Criminal Justice Studies (BS)

Affiliation: School of Social & Cultural Studies

THE MAJOR

The Criminal Justice Studies major seeks to achieve an integration of the sciences and social sciences in addition to presenting material unique to its own knowledge base. This is reflected in both the nature and content of the courses and in the degrees and backgrounds of the faculty teaching them. The program also provides a historical and cultural view of the material.

The mission of the Criminal Justice Studies program complements the wider mission of Truman State University. The Criminal Justice Studies program works to offer students an exemplary undergraduate education in criminal justice at a public institution of higher education, based in a context of the liberal arts and sciences. Criminal Justice Studies students are introduced to perspectives for understanding both human and institutional behavior historically as well as in the current era.

Criminal Justice Studies students are expected to develop an understanding of the various institutions involved in the criminal justice system, an appreciation for the history of ideas related to justice systems, along with a recognition of the diversity of values and ideologies as they pertain to the administration of justice.

The goals of the Criminal Justice Studies program are that students will:

• Understand the evolution of and processes in the primary institutions of the criminal justice system and how these institutions are interrelated,
• Recognize diverse ideologies, values, and cultures as they pertain to criminal behavior and notions of justice and be able to consider how factors such as race, ethnicity, gender, and socioeconomic status affect all participants in the criminal justice system,
• Apply relevant social science research methodology and/or legal analysis to critically evaluate theories, programs, and policies in criminal justice research and practice,
• Create and apply theories as they relate to human, institutional, and system behaviors in policy and practice, and be able to implement evidence-based problem-solving strategies to issues in the criminal justice field,
• Cultivate a high regard for the various moral and ethical dimensions involved in discretion and decision-making in the criminal justice field, and
• Incorporate aforementioned learning objectives to critically examine the criminal justice system and effectively communicate, written and orally, with various audiences.

The Criminal Justice Studies program provides a uniquely interdisciplinary education in the study of criminal justice. All majors complete a core of three required courses: Introduction to Criminal Justice Studies, Criminology Theory, and Criminal Justice Studies Capstone. To complement the core coursework, students choose from one of four interdisciplinary concentrations: Law & Society; Criminological Theory & Research; Criminal Justice Administration; or Forensic Investigation. Each concentration is 36 credits total and has between 3-4 required courses, while the remainder of the concentration is completed with an individualized, interdisciplinary course of study with courses from both within the Criminal Justice Studies program and courses from other disciplines.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE STUDIES COMMUNICATION

Many courses across all levels of the Criminal Justice Studies curriculum involve writing and speaking experiences in a variety of settings, including longer and shorter forms, formal and informal styles. Many courses in the program, including but not limited to JUST 305 , JUST 307 , JUST 334 , and JUST 430 , offer opportunities to strengthen public speaking skills in either individual or small group presentations. Students in JUST 408 , many sections of JUST 410 , and JUST 430  engage in writing about research. The BS degree requirement is also reflective of this arts and sciences emphasis. More specifically, the BS degree component is intended to strengthen the quantitative skills of each student.

DEPARTMENTAL HONORS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE STUDIES

To graduate with Departmental Honors in Criminal Justice Studies the student must meet the following criteria:

1. An overall Truman GPA of 3.50.
2. A GPA in the major of 3.75.
3. Leadership and pursuit of knowledge out of the classroom demonstrated by evidence in any of these areas:
   • Present research at an organized conference, such as Truman’s Student Research Conference, or at a regional or national conference related to Criminal Justice Studies.
   • Achieve a significant off-campus learning experience, such as
     • study abroad,
     • national service or
     • internship
   • Demonstrate leadership or excellence in a University activity, such as
     • Mock Trial, LAE, APS, forensics or athletics, or in a University or community organization or activity, or
     • through service learning beyond course requirements (such as an experience organized through a student organization and approved for the Co-curricular record).
4. Approval by the Criminal Justice Studies faculty.

Departmental honorees are noted as such on the graduation program and the honor is recorded on their transcript.

ADDITIONAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE STUDIES PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

At least 15 of the required credits in the major must be completed by taking courses at Truman.

For students changing into the major and/or students with a second major, course substitutions acceptable to another major may not be acceptable as a Criminal Justice Studies major.

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS: