Overview

The purpose of a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice is to prepare students to deal with the challenges of law enforcement in a changing society. The criminal justice program will instill a comprehensive knowledge of the criminal justice while educating students to be critical thinkers who can communicate their thoughts effectively in oral and written form. The curriculum will familiarize students with facts and concepts, but will also teach students to use ethical behavior in applying this knowledge to related problems and changing situations. Graduates from this program will be members of professional organizations dedicated to the concern of selfless public service and will be vital in maintaining peace and curtailing lawlessness in our society.

Career Opportunities

Career opportunities in criminal justice are excellent. Criminal justice graduates find gainful employment in law enforcement, security, the courts, and correctional facilities. Graduates with a degree in criminal justice may find employment in the following areas: juvenile and adult probation, municipal and county law enforcement, private security, hospital security, investigations, and warrant offices.

Minimum employment requirements in law enforcement generally include the following:

• Be at least 21 years old
• Have no convictions for Class A misdemeanor or felony offense
• Have no convictions for Class B misdemeanor offense in the past 10 years
• Possess good mental and physical health
• Meet varying eyesight standards
• Have good moral character
• Possess a valid Texas driver’s license with minimum violations

The criminal justice degree is designed to meet the standards established by the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences (ACJS). ACJS encourages baccalaureate programs to reflect a balanced presentation of a broad scope of criminal justice studies. The criminal justice degree focuses specifically on the five core areas identified by ACJS:

• Criminal justice and juvenile justice processes (law, crime, and administration of justice)
• Criminology (the causes of crime, typologies, offenders, and victims)
• Law enforcement (police organization, discretion, subculture, and legal constraints)
• Law adjudication (criminal law, prosecution, defense, and court procedures and decision-making
• Corrections (incarceration, community-based corrections, and treatment of offenders)

Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice