook

USU Locations

• LOGAN CAMPUS
• STATEWIDE CAMPUSES
• USU ONLINE *This degree is available at various USU locations.
  • Beaver
  • Bicknell
  • Blanding
  • Brigham City
  • Castle Dale
  • Cedar City
  • Delta
  • Ephraim
  • Heber City
  • Junction
  • Kanab
  • Kaysville
  • Moab
  • Montezuma Creek
  • Monticello
  • Monument Valley
  • Nephi
  • Orem
  • Panguitch
  • Park City
  • Price (USU Eastern)
  • Richfield
  • Roosevelt (Uintah Basin)
  • Salt Lake
  • St George
  • Tooele
  • Tremonton
  • Vernal (Uintah Basin)
  • Wendover **This degree is 100% available online. USU is a SARA-approved institution offering fully online programs nationwide.

Related Programs

• Criminal Justice
  • Gain the knowledge and skills needed to pursue a career related to the criminal justice system, such as law enforcement or correctional officer, firefighter, paralegal, private investigator, forensics specialist, probation officer, and more.
• Criminal Justice - Minor
  • From careers in law to victim advocacy, a minor in criminal justice gives you the tools to navigate the system from corrections and policing policies to handling evidence, juveniles, all from a data-driven, scientific approach.
• Law Enforcement Officer
  • This technical certificate is designed to help students prepare for a career in Law Enforcement and certification under Utah law.