Justice Studies, Bachelor

In addition to University Requirements:

• 36 units of major coursework.
• 6 units of communication skills.
• 12 - 16 hours of a foreign language.

• Elective courses, if 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.

Purpose Statement

The Bachelor's in Justice Studies provides online and distance-learning students with a professional, criminal justice-focused education that prepares students to ethically work and lead in the fields of criminal justice and intelligence studies.

To help students reach their education and career goals, all Justice Studies faculty members have advanced degrees and extensive experience in the criminal justice or intelligence fields, specializing in areas, such as, criminal justice investigations, police leadership, community policing, drug investigations, federal law enforcement, corrections, intelligence-led policing, military intelligence, cyber-crime, and the law.

Students complete core courses in ethics, leadership, criminal justice, criminology, the justice system and effective writing.

The coursework in Criminal Justice Administration ensures students develop an in-depth knowledge of their areas of interest within the criminal justice system as well as an understanding of the current, critical issues impacting the criminal justice field. This coursework also helps students use critical thinking to connect theoretical concepts with practical criminal justice situations; a necessary skill for practitioners to succeed in the criminal justice field.

In addition to working in the criminal justice field, many graduates choose to build upon their critical thinking, criminal justice and leadership courses by pursuing advanced degrees in criminal justice, leadership or the law.

Student Learning Outcomes

• Effective Writing: Demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively, in writing, by identifying scholarly and credible research and using this information to present logical, written arguments in favor of or in opposition to specific policies.
• Critical Thinking: Thoroughly analyze evidence and research, and logically apply such information when forming arguments and drawing conclusions.
• Application of Theory to Practice: Demonstrate the ability interpret applicable theories and use such theories to address practical issues.
• Ethics: Describe the ethical issues impacting the criminal justice or intelligence fields, and offer logical, well-supported solutions for addressing such issues.
• Leadership: Demonstrate the ability to use leadership theories to address practical situations in the criminal justice or intelligence field.
• Current Issues: Demonstrate an understanding of the current issues impacting the criminal justice or intelligence field, critically analyze such issues in consideration of the current social and political issues, and propose evidence-based solutions to address such issues.
• Job Opportunities: Demonstrate an understanding of the job opportunities and necessary qualifications for employment in a specific area within the criminal justice or intelligence field, and assess your readiness to pursue employment in at least one area of the field.
• Demonstrate a thorough understanding of an area within the criminal justice field, as well as ability to provide a detailed summary of the current issues impacting this area of criminal justice field.

Major Requirements

• This major requires 60 - 61 units distributed as follows:

  • Justice Studies Common Course Requirements: 15 units
  • Criminal Justice Administration Coursework: 21 units
  • Interdisciplinary Studies Requirements: 24 - 25 units
    • Communication Requirement: 6 units
    • Foreign Language or Science Requirement: 18 - 19 units
  
  
  Complete the following 60 - 61 units with a Grade of 'C' or better:

• Justice Studies Common Course Requirements (15 units)
  • JUS 110, JUS 120, JUS 330, JUS 350W (12 units)
  • JUS 421C which meets the senior capstone requirement (3 units)

• Criminal Justice Administration Coursework (21 units)

  • JUS 410, JUS 411, JUS 436, JUS 450 (12 units)
  • Select from the following (9 units)
    • JUS 331, JUS 334, JUS 335, JUS 337, JUS 338, JUS 412, JUS 414, JUS 416
    • JUS 399 (3 units)
    • JUS 408 (3 units)

   

Interdisciplinary Studies Requirements

• Communication Requirements (6 units)
  Select 3 units from each the following two categories (6 units)

• • Performance-based courses, select one from the following: (3 units)
    Performance-based courses are defined as having at least 51 percent of the evaluation of the student being based upon oral performance.

    • CST 111, CST 311, CST 312, CST 314, CST 315
    • Or advisor approved

     

• • Theory-based courses, select one from the following: (3 units)
    • COM 101, COM 200
    • CST 151, CST 271, CST 321, CST 323, CST 361, CST 365, CST 424, CST 451, CST 465, CST 472, CST 475 , CST 477
    • Or advisor approved

• • 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 or Science Requirement Option (18 - 19 units)

• • 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
      • Or take at least 12 units from courses with Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Sciences, Geology, Mathematics, Nutrition, Physical Science, Physics, or 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 one from the following: (3 units)
          • BBA 293
          • ISM 120
        • Select one from the following: (3 units)
          • BBA 340
          • Or advisor-approved coursework including the CIS or CS prefix.

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

Additional Information

• This program is available as an Accelerated Undergraduate/Graduate Plan wherein a student may start a master's degree while simultaneously completing their bachelor's degree.

• Some courses may have prerequisites. For prerequisite information, click on the course or see your advisor.