This requirement is satisfied by taking SOCI 490 Selected Topics in Sociology. Understanding crime and justice is essential in a democracy and studying it is challenging. The curriculum consists of coursework in four areas. Students take at least 23 courses from these four areas to achieve baccalaureate competency in the study of criminal justice. First, completion of 10 core courses in criminal justice permits students to become firmly grounded in a range of basic perspectives in the justice field.
Sociology systematically studies societal institutions and social behavior.
Thirdly, completion of four basic courses from other related fields widens and deepens an awareness of the context within which to understand criminal justice. Fourthly, selection of six courses from an elective list of 26 enables students to pursue flexible paths of study tailored to their individual interests in such careers as law enforcement, law and court processing, juvenile and adult corrections as well as graduate education. These elective courses are from the disciplines of political science, psychology, social work, Spanish as well as criminal justice. Four of the 23 courses that students take from the criminal justice curriculum count toward General Education requirements. Because the Criminal Justice Concentration is considered a comprehensive major, no minor is needed.