Criminology and Criminal Justice, Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Program Overview

Slippery Rock University's Criminology and Criminal Justice BA program equips students with a comprehensive understanding of crime, criminals, and the criminal justice system. Through a blend of theory and practice, graduates are prepared for careers in law enforcement, corrections, probation, parole, victim services, and other areas of the criminal justice field. The program emphasizes critical thinking, ethical decision-making, and an understanding of human diversity in the context of criminal justice.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

• Overview:
• The Criminology and Criminal Justice Bachelor of Arts (BA) program at Slippery Rock University is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the field of criminology and criminal justice.
The program combines theoretical and practical approaches to the study of crime, criminals, and the criminal justice system.
• The program's objectives are to provide students with the knowledge, skills, and values necessary to pursue a wide range of careers in the criminal justice field.
• Graduates of this program are prepared for careers in law enforcement, corrections, probation, parole, victim services, and other areas of the criminal justice system.
• Learning Outcomes:
• Demonstrate professional proficiency in the academic study of crime, justice, and criminology.
• Develop competence in the history, theory and practice of the administration of criminal justice and its established content areas of law enforcement, courts and corrections.
• Demonstrate understanding and application of criminological theories of crime causation, offenders, victims, and typologies.
• Explain and understand the basic principles of research and the use and interpretation of statistics as they apply to criminological theory, existing crime data, and Criminal Justice policy evaluations.
• Community corrections specialization students will be able to demonstrate knowledge of the history, philosophy, policy and practice of balanced and restorative justice, alternative sentencing, diversionary adjudication, human services and the principles of offender treatment in a community setting.
• Achieve acceptable levels of critical thinking, synthesis and analysis of informational sources about the study of crime and justice.
• Critically evaluate criminological literature and scholarship.
• Apply critical analysis to current controversies and topics in criminal justice.
• Synthesize disparate informational sources about criminal justice issues, policies or theories into synergistic and cogent understandings.
• Recognize and understand the various perspectives of controversial issues in crime and justice.
• Understand and explain the importance of the study of and application of ethics, morals and values in Criminal Justice.
• Formulate applications of the general field of ethical study to specific, criminal justice-related topics.
• Employ ethical reflection and judgment to quickly emerging situations commonly found in the practice of law enforcement, correctional and court workgroup duties.
• Develop familiarity with professional codes of ethics employed in the field.
• Learn and appreciate the role of human diversity in Criminal Justice.
• Demonstrate how diversity in human experience and culture applies to the professional practice of criminal justice in law enforcement, court processes, and corrections.
• Recognize the historical and contemporary roles of racial, ethnic, religious, gender/sex identity, LGBTQ+, and lifestyle intolerance in human violence and aggression.
• Examine and increase awareness of diversity challenges such as racial profiling, violence against women, and hate crime legislation and enforcement.

Outline:

• Curriculum:
• The Criminology and Criminal Justice BA program consists of 120 credit hours, including:
• 42 credit hours of Rock Studies 2 requirements
• 0-9 credit hours of Modern Language requirements
• 0-3 credit hours of Basic Math requirements
• 0-3 credit hours of Computer Competency requirements
• 40 credit hours of Major requirements
• 38 credit hours of Electives
• Course Schedule:
• The program is typically completed in four years, with students taking 15-16 credit hours per semester.
• The following is a recommended four-year plan for the program:
• First Year:
• Fall: CRIM 110, CRIM 105/SOWK 105, ENGL 102, ESAP 101, SUBJ 139, Creative & Aesthetic Inquiry
• Spring: CRIM 115, CRIM 253, ENGL 104, MATH 117, Select one of the following: COMM 200, PHIL 110, POLS 235, Social Science Inquiry
• Second Year:
• Fall: CRIM 263, MODL 101, SCI 101, Humanities Inquiry, Free elective (or Minor Class), Declare a Thematic Thread
• Spring: CRIM 273, CRIM 301, MODL 102, SCI 102, Free elective (or Minor Class)
• Third Year:
• Fall: CRIM 318, CRIM 345, MODL 103, Thematic Thread Requirement, Free Elective (or Minor Class)
• Spring: CRIM 317, CRIM Elective (1), Thematic Thread Requirement, Free Elective (or Minor class)
• Fourth Year:
• Fall: CRIM Elective (2), CRIM Elective (3), Thematic Thread Requirement, Free Elective (or Minor Class), Free Elective (or Minor Class)

Careers:

• Career Paths:
• Graduates of the Criminology and Criminal Justice BA program are prepared for a wide range of careers in the criminal justice field, including:
• Law enforcement
• Corrections
• Probation
• Parole
• Victim services
• Other areas of the criminal justice system
• Opportunities:
• Graduates may find employment in a variety of settings, including:
• Local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies
• Correctional facilities
• Probation and parole offices
• Victim service organizations
• Nonprofit organizations