Curriculum
Degrees
- Undergraduate: A major in Criminal Justice can lead to the degrees: Bachelor of Arts; Bachelor of Science.
- Graduate Students who complete a major in Criminal Justice may wish to consider advanced study at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh in the Master of Public Administration program. For specifics, please see the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh Graduate Bulletin.
Summary of Fields of Study
- GOAL(S)
- See the department for a listing of their goal(s).
- THE MAJOR(S)
- The Criminal Justice major is recommended for students who seek an understanding of the criminal justice system. The major is not intended to serve as a professional training program; rather it focuses on the legal, ethical, administrative, and behavioral aspects of the criminal justice system and its various parts.
- THE MINOR(S)
- The program offers one minor: Criminal Justice.
Admission/Graduation Requirements
- Requirements for the Admission to the Criminal Justice Major:
- A cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or greater upon a minimum of 30 units (crs.) will be required for acceptance in the Criminal Justice Major. The 30 units (crs.) must include:
- Criminal Justice 110 Introduction to Criminal Justice Process 3 cr. (or 103 and permission from Criminal Justice Coordinator. Note: Criminal Justice 103 is for non-majors. Students who take 103 may petition the Criminal Justice Coordinator to enter the major without taking 110).
- English 101 College English I 3 cr..
- Mathematics requirement 3 cr.
- Natural Science requirement 4 cr.
- Applicants must receive a minimum of a "B" in the Introduction to Criminal Justice Process Criminal Justice 110 (or 103-see note above.)
- Units (crs.) earned by students who have transferred to the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh will be included and evaluated on the same basis as units (crs.) earned at University of Wisconsin Oshkosh.
- A cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or greater upon a minimum of 30 units (crs.) will be required for acceptance in the Criminal Justice Major. The 30 units (crs.) must include:
- Requirements for Maintenance of Criminal Justice Major Status:
- Criminal Justice majors are expected to maintain a 2.5 grade point average or higher overall and a 2.75 grade point average or higher in their Criminal Justice courses; this includes courses taught by other academic units that are designated electives and/or requirements in the Criminal Justice Major.
- Students expecting to enter and be retained in the Criminal Justice Major must complete their College English I and their General Education Mathematics requirements by the time that they have completed 60 unit (cr.) hours.
- Students who fail to maintain the required standards will automatically be placed on probation. If they do not meet the required standards after one active term they will be dropped from the Program. They may apply for readmission to the Program only after they comply with Program standards. They may apply for readmission only once.
- Graduation Requirements for a Criminal Justice Major:
- For a student to graduate with a Criminal Justice major, the student must meet all University, College, and Criminal Justice Major requirements; also the Criminal Justice major must possess a 2.50 grade point average on all academic course work and a 2.75 in all courses required and/or accepted for completion of the major.
- Exceptions to these provisions may be granted by the Admissions Committee of the Criminal Justice Program.
Required Core Courses
- Criminal Justice
- Criminal Justice 110 Introduction to the Criminal Justice Process 3 cr. (or Criminal Justice 103 and permission from the Criminal Justice Coordinator).
- Criminal Justice 270 Introductory Criminal Law 3 cr.
- Criminal Justice 212 Managing Criminal Justice Organizations 3 cr. or Public Administration 221 Introduction to Public Administration 3 cr.
- Criminal Justice 218 Adjudication Process in Criminal Process 3 cr.
- Criminal Justice 244 Correctional Process 3 cr.
- Criminal Justice 281 Elementary Statistics in Criminal Justice Research
- Criminal Justice 288 Police in Modern Society 3 cr.
- Criminal Justice 343 Quantitative Research Design or approved equivalent 3 cr.
- Criminal Justice 351 Theories of Crime 3 cr.
- Criminal Justice 358 Major Criminal Justice Issues 3 cr.
- Comment:
Criminal Justice 281 and 343 should be taken in the same semester. The final course taken should be Criminal Justice 358. In special circumstances with permission from the Criminal Justice Coordinator students majoring or minoring in Criminal Justice may substitute an appropriate social science statistics course (Economics 471, 473, Geography 380, 385, Political Science 245, Psychology 371, Sociology 381 or Social Work 340) for Criminal Justice 281 as a required core course in Criminal Justice.
The Major(s), with Emphases and/or Options
- CRIMINAL JUSTICE MAJOR
- Required Units (crs.): 45 Units (crs.)
- Required Courses: In addition to Core Courses: To earn a major in criminal justice the student in addition to successfully completing the core courses, must complete a minimum of nine credits of courses in Criminal Justice selected from the following list:
- Criminal Justice 304, Criminal Investigation
- Criminal Justice 319, Criminal Courts: Proof of Guilt
- Criminal Justice 328, Criminal Courts Behavior
- Criminal Justice 333, Illegal Bias in the Criminal Justice System
- Criminal Justice 340, Police Administration
- Criminal Justice 346, Community-Based Corrections
- Criminal Justice 347, Juvenile Justice Systems
- Criminal Justice 348, Law of Corrections
- Criminal Justice 352, Organized Crime
- Criminal Justice 375, Special Topics in Criminal Justice
- Criminal Justice 396, Internship in Criminal Justice (Students must complete 90 credits, or permission of the Internship Coordinator)
- Criminal Justice 446, Independent Study in Criminal Justice
- Plus a maximum of 12 credits of cognate courses/electives offered by other departments.
- Electives: Up to 12 units (crs.) selected from the following list. This list does not include all courses that may be approved. Students should consult with their Criminal Justice Advisors about courses not on this list.
- Anthropology: Anthropology 312, 324.
- Business: Business Administration 314, 352, 363.
- Criminal Justice: Criminal Justice 333, 352, 375, 446, 474
- Human Services: Human Services 353, 415.
- Interdisciplinary: Interdisciplinary Studies 205, 312.
- Political Science: Public Administration 307, 362, Political Science 225, 304, 306, 310, 392.
- Psychology: Psychology 205, 291, 303, 324, 331, 355, 363, 367, 383, 481.
- Social Work: Social Work 333, 375, 410.
- Sociology: Sociology 311, 325, 331, 337, 351, 353, 355, 359, 361, 369, 373.
- Urban Planning: Urban and Regional Studies 425.
- Comment:
Students, with the permission of their criminal justice advisor, may take an internship in a criminal justice or related service agency. Up to 8 units (crs.) can be earned for this experience.
The Minor(s)
- CRIMINAL JUSTICE MINOR
- Required Units (crs.): 21 units (crs.)
- Required Courses:
- Criminal Justice: Criminal Justice 110 (or 103 with permission of Criminal Justice Coordinator), 212 (or Public Administration 221), 218, 244, 270, 288, 343.
Course Offering(s)
- Criminal Justice 103 3 units (crs.)
Introduction to the Criminal Justice Process (SS)
An introductory survey of the history, role, and structure of the American criminal justice process. - Criminal Justice 110 3 units (crs.)
Introduction to Criminal Justice for Criminal Justice Majors
A beginning course in Criminal Justice designed to provide an understanding of the criminal justice system and to lay the foundation for additional work in the discipline. This course should be taken by students anticipating a major in criminal justice. Credit cannot be received for both Criminal Justice 103 and Criminal Justice 110. - Criminal Justice 212 3 units (crs.)
Managing Criminal Justice Organizations (SS)
The study of administrative problems and issues as they relate to criminal justice organizations. Prerequisite: Criminal Justice 103 (Intro to Criminal Justice) or Criminal Justice 110 (Intro to Criminal Justice for Majors). - Criminal Justice 218 3 units (crs.)
Adjudication Process in Criminal Justice (SS)
An exploration of the criminal judicial process as distinguished from adjudication of civil disputes. Includes discussion of constitutional mandates and other aspects of justice administration in political and social institutions. Prerequisite: Criminal Justice 103 (Intro to Criminal Justice) or Criminal Justice 110 (Intro to Criminal Justice for Majors). - Criminal Justice 244 3 units (crs.)
Correctional Process (SS)
A survey of the correctional process; correctional objectives, alternatives, policies, and procedures; relationship between the correctional process and the crime control, rehabilitative, and due process models. Prerequisite: Criminal Justice 103 (Intro to Criminal Justice) or Criminal Justice 110 (Intro to Criminal Justice for Majors). - Criminal Justice 270 3 units (crs.)
Introductory Criminal Law (SS)
Inquiry into the categories of crimes, responsibility for crimes, limitations on criminal capacity, modifying circumstances and special defenses for criminal conduct. - Criminal Justice 281 3 units (crs.)
Elementary Statistics in Criminal Justice Research (SS)
This course has been designed to introduce students to commonly used statistical tests in criminal justice research. through this introduction, students will be equipped with the ability to conduct and interpret statistical analyses. Prerequisite: Criminal Justice 103 (Intro to Criminal Justice) or Criminal Justice 110 (Intro to Criminal Justice for Majors) and Math 104 or PBIS 187,188, 189 (recommended) or Math Placement Exam score higher than Math 104/PBIS. - Criminal Justice 288 3 units (crs.)
Police in Modern Society (SS)
An analysis of police roles, structure, and performance in American Society. A review of the interaction between economic, legal, political, psychological, and social forces and police behavior. Prerequisite: Criminal Justice 103 (Intro to Criminal Justice) or Criminal Justice 110 (Intro to Criminal Justice for Majors). - Criminal Justice 304 3 units (crs.)
Criminal Investigation (SS)
A survey of the techniques used for investigation of crime. Includes early developments and their effect on modern methods, interrelationships between scientific crime detection and professional skills of investigators, the proper care and handling of evidence for its useful introduction at criminal trials, and the impact of court decisions on police procedures. The course focuses on practical limitations on the effectiveness of crime investigation techniques. Prerequisite: Criminal Justice 103 (Intro to Criminal Justice) or Criminal Justice 110 (Intro to Criminal Justice for Majors). - Criminal Justice 319 3 units (crs.)
Criminal Courts: Proof of Guilt (SS)
Rules of evidence as they affect participants in criminal justice and the consequences for that system. Prerequisite: Criminal Justice 103 (Intro to Criminal Justice) or Criminal Justice 110 (Intro to Criminal Justice for Majors). - Criminal Justice 328 3 units (crs.)
Criminal Court Behavior (SS)
An analysis of the behavior of the principal actors in the criminal court process--prosecutors, judges, and defense attorneys. Court processes will be analyzed from an organizational perspective. Prerequisite: Criminal Justice 103 (Intro to Criminal Justice) or Criminal Justice 110 (Intro to Criminal Justice for Majors). - Criminal Justice 333 3 units (crs.)
Illegal Bias in the Criminal Justice System (SS)
An examination of the extent of illegal biases in criminal justice practice. Students will be guided to confront their and others' attitudes shaped by racial, sexual, and sexual orientation biases. The primary goal is to teach a method of open discourse to negotiate these conflicts in an evolving culture. Prerequisite: Criminal Justice 103 (Intro to Criminal Justice) or Criminal Justice 110 (Intro to Criminal Justice for Majors). - Criminal Justice 340 3 units (crs.)
Police Administration (SS)
Focus is on theoretical principles as they relate to practice in complex organizations. Attention given to the interrelation of police, courts and correctional facilities as administrative units. Prerequisite: Criminal Justice 103 (Intro to Criminal Justice) or Criminal Justice 110 (Intro to Criminal Justice for Majors). 340/540 - Criminal Justice 341 3 units (crs.)
Administration of Police Operations (SS)
Organizational functions, structures, processes and behavior as they relate to law enforcement agencies (exp. local police). An analysis of the administrative problems and practices associated with the delivery of all manners of police services: crime prevention and control, conflict resolution, and general service. Operational police development. implementation, and evaluation. Prerequisite: Criminal Justice 340. 341/541 - Criminal Justice 343 3 units (crs.)
Quantitative Research Design (SS)
Quantitative methods of empirical research and program evaluation in Criminal Justice; selection of appropriate quantitative methods and statistical tests; data analysis using computer facilities; research paper writing. Prerequisite: Criminal Justice 103 (Intro to Criminal Justice) or Criminal Justice 110 (Intro to Criminal Justice for Majors). - Criminal Justice 346 3 units (crs.)
Introduction to Community-Based Corrections (SS)
An overview of probation and parole services and other alternatives to incarceration for adult offenders. Prerequisite: Criminal Justice 103 (Intro to Criminal Justice) or Criminal Justice 110 (Intro to Criminal Justice for Majors). - Criminal Justice 347 3 units (crs.)
The Juvenile Justice System (SS)
The development and present structure of the juvenile justice system: legal structure, services, current policy issues. Survey of both community-based and institutional juvenile corrections. Prerequisite: Criminal Justice 103 (Intro to Criminal Justice) or Criminal Justice 110 (Intro to Criminal Justice for Majors). - Criminal Justice 348 3 units (crs.)
Law of Corrections (SS)
Examination of the rights of pretrial detainee and convicted offenders from detention through parole. Prerequisite: Criminal Justice 103 (Intro to Criminal Justice) or Criminal Justice 110 (Intro to Criminal Justice for Majors). - Criminal Justice 351 3 units (crs.)
Theories of Crime (SS)
An introduction to the study of crime, criminals, and crime theory. Substantive areas to be studied include (1) what is crime? and (2) what causes crime? Goals of the course are for students to: (1) develop an understanding of the complex relationship between crime and society; and (2) learn to identify underlying assumptions inherent in any societal approach to crime. Prerequisite: Criminal Justice 103 (Intro to Criminal Justice) or Criminal Justice 110 (Intro to Criminal Justice for Majors). - Criminal Justice 352 3 units (crs.)
Organized Crime (SS)
This course highlights (1) the nature, extent, and theoretical explanations of organized crime, (2) the business of organized crime, (3) the measures being taken to combat organized crime in the United States and around the world, and (4) differing world perspectives on organized crime. Prerequisite: Criminal Justice 103 and at least, Junior standing. - Criminal Justice 353 3 units (crs.)
Convict Criminology
Convict Criminology explores a new way of thinking about crime and corrections. This course examines the emerging field of convict criminology that consists primarily of essays and empirical research conducted and written by convicts, or ex-convicts, on their way to completing or already in possession of a Ph.D., or by enlightened academics who critique existing literature, policies, and practices, thus contributing to a new perspective in criminology, criminal justice, corrections, and community corrections. Prerequisite: Criminal Justice 103 (Intro to Criminal Justice) or Criminal Justice 110 (Intro to Criminal Justice for Majors). - Criminal Justice 358 3 units (crs.)
Major Criminal Justice Issues (SS)
The administrative machinery of Criminal Justice in theory and practice. Critical examination of the roles of police, prosecution, courts, and correction in America today. Policy development implementation and evaluation with regard to key criminal justice issues. Prerequisite: Criminal Justice 103 (Intro to Criminal Justice) or Criminal Justice 110 (Intro to Criminal Justice for Majors). - Criminal Justice 375 3 units (crs.)
Special Topics in Criminal Justice (SS)
A course on a topic not normally covered in the curriculum. Each time it is offered, the topic will be announced in the timetable. Prerequisite: Criminal Justice 103 and at least one of the following: Criminal Justice 218, 244 or 288. - Criminal Justice 396 1-8 units (crs.)
Internship in Criminal Justice (SS)
Supervised field experience in a criminal justice agency (e.g., police department, prosecutor's office, or a correctional agency) accompanied by an analysis of the experience. Open only to students who have earned a minimum of 90 units (crs.). Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. - Criminal Justice 446 1-3 units (crs.)
Independent Study (SS)
See Independent Study under Course and Academic Advisement Policies information for general course description, general prerequisite, and proper contract form requirements. - Criminal Justice 474 1-6 units (crs.)
Honors: Thesis
Honors thesis projects include any advanced independent endeavor in the student's major field of study, e.g., a written thesis, scientific experiment or research project, or creative arts exhibit or production. Proposals (attached to Independent Study contract) must show clear promise of honors level work and be approved by a faculty sponsor. Course title for transcript will be 'Honors Thesis'. Completed projects will be announced and presented to interested students and faculty. Maximum of 6 units (crs.). Prerequisite: University Honors status and junior standing.