Criminal Justice - Law Enforcement, BA/BS
Program Description
Utah Tech's Criminal Justice major is an interdisciplinary program that combines the study of criminal law, law enforcement, and criminology, providing a firm foundation for a myriad of careers. This course of study exposes students to the interconnected nature of the criminal justice system and explores criminological explanations for crime commission. Graduates from this program are prepared to enter applied positions in the criminal justice system or pursue graduate degrees in law, criminology, sociology, forensics psychology, etc. The law enforcement emphasis is comprised of 45 total credits. The core requires students to take courses in criminal justice, philosophy, technical writing, communications, and social/behavioral science. In addition to the established core curriculum, students will take courses in the following areas: social and behavioral sciences; ethical communication; and policy and practice. This emphasis prepares students to enter the field of law enforcement with skills that supplement the training cadets receive in the law enforcement academy.
Program Curriculum
Be advised that completing your academic degree does not automatically qualify you for employment in the Law Enforcement field. Additional steps are required by agencies you are interested in. For example: Police Officers will be required to complete POST (Police Academy).
120 Credits
Utah Tech General Education Requirements
All Utah Tech General Education requirements must be fulfilled. A previously earned degree may fulfill those requirements, but courses must be equivalent to Utah Tech's minimum General Education standards in American Institutions, English, and Mathematics.
General Education Core Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| English | 3-7 | |
| Mathematics | 3-5 | |
| American Institutions | 3-6 | |
| Life Sciences | 3-10 | |
| Physical Sciences | 3-5 | |
| Fine Arts | 3 | |
| Literature/Humanities | 3 | |
| Social & Behavioral Sciences | 3 | |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor of Arts: Foreign Language Requirement | 3-16 | |
| Complete one of the following: | ||
- Complete 16 credits in a single foreign language, through earned credit (grade C or higher), credit by examination, or vertical credit from the courses listed on the GE Foreign Language Requirement page 1 | ||
- Complete a 2020 or higher foreign language course (grade C or higher) | ||
- Complete a 3060 foreign language course listed below (grade C or higher) | ||
- Receive 16 transfer credits for GEFL 1000 (8) and GEFL 2000 (8) in a single foreign language (grade C or higher) | ||
| OR | ||
| Complete a 1010 course listed below in a second foreign language (grade C or higher) AND one of the following: | ||
| 1. In a language not taught at Utah Tech, receive 12 FLATS exam credits for FLAT 1000 (8) and FLAT 2000 (4) | ||
or | ||
| 2. In a language not taught at Utah Tech, receive 12 transfer credits articulated as GEFL 1000 (8) and GEFL 2000 (4) (all grade C or higher) | ||
| OR | ||
| Available only to students who are nonnative English speakers, complete one of the following: | ||
- Complete 16 credits of ESL courses listed below (grade B or higher) | ||
- Submit one of the following test scores required for unconditional Utah Tech admission: TOEFL (61 iBT, 173 CBT, or 500 PBT); or Michigan (70); or USU-IELE equivalent score. Other tests may be accepted for admission to Utah Tech but will not fulfill this requirement. Official scores must be submitted to the Registrar’s Office. | ||
| Total Hours | 3-16 | |
Criminal Justice Law Enforcement Emphasis Requirements
Be advised that completing your academic degree does not automatically qualify you for employment in the Law Enforcement field. Additional steps are required by the agencies you are interested in. For example: Police Officers will be required to complete POST (Police Academy).
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Complete 21 credits from the following: | ||
| COMM 2110 | Interpersonal Communication (SS, GC) | 3 |
| COMM 4500 | Communication and Conflict | 3 |
| CJ 3270 | Criminology | 3 |
| CJ 4150 | Criminal Justice Reform | 3 |
| or CJ 4200 | Ethical Issues in Criminal Justice | |
| or CJ 4900 | Current Issues in Criminal Justice | |
| ENGL 2100 | Technical Writing (ALCS) | 3 |
| PHIL 2050 | Social Ethics (HU, GC) | 3 |
| PSY 1010 | General Psychology (SS, GC) | 3 |
| or SOC 1010 | Introduction to Sociology (SS, GC) | |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Choose three (3) Social and Behavioral Science Classes (9 credits) | ||
| CJ 3310 | Victimology | 3 |
| CJ 4100 | Social Control | 3 |
| PSY 2400 | Psychology of Abnormal Behavior | 3 |
| PSY 2430 | Stress Management | 3 |
| PSY 2480 | Substance Abuse: Prevention | 3 |
| PSY 2500 | Social Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 3420 | Psy of Culture & Diversity | 3 |
| PSY 3700 | Personality Theory | 3 |
| PSY 3714 | Learning and Behavior | 3 |
| SOC 2370 | Gender in Contemporary Society (SS) | 3 |
| SOC 2630 | Sociology of Racial and Ethnic Relations (SS) | 3 |
| SOC 3020 | Social Psychology | 3 |
| SOC 3520 | Sociology of Mental Health and Illness | 3 |
| SOC 3560 | Deviance and Social Control | 3 |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Choose three (3) Ethical Communication Classes (9 credits) | ||
| COMM 1020 | Public Speaking | 3 |
| COMM 1270 | Critical Thinking and Communicating (SS) | 3 |
| COMM 2700 | Voice and Civility in Public Discourse | 3 |
| COMM 3130 | Rhetoric and Public Communication | 3 |
| COMM 3150 | The Dark Side of Interpersonal Relationships | 3 |
| COMM 3190 | Intercultural Communication (SS, GC) | 3 |
| COMM 3330 | Negotiations and Bargaining | 3 |
| COMM 3340 | Survey of Dispute Resolution | 3 |
| COMM 3360 | Mediation and Negotiation | 3 |
| COMM 3510 | Ethics in Communication | 3 |
| ENGL 3010 | Professional Writing and Business Ethics | 3 |
| ENGL 3120 | Document Design | 3 |
| ENGL 3130 | Grant and Proposal Writing (ALCS) | 3 |
| ENGL 3345 | Topics in Professional & Technical Writing: | 3 |
| ENGL 3720 | Editing | 3 |
| PHIL 1250 | Reasoning and Rational Decision-Making (HU, GC) | 3 |
| PHIL 3500 | Applied Ethics | 3 |
| PHIL 3555 | Tech Ethics | 3 |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Choose two (2) Policy and Practice Classes (6 credits) | ||
| CJ 3350 | American Jails and Prisons | 3 |
| CJ 3400 | Drugs and Crime | 3 |
| CJ 3450 | Community Policing | 3 |
| CJ 3550 | Crime, Media, and Culture | 3 |
| CJ 3700 | Women, Crime, and Justice | 3 |
| CJ 3850 | Immigration and Crime | 3 |
| CJ 4020 | Urban Crime | 3 |
| POLS 2300 | Intro to Political Theory | 3 |
| POLS 3200 | Introduction to Law and Politics | 3 |
| POLS 3320 | Introduction to Public Policy and Analysis | 3 |
Graduation Requirements
- Complete a minimum of 120 college-level credits (1000 and above).
- Complete at least 40 upper-division credits.
- Complete at least 30 upper-division credits at Utah Tech for institutional residency.
- Minimum C- grade in Discipline Core Requirements.
- Cumulative GPA 2.0 or higher.