Criminal Justice Major (B.C.J.)

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Major code BC2209

The upper-division Criminal Justice program is designed for students who have previously completed an associate’s degree program in a technical area related to criminal justice, such as law enforcement, corrections technology, police administration, legal assisting, or human services. If you hold such a degree from a technical or community college, or from a regional campus of Ohio University, you are eligible to apply to the Criminal Justice program and may earn a baccalaureate degree by completing a minimum of 80 additional hours of Ohio University work.

This program offers students with technical education background the opportunity to broaden their exposure to liberal higher education, while acquiring the necessary specialization to qualify for careers in such fields as parole and probation, forensic science, adult and juvenile corrections, and police administration. Criminal Justice students also may prepare for law school or for further study in graduate or professional schools.

The flexible multidisciplinary curriculum comprises a broad range of courses from the social and behavioral sciences, humanities, natural sciences, and professional disciplines, all of which make a contribution to the complex field of criminal justice. You may individualize your program of study to a significant degree through elective courses.

To enter the Criminal Justice program, you must complete a separate degree application form in addition to the application to the University and submit a college transcript showing that you have completed an associate’s degree in an appropriate technical field. Applications are available from the University College office or any regional campus student services office. Upon admission, you will be assigned an academic advisor who will assist you in completing your approved program of study.

Bachelor of Criminal Justice students may earn departmental honors through University College. Students must have an accumulated GPA within the top 20 percent of BCJ students to be eligible for departmental honors. An honors thesis is required. Guidelines and an application are available from the college office.

Degree requirements

Earn 192 credit hours, including at least 80 hours of Ohio University work.
Must complete at least 45 hours at the 300 level or above.
Complete the General Education Requirements (Tier I, II, III). Some courses taken to complete the associate’s degree may be equivalent to courses that fulfill these requirements.
At least 50 percent of the coursework taken in the major (core and area requirements) must be completed at Ohio University.
Complete the BCJ core and no fewer than 9 courses from within the following BCJ Major Requirement areas:

BCJ Core:

Three of the following courses:

POLS 409 - Criminal Procedure Credit Hours: 5
PSY 337 - Social Psychology of Justice Credit Hours: 4
SOC 260 - Criminal Justice Credit Hours: 4
SOC 362 - Criminology Credit Hours: 4
SOC 364 - Police and Society Credit Hours: 4
SOC 366 - Sociology of Correction Credit Hours: 4

BCJ Major Requirements:

Area I: Basic Skills. Four courses, one each from A, B, C, and D

Area II: Cultural, Legal and Political Issues. Two courses, one each from A and B

(A) Diversity and Intercultural Understanding:

AAS 254 - History of Injustice in the United States Credit Hours: 5
COMS 110 - Communication Between Cultures Credit Hours: 4
COMS 410 - Cross-Cultural Communication Credit Hours: 4
COMS 420 - Gender and Communication Credit Hours: 4
HIST 315C - African Americans in American History, 1865-1939 Credit Hours: 4
HIST 315D - African Americans in American History, 1940-Present Credit Hours: 4
SOC 329 - Race and Ethnic Relations in the United States Credit Hours: 4
SOC 470 - Sociology of Gender Credit Hours: 4
SOC 471 - Gender and Justice Credit Hours: 4
WS 100 - Introduction to Women’s Studies Credit Hours: 4
WS 200 - Issues in Feminism Credit Hours: 4

(B) Political and Legal Issues:

PHIL 442 - Philosophy of Law Credit Hours: 5
POLS 301 - The Politics of Law Credit Hours: 5
POLS 306 - Politics of Appalachia Credit Hours: 5
POLS 310 - American Domestic Policy Credit Hours: 4
POLS 320 - Urban Politics Credit Hours: 4
S W 390 - Social Policy Credit Hours: 4
SOC 309 - Sociology of Appalachia Credit Hours: 4

Area III: Understanding Human Behavior and Social Problems. Two courses, one each from A and B

(A) Theories of Behavior:

COMS 422 - Communication in the Family Credit Hours: 4
PSY 233 - Psychology of Personality Credit Hours: 4
PSY 273 - Child and Adolescent Psychology Credit Hours: 4
PSY 304 - Human Learning and Cognitive Processes Credit Hours: 4
PSY 308 - Human Judgment and Decision Making Credit Hours: 4
PSY 332 - Abnormal Psychology Credit Hours: 4
PSY 336 - Social Psychology Credit Hours: 4
SOC 210 - Introduction to Social Psychology Credit Hours: 4
SOC 211 - Collective Behavior Credit Hours: 4
SOC 261 - Deviant Behavior Credit Hours: 4

(B) Social Problems:

S W 380 - Child Abuse and Neglect Credit Hours: 4
S W 382 - Understanding Alcohol Problems and Alcoholism Credit Hours: 4
S W 440 - Mental Health and Social Work Credit Hours: 4
SOC 363 - Juvenile Delinquency Credit Hours: 4
SOC 367 - Corporate and Governmental Crime Credit Hours: 4
SOC 467 - Violence Against Women Credit Hours: 4

Area IV: Professional and Organizational Skills. Two courses, one each from A and B

(A) Professional Skills:

ACCT 101 - Financial Accounting Credit Hours: 4
COMS 304 - Principles and Techniques of Interviewing Credit Hours: 4
COMS 306 - Interpersonal Conflict Management Credit Hours: 4
COMS 405 - Meeting and Conference Planning Credit Hours: 4
POLS 210 - Principles of Public Administration Credit Hours: 4
POLS 488 - Public Dispute Resolution Credit Hours: 4

(B) Organizational Knowledge:

BUSL 255 - Law and Society Credit Hours: 4
BUSL 356 - Law of the Management Process Credit Hours: 4
HLTH 316 - Human Resource Management and Training in Health Care Credit Hours: 4
HRM 320 - Human Resource Management Credit Hours: 4
HRM 425 - Employee Relations Credit Hours: 4
MGT 202 - Management Credit Hours: 4
MGT 340 - Organizational Behavior Credit Hours: 4
POLS 414 - Organizational Theory and Politics Credit Hours: 4
POLS 489 - Nonprofit Management Credit Hours: 4
PSY 261 - Survey of Industrial and Organizational Psychology Credit Hours: 4
SOC 430 - Sociology of Organization Credit Hours: 4

Recommended electives:

You choose the remaining hours beyond the core and major requirements in consultation with an academic advisor on the basis of your educational goals and career interests. Internship and field experience programs may be arranged for qualified students without prior professional experience in criminal justice.

Courses taken to complete the associate’s degree cannot additionally fulfill BCJ major requirements (Areas I, II, III, and IV) for the baccalaureate degree.

Recommended electives include:

AAS 440 - The Black Child Credit Hours: 5
C S 120 - Computer Literacy Credit Hours: 4
MIS 201B - Introduction to Information Analysis and Design Credit Hours: 4
POLS 401 - American Constitutional Law Credit Hours: 4
POLS 402 - American Constitutional Law Credit Hours: 4