Criminal Justice Major

Criminal Justice Major

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Make a difference in the world of criminal justice

The Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice is a 120 credit-hour program. It is an interdisciplinary major, predicated on a common core of the humanities, social sciences, mathematics, and physical sciences. The goal of the program is to develop in students critical thinking skills and an increased analytical awareness of the role of law enforcement agencies, courts, correctional institutions, human services, and social advocacy venues in the criminal justice system. The curriculum includes coursework to provide students with awareness of recent advances in human dynamics, civil rights legislation, information technology and security, cybercrime, intelligence organizations, and leadership roles.

The course of study consists of an extensive overview of the criminal justice system and an intensive examination of each of the major components of the system. The program is designed to serve students who may elect to enter the criminal justice profession immediately upon graduation, students of the liberal arts with professional interest in criminal justice, and students who desire to pursue graduate or law school. Criminal Justice majors are able to apply for an internship during their junior year.

Check Out the Different Criminal Justice Courses Waiting for you at Worcester State
CJ-101 Introduction to Criminal Justice
A survey of the American Criminal Justice System as a socio- political institution. The police, criminal courts, and correctional and rehabilitative endeavors will be analyzed within the framework of empirical research from the perspectives of the social sciences. Required of all Freshmen in the Criminal Justice major.
3 credits
CJ-102 Introduction to Corrections
Corrections is described as a study of the historical and contemporary views that examine the punishment of crime, offender management, and rehabilitation. This course focuses on correctional philosophy, theory, and practices. It further explores sentencing, jails, prisons, probation, parole, correctional policies, agencies, prison life, treatment, challenges facing correctional populations, and reentry.
3 credits
CJ-103 Evidence Collection and Crime Scene Preservation
This course provides students with a theoretical framework for the practice of evidence collection and crime scene preservation. Various techniques and protocols for investigation will be reviewed and linked to methods of collection of physical evidence, as well as the interpretation, accountability and preservation of data. Techniques of documentation and case preparation will also be explored.
3 credits
CJ-111 Law Enforcement and Society
The structure and function of law enforcement agencies in contemporary society will be analyzed in their sociological context. Particular emphasis will be placed on the role of the police within the framework of the Criminal Justice System.
3 credits
CJ-193 Special Topics for First-Year Students
Introductory level course covering topics of special interest to first-year students. Offered only as a First-Year Seminar.
3 credits
CJ-203 Theories of Crime
This course explores the prominent theories of crime causation, including biological, psychological, sociological, and cultural explanations. In this course, students also learn the implications of these theories for policy making within the criminal justice system.
3 credits
CJ-204 Introduction to Research in Criminal Justice
This course provides an overview of research concepts, designs, and applications within the content areas of criminal justice. Reasoning, concept construction, theoretical frameworks, ethical principles, and professional writing conventions are examined.
3 credits
CJ-205 American Judicial System
An examination of the development of law and the American legal system. The problems related to the meaning and uses of law: the organizational hierarchy of the courts: and the role of the courts in the criminal justice systems.
3 credits
CJ-208 Systems of Addictions Treatment
This course provides an overview of counseling modalities and techniques used in addiction treatment and recovery settings, including for those with co-occurring disorders. A family systems approach will be employed to understand how the Criminal Justice System, the Mental Health System, and the larger community relate. Legal and regulatory restrictions, ethical codes, and legal sanctions also are discussed.
3 credits
CJ-211 Victimology
Criminal-victim relationships, with emphasis on victim-precipitated crimes and compensation to the victims.
3 credits
CJ-215 Art Crimes
This course explores a variety of criminal offenses involving the production, consumption, distribution, and display of art, including graffiti/street art, forgery, theft, vandalism, rights infringement, and indecent and politically subversive art. The course examines these offenses from an interdisciplinary perspective, including law, criminology, aesthetics, economics, and cultural studies. Art crimes are examined from the international level to the local. (This course does not count as a Criminal Justice elective for Criminal Justice majors.)
3 credits
CJ-216 Cybercrime
Cybercrime has grown in visibility and importance during the last two decades. There is growing public interest in cybercrime and identity theft and its consequences for businesses and individuals, only scant attention has been given to investigation and understanding of this crime. The focus of this course is to introduce students to the technical, social and legal aspects of cybercrime while exposing students to theories, tools, and approaches to preventing and investigation of Cybercrime.
3 credits
CJ-217 Criminal Justice and Cultural Studies Abroad
This course is designed to provide students with an opportunity to explore culture, crime, and criminal justice systems overseas by attending international programs held in foreign countries. This course includes a study of criminal justice practices and systems through field studies, lectures, seminars, workshops, and the like. Further, students are exposed to diverse cultural experiences and events throughout the program.
3 to 6 credits
CJ-230 Leading Criminal Justice Organizations
An examination of organizational and leadership theory and its applications within criminal justice organizations. Consideration of the principles of organization and methods adopted by progressive agencies to effectuate change and ensure effective criminal justice service to the community.
3 credits
CJ-250 Quantifying Crime
Students are provided with an overview of statistics used in criminal justice and criminology. The course covers topics including constructing testable research questions in the study of crime, organizing data, applying appropriate statistical tests, and interpreting results. This course also teaches students how to evaluate government data, technical reports, and empirical studies which summarize criminal justice data. Specific topics may include measuring crime, calculating crime hot spots, and crime mapping.
3 credits
CJ-285 Drugs and Society
This course examines the history of alcohol and other mood changing drugs in the U.S, the myths and stereotypes of alcohol and drug use, sociocultural factors that contribute to the use of drugs, and the patterns and progression of substance use disorders.
3 credits
CJ-301 Juvenile Procedure
An examination of the underlying philosophy of juvenile justice and procedures used to process a juvenile alleged to be delinquent through the juvenile justice system. The course will focus on the differences between juvenile procedure and adult criminal procedure by examining recent court decisions and statutory law pertaining to juveniles.
3 credits
CJ-302 Criminal Law
The function of criminal law and its relationship to various criminal offenses, including crimes against persons and crimes against property.
3 credits
CJ-305 Principles of Evidence and Proof
The study of the different types of evidence, relevance, the hearsay rule and its exceptions, impeachment and cross- examination and privileged communications.
3 credits
CJ-306 Contemporary Problems in Corrections
An intensive analysis of selected problems in institutional and community corrections.
3 credits
CJ-307 Contemporary Problems in Law Enforcement
An intensive analysis of selected problems in American law enforcement and police-community relations. A major research paper is required.
3 credits
CJ-310 Organized and White Collar Crime
The methods through which organized crime influences and, in many instances, controls entire communities. Traditional types of crime heavily influenced by organized crime, such as loan sharking and gambling, will be analyzed in an effort to demonstrate the basis of power and wealth of organized crime in the United States.
3 credits
CJ-320 Criminal Procedure
A study of the basic constitutional rights associated with the investigation, prosecution, and trial of criminal cases, and how the U.S. Supreme Court and other appellate courts have interpreted those rights. The course focuses on law enforcement practices including arrests, lineups, interrogations, searches and seizures, and in court processes including pre-trial proceedings, trial, and sentencing.
3 credits
CJ-322 Gangs
This course will offer an in-depth study of gangs in the United States. Topics to be examined include various theories of gang formation, group dynamics, and individual factors associated with gang membership. Attention will also be given to the different types of gangs that exist. Given these dynamics, the final portion of the course will focus on prevention and intervention efforts aimed at reducing gang behavior.
3 credits
CJ-325 Capital Punishment
This course focuses on capital punishment law, particularly United States Supreme Court decisions addressing constitutional issues relevant to the death penalty. Students also will explore empirical, penological, political, and moral issues related to the death penalty and its administration.
3 credits
CJ-327 Race, Ethnicity and Criminal Justice
An examination of the issues of race and ethnicity which continue to affect all aspects of criminal justice in America. Whether as offenders, victims, or as persons working (or seeking to work) within the system, African Americans, Hispanics, and other minorities are treated differently than non-minorities. This course explores the core concepts of race and ethnicity as they have developed in our culture and examines the evidence for and against various forms of racism and discrimination in key institutions of the criminal justice system. The nature and status of constitutional, statutory, and other remedies are also explored.
3 credits
CJ-329 Crime and the Media
The course will deal with issues related to the mass media and crime in society. The increasing importance of the mass media in shaping peoples perception of attitudes toward the criminal justice system will be focused on. Other topics will include the media as a cause and cure for crime, biases in the media coverage, the effects of the media on criminal proceedings and crime on television and in films.
3 credits
CJ-332 Violent Crime
This course focuses on the study of violence and crime in America through exploring historical perspectives, examining diverse acts of violence, assessing relevant criminology theory regarding the genesis of violent behavior, considering media coverage, and reviewing trends in national and international data on violence. Specific violent crimes such as homicide, family violence, sexual assault, workplace violence, youth violence, and serial crimes will be surveyed. Acts of official violence, such as capital punishment and police brutality, will also be examined along with their impact on society.
3 credits
CJ-333 Terrorism
This course will explore the development of terrorism as a form of crime. Topics to be studied include major terrorist groups and their strategies, tactics and targets, jurisdictional issues, anti- and counter-terrorist operations, federal law enforcement, and future trends in terrorism.
3 credits
CJ-334 Drugs, Crime and Society
This course will present an overview of the problems of drug-related crime in contemporary society. Specific drug substances are discussed, as well as legal, cultural, and social factors in connection with drug law enforcement.
3 credits
CJ-335 Comparative Criminal Justice Systems
Increasingly, practitioners in the American criminal justice systems are required to interact with their counterparts, as well as citizens from other national jurisdictions. Effective interaction, including cooperation and sharing, requires some understanding of how criminal justice is conceived and practiced in other parts of the world. This course examines and compares key institutions of the criminal justice systems in six model countries, two in Europe, two in Asia, one Islamic nation, and one from Latin America. We look not only at formal organizations in each country, but also at actual practices and how they compare with each other and the United States. To understand how differences and similarities have developed, we also learn something of the history, culture, political system and economic conditions of each model country.
3 credits
CJ-337 Criminal Justice Ethics
This course investigates the application of moral logic to problems in the field of criminal justice. Issues related to policing, criminal prosecution, and corrections will be studied. Students will be encouraged to induce general moral precepts and rules from the examination of particular situations and problems.
3 credits
CJ-338 Issues in Contemporary Security
An overview of security systems applicable to contemporary industrial and commercial demands. Losses through physical, technological, and personnel hazards are viewed as preventable phenomena if vulnerabilities are recognized and ameliorative measures taken. Counter-measures will be weighed within the framework of loss criticality and cost of effectiveness.
3 credits
CJ-340 Special Topics in Criminal Justice
An in-depth study of a limited or specialized area within the criminal justice field. Course content will vary according to the area of specialization of the instructor and the interest of the students. May be repeated if course content differs.
3 credits
CJ-352 Principles of Investigation
This course provides students with a theoretical framework for the practice of investigation in both the private and public sectors. Various techniques and protocols for investigation will be explored including infractions and ethics investigations and background investigations. Students will link these methods to the collection of physical evidence, interpretation and preservation of data, rules of evidence, techniques of documentation, along with interview and interrogation approaches.
3 credits
CJ-353 International Criminal Justice
This course examines crime and the criminal justice system at the international level. This course mainly explores international aspects of crime, international and transnational crime, international criminal justice systems, including the United Nations, INTERPOL, the International Criminal Courts, and the international criminal justice statistics.
3 credits
CJ-354 Addictions Counseling of Individuals and Families
This course provides students with an applied understanding of counseling skills, techniques, and strategies in addiction treatment. The psychology of addictions and various treatment modalities are discussed. Engagement, assessment, treatment planning, brief and ongoing treatment, continuing care, and work with special populations are considered. Dialectical behavior therapy, cognitive-behavioral, mindfulness practice techniques, and motivational interviewing concepts are introduced, and students apply them in role-playing scenarios. Boundaries, ethics, and counselor self-awareness are also covered.
3 credits
CJ-360 Program Evaluation
This course will explore the process by which we, in a practical sense, are able to provide useful information and analysis on policy and programs within a given set of real-world constraints. The class contains a service-learning component in which the student will perform a program evaluation on behalf of a community social service agency.
3 credits
CJ-361 Public Policy in Criminal Justice
This course provides an overview of how public policy shapes and influences the criminal justice system through the examination of various political, economic, legal, and social contexts. Current issues facing criminal justice policy makers are explored and various policy evaluation methodologies are reviewed. Additionally, reforms of the political process are discussed with respect to critical issues facing the criminal justice system in contemporary America.
3 credits
CJ-371 Strategic Planning
This course is designed to acquaint students with general theories of planned change at the individual, organizational, and community levels. Special attention will be given to the need for employee involvement and collaboration in working toward organizational goals, with reference to concepts such as reinventing government and total quality management. The emphasis will be on applied theory. Students will be expected to develop their own ideas for change in the fields of policing, courts, or corrections. They would then be required to consider the resistances that would likely arise as their changes are introduced, and how they should best be dealt with, considering planned change theories from the course.
3 credits
CJ-398 Criminal Justice Internship
Criminal Justice internship involves student field-based work experience within selected agencies of the criminal justice system or allied helping agencies. This course is designed to provide students with an opportunity to translate theoretically oriented classroom principles into practical application.
3 credits

Meet all Criminal Justice faculty

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Dr. Stephen A. Morreale

Professor of Criminal Justice

Criminal Justice is interdisciplinary. We are not a "Cop Shop." The CJ Progam at WSU strives to prepare students to grow and become more conversant, superior writers and critical thinkers. Our graduates go on to law school and graduate school. They [...]

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Aimee Delaney

Associate Professor

Dr. Delaney specializes in the study of violence and victimization, with a focus on juvenile crime, risk behaviors among youth, youth victimization, and family and community violence. Her book, Norms of Violence: Violent Socialization Processes and [...]

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