Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice
Program Contact: Stephen McGuinn 203-582-8415
This distinctive criminal justice degree program offers students a well-integrated education, placing criminal and deviant behavior within a wider sociological context. Students are exposed to courses ranging from crime response philosophy to criminal justice public policy. Carefully structured internships assure students of practical applications of course material. Upon successful degree completion, students are prepared to continue their education (in a variety of areas including law school) or assume careers in fields such as policing, corrections, law, social work, public administration, teaching, international peacekeeping and many fields related to crime control and administration of justice. Graduates who have pursued careers outside the criminal justice field report that the skills they gained through their degree are transferable and fundamental to their success.
Criminal Justice Curriculum
Students majoring in Criminal Justice must meet the following requirements for graduation:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| University Curriculum 1 | 46 | |
| College of Arts and Sciences Curriculum 2 | 21-24 | |
| Criminal Justice Core Requirements | ||
| CJ 101 | Crime and Society | 3 |
| SO 101 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
| CJ 205 | From College to Career (SO/GT 205) | 1 |
| SO 241 | Sociology of Race and Ethnicity | 3 |
| CJ 241 | Police and Policing | 3 |
| CJ 261 | Prisons and Jails | 3 |
| CJ 290 | Criminal Justice Research Methods | 3 |
| CJ 392 | Internship in the Community (SO 392/GT 392) | 3 |
| CJ 385 | Senior Seminar in Criminal Justice Policy | 3 |
| Select one of the following crime typologies options: | 3 | |
| Women in the Criminal Justice System (SO/WS 232) (course cross-listed) | ||
| Organized Crime | ||
| Youth Crime (SO 250) | ||
| Sexual Violence | ||
| Public Order Crimes (SO 271) | ||
| Select one of the following criminal justice in practice options: | 3 | |
| Alternative Dispute Resolution | ||
| Special Topics | ||
| Investigative Techniques | ||
| Probation Parole and Community Corrections | ||
| Introduction to Forensic Psychology | ||
| Select two of the following advanced elective options: | 6 | |
| Victimology | ||
| Perspectives on Violence (SO 330) | ||
| Drugs, Alcohol and Society (SO 333) | ||
| Forensic Issues in Law Enforcement | ||
| Crime and Media (SO 355) | ||
| Sociology of Mental Health | ||
| Inside-Out Prison Exchange Seminar | ||
| Constitution, Ethics and Policing | ||
| Advanced Internship in the Community (SO 394/GT 394) | ||
| Independent Study in Criminal Justice | ||
| Free Electives | 16-19 | |
| Total Credits | 120-126 | |
| 1 | All students must complete the 46 credits of the University Curriculum. |
| 2 | Students must complete the College of Arts and Sciences Curriculum requirements specific to their major. See details below. |
| 3 | Can count as either a crime typologies or criminal justice in practice option. |
College of Arts and Sciences Curriculum
The College of Arts and Sciences offers bachelor of arts and bachelor of science degrees. Students earning either degree must complete one foreign language through the 102-level, and all students are encouraged to pursue a balanced program of study.
In addition, students earning a bachelor of arts degree must fulfill separate requirements for breadth and depth of study.
For the breadth requirement, students must complete at least 3 credits in each of the four CAS disciplinary areas other than the area of the student’s major. These areas are fine arts, humanities, natural sciences and social sciences. A course taken to fulfill the CAS breadth requirement may not also be used to fulfill a UC requirement.
For the depth requirement, students must complete at least 9 credits within a single subject area other than that of the major. (A “subject area” is identified with a catalog subject code, such as PL, CJ, WS, MA, etc.)
A student enrolled in the Accelerated Dual-Degree BA/JD or BS/JD (3+3) program is exempt from these College of Arts and Sciences requirements, with the exception of the foreign language requirement. A student pursuing a double major is likewise exempt from these College of Arts and Sciences requirements, with the exception of the foreign language requirement.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the program, students will achieve the following competencies:
- Diversity – Students will recognize the influence that different forms of diversity have upon their worldview and how diversity impacts the criminal justice system.
- Scientific Literacy – Students will be able to identify the steps of the scientific process, formulate scientific questions and distinguish between anecdotal and empirical evidence.
- Social Responsibility – Students will understand how the criminal justice system functions as one part of the larger environmental system, understand that its current format is not inevitable but the products of historical factors and the interconnectedness of individual actions and societal decisions.
- Communication – Students will be able to argue a clearly defined position with civility, using credible evidence with appropriate citation of sources.
- Critical Thinking – Students will understand multiple perspectives on significant crime-related topics and the importance of examining these from multiple perspectives and the significance of utilizing different data sources when examining these concepts. Basic disciplinary theory and terminology are applied.
Admission Requirements: College of Arts and Sciences
The requirements for admission into the undergraduate College of Arts and Sciences programs are the same as those for admission to Quinnipiac University.
Admission to the university is competitive, and applicants are expected to present a strong college prep program in high school. Prospective first-year students are strongly encouraged to file an application as early in the senior year as possible, and arrange to have first quarter grades sent from their high school counselor as soon as they are available.
For detailed admission requirements, including required documents, please visit the Admissions page of this catalog.
Seamless Transfer Agreement with Gateway Community College (GCC), Housatonic Community College (HCC) and Norwalk Community College (NCC)
Under this Transfer Agreement, GCC, HCC and NCC graduates will be guaranteed admission into a bachelor’s degree program with third year (junior) status at Quinnipiac University on the condition that they:
- Graduate with an associate in arts, an associate in science in business, College of Technology engineering science, nursing or an allied health degree with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (this may be higher in specific programs).
- Satisfy all other Quinnipiac University transfer admission requirements and requirements for intended major.
Quinnipiac University agrees to accept the general education embedded in these associate degree programs in accordance with Quinnipiac preferred choices for general education as meeting all the requirements of its undergraduate general education except for the Integrative Capstone Experience and where courses are encumbered by the major (e.g., General Chemistry for the Disciplinary Inquiry Natural Science requirement for a Biochemistry major).
Suggested Transfer Curriculum for BA in Criminal Justice
A minimum of 60 credits is required for transfer into the BA in Criminal Justice program. If possible, it is recommended students complete Criminology, Criminal Investigation and Forensic Science prior to transferring to Quinnipiac. Below is a recommended plan of study for the first two years prior to matriculation at Quinnipiac University.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Credits | |
| English I | 3 | |
| Introduction to Criminal Justice | 3 | |
| Statistics | 3 | |
| Principles of Sociology | 3 | |
| Introduction to American Government | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| English II | 3 | |
| Evidence and Criminal Procedure | 3 | |
| Criminal Justice Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3-4 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15-16 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| Introduction to Corrections | 3 | |
| Criminology | 3 | |
| Elective | 3-4 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15-16 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| Criminal Justice Elective | 3 | |
| General Psychology I | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Total Credits | 60-62 | |