Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice Studies

Criminal Justice Studies Perspective: Six Essential Concepts

A graduate in criminal justice studies from Thiel College should understand:

• The Sociological Eye
• Social Structure
• Socialization
• Stratification
• Social Change & Social Reproduction
• Complexity & Contradiction in Criminality & the Criminal Justice System

Criminal Justice Studies Toolbox: Seven Essential Competencies

A graduate in criminal justice studies from Thiel College should be able to:

• apply and critically evaluate theoretical explanations of deviant and/or criminal behavior and social responses to such behavior
• apply scientific principles to understand the legal and criminal justice systems
• evaluate the quality of social scientific methods and data
• rigorously analyze social scientific data
• use criminological and criminal justice knowledge to inform policy debates and promote public understanding
• apply the concepts of complexity and contradiction in the analysis of deviant and/or criminal behavior and social responses to such behavior
• effectively communicate social scientific concepts in both written and oral forms.

The program is framed by Thiel College’s commitment to the liberal arts, signifying the importance of supporting the development of humane and altruistic perspectives of students in all fields of thought and work.

The major is interdisciplinary and requires study in a variety of related and supportive fields including sociology, political science, psychology, religion, and philosophy.

Graduates from the program may work in courts, law enforcement, probation and parole, specialized treatment programs, public and private agencies such as juvenile probation, child and protective services, and other occupations dedicated to principles of behavior reform.

The major in criminal justice studies (CJS) requires a minimum of 43 semester credit hours, distributed according to the rules presented below. (Note: All courses listed are three credit hours unless otherwise indicated)

Major Requirements

The major requires a minimum of 43 credit hours and must include the following courses:

• CJS 101 Introduction to Criminal Justice Studies
• SOC 121 Microsociology or SOC 141 Macrosociology
• SOC 215 Statistics for the Social Sciences
• CJS 221 Corrections
• CJS 230 Law Enforcement
• PHIL 267 Ethics
• CJS 301 Juvenile Justice System or CJS 305 Victimology
• SOC 321 Deviance or SOC 331 Criminology
• SOC 341 Social Research Methods
• SOC 342 Sociological Theory
• SOC/CJS 371 Professional Seminar
• CJS/POSC 438 Criminal Due Process or CJS/POSC 439 Criminal Law or POSC 445 The Great American Trial
• CJS 440 Capstone in Criminal Justice Studies

Criminal justice studies majors must also take six elective credit hours in courses 200 and above, with exceptions permitting POSC 116 and SOC 191, to fulfill the 43 required credit hours. Students may choose from the unselected courses above or any of the following:

• SOC 191 Social Problems
• SOC 251 Minorities
• SOC 435 Popular Culture
• ACCT 453 Forensic Accounting and Fraud Examination
• BADM 355 Business Law I
• ENSC 200 Introduction to Environmental Law
• POSC 116 American Government
• POSC 226 State and Local Politics and Policy
• POSC 236 Public Policy
• POSC 300 Introduction to Legal Studies
• POSC 316 Topics: Civil Rights and Liberties
• POSC 388 The Death Penalty
• POSC 436 Constitutional Law
• POSC 438 Criminal Due Process Rights
• POSC 439 Criminal Law
• POSC 445 The Great American Trial
• PSY 241 Abnormal Behavior
• PHIL 337 Freedom, Justice & Political Power
• PHIL 347 Social and Political Philosophy
• PHIL 377 Legal Philosophy

Students electing to double major in sociology and criminal justice studies may not use the same elective courses to satisfy the elective requirement in both majors.

An elective, experiential educational opportunity in criminal justice studies areas is strongly encouraged. Internships may be in the local area, Washington, D.C., via Thiel College’s Washington Semester programs or in another region accessible to the student and approved by the program’s administrators (e.g. Harrisburg, PA, a nearby city, or near the student’s home.) Credit hours awarded are variable (1 to 16), depending on the program selected.

A declaration of a major in criminal justice studies must be filed no later than the first semester of the junior year.

Developing expertise in our criminal justice system opens up so many different career paths! Thiel College criminal justice studies graduates have gone on to graduate studies and careers in criminal justice, criminology, law or social work, or law enforcement or corrections.

Here are a few of the things you could do with your criminal justice studies degree from Thiel:

• IRS Criminal Investigator – earn between $49,822 and $81,607 rooting out crimes committed through misuse of our tax laws.*
• Customs and Border Patrol Agent - earn a median salary of $81,130 working as an important element of our national security.**
• Secret Service Agent – earn a starting salary of $49,746 protecting the nation’s currency, thwarting cyber attacks, eliminating forgery, and even protecting the President.***

*www.irs.gov
** Glassdoor.com.salary.US-Customs-and-Boarder Protection Salaries-E41461.htm
***USAJobs.gov