AC_Undergraduate 
General
GeneralCriminal Justice (CRIM)
The curriculum in Criminal Justice offers a series of courses that examine the individual components and interrelationship of law enforcement, corrections and the courts. This curriculum builds upon the strong liberal arts foundation of the University's general education requirements to prepare students with the skills in leadership, communication and critical thinking necessary in the field of criminal justice today. The core requirements are designed to emphasize a holistic approach to criminal justice and provide in-depth study of theory and application. Within the core requirements and the interdisciplinary component, the interrelationship of criminal justice with the study of psychology and sociology is reinforced. Students are able to choose from an array of electives both within the major as well as in related fields of study based upon interest and career path.
The internship program allows students to apply academic skills an opportunity to participate as student interns with a variety of local, state, and federal criminal justice agencies. Today's graduate with a major in criminal justice may pursue career opportunities in law enforcement, corrections, the courts, social services or private business. For those already employed in the criminal justice field, obtaining the bachelor's degree allows for expanded career opportunities and advancement. The criminal justice major and courses provide graduates a solid foundation for the continuation of lifelong learning as well as graduate or professional schools.
Criminal Justice - Degree Requirements
Major
| CRIMINAL JUSTICE 52 Semester Hours Minimum Core Requirements - 34 Semester Hours |
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| CRIM 202 | Introduction to Criminal Justice | CRIM 390 | Research Methods in Criminal Justice |
| CRIM 205 | Introduction to Criminology | CRIM 520 | Senior Seminar in Criminal Justice |
| CRIM 215 | Substantive Criminal Law | PSYC 221 | General Psychology |
| CRIM 220 | Ethics in Criminal Justice | PSYC 222 | Statistics & Data Analysis OR |
| CRIM 222 | Criminal justice Administration | BUAD 321 Business Statistics | |
| CRIM 305 | Criminal Procedure I | SOCY 201 | Introduction to Sociology |
Interdisciplinary Component- 9 SH
| BUAD 430 | Organizational Behavior | PSYC 295 | Psych. Dev. Across the Lifespan |
| COMM 355 | Issues of Diversity | PSYC 425 | Counseling |
| COMM 360 | Organizational Communication | PSYC 498 | Psychology & the Law (when offered) |
| COMM 415 | Conflict Transformation | SOCY 204 | Social Problems |
| PLSC 307 | Law and Society | SOCY 206 | Sociology of Family |
| PLSC 405 | Public Policy | SOCY 425 | Death and Dying |
| PSYC 210 | Social Psychology | SOCY 450 | Race and Ethnic Relations |
| PSYC 226 | Behavior Problems |
Electives- 9 SH
| COMP 360 | Microcomputer Applications | CRIM 555 | Internship in Criminal Justice |
| CRIM 203 | Criminal Investigation | CRIM 556 | Internship in Criminal Justice |
| CRIM 350 | Alternatives to Incarceration | CRIM 598 |
Current Topics- may complete two (2) different topics |
| CRIM 204 | Juvenile Justice | PLSC 411 | Constitutional Law I-Power |
| CRIM 207 | Problems and Practices in Criminal Justice | PLSC 412 | Constitutional Law II-Rights |
| CRIM 210 | Criminalistics | SOCY 206 | Sociology of the Family |
| CRIM 442 | Terrorism | SPAN (6 SH) | 201,202,301, OR 302 |
Minor
Criminal Justice
24 Semester Hours Minimum
| I. Core Requirements- 18 SH | |||
| CRIM 202 | Introduction to Criminal Justice | CRIM 220 | Ethics in Criminal Justice |
| CRIM 205 | Introduction to Criminology | CRIM 222 | Criminal Justice Administration |
| CRIM 215 | Substantive Criminal Law | CRIM 305 | Criminal Procedure I |
| II. Electives- 6 SH | |||
| PLSC 411 | Constitutional Law I | PSYC 226 | Behavior Problem |
| PLSC 412 | Constitutional Law II | SOCY 204 | Social Problems |
| PLSC 210 | Social Psychology | SOCY 450 | Race and Ethnic Relations |
| A faculty member in the Criminal Justice department will work with all criminal justice minors and their faculty advisors in advising course schedules. | |||
Criminal Justice- Courses Offered
Courses Offered
| NOTE: CRIM 202 Introduction to Criminal Justice is a prerequisite to ALL Criminal Justice (CRIM) core courses for students majoring in Criminal Justice. No student will be permitted to earn more than 6 SH for internship hours in the Criminal Justice program. | |||
| CRIM 202 | Introduction to Criminal Justice | F, S | 3 SH |
| An overview of the criminal justice system with an emphasis on the holistic nature of criminal justice today. | |||
| CRIM 203 | Criminal Investigation | S | 3 SH |
| An overview of the criminal investigative process and its various components including the area of substantive crime. Emphasis is placed on the study of rules and evidence, criminal procedures, crime scene search, the role of the crime laboratory, interviewing, and professionalism. Prerequisite: CRIM 202 | |||
| CRIM 204 | Juvenile Justice | S | 3 SH |
| Studies traditional and contemporary views of juvenile delinquency. Historical development of juvenile law and the juvenile justice system within the context of the criminal justice system. Future trends in juvenile justice are examined. Prerequisite: CRIM 202 or SOCY 201. | |||
| CRIM 205 | Introduction to Criminology | F | 3 SH |
| The nature and scope of crime with emphasis on the social and psychological causes is studied. Emphasis will be placed on criminological theories and the application of theories and current crime issues. Prerequisites: SOCY 201, or CRIM 202, and Senior status or permission of the instructor. | |||
| CRIM 207 | Criminal Justice Society | F;S | 3 SH |
| A contemporary and historical study of criminal justice and its relationship with the public, the press and other governmental agencies. Evaluation of law enforcement, judicial and correction problems and practices in society today. Prerequisite: CRIM 202. | |||
| CRIM 210 | Criminalistics | F | 4 SH |
| The study of physical evidence as it relates to crime. Emphasis is on collection, preservation, delivery, and chemical and physical analysis of evidence obtained in a criminal investigation.This course does not fulfill a laboratory science requirement. Prerequisite: CRIM 203 or permission of the instructor. | |||
| CRIM 215 | Substantive Criminal Law | F | 3 SH |
| The evolution and current status of criminal law in the United States, including the role of common law, case law, and statutory law are examined. The application of criminal law on both a federal and state level will be studied. Emphasis will be upon legal research and the study of important legal decisions and their effect on society. Prerequisite: CRIM 202 or PLSC 201. |
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| CRIM 220 | Ethics in Criminal Justice | S | 3 SH |
| Potential ethical controversies confronting the criminal justice process and law enforcement agencies. Special attention given to contemporary ethical issues in the administration of justice. | |||
| CRIM 222 | Criminal Justice Administration | F | 3 SH |
| An examination of the principals, elements, practices, and procedures of management and administration that are essential to the operation of criminal justice agencies. A specific focus of this course will be practical application of management and administrative techniques in areas of law enforcement, adjudication, institutional and residential corrections. Prerequisite: CRIM 202. | |||
| CRIM 305 | Criminal Procedure I | S | 3 SH |
| Criminal Procedure within the United States legal system is examined with emphasis on prearrest, arrest and court procedures. Both state and federal prodecural law is studied looking at the role of legal precedence, judicial decision-making, administration of the courts and the appellate process. Students will visit various state and federal courts to observe actual court proceedings. Prerequisite: CRIM 202 or PLSC 201 and CRIM 215. | |||
| CRIM 350 | Alternatives to Incarceration | F | 3 SH |
| A study of the philosophy, organization and effectiveness of probation, parole and community based post-conviction programs. | |||
| CRIM 390 | Research Methods in Criminal Justice | F | 3 SH |
| Basic research techniques and statistical analyses used in criminal justice, field observation, survey methods, and experimental designs; evaluation of social programs; uses of computers in the social sciences. All students are required to design an original research project with data that is collected through individuals or community agencies that contribute to a specific need in the local criminal justice community. This is a writing intensive course. | |||
| CRIM 407 | Criminal Procedure II | F | 3 SH |
| Criminal Procedure II examines the concepts of pre-arrest, arrest, search and seizure relative to exceptions to the search warrant requirement, consent to search, plain view searches and seizures of evidence, vehicle searches and seizures, opens fields and abandoned property. Emphasis is placed on criminal procedure and the fifth and sixth amendments pertinent to Interrogations, admissions, confessions, and pretrial visual identification procedures. Prerequisites: CRIM 202, CRIM 215. | |||
| CRIM 442 | Terrorism | F | 3 SH |
| Provides a theoretical and conceptual framework that enables your students to understand how terrorism arises and how it functions. The most sophisticated theories by the best terrorist analysts in the world are presented. The focus is on the domestic and internationalthreat of terrorism and the basic security issues surrounding terrorism today.Prerequisite: CRIM 202 | |||
| CRIM 520 (WI) | Senior Seminar in Criminal Justice | S | 3 SH |
| Designed as a capstone course bringing together all the competencies required of a criminal justice major. Prerequisite: Senior status and CRIIM 504 | |||
| CRIM 555 | Internship in Criminal Justice | F; S | 3 SH |
| Provides an opportunity to develop professional skills in a law enforcement setting. Requires a minimum of 100 hours of field work for the semester. Prerequisites: Senior status and approval by the department | |||
| CRIM 556 | Internship in Criminal Justice | F; S | 3 SH |
| Provides an opportunity to develop professional skills in a criminal justice setting. Requires a minimum of 200 hours of field work for the semester. Prerequisites: Senior status and approval by the department. | |||
Internship Opportunities
Criminal Justice students have the opportunity to participate in internship with local law enforcement offices. In these positions, students have the opportunity to observe criminal justice professionals in action while applying the skills they have learned in the classroom.
Past internship placements include:
- Misenheimer Police Department
- Rowan County Sherrif's Office
- Stanly County Courthouse
- Bay Co. Sheriff's Office (Panama City, Fla.)
- Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department
- Charlotte Mecklenburg Probation and Pretrial Services
- United States Marshall Service (Greensboro, N.C)
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