The Criminal Justice program in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences offers a Bachelor of Arts degree and a minor in Criminal Justice.
Your adventure begins with your academic advisor. Please contact cjsocadvising@iastate.edu for more information.
Students in this major will learn about the components of the juvenile and criminal justice systems, become acquainted with the issues affecting these systems, apply theoretical concepts to real-world phenomena, interface with criminal justice and social service providers, and plan an academic and/or applied career in criminal justice.
Student Learning Outcomes
Graduates of this program will:
- Understand theories of crime, victimization, and criminal justice (i.e., theories about social bonds, learning, social control, conflict, labeling, rehabilitation, alternatives to incarceration).
- Think critically about crime, victimization, and criminal justice (i.e., be able to apply, critique, compare, and integrate knowledge in the area).
- Understand how race/ethnicity, gender, wealth, and power are related to crime, victimization, and criminal justice.
- Understand and be able to use basic social science research methods, as well as those most relevant to the study of crime, victimization, and criminal justice.
- Be familiar with career paths in the criminal justice system and make career choices that best fit their career interests.
- Make appropriate decisions, think creatively and be able to express themselves in written and oral communication to supervisors and clients.
Degree Requirements
University Requirements
| International Perspectives | 3 | |
| U.S. Cultures and Communities | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 6 | |
Communication Proficiency
According to the university-wide Communication Proficiency Grade Requirement, students must demonstrate their communication proficiency by earning a grade of C or better in ENGL 1500 and ENGL 2500. In addition, majors must also take an advanced course in ENGL 3020 or ENGL 3090 or ENGL 3140 with a grade of C or better.
| ENGL 1500 | Critical Thinking and Communication | 3 |
| ENGL 2500 | Written, Oral, Visual, and Electronic Composition | 3 |
| LIB 1600 | Introduction to College Level Research | 1 |
| ENGL 3020 | Business Communication | 3 |
| or ENGL 3090 | Proposal and Report Writing | |
| or ENGL 3140 | Technical Communication | |
| Total Credits | 10 | |
World Language and career proficiency
| 3 years of High School | ||
| Accelerated Spanish Review | ||
| 2 semesters at the college level | 8 | |
| LAS 2030 | Professional Career Preparation | 1 |
| Total Credits | 9 | |
General Education Coursework
Students must select from a variety of LAS approved general education courses in each area listed below. A full list of approved courses can be found at https://las.iastate.edu/students/academics/general-education/.
| Arts and Humanities | 12 | |
| Math | 3 | |
| Natural Sciences | 8 | |
| Social Sciences | 9 | |
| Total Credits | 32 | |
Program of Study
A program of study that meets the needs and interests of the student and departmental requirements will be developed in consultation with the major advisor. Students must maintain a GPA of 2.0 or higher in their core courses.
| SOC 1150 | Orientation to Sociology | 1 |
| or CJ 1200 | The Criminal Justice League Learning Community Seminar | |
| CJ 2400 | Introduction to the U.S. Criminal Justice System | 3 |
| CJ 2410 | Youth and Crime | 3 |
| CJ 2420 | Criminology | 3 |
| CJ 3400 | Deviant and Criminal Behavior | 3 |
| CJ 4020 | White-Collar Crime | 3 |
| or CJ 4030 | Criminal Offenders | |
| or CJ 4060 | Gender and Crime | |
| CJ 4600 | Criminal and Juvenile Justice Internship | 3 |
| Select one of the following courses | 3 | |
| American Judicial Process | ||
| Philosophy of Law | ||
| Liberty and Law in America | ||
| Criminal Justice Policies | ||
| Psychology and Law | ||
| Select 5 of the following courses | 15 | |
| American Judicial Process | ||
| Philosophy of Law | ||
| Race, Ethnicity, and the US Criminal Justice System | ||
| Liberty and Law in America | ||
| Police and Society | ||
| Punishment, Corrections, and Society | ||
| Prevention of Crime and Delinquency | ||
| Latinas and Victimization | ||
| White-Collar Crime | ||
| Criminal Justice Policies | ||
| Drugs and Crime | ||
| Gender and Crime | ||
| Capital Punishment | ||
| Contemporary Issues in Policing | ||
| Ethical Issues in Criminal Justice | ||
| Topical Studies in Criminal and Juvenile Justice | ||
| Psychology and Law | ||
| Total Credits | 37 | |
LAS majors require a minimum of 120 credits, including a minimum of 45 credits at the 3000/4000 level. You must also complete the LAS world language requirement and career proficiency requirement.
As majors in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Criminal Justice students must meet College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and University-wide requirements for graduation in addition to those stated above for the major.
Students in all ISU majors must complete a three-credit course in U.S. cultures and communities and a three-credit course in international perspectives. Check (http://www.registrar.iastate.edu/courses/div-ip-guide.html) for a list of approved courses. Discuss with your advisor how the two courses that you select can be applied to your graduation plan.
Criminal Justice, B.A.
| Freshman | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| SOC 1150 or CJ 1200 | 1 | CJ 1210 | 1 |
| CJ 2400 | 3 | CJ 2410 | 3 |
| ENGL 1500 | 3 | ENGL 2500 | 3 |
| LIB 1600 | 1 | Arts and Humanities Choice | 3 |
| Social Science Choice | 3 | Social Science Choice | 3 |
| Arts and Humanities Choice | 3 | Natural Science Choice | 3 |
| 14 | 16 | ||
| Sophomore | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| CJ 3400 | 3 | CJ 2420 | 3 |
| World Languages/Elective | 3-4 | World Languages/Elective | 3-4 |
| Arts and Humanities Choice | 3 | Math Choice | 3 |
| Natural Science Choice | 3 | International Perspectives | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| LAS 2030 | 1 | ||
| 16-17 | 15-16 | ||
| Junior | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| CJ 4020, 4030, or 4060 | 3 | Criminal Justice Special Topics | 3 |
| Criminal Justice Special Topics | 3 | Criminal Justice Special Topics | 3 |
| ENGL 3020, 3090, or 3140 | 3 | Arts and Humanities Choice | 3 |
| Social Science Choice | 3 | Natural Science Choice | 2 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 14 | ||
| Senior | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| CJ 3200, 3320, PHIL 3390, or PSYCH 3830 | 3 | CJ 4600 | 3 |
| Criminal Justice Special Topics | 3 | Criminal Justice Special Topics | 3 |
| U.S. Cultures and Communities | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total Credits: 120-122 | |||
Special Topics choices: CJ 3200/POLS 3200; CJ 3320/PHIL 3320, PHIL 3390; CJ 3350, CJ 3510, CJ 3520, CJ 3540, CJ 3600, CJ 4020, CJ 4040, CJ 4050, CJ 4060, CJ 4100, CJ 4510, CJ 4700, CJ 4840*; and PSYCH 3830.
*May take up to 9 credits of CJ 4840 special topics.
Note: This is an example four-year plan. Your actual semester schedules may vary.
Criminal Justice Minor
The Criminal Justice minor offers an opportunity for students to learn about the components of the criminal and juvenile justice systems, to become acquainted with the issues and problems affecting these systems, to apply theoretical concepts to real world problems, and to plan a career in the criminal justice field.
Students who declare a minor in Criminal Justice are required to complete 18 total credits. Students may do up to nine credits of SOC 4600 but only three of those credits may be applied to the minor. Nine credits must be at the 3000 or 4000 level. The minor must include at least 9 credits that are not used to meet any other department, college, or university requirement. Students must have a minimum grade point average of 2.0 in courses for the minor.
| CJ 2400 | Introduction to the U.S. Criminal Justice System | 3 |
| CJ 4600 | Criminal and Juvenile Justice Internship | 3 |
| Four additional C J courses | 12 | |
| Total Credits | 18 | |