The Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice

Total Course Requirements for the Bachelor's Degree: 120 units

See Bachelor's Degree Requirements in the University Catalog for complete details on general degree requirements. A minimum of 40 units, including those required for the major, must be upper division.

A suggested Major Academic Plan (MAP) has been prepared to help students meet all graduation requirements within four years. You can view MAPs on the Degree MAPs page in the University Catalog or you can request a plan from your major advisor.

General Education Pathway Requirements: 48 units

See General Education in the University Catalog and the Class Schedule for the most current information on General Education Pathway Requirements and course offerings.

Diversity Course Requirements: 6 units

See Diversity Requirements in the University Catalog. Most courses taken to satisfy these requirements may also apply to General Education .

Literacy Requirement:

See Mathematics and Writing Requirements in the University Catalog. Writing proficiency in the major is a graduation requirement and may be demonstrated through satisfactory completion of a course in your major which has been designated as the Writing Proficiency (WP) course for the semester in which you take the course. Students who earn below a C- are required to repeat the course and earn a C- or higher to receive WP credit. See the Class Schedule for the designated WP courses for each semester. You must pass ENGL 130I or JOUR 130I (or equivalent) with a C- or higher before you may register for a WP course.

For more information on courses that may double count in the major and General Education, please see your advisor.

Course Requirements for the Major: 55 units

Completion of the following courses, or their approved transfer equivalents, is required of all candidates for this degree.

Major Core Requirements: 21 units

7 courses required:

SUBJ NUM	Title	Units	Semester Offered	Course Flags
POLS 250	Introduction to Criminal Justice	3.0	FS	GE
The history and philosophy of criminal justice in America; recapitulation of the system; identifying the various sub-systems, role expectations, and their interrelationships; theories of crime, punishment, and rehabilitation; ethics, education, and training for professionalism in the criminal justice system. 3 hours lecture. This is an approved General Education course. (001563)
POLS 257	Juvenile Justice Process	3.0	INQ
This course provides an introduction to the juvenile justice system in the United States. Juvenile justice is a key component of the overall criminal justice system. The course highlights the activity in the main institutions of juvenile justice (the police, the courts, and corrections), examines past practice as well as concentrating on current policies, explores some of the reasons for treating juveniles differently from adults, and investigates future policy in juvenile justice. 3 hours lecture. (007478)
POLS 259A	Introduction to Criminal Law	3.0	FS
Prerequisites: POLS 250 or faculty permission. Examines current and developing programs and issues in the field of criminal justice. 3 hours seminar. (001603)
POLS 352	Policing in America	3.0	FA
Prerequisites: POLS 250. This course examines the history, philosophy, evolution, and legal obligations of the police and the roles, functions, and policy issues associated with policing in a democratic society. 3 hours lecture. (007505)
POLS 353	Corrections	3.0	SP
Prerequisites: POLS 250. This course surveys corrections in the United States, including the history, philosophy, and evolution of correctional systems; correctional institutions, community-based corrections, and correctional policy issues. 3 hours lecture. (007506)
POLS 459D	Senior Seminar in Criminal Justice	3.0	FS
Prerequisites: Permission of instructor. This course involves an integrated analysis and critical examination of all of the subfields of criminal justice, including criminology, policing, adjudication, corrections, and criminal justice process and policy. This seminar will assess the substantive knowledge, critical analysis, writing, speaking, and computer skills of senior-level students. 3 hours seminar. (007591)
SOCI 384	Criminology	3.0	FS
The study of crime and criminal behavior as a social phneomenon. Adopting a sociological perspective, this course examines crime trends, types of crime, and social and personal factors related to criminal behavior. Special attention is paid to inequality in the criminal justice system, street and white-collar crimes, victimization and other social costs of crime and punishment. 3 hours lecture. (009017)

Criminal Justice Electives

4 courses selected from:

SUBJ NUM	Title	Units	Semester Offered	Course Flags
ANTH 311	Survey of Forensic Science	3.0	FS
A survey of the relationship between science and society by noting the history and nature of the role of the expert witness and the forensic scientist in aiding to resolve various legal issues. 3 hours lecture. (000511)
HCSV 370	Drugs in Our Society	3.0	FS	GE
An overview of the use and abuse of alcohol, prescription and street drugs, and their personal and societal consequences on the young adult, the family, and society. Historical perspectives, legal issues, and decision-making skills regarding drug use will also be addressed. 3 hours discussion. This is an approved General Education course. (004435)
POLS 259	Chico Police Service Learning Practicum	3.0	SP
This course examines criminal investigation techniques and includes a survey of a wide variety of topics in criminal investigation. Emphasis is placed on the practical application of education toward gaining employment and enhancing law enforcement careers. During the semester, students participate in a Chico community service learning project. 3 hours lecture. (007479)
POLS 312	Issues in Criminal Justice	3.0	INQ
Prerequisite: POLS 250 or concurrent enrollment. This course is a seminar on selected topics in criminal justice. 3 hours lecture. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 6.0 units. (020601)
POLS 354	Community Corrections	3.0	INQ
This course considers the historical development of probation and parole, addresses questions regarding how and why probation and parole have changed over time, and outlines how community corrections are influenced by the constraints of the criminal justice system and how it is affected by public perceptions of crime and criminals. Students assess the success and feasibility of community corrections given current resources and public sentiment. Finally, the course addresses the population of offenders that are on probation and parole, their likely backgrounds and futures. 3 hours lecture. (007507)
POLS 365I	Justice System Administration	3.0	FS	GE WI C
This course introduces students to the theories and practices of justice, as well as the administration of justice. As a writing intensive course, students examine pertinent justice issues of local, national, or international significance, identify the theory (or theories) of justice relevant to the situation, and investigate how justice was (or was not) administered. 3 hours lecture.This is an approved Writing Intensive course. This is an approved General Education Capstone course. Formerly POLS 465. (007600)
POLS 426	Women and the Law	3.0	INQ
This course is also offered as WMST 426. In this class, students discuss how the criminal justice system and civil law affect women's lives and their experiences with the state. Students take a historical view on how women have made progress toward equality in the United States by using the legal system in a variety of ways and examine women's status as criminal justice professionals, victims, and perpetrators of crime and how the criminal justice system deals with women in these positions. 3 hours lecture. (007547)
POLS 459A	Criminal Procedure	3.0	FS
Prerequisites: POLS 250. The machinery of criminal justice in theory and practice; the significance of the rule of law and its exceptions in the actual administration of justice. This course will concentrate on the application of the fourth, fifth, and sixth amendments to the U.S. Constitution in the administration of justice and the application of modern behavioral research as it applies to police and court administration. 3 hours discussion. (007588)
POLS 459B	Policy Issues in Criminal Justice	3.0	SP
Prerequisites: POLS 250. This course will serve as a capstone for majors and will seek to tie together the various threads of the major while at the same time investigating public policy issues relating to criminal justice. It will examine the behavioral and policy evaluative literature relating to CJ policy in the United States and will strengthen the evaluative techniques of the students. 3 hours discussion. (007589)
POLS 460E	Police Administration and Management	3.0	INQ
This course introduces students to the organization of police departments and explores the history of policing and organizational theory. It further examines the role of the police executive as a public manager and as a leadership position. Topics for the course include departmental management, police operations, budgeting, discipline, promotion, external political factors, and public planning and research. By the end of the course, students should have a general knowledge of public organizations and specific knowledge about the operation and management of police departments. 3 hours lecture. (007595)
POLS 489E	Internship in Criminal Justice	1.0 -3.0	FS
Prerequisites: Permission of instructor. Field work with criminal justice agencies in the areas of policing, courts, and corrections. Work supervised by the faculty internship coordinator and the staff of the internship office. Directed readings and writings may be assigned. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 15.0 units. Credit/no credit grading. (007618)
SOCI 484	Youth, Crime, and Delinquency	3.0	SP
Prerequisites: SOCI 384 recommended. This course examines marginalized, deviant, and criminally active youth. Students consider how teen experiences and behaviors are labeled and treated differently throughout society. Social, historical, and legal perspectives are used to understand the impact of the juvenile justice system, policies, and trends on the lives of American youth. 3 hours lecture. (009018)
SOCI 487	Sociology of Gangs	3.0	INQ
This course explores gang activity in the United States, focusing primarily on contemporary street gangs. The social conditions that lead to their emergence are considered, as well as perceptions of the gang problem. Also considered are racial and ethnic differences between gangs and potential solutions to the challenges that gang present. 3 hours lecture. (008976)

Research Methods

2 courses required:

SUBJ NUM	Title	Units	Semester Offered	Course Flags
POLS 331	Introduction to Political Inquiry	3.0	FS	GW
Prerequisites: ENGL 130 or JOUR 130 (or equivalent) with a grade of C- or higher. An introduction to the discipline of political science, with emphasis on the major controversy of substance and method therein. Should be taken at the beginning of the junior year. 3 hours lecture. This is an approved Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement course; a grade of C- or higher certifies writing proficiency for majors. (007495)
POLS 331X	Techniques in Political Science Research	1.0	FS
This course covers use of computers and the Internet in political science research. 3 hours independent study. Credit/no credit grading. (007496)

Ethical Questions

1 course required:

SUBJ NUM	Title	Sustainable	Units	Semester Offered	Course Flags
PHIL 332	Criminal Justice Ethics		3.0	FS
This course is also offered as POLS 332. An investigation of contemporary moral issues involved in police work and corrections, such as deadly force, entrapment, undercover work, corruption, and prisoners' rights. 3 hours seminar. (007269)

Criminal Justice and the Individual

1 course selected from:

SUBJ NUM	Title	Units	Semester Offered	Course Flags
PSYC 381	Abnormal Psychology	3.0	FS
Introduction to the study, definition, and classification of deviant behavior, including experimental psychopathology, psychodiagnostic methods, and psychotherapeutic procedures. 3 hours lecture. (007939)
PSYC 391	Psychology of Prejudice, Hate, and Violence	3.0	FS	GE USD
Examination of the nature of prejudice and hate and their contribution to societal violence. How prejudice and hatred affect personal, family, and group behavior are considered in a context of understanding factors that contribute to their development. Strategies for reducing the prevalence of prejudice, hatred, and violence in our contemporary culture are evaluated. 3 hours lecture. This is an approved General Education course. This is an approved US Diversity course. (007908)
SOCI 380	Sociology of Deviant Behavior	3.0	FA
This course takes an in-depth look at how deviance is constructed in our society. This includes deviant identities, deviant subcultures, and the stigmatization of individuals and groups engage in non-normative behavior. Students examine the main theories of deviance, and consider ethical and political issues when researching deviance. 3 hours lecture. (008974)

Criminal Justice and American Society

1 course selected from:

SUBJ NUM	Title	Units	Semester Offered	Course Flags
PSYC 395	Social Psychology	3.0	FS
An overview of social psychology, emphasizing the variety of social factors that influence individual behavior. 3 hours lecture. (007952)
SOCI 330	Sociology of Gender	3.0	INQ
This course is also offered as MCGS 330. This course examines gender as a social construct and its influences on men and women in families, school, work, politics, and culture. The focus is on how gender varies in relation to ethnicity, race, sexuality, and social class. 3 hours lecture. (005639)
SOCI 350	Ethnic and Race Relations	3.0	FS	GE USD
This course is also offered as MCGS 350. This course examines the social construction of race, and studies ethnic and racial relations in the United States, looking at variations by class, gender, and immigration experiences. Students analyze interpersonal relationships between racial and ethnic groups, discrimination, resistance, social movements, and governmental policies 3 hours lecture. This is an approved General Education course. This is an approved US Diversity course. (005640)
SOCI 486	Sociology of Law	3.0	INQ
This course explores the social context of law, legality, and society, concentrating on the numerous ways that law permeates all forms of social behavior. The focus is on the relationships between law, social institutions and social change, and how they interact with issues of race, class, gender, sexuality, and social justice. 3 hours lecture. (009016)

Understanding Criminal Justice Bureaucracies

1 course required:

SUBJ NUM	Title	Sustainable	Units	Semester Offered	Course Flags
POLS 460A	Introduction to Public Administration		3.0	FS
Executive function in government; survey of the principles of administrative organization, personnel management, financial administration, administrative law, administrative policies. Problems and trends in government as a career. 3 hours lecture. (007592)

Theoretical Foundations of the American System

1 course selected from:

SUBJ NUM	Title	Units	Semester Offered
POLS 431	American Political Thought	3.0	FA
Considers tensions between the democratic and republican claims in formative periods: Puritan, Revolutionary, Constitution, Jacksonian, and Civil War. Addresses modern implications. Uses primary sources and novels. 3 hours lecture. (007551)
POLS 432	Recent American Political Thought	3.0	SP
Considers competing democratic and republican claims in the context of social Darwinism, Populism, Progressivism, New Deal, and Post-World War II. Uses primary sources and novels. 3 hours lecture. (007554)
POLS 437	Contemporary Political Thought	3.0	INQ
This course is also offered as PHIL 437. An extended discussion of the nature of anarchy, corporatism, oligarchy, classical liberalism, radical liberalism, democratic socialism, communism, and fascism, with a continued focus on these political cultures and their ideological expressions in contemporary politics. 3 hours seminar. (007281)
POLS 438	Jurisprudence: Philosophy of Law	3.0	FS
This course is also offered as PHIL 438. The philosophical nature and origins of law. Topics to be examined include theories of law, justice, the relationship of law to morality, natural law, responsibility, punishment, and other basic concepts. Approach is both theoretical and via case studies. 3 hours lecture. (007282)

Courts and the Criminal Justice System

1 course selected from:

SUBJ NUM	Title	Units	Semester Offered
POLS 451A	Constitutional Law: Powers and Restraints	3.0	INQ
Analysis of judicial cases and related materials illustrating historical and current interpretations of constitutional problems such as the powers of the courts, congress, and President; and the balance of federal-state power in such areas as commerce and taxation. 3 hours lecture. (007577)
POLS 451B	Constitutional Law: Civil Rights and Civil Liberties	3.0	FS
This course is also offered as MCGS 451B. Analysis of judicial cases and related materials illustrating historical and current interpretations of constitutional problems such as racial discrimination, criminal procedures, and freedom of speech and religion. 3 hours lecture. (005645)
POLS 453	Legal Process and Behavior	3.0	INQ
The study of law from the political, sociological, and behavioral perspectives examining recent and contemporary approaches to the legal process. Other questions about areas of study include: What, if any, are the boundaries of the legal process? To what extent should the legal process be a part of our everyday lives? To what extent is the law political? 3 hours lecture. (007580)
POLS 464	Administrative Law	3.0	FA
Study of the role of administrative law in American government. Scope and implications of discretionary decision-making. 3 hours lecture. (007599)

Electives Requirement:

To complete the total units required for the bachelor's degree, select additional elective courses from the total University offerings. You should consult with an advisor regarding the selection of courses which will provide breadth to your University experience and possibly apply to a supportive second major or minor.

Grading Requirement:

All courses taken to fulfill major course requirements must be taken for a letter grade except those courses specified by the department as Credit/No Credit grading only.

Advising Requirement:

Advising is mandatory for all majors in this degree program. Consult your undergraduate advisor for specific information.