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Undergraduate Catalog 2024-2025

Criminology and Criminal Justice B.A.

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:

  1. Liberal Arts Curriculum (LAC) Credits
  2. Required Major Credits
  3. 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 110Introduction to Criminal JusticeLAB3

3

CRJ 160Introduction to Crime Theories

3

CRJ 220Policing Systems

3

CRJ 230Judicial Process

3

CRJ 240Correctional Systems

3

CRJ 350Victim Studies

3

CRJ 360Theories of Crime

3

CRJ 380Research Methods in Criminal Justice

3

CRJ 470Justice Professionalism and Ethics

3

CRJ 475Race/Ethnicity, Gender, and Social Class in Criminal Justice

3

CRJ 480Applied Statistics in Criminal Justice

3

LIB 160Criminal 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 two of the following three credit courses or six credits of internship:

CRJ 312Crime Prevention

3

CRJ 317Cybercrime

3

CRJ 324Crime Mapping

3

CRJ 335Juvenile Justice

3

CRJ 352Domestic Violence Victims & Offenders

3

CRJ 354Restorative Justice

3

CRJ 362Criminal Behavior Analysis

3

CRJ 395Topics in Criminal Justice

1- 3

CRJ 408Workshop

1- 3

CRJ 415Homeland Security

3

CRJ 417Terrorism in the 21st Century

3

CRJ 422Directed Studies

1- 3

CRJ 492Internship

1- 9

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.

Four Year Plan

This four year plan is a recommended schedule to complete this bachelor's degree in 4 years. Courses are subject to availability. Students must consult with their major advisor to receive information on any additional graduation requirements and course sequence guidance. 

Year 1 – 30 credits

Fall Semester

CRJ 110Introduction to Criminal JusticeLAB3

3

ENG 122College CompositionLAW1

3

Liberal Arts Curriculum

3

Liberal Arts Curriculum

3

Liberal Arts Curriculum

3

Total Credit Hours:15

Spring Semester

CRJ 160Introduction to Crime Theories

3

CRJ 220Policing Systems

3

Liberal Arts Curriculum

3

University-Wide Elective

3

University-Wide Elective

3

Total Credit Hours:15

Year 2 – 31 credits

Fall Semester

CRJ 230Judicial Process

3

CRJ 240Correctional Systems

3

MATH 120Mathematics and Liberal ArtsLAX1

3

Liberal Arts Curriculum

3

Liberal Arts Curriculum

3

Total Credit Hours:15

Spring Semester

CRJ 360Theories of Crime

3

Liberal Arts Curriculum

4

University-Wide Elective

3

University-Wide Elective

3

University-Wide Elective

3

Total Credit Hours:16

Year 3 – 31 credits

Fall Semester

CRJ 350Victim Studies

3

CRJ 380Research Methods in Criminal Justice

3

LIB 160Criminal Justice Library Research

1

University-Wide Elective

3

University-Wide Elective

3

University-Wide Elective

3

Total Credit Hours:16

Spring Semester

CRJ 480Applied Statistics in Criminal Justice

3

CRJ 492Internship

1- 9

or

Major Elective

3

University-Wide Elective

3

University-Wide Elective

3

University-Wide Elective

3

Total Credit Hours:15

Year 4 – 28 credits

Fall Semester

CRJ 470Justice Professionalism and Ethics

3

University-Wide Elective

3

University-Wide Elective

3

University-Wide Elective

3

University-Wide Elective

3

Total Credit Hours:15

Spring Semester

CRJ 475Race/Ethnicity, Gender, and Social Class in Criminal Justice

3

CRJ 492Internship

1- 9

or

Major Elective

3

University-Wide Elective

3

University-Wide Elective

4

Total Credit Hours:13

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