Criminal Justice B.A.
- Understand theories of crime, criminal justice, and reentry, including traditional and contemporary approaches.
- Use social science methods of data collection to investigate and document issues related to crime and victimization.
- Understand ways in which race, ethnicity, class, and gender are related to outcomes within criminal justice systems.
- Contrast theoretical and empirical models of crime prevention and suppression with the criminal justice system’s role and function.
- Integrate a Christian worldview in understandings of crime, victimization, and justice.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Core Curriculum Requirements 1 | 50 | |
| Criminal Justice Major Requirements | 46 | |
| General Electives | 24 | |
| Total Units | 120 | |
- 1
Number of units required from the Core Curriculum not included in the major requirements below.
Criminal Justice Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Lower Division: | ||
| CRMJ-225 | Courts and Criminal Procedures | 3 |
| SOC-265C | Introduction to Behavioral Statistics | 3 |
| Upper Division: | ||
| CRMJ-306 | Justice & Law Enforcement | 3 |
| CRMJ-309 | Race, Class, Gender and Crime | 3 |
| CRMJ-311 | Criminological Theory | 3 |
| CRMJ-490C | Faith and Justice Capstone | 3 |
| SOC-305 | Criminology/Criminal Justice System | 3 |
| SOC-362 | Juvenile Delinquency & Justice | 3 |
| SOC-369 & 369L | Research Design & Methods and Research Design & Methods Lab | 4 |
| SOC-378 | Prisons and Jails | 3 |
| Take 15 units from the following: | 15 | |
| Criminal Organizations | ||
| Terrorism and Homeland Security | ||
| Reentry | ||
| Community Impacts of Crime | ||
| Interview and Interrogation | ||
| Special Topic in Criminal Justice | ||
| Forensic Psychology | ||
| Deviant Behavior | ||
| Practicum | ||
| Human Trafficking | ||
| Total Units | 46 | |
Disclaimer: This sample Four Year Plan is provided as a guide for the recommended sequencing of courses. Vanguard University requires that students complete a minimum of 120 units of required course work as outlined on the Requirements tab in order to receive a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Science, or Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. It is the student's responsibility to confirm with the department the course rotation before enrolling in courses. If applicable, please note the footnotes at the bottom of the page for additional information related to courses listed in a particular year and term. Questions, contact the Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice.
Study Abroad Participation: Students interested in participating in the university's Study Abroad programs are encouraged to reach out to the Global Education and Outreach Office for more information and collaboration in their academic course planning. Students using Education and Training Benefits through the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs are encouraged to also reach out to the School Certifying Official for more information regarding how benefits can be applied.
| Year 1 Term 1 | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| CORE-100C | Cornerstone | 1 |
| SOC-305 | Criminology/Criminal Justice System | 3 |
| HIST-PLCR1 | History Core Req (US Hist Or Democracy) | 3 |
| THEO-101C | Foundations of Christian Life | 3 |
| ENGL-120C | Persuasive Writing | 3 |
| KINE-148C | Lifetime Fitness and Wellness Lecture | 3 |
| Units | 16 | |
| Year 1 Term 2 | ||
| SOC-100C | Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
| NT-101C | New Testament Survey | 3 |
| HIST-PLCR2 | History Core Requirement (World Civ) | 3 |
| FINA-PLCR | Fine Arts Core Curriculum Requirement | 3 |
| ELCT-PLHD3A | General Elective 3 Units | 3 |
| Units | 15 | |
| Year 2 Term 1 | ||
| ENGL-220C | Researched Writing | 3 |
| OT-201C | Old Testament Survey | 3 |
| NSCI-PLCR | Science Lec/Lab Requirement | 4 |
| SOC-PLCR | Social Science Core Curriculum Reqm't | 3 |
| CRMJ-306 | Justice & Law Enforcement | 3 |
| Units | 16 | |
| Year 2 Term 2 | ||
| CRMJ-309 | Race, Class, Gender and Crime | 3 |
| ENGL-230C | Literature and the Human Experience | 3 |
| COMM-201C | Speech Composition and Presentation | 3 |
| CRMJ-225 | Courts and Criminal Procedures | 3 |
| ELCT-PLHD3A | General Elective 3 Units | 3 |
| Units | 15 | |
| Year 3 Term 1 | ||
| SOC-265C | Introduction to Behavioral Statistics | 3 |
| CRMJ-311 | Criminological Theory | 3 |
| THEO-300C | Developing a Christian World View | 3 |
| SOC-362 | Juvenile Delinquency & Justice | 3 |
| CRMJ-PLHD3 | Criminology Elective 3 Units | 3 |
| Units | 15 | |
| Year 3 Term 2 | ||
| SOC-369 | Research Design & Methods | 3 |
| SOC-369L | Research Design & Methods Lab | 1 |
| SOC-378 | Prisons and Jails | 3 |
| CRMJ-PLHD6 | Criminology Electives 6 Units | 6 |
| ELCT-PLHD3A | General Elective 3 Units | 3 |
| Units | 16 | |
| Year 4 Term 1 | ||
| CHIS-400C | Christian Heritage | 3 |
| CRMJ-490C | Faith and Justice Capstone | 3 |
| CRMJ-PLHD3 | Criminology Elective 3 Units | 3 |
| ELCT-PLHD6 | Electives 6 Units | 6 |
| Units | 15 | |
| Year 4 Term 2 | ||
| CRMJ-PLHD3 | Criminology Elective 3 Units | 3 |
| ELCT-PLHD9 | Elective 9 Units | 9 |
| Units | 12 | |
| Total Units | 120 | |
This course provides an analysis of the structure, process, and personnel involved in the state and federal court systems. An overview criminal law concepts and procedures, beginning with their historical basis in the Constitution is covered. The relationship between public order and due process will be examined. Students will trace the flow of a criminal case from the time the crime is committed all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.
This course introduces students to the history of policing and provides an overview of recent approaches to policing. This course also includes an in-depth examination of police behavior, discretion, and community responses and attitudes toward law enforcement.
This course will examines organized criminal structures including street gangs and organized crime rings. Studies the role society plays in increasing and decreasing membership into these organizations. Explores the societal and law enforcement approaches to the reduction of organized crime.
This course covers key theories about the causes of terrorism, including social-psychological theories about the individual to macro-level theories about which countries experience terrorism and why. Students will learn about types of terrorism including suicide terrorism, state terrorism, ecoterrorism, and revolutionary terrorism. Various responses to terrorism are considered, including the law, media representations of terrorism, and human rights repercussions.
This course critically examines the influence of race, class and gender in the creation and application of criminal justice. This course discusses victimization and criminal behavior patterns, theoretical explanations, and the dynamics of differential involvement of specific groups in the criminal justice system. The class considers social movements and advocacy groups and their alternative proposals to transform the way we think of and enact justice, punishment, and prevention.
Students examine theoretical perspectives on crime causation and review associated empirical literature. The course covers the application of theory to various criminal justice policies.
Investigates the role of the correctional system in the prisoner reentry process. Reviews the empirical research on successful reentry programs. This course covers the challenges of reentry for the community and those returning to society.
Exposes students to social problems related to mass incarceration, including those that impact families, local economies, law enforcement-community relations, and churches. Students investigate policies aimed at addressing these issues.
Students will learn theories and evidence-based techniques to interview and interrogate witnesses, informants and suspects. Students also consider and discuss the codes of ethics to which investigators adhere as well as the impact of technological advancements on the future of criminal investigation.
Study of a special topic in one of the fields of Criminal Justice. May be repeated for credit. Special topic courses are developed by faculty according to student interest and are offered periodically.
This course explores the concept of faith and justice and how these ideas have changed over time. Considers various faith-based methods used to restore an offender to the community, including restorative justice. Examines the Christian faith as a motivator in producing social change pertaining to crime, victimization, offending, and reentry.
Prerequisite: CRMJ-311
Terms Typically Offered: Fall and Spring.