2016-2017

Justice Studies, Bachelor

Public Administration and Justice Studies

Extended Campuses

The courses offered in the Justice Studies program are designed to provide students with a solid theoretical foundation from which they can address current issues facing the criminal justice field. The skills focused on in the different emphasis areas (Justice Administration or Intelligence Studies) have been purposefully selected to enable students to succeed as a criminal justice practitioner and leader, enhance employment and career opportunities, and for those in the Intelligence Studies emphasis, prepare students to work in the intelligence field.  
 
Emphasis in Justice Administration:
Students pursuing a degree in Justice Studies with an emphasis in Justice Administration will be prepared to enter a career in the criminal justice field and pursue a variety of assignments. For those currently working in the criminal justice field, an emphasis in Justice Administration will provide a pathway for moving into a leadership position or a specialty assignment.
 
Emphasis in Intelligence Studies:
Students pursuing a degree in Justice Studies with an emphasis in Intelligence Studies will be prepared to enter a career in the criminal justice field and work in the intelligence and homeland security areas. For those currently working in the criminal justice field, an emphasis in Intelligence Studies will provide a pathway for moving into intelligence-led policing, leading intelligence groups or other intelligence-related assignments within the criminal justice field. 
 

  • Available Emphasis Areas:
  • Justice Administration - Emphasis (ending Summer 2025)
  • Intelligence Studies - Emphasis (ending Summer 2025)

  • To receive a bachelor's degree at Northern Arizona University, you must complete at least 120 units of credit that minimally includes a major, the liberal studies requirements, and university requirements as listed below.

    • All of Northern Arizona University's diversity, liberal studies, junior-level writing, and capstone requirements.
    • All requirements for your specific academic plan(s).
    • At least 30 units of upper-division courses, which may include transfer work.
    • At least 30 units of coursework taken through Northern Arizona University, of which at least 18 must be upper-division courses (300-level or above). This requirement is not met by credit-by-exam, retro-credits, transfer coursework, etc.
    • A cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 on all work attempted at Northern Arizona University.

    The full policy can be viewed here.

In addition to University Requirements:

  • At least 36 units of major coursework
  • 6 units of communication skills
  • 12-16 hours of a foreign language
  • Elective courses, as needed, to reach an overall total of at least 120 units

Students may be able to use some courses to meet more than one requirement. Contact your advisor for details.

Minimum Units for Completion 120
Major GPA C
Highest Mathematics Required MAT 114
Foreign Language Optional
Fieldwork Experience/Internship Optional
Some online/blended coursework Required
Progression Plan Link View Progression Plan
Student Learning Outcomes

Core Learning Objectives:

  • Understand the ethical issues impacting the criminal justice field
  • Identify and discuss the various steps involved in the adjudication process
  • Distinguish between the crime control model of criminal justice and the due process model of criminal justice
  • Describe how the courts are related to other components of the criminal justice system 
Students pursuing an emphasis in Justice Administration will be able to:
  • Have an in-depth understanding of specific areas of the criminal justice field (e.g., employment law for justice administrators, forensics, cultural diversity)
  • Have a general understanding of the theoretical causes of crime and be able to use this theoretical foundation to analyze practical criminal justice situations
  • Use leadership theories to develop strategies for leading in the criminal justice field
 
Students pursuing an emphasis in Intelligence Studies will be able to:
  • Provide a detailed understanding of basic intelligence concepts including the intelligence cycle, which serves as a framework for understanding intelligence activities.
  • Explain the conceptual and practical foundations, organization, collection of platforms, capabilities, limitations, exploitation and key issues of intelligence collection with emphasis on various disciplines including HUMINT, SIGINT, MASINT, GEOINT and OSINT used in intelligence products.
  • Identify, describe and evaluate applicable intelligence technologies.
  • Understand how and why social media is used to facilitate terrorist ideologies.
  • Identify ways to monitor, collect (covertly, overtly, and electronically), organize, and analyze data relating to a wide range criminal activity.
  • Understand the role criminal intelligence has in crime prevention and intervention.
  • Articulate understanding of the craft of intelligence analysis to include: critical thinking techniques, recognizing cognitive biases and logic errors, intelligence analysis process, intelligence-policy connection and natural points of conflict within this critical relationship, intelligence failures and associated causes, and challenges facing today's intelligence analyst.
  • Examine the range of ethical responsibilities different U.S. intelligence communities hold, the relationship between intelligence and the policy-making process as well as the legal foundations and oversight mechanisms with particular emphasis on the intersection of national security concerns and civil liabilities.

Major Requirements

  • Communication Requirements (6 units)

    Choose 6 units in the following two categories. 

    • Performance-based courses, select one from the following (3 units)
      • CST 111, CST 311, CST 312, CST 314, CST 315, CST 318 (Performance-based courses are defined as having at least 51 percent of the evaluation of the student being based upon oral performance.)
      • Or advisor approved
    • Theory-based courses, select one from the following (3 units)

  • Please note that you cannot use CLEP or locally prepared exams to satisfy this requirement. Transfer credit used to satisfy this requirement must be approved by the program director.

  • Foreign Language Requirement Option (19 units)

    • Foreign Language Requirement (16 units)
      • You must demonstrate proficiency in a language other than English that is equivalent to four terms of university coursework in the same language. You may satisfy this requirement by taking language courses or by testing out of all or part of it by taking CLEP, or other exams.
    AND
    • Computer Literacy (3 units)
      • This coursework must help you to understand, in general, the technical components of computers and information systems, how to solve problems using information systems technology, word processing, spreadsheet use, database management, graphic information software, website development, graphic design and use of statistical analysis software. Subject to advisor approval.
      • Select one from the following (3 units)
        • [BBA 293]
        • [ISM 120]
  • OR

    Science Requirement Option (18 units)

  • Science Requirement, select from the following (12 units):

    • ANT 101, ANT 250
    • GSP 130, GSP 150
    • Courses with Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Sciences, Geology, Mathematics, Nutrition, Physical Science, Physics, Statistics prefixes. Please note that other courses must be approved by the program director.

  • AND

    Computer Literacy (6 units)

    This coursework must help you to understand, in general, the technical components of computers and information systems, how to solve problems using information systems technology, word processing, spreadsheet use, database management, graphic information software, website development, graphic design and use of statistical analysis software. Subject to advisor approval.

    • Select ISM 120 or BBA 293 (3 units)
    • BBA 340 or Advisor Approved coursework including the CIS or CS prefix (3 units)
General Electives

  • Additional coursework is required if, after you have met the previously described requirements, you have not yet completed a total of 120 units of credit.

    You may take these remaining courses from any of the academic areas, using these courses to pursue your specific interests and goals. You may also use prerequisites or transfer credits as electives if they weren't used to meet major, minor, or liberal studies requirements.

    We encourage you to consult with your advisor to select the courses that will be most advantageous to you.

Additional Information

  • Be aware that some courses may have prerequisites that you must also successfully complete. For prerequisite information, click on the course or see your advisor.