This is an archived copy of the 2020-2021 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.valdosta.edu.

All students wishing to pursue  the criminal justice major or minor must have obtained a minimum overall grade point average (GPA) of 2.00 for acceptance into the degree program. Students must also maintain an overall GPA of 2.00 to remain active within the degree program. Once accepted into the criminal justice degree program, students who fall below the minimum GPA of 2.00 at any time will be blocked from registration into any criminal justice course until his/her overall GPA is raised to the minimum 2.00.

Selected Educational Outcomes

The major program in Criminal Justice seeks to prepare students for entry level positions in the criminal justice system at all levels of the system, as well as for related positions in the private sector. Educational outcomes will include the following:

  1. To develop in students an understanding and appreciation of the structure and function of the criminal justice system as it applies to adults and juveniles; federal, state, and local criminal laws and procedures; and the relationship of these to the Constitution of the United States.
  2. To apply knowledge about diverse criminal justice systems.
  3. To apply scientific research techniques and related statistical techniques in the study of crime.
  4. To develop an understanding of various theories in criminology, their strengths and weaknesses, and their role in gaining an understanding of crime.

Examples of Outcome Assessments

The assessment of educational outcomes is a continuing process throughout the entire undergraduate program. Means of assessment will include the following:

  1. The on-going evaluation of student examinations, research projects, the Senior Seminar project, and reports of other scholarly and internship work.
  2. Exit questionnaires to be administered to each student completing work for the major.
  3. Surveys of graduates of the program to assess the relevancy of the program to their current work and their suggestions for refinements.
  4. The use of university or external data that may become available to assess the quality of the program and the performance of its graduates.

Requirements for the Bachelor of Science Degree with a Major in Criminal Justice

Core Curriculum60
Core Curriculum Areas A-E (See VSU Core Curriculum) 42
Core Curriculum Area F18
CRJU 1100Introduction to Criminal Justice3
CRJU 2500Written Communications in Criminal Justice3
SOCI 1101Introduction to Sociology3
or SOCI 1160 Introduction to Social Problems
Electives9
Introduction to Anthropology
Human Communication
Public Speaking
Principles of Logic and Argumentation
Introduction to General Psychology
World Religions
Foreign Language 1001
Foreign Language 1002
Foreign Language 2001
Foreign Language 2002
If SOCI 1101, SOCI 1160, or any of the above electives are taken in Areas C or E, the student will select another course from the electives listed above.
Senior College Curriculum60
Upper-level courses in Criminal Justice
CRJU 3300Criminal Law3
CRJU 3310Criminal Procedure3
CRJU 3401Criminal Justice Data Analysis3
CRJU 3402Criminal Justice Research Methods3
CRJU 3600Criminology3
CRJU 3700Ethics in Criminal Justice3
CRJU 4100Seminar in Law Enforcement3
CRJU 4200Seminar in Corrections3
CRJU 4400Seminar in Juvenile Justice3
CRJU 4800Seminar in Criminal Justice3
Criminal Justice Electives18
Any CRJU course numbered 4000 or above (except 4100, 4200, 4400, and 4800) may be used as an elective. CRJU 4700, CRJU 4900, and CRJU 4910 may each be taken for a maximum of 6 hours of credit.
Open Electives12
CRJU 4910 Criminal Justice Internship may be taken as an open elective for 3 to 6 hours of credit. At least 6 hours of coursework numbered 3000 or above must be taken in a single discipline outside the major.
Total hours required for the degree120

Additional Departmental Requirement

The grade earned in all Area F courses and each CRJU course taken for the major must be a “C” or better.