Criminal Justice, B.A.

The College of Arts and Sciences offers a B.A. in Criminal Justice that is developed from the social and behavioral sciences. The study of criminal justice combines the traditional aspects of the criminal justice system, such as law enforcement, courts and the judiciary, corrections, and juvenile justice with an understanding of social deviance as a whole. It also recognizes the interdependence of historical social traditions, values, politics, economic, and legal structures that impact policy questions in a democratic society.

The Bachelor in Arts of Criminal Justice at Governors State University will prepare students with the professional education, analytical background, and communication skills currently demanded in law and justice-related positions in policing, community and institutional corrections, juvenile facilities, social service and community outreach, conflict mediation, and non-profit enterprises among others. This is accomplished through a curriculum specifically developed for students wishing to cultivate a broad perspective which includes the examination of the intersection of the traditional criminal justice model with social, restorative, and community-based models of justice.

The requirements of this degree include completing courses covering 1) Traditional criminological and restorative theoretical perspectives important to understanding crime, deviance, and the shaping of public policy; 2) Social justice approaches to crime prevention and community-based problems; 3) Ethics, diversity, professionalism; and 4) Research design and inquiry to strengthen analytical skills.

Degree Requirements

Students must meet all university requirements for a bachelor’s degree. In addition, students must earn a minimum grade of “C” in all the upper-division Criminal Justice Core and Selective courses at Governors State University.

General Education Requirement (37 Hours)

See Bachelor’s Degree Requirements for general education requirements.

Foundation Courses (15 Hours)*

These are the introductory courses that aim to provide students with the foundational knowledge of the criminal justice system’s major components operations, and theories. Students are required to complete 15 hours of foundational courses (substitutions may be allowed with the permission of the student’s advisor).

Core Courses (24 Hours)*

All of the following courses must be taken at the upper-division level:

Selectives (18 Hours)

Students must also take 18 credits of selective courses from the list below. Here students are able to tailor their degree by choosing courses specific to career goals or research interests. We also offer a concentration in Restorative Justice for students in the CJUS major.

Selective Courses

Restorative Justice Concentration

To fulfill the concentration requirements, students must complete 18 hours of the courses listed below; CJUS 4000 Special Topics may be substituted for the Internship option with Coordinator approval.

Elective Credits (26 Hours)

In addition to the core and selective credits required, students must take an additional 26 hours of elective credits. Students in this major are encouraged to complete a minor in Addictions Studies, Business Administration, Gender Studies, Public Administration, Psychology, Social Work, Sociology, or another field that complements their degree and career objectives.