Criminal Justice | Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice
You've decided your field of study, now it's time to decide which type of degree to choose. There are two types of bachelor's in Criminal Justice available - the BA in Criminal Justice and BS in Criminal Justice. The main difference being the Bachelor of Arts degree requires 10 credit hours of language (such as Spanish I & II), while the Bachelor of Science does not. The choice is yours!
All majors take the same 24-hour core curriculum in Criminal Justice, but then, working with your academic advisor, you can tailor the remaining 21 hours of your degree program around your specific interests and career objectives.
Program Summary
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education | 34 | |
| Core Curriculum | 24 | |
| Directed Choices | 9 | |
| Directed Electives | 12 | |
| Open Electives 1 | 41 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
- 1
Open electives are the credit hours required to reach a minimum of 120 total hours and 45 upper-level hours. The number listed assumes all courses are completed at FHSU as listed. This number may vary if students transfer courses, or have individual substitutions allowed. Students should speak with their advisor if either situation applies to determine if the number will vary, and to ensure they enroll in a minimum of 45 upper-level hours.
Students entering within 1 year of high school graduation will take UNIV 101 Freshman Seminar and may apply that hour in the open elective category.
Program Requirements
General Education
All undergraduate degrees require completion of the Kansas Systemwide General Education.
Courses identified with GE on this page may satisfy a general education requirement in addition to the identified degree requirement. Students who apply a degree requirement to satisfy a general education requirement will typically add an equal number of hours to the university elective category. This flexibility may allow you to complete a minor or certificate within the 120 hour degree. Transfer students and students majoring in programs with approved exceptions are especially encouraged to select these courses in completing General Education requirements to maximize the likelihood of completing the degree with 120 credit hours.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education | 34-35 | |
45 Hour Major
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Criminal Justice Core | ||
| CRJ 100 | Careers in Criminal Justice (Careers In Criminal Justice) | 1 |
| CRJ 101 | Introduction to Criminal Justice | 3 |
| CRJ 200 | Criminology | 3 |
| CRJ 215 | Technical & Report Writing in Criminal Justice | 2 |
| CRJ 245 | Ethics in Criminal Justice | 3 |
| CRJ 307 | Administration of Justice Systems | 3 |
| CRJ 310 | Comparative Justice Systems | 3 |
| CRJ 399 | Criminal Justice Research | 3 |
| CRJ 499 | Capstone Seminar: Critical Issues in Criminal Justice | 3 |
| Directed Choices | ||
| Select 3 credit hours from each of the subdivisions | ||
| Policing | 3 | |
| Criminal Justice Elective: Policing | ||
| Digital and Cyber Crime | ||
| Security Administration | ||
| Introduction to Law Enforcement | ||
| Law Enforcement in the Community | ||
| Criminal Investigation | ||
| Terrorism | ||
| Crime Analysis | ||
| Criminal Justice Elective: Policing | ||
| Offenders & Victims | 3 | |
| Criminal Justice Elective: Offenders & Victims | ||
| Corporate Crime and Deviance | ||
| Juvenile Justice | ||
| Criminal Law and Procedure | ||
| Civil Liability | ||
| Introduction to Corrections | ||
| Community Corrections | ||
| Women and Crime | ||
| Victim Advocacy | ||
| Mental Health and the Criminal Justice System | ||
| Criminal Justice Elective: Offenders & Victims | ||
| Criminology | 3 | |
| Criminal Justice Elective: Criminology | ||
| Culture and Crime | ||
| Gender, Race, and Inequality in CJ | ||
| Drugs and Society | ||
| Serial Predators | ||
| Crime and Society | ||
| Victimology | ||
| Sex Crimes | ||
| Criminal Justice Elective: Criminology | ||
| Directed Electives | 12 | |
| Select 12 credit hours from the following: | ||
Any course listed in Policing and not applied to the requirement | ||
Any course listed in Offenders & Victims and not applied to the requirement | ||
Any course listed in Criminology and not applied to the requirement | ||
| Careers in Criminal Justice (Any topic besides "Careers In Criminal Justice") | ||
| Criminal Justice Elective | ||
| Topics in Criminal Justice | ||
| Criminal Justice Elective | ||
| Criminal Justice Research | ||
| Internship in Criminal Justice | ||
| Independent Study in Criminal Justice | ||
| Total Hours | 45 | |
Degree Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| All bachelor degrees require: | ||
| GPA of 2.0 on FHSU courses & 2.0 on all coursework (Higher program requirements prevail over the 2.0 when set) | ||
| A minimum of 30 hours earned from FHSU with a grade of D, C, B, or A | ||
| Successful completion of an upper division Writing and Information Literacy course (Most majors contain a course designated) | ||
| A minimum of 45 hours of recognized upper division credit | ||
| A minimum of 120 hours of recognized college credit | ||
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | |
| SGE030 - Math Statistics Discipline Area | 3 | |
| ENG 101 | English Composition I | 3 |
| COMM 100 | Fundamentals of Oral Communication | 3 |
| UNIV 101 | Freshman Seminar | 1 |
| CRJ 100 | Careers in Criminal Justice | 1 |
| CRJ 101 | Introduction to Criminal Justice | 3 |
| Open Electives | 1 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| SGE070 - Institutionally Designated Area: Personal and Professional Development | 3 | |
| SGE040 - Natural Physical Science Discipline Area | 4 | |
| ENG 102 | English Composition II | 3 |
| CRJ 200 | Criminology | 3 |
| CRJ 215 | Technical & Report Writing in Criminal Justice | 2 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| SGE060 - Arts Humanities Discipline Area | 3 | |
| SGE050 - Social Behavioral Sciences Discipline Area | 3 | |
| SGE070 - Institutionally Designated Area: Critical Thinking | 3 | |
| CRJ 245 | Ethics in Criminal Justice | 3 |
| CRJ 307 | Administration of Justice Systems | 3 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| SGE060 - Arts Humanities Discipline Area | 3 | |
| SGE050 - Social Behavioral Sciences Discipline Area | 3 | |
| CRJ 310 | Comparative Justice Systems | 3 |
| Directed Electives | 3 | |
| Directed Electives | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| Directed Electives | 3 | |
| Directed Electives | 3 | |
| Directed Electives | 3 | |
| Directed Electives | 3 | |
| Directed Electives | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| CRJ 399 | Criminal Justice Research | 3 |
| Directed Electives | 3 | |
| Directed Electives | 3 | |
| Directed Electives | 3 | |
| Directed Electives | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| CRJ 499 | Capstone Seminar: Critical Issues in Criminal Justice | 3 |
| Directed Electives | 3 | |
| Directed Electives | 3 | |
| Directed Electives | 3 | |
| Directed Electives | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| Directed Electives | 3 | |
| Directed Electives | 3 | |
| Directed Electives | 3 | |
| Directed Electives | 3 | |
| Directed Electives | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
Academic Degree Maps are term-by-term sample course plans that specify milestones, courses, and special requirements that are necessary for facilitating on-time completion. Degree Maps are examples and are not prescriptive. Individualized choices such as concentration options, transfer credits, optional minors, advisory programs (certificates), etc. can alter the recommended coursework. Course offerings are subject to change. Students should consult with their academic advisors for additional guidance on course planning.
To determine courses to take in the directed choices (often listed as Program Elective Course) and directed elective course blocks see the overview tab for courses. To locate approved courses in General Education areas (Undergraduate Programs) see the general education section of the catalog.
The undergraduate course maps typically advise the most efficient route for students to complete the general education requirements. Courses that are required in the major may be listed as fulfilling relevant general education requirements. This will result in more open elective course hours in some maps than is listed on the degree overview page.