Program Overview
College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Location: Candelaria 2249
Email: HSS@unco.edu
Website: www.unco.edu/hss/criminology-criminal-justice
Advising Information:
Students must consult with their assigned major advisor each semester prior to registering.
To find your advisor, log into ursa.unco.edu; go to 'Student' tab and click 'View Student Information' link. If no advisor is listed, contact the major program for advisor information.
The program consists of three parts:
- Liberal Arts Curriculum (LAC) Credits
- Required Major Credits
- University-Wide Credits
Program Description:
The Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice relies on an interdisciplinary approach to the study of crime, the criminal justice system, and society. Grounded in the liberal arts tradition, the program curriculum encourages students to articulate in writing and in presentations how criminological theories inform policy, how research guides system review and decision-making, and how ethics and cultural awareness promote visionary leadership in the criminal justice system. Through coursework, advising, and internship opportunities, students learn how to serve their communities in a variety of work settings and contribute to the field of criminal justice through advanced education.
All students meeting UNC admission requirements are eligible for admission to the Criminology and Criminal Justice degree program. Currently enrolled UNC students changing their major from undeclared or from another major qualify for admission provided they are not on academic probation.
NOTE: Seniors, with permission from instructors, may register for 500-level courses.
Program Admission Requirements:
Academic Good Standing
Program Requirements:
- The Criminology and Criminal Justice degree requires a grade of “C” or better (C- is not acceptable) for all courses (regardless of prefix) counting toward the major.
- Time Limitation on Credit Earned Toward a Bachelor's Degree Coursework completed by a student within the preceding 10 years may apply as credit toward a bachelor's degree. Coursework taken before the 10-year limit may be reviewed by the department chair and college dean to determine its appropriateness to the major requirements.
Degree Requirements — 120 Credits
1. Liberal Arts Curriculum — 31 Credits
To complete the degree in 120 credits as outlined, the program recommends the below LAC courses that also count toward the 40 required major credits.
Any additional coursework completed outside of the recommended list below may extend the length of the program of study.
Written Communication — 6 credits
Select any courses to fulfill this requirement from the currently approved LAC course list.
See Written Communication courses
Mathematics — 3 credits
MATH 120 is recommended but not required. Any other course from the currently approved LAC course list will fulfill this requirement.
See Mathematics courses
Arts & Humanities, History, Social & Behavioral Sciences, U.S. Multicultural Studies [MS], and International Studies [IS] — 15 credits
To complete the LAC in the minimum number of credits, be sure to choose at least one course with an IS designation and one course with an MS designation.
CRJ 110 is recommended to fulfill the Social and Behavioral Sciences requirement and will fulfill both LAC and major requirements.
See Arts & Humanities, History, and Social & Behavioral Sciences courses
Natural & Physical Sciences — 7 credits
Select any courses to fulfill this requirement from the currently approved LAC course list.
See Natural & Physical Sciences courses
See Liberal Arts Curriculum
2. Required Major — 40 credits
Take all of the following courses:
| CRJ 110 | Introduction to Criminal JusticeLAB3 | 3 |
| CRJ 160 | Introduction to Crime Theories | 3 |
| CRJ 220 | Policing Systems | 3 |
| CRJ 230 | Judicial Process | 3 |
| CRJ 240 | Correctional Systems | 3 |
| CRJ 350 | Victim Studies | 3 |
| CRJ 360 | Theories of Crime | 3 |
| CRJ 380 | Research Methods in Criminal Justice | 3 |
| CRJ 470 | Justice Professionalism and Ethics | 3 |
| CRJ 475 | Race/Ethnicity, Gender, and Social Class in Criminal Justice | 3 |
| CRJ 480 | Applied Statistics in Criminal Justice | 3 |
| LIB 160 | Criminal Justice Library Research | 1 |
Students must register for CRJ 380 Research Methods in Criminal Justice and LIB 160 Criminal Justice Library Research at the same time since the courses are taught concurrently.
Criminal Justice Major Electives
Take 2 of the following 3 credit courses or 6 credits of internship:
3. University-Wide Credits — 49 credits*
Complete additional credits to achieve the minimum credits needed for any degree at UNC; for this program, that will typically be 49 credits.
*Note: Students who apply the recommended courses to both the liberal arts curriculum and the major requirements will have an increased number of university wide electives to apply to this degree. See your advisor for details.
Program Notes
Criminology and Criminal Justice majors are strongly encouraged to pursue one or more minors or a second major, which can be completed given the number of additional credit hours needed for degree completion.