School of Public Service

B.A. in Criminal Justice Overview

Plan of Study

Working with the FBI or the CIA ... Following a case as a private investigator or probation officer … Building a career in the increasingly important field of airport security ... Learning about the criminal justice system in preparation for law school.

With a degree from C.W. Post’s nationally recognized Criminal Justice Program, you can work toward any of these goals.

The criminal justice major is designed to take you step by step through the criminal justice system and its procedures. Introductory courses explore the roles of the police, courts and corrections as they relate to the field. In advanced courses, you will study prosecution and pretrial services, adjudication, sentencing, sanctions and incarceration. You will also have the opportunity to focus on such related areas as security systems analysis, international criminal justice and gender and the law. You can choose electives covering everything from drugs to computer fraud to organized crime and sports violence. You can study the way police departments are organized or take a deeper look at the way family court works.

The college’s ideal location on Long Island — and its close proximity to New York City — offers access to excellent internships and guest lecturers from police departments, branches of leading criminal justice organizations, state and federal courts, law firms, correctional facilities, and social service agencies.

Our professors are renowned experts and published authors, specializing in all areas of the criminal justice field, from terrorism to women in policing. They bring real-life experiences to the classroom, giving you valuable insight into this exciting and rewarding field. You will graduate from our program well prepared for a career in probation, parole, law enforcement, court administration, corrections, juvenile justice and security management.

About the B.A. in Criminal Justice
If you are leaning toward a career in public service or law, majoring in Criminal Justice is a good choice. In addition to coursework covering the legal processes of criminal justice from pretrial to sentencing and corrections, you will have a wide choice of electives in diverse areas, including juvenile delinquency, organized crime, correctional philosophy and terrorism. You will learn about the causes of crime, the treatment of victims, and the latest trends in the field such as Homeland Security. Once you’ve mastered the theory, you will gain field experience in the practice of criminal justice. Through a required internship in your senior year, you will receive invaluable training in an area of the criminal justice system. Students who perform at an outstanding level will also have the opportunity to attend the Justice Semester at American University in Washington, D.C.

About the Accelerated B.A./M.S. in Criminal Justice
If you want to combine your Criminal Justice undergraduate study with advanced graduate study, you may apply for C.W. Post’s combined Bachelor’s/Master’s program at the end of your junior year. You can earn 12 credits toward your Master’s degree in your senior year, and can complete your graduate study in just one additional year by taking just 24 additional credits, rather than the usual required 36.

Criminal Justice Minor
Many students majoring in another course of study find that adding a minor in criminal justice enhances their career opportunities. You can complete this minor through taking four required basic courses plus two electives, for a total of 18 credits.

Gaining Field Experience
Every senior majoring in criminal justice is required to complete an internship, which provides first-hand experience and an understanding of what it’s like to work in the field. It also may provide you with a network of valuable contacts for your future job search. You may find yourself interning in a public or private agency, a law enforcement agency, the courts, a social service agency, a probation department or a correctional facility.

Justice Semester at American University, Washington, D.C.
Top students in the Criminal Justice Program at C.W. Post are nominated to participate in the Justice Semester at American University in Washington, D.C. If selected, you will have the opportunity to discuss your conception of the nature and sources of violence and crime with gifted criminal justice students from other universities and with distinguished experts in the field. You will meet with prosecutors, congressional judiciary committee members, lobbyists and even justices of the Supreme Court of the United States.

Getting Involved
C.W. Post offers a broad range of opportunities that allow you to make friends while building your network for the future. Campus-based organizations that are of particular interest to criminal justice majors include:

Criminal Justice Institute – You will have the opportunity to hear and interact with expert speakers in the field, be exposed to opposing viewpoints, network with working professionals, and get to know your fellow students in an informal setting.

Criminal Justice Association – This student-run organization involves both research and networking within the criminal justice system.

Alpha Phi Sigma – This National Criminal Justice Honor Society is open to all students who have completed half their Criminal Justice coursework at C.W. Post, and who have maintained an overall 3.0 average, with a 3.2 in their major.

Plan of Study

Criminal Justice Courses (36 Credits)

CRJ 11 - Introduction to Criminal Justice
CRJ 20 - Critical Issues in Criminal Justice
CRJ 23 - Theories of Crime
CRJ 30 - Gender and Law
CRJ 37 - Foundation for Scholarship
CRJ 38 - Methods of Criminal Justice Research
CRJ 41 - Criminal Law
CRJ 44 - Police and Community Relations
CRJ 68 - Correctional Philosophy
CRJ 76 - Criminal Procedure
CRJ 85 - Criminal Justice Practicum (6 Credits)

In-service students may substitute CRJ 85 by completing two advanced courses in Criminal Justice.

CRJ Electives (9 Credits)

Liberal Arts Requirements and College 101 (51 Credits)

Liberal Arts Electives (4 Credits)

Free Electives (29 Credits)

Total Credit Requirements = 129

Please see the required Liberal Arts Core courses and competencies for Criminal Justice majors.

Typical Program in Criminal Justice

Freshman Year	Credits
Criminal Justice 11, 23, 37, 38	12
English 1, 2	6
Core requirements	9
Free electives	3
Library Competency 01	0
Oral Competency 01	0
Computer Competency 01	0
College 101	1
	31

Sophomore Year	Credits
Criminal Justice 41, 30, 68	9
Core requirements	15
Political Science or Economics	6
Free electives	3
	33

Junior Year	Credits
Criminal Justice 44, 76	6
Criminal Justice electives	6
Core requirements	18
Free electives	6
	36

Senior Year	Credits
Criminal Justice 20, 85	9
Criminal Justice electives	3
Free electives	17
	29