Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice

Lower-Division Requirements (90)

College Composition: 5 credits
College Mathematics: 5 credits
Humanities: 15 credits
Social Science: 15 credits
Natural Science/Mathematics: 15 credits

Preparatory

CJ 211

Criminal Investigation (5)

From crime scene to courtroom, this course challenges and critically assesses the good, bad, and ugly of the essential process in the role of justice. Students will be introduced to both the science and the art of pursuing criminal investigations. Using case studies, the course covers a wide range of, sometimes controversial, issues such as the use of informants, techniques of surveillance, interrogations, and "testilying."

HUM 210

Justice and Ethics (5)

Ethical, philosophical, and moral dilemmas while pursuing justice are at the heart of the course. Students are exposed to both classical and modern models of ethics and decision making analysis. Students will hone their skills using real case studies to evaluate challenges in policing, forensics, and corporate justice practices.

SSC 202

Introduction to Criminal Justice Systems (5)

This course examines criminal justice as a system of interlinked issues and decisions faced by a diverse network of individuals, groups, and agencies. Students will address core concepts from the rule of law and how police operate to the mechanisms of punishment and social control. Students will explore landmark legal decisions and policies that impact the everyday functions (or dysfunctions) of the levers of justice. A wide variety of social and political issues will be examined in these contexts.

SSC 204

Criminal Procedural Law (5)

Through case law and constitutional analysis, this course examines a range of procedural criminal law topics, such as: arrests, search and seizure, post-conviction treatment, origin, development, philosophy, and constitutional basis of evidence. Students will assess degrees of evidence and rules governing admissibility, judicial decisions interpreting individual rights, and an analysis of case studies from arrest through final appeal.

Upper-Division Requirements (90)

Criminal Justice Core

CJ 318

Fundamentals of Criminology (5)

This course is a survey of basic topics and problems related to the discipline of criminology, such as the nature of crime, criminality, criminal statistics, and selected criminological theories, frameworks, and concepts. Students will explore the empirical study of crime prevention, offenders, criminal and deviant behavior, and the criminal justice system

CJ 330

Management and Leadership (5)

This course examines why and how decisions are made and what can be done to direct current and future justice leaders to rethink and adjust their decision-making processes to keep up with the demands of our constantly changing society. It devotes particular attention to the application of theories of leadership and performance measurement in a wide variety of management settings. Applied cases studies are used reinforce concepts learned.

CJ 333

Planning and Policy Analysis (5)

Interpreting and solving complex problems are everyday activities for decision makers, whether they are operating in international, regional, national, or local political environments. These decision makers rely on policy analysts to understand and reason through choices of action undertaken to remedy a wide array of governance failures or challenges. The content of this course examines the world of the policy analyst and the analytical techniques they rely upon to carry out their work. These are critical skills for those seeking to create or research the efficacy of justice policies.

CJ 335

Organizational Analysis (5)

This course examines organizational structure and theory using formal, informal, and systems models. Students will apply models to the analysis of organizational processes and operations, including decision making, communication, leadership, control, and change. Lastly, students will consider how size, technology, task, and other structural characteristics affect overall organizational performance.

CJ 350

Globalization and Crime (5)

This course explores social, political, and economic impacts on various forms of crime. Students will take a multi-disciplinary approach to the exploration of international and transnational crimes, including genocide, terrorism, human smuggling, sex trafficking, and antiquities theft.

CJ 360

Cybercrime, Technology, and Social Change (5)

This course addresses crime, victimization, and criminality associated with modern digital technologies mediating social relationships. Students will investigate the legal, political, and societal changes that result from these technologies and their contexts in a wide array of crimes from cyber-rape to hacktivism.

CJ 365

Applied Criminology and Crime Prevention (5)

The course addresses crime prevention in diverse environments such as public spaces, offices, homes, factories, and public transportation. It incorporates theoretical models from community policing and Broken Windows to Situational Crime Prevention. Case studies are used throughout this course. Students will complete a project where they conduct, analyze, and develop solutions for a crime problem.

CJ 403

Enterprise Risk Management (5)

This course introduces students to the many types of risks all businesses and organizations face. It reviews various categories of risk, including financial, cyber, health, safety and environmental, brand, supply chain, political, strategic risks and many others. It provides a common framework and terminology for managing these risks to build an effective enterprise risk management system with a focus on risk mitigation and prevention.

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CJ 240

Research Methods and Practice (5)

This course will introduce students to applied research techniques relevant to the empirical study of crime and organizational decision making. Students will apply the scientific method to collect data and analyze relevant practical or theoretical questions. Basic applied quantitative modeling skills will be applied to public policy questions.

PSY 240

Critical Thinking and Writing Skills in Social Sciences (5)

This course develops students' writing skills. It introduces students to various forms of scholarly writing and focuses on topics such as style and mechanics, APA format, etc. In this course students will also learn about critical thinking process used to analyze social issues and identify rational solutions. Topics examined include: argument analyzing and building; forms and standards of critical thinking; and evaluating sources of information. Prerequisite: ENG 102 or Equivalent

SSC 220

Principles of Microeconomics (5)

This course is an introduction of microeconomic theory with real world applications. Topics include: How households, firms, and governments make decisions of what goods and services to produce, how to produce the goods and for whom to produce them. This course will help you apply the skills and tools learned from theory to current world events.

Capstone Courses

CJ 465

Bureaupathology (5)

This course shows relationships between the structures/processes of organizations and the "pathologies" to which organizations are prone. Students learn to apply and sharpen their understanding of the nature and causes of organizational pathology by closely examining case studies on failure to apply those lessons. Students also gain a deeper understanding of how management policy and employee behavior can undermine the efficient, effective, and lawful delivery of goods and services by public and private sector organizations.

Emphasis Requirements

Justice Administration Emphasis

This specialization builds upon previous coursework to provide students with advanced technical knowledge and skills in policy and operations. This specialization is tailored for students who want to further their career in a public sector setting.

BSC 401

Interpretation of Financial Statements (5)

Interpretation of Financial Statements focuses on the analysis of publicly issued financial statements for decision making, and is taught from a user perspective. Students will learn to read, understand, and analyze a set of financial statements in a broad, decision-making context. Emphasis is placed on the consequences of recording accounting transactions on financial statements and the application of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). A basic knowledge of math, algebra, and general business principles is needed to succeed in this class.

CJ 341

Contemporary Justice Administration Issues (5)

This is an advanced course employing case studies that integrate previous coursework. It provides students a forum for analyzing and debating contemporary and real-world issues involved with the delivery and administration of justice.

CJ 410

Risk Assessment and Prevention (5)

This course will provide a foundation for Intelligence, risk analysis, and analytic reasoning. It focuses on using the tools of empiricism and science for advanced, applied skills for problems analysis, problem solving and decision-making. It is designed to help the student apply the rigor of the scientific method to strategy and information analysis. The course will draw on the decision sciences to teach students about the strengths and limitations of human judgment and decision-making, and how to mitigate the impact of bias in each. Specifically, the focus will play the role of an intelligence analyst and apply these techniques to a variety of hands-on risk management scenarios concerning business, military, corporate espionage, and public administration.

COM 461

Communicating Crisis, Emergency, and Social Change (5)

Communicating Crisis, Emergency, and Social Change | This course investigates the development and implications of crisis communications in today's world. Students will develop a framework for a communication plan in the event of a crisis or emergency, as well as learn how to manage issues that might develop into a crisis or negative story or event, examine issues of risk management and crisis recognition, and understand how to factor the social and psychological implications of a crisis or emergency into a communications plan. Through case studies and theory, this course helps students develop the critical thinking skills, analysis, and ethical grounding required to handle the communication of crises and emergencies.

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CJ 340

Introduction to Forensic Criminalistics (5)

This course introduces students to fundamental concepts in forensic science, beginning with historical perspectives and covering the use of forensics to investigate and solve crimes. Issues covered include the history and development of forensic science, crime scene evaluation, the crime lab, trace evidence, impressions, fingerprints, blood and DNA. Students will learn to evaluate and distinguish sound scientific concepts and the mythological representations in popular media.

CJ 351

Global Criminal Justice (5)

This course examines how various countries and regions around the globe organize their criminal justice systems and satisfy police, court, and correction functions. It will provide students with an international and comparative perspective for understanding and appreciating the similarities and differences between legal traditions, criminal law, and procedures, crime rates, and means of punishment. Students will select a country and use their coursework to develop a profile of that country's criminal justice system.

CJ 422

Organizational and White-Collar Crime (5)

This course explores the types of crimes, criminality, and wrongdoing that are associated with businesses and organizations. Students will explore many concepts, including: waste; fraud; abuse; corruption; malfeasance in the workplace harassment; discrimination; and workplace violence.

CJ 424

Homeland Security and Espionage (5)

In this course, students will explore the interconnected responsibilities of the public/private sectors with the national critical infrastructure, governance, and homeland defense. Students will assess a variety of policy domains and topical issues from maritime and port security to WMD and their effects on business and government operations. Particular problems will be examined with respect to corporate and government espionage, intellectual property theft, and cyber war.

HUM 215

History of Punishment and Prisons (5)

This course offers an introduction to the punishment and “corrections” system and will provide an overview of current institutional practices, policies and legal issues. The course focuses on the relation of corrections to the criminal justice system, theories underlying correctional practice, and the role of institutions within the corrections system. It reviews the historical development of crime and corrections, sentencing, jails, prisons, correctional policies, agencies, prison life, and challenges facing correctional populations. It will further explore the principles and practices of treatment accorded to offenders in various types of correctional settings.

Electives

The number of elective credits needed to complete the degree varies by emphasis area. A total of 180 credits are needed to fulfill degree requirements.

If you’re interested in seeking justice for all individuals involved when a crime is committed, consider a career in criminal justice. This would be a highly demanding yet rewarding profession.

The Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice program will prepare you for a variety of management and leadership roles, including:

• Corrections and juvenile justice
• Law enforcement
• Inspector general investigation
• Forensic psychologist
• Paralegal
• Crime scene investigator
• Police officer
• Probation officer

Networking Opportunities

At CityU, you’ll have the opportunity to expand your professional network by connecting with faculty working in your field, students from around the globe, and alumni employed at Seattle’s top companies. Plus, you’ll be part of a supportive community that’s dedicated to helping you reach your career goals.

Tuition Cost

Learn more about tuition and fees for our undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs.

Financial Aid Opportunities

At CityU, we’re committed to helping students achieve their academic goals no matter their economic situations. Our financial aid counselors are here to find the resources you need to pay for your education, including grants, loans, work study, and scholarships.

Learn more about financial aid opportunities at CityU, or contact our Financial Aid Team at 800.426.5596, 206.239.4540, or finaid@cityu.edu.

Military Tuition Benefits

As a Yellow Ribbon school, CityU is proud to serve those who have served in the military. We offer military tuition discounts for active-duty servicemembers and their spouses and accept military benefits such as the Post 9/11 GI Bill® and Tuition Assistance.

Learn more about military tuition benefits, VA benefits, and military partnership programs designed to help you reach your military and career goals.