This program provides a Christ-centered approach to the study of criminal justice and will prepare you for a career in the criminal justice system or for continued studies in graduate school or law school. Society relies on an effective criminal justice system; you’ll learn to use your God-given talents to provide professional and Christ-centered contributions within this exciting and important field.
Learn in settings like law enforcement agencies, court house experiences, law firms, social work agencies, public and private children's homes, homes for the delinquent, mental and penal institutions, probation and parole agencies, juvenile courts, low-income urban areas, and depressed rural areas suffering from significant substance abuse and other social problems.
Professors with experience
GU's criminal justice professors have expert knowledge and practical experience working in the criminal justice system. That means you get a practical and informed education.
Multiple disciplines
You'll focus on the practical fields within the criminal justice system while you also learn aspects of social work, sociology, psychology, and research methods to prepare you for graduate school. Grow in your understanding of the criminal justice system, including its impact and intersections.
Why GU
Experiential learning. Prepare for work within the criminal justice system. Attain a better understanding of specified criminal justice jobs though internships. You’ll be better prepared for job searches, interviews, and your career.
Christ-centered. Grow in your faith and become well-suited for the work and challenges professionals in the criminal justice system may face.
Personalized attention. Experience personal growth and plan your career under the guidance of faculty who know your name and cheer your success. GU’s low 11:1 student/faculty ratio and community atmosphere allow professors to invest in their students, and know your strengths and abilities in the field of social work.
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Success Stories
Dr. Watterson and Dr. Beans took the time to explain and engage in psychological discussions. Professor Laughlin hired me as his student assistant and gave me assignments that resembled those I'd see in graduate school to better prepare me. The list goes on and on! So many people from Greenville University have impacted me.
-Sam Barnhart, Criminal Justice major
Criminal Justice, BS Course Requirements
Visit the Online Catalog for an explanation of graduation requirements.
Criminal Justice, BS Courses
An advanced survey course focusing on the description and interrelationships of the many agencies and institutions which comprise criminal justice; e.g., justice systems, law enforcement, corrections, etc. Agencies and institutions will be studied in their historical and social contexts and will be further examined by way of major theories and models of criminal justice. The various professional implications of criminal justice will be examined. (Offered spring semester.)
This course helps students to recognize the importance of the criminal justice system and community working cooperatively towards a more successful criminal justice system. Moving towards community trust of, and cooperation with, the Criminal Justice system will aid in the overall success of the criminal justice system in working towards safe and inclusive communities. Some topics that will be covered include community policing philosophy, applications, issues, types, and contemporary research. The course will also consider different community policing models. This course will include a $50 course fee for a travel component where students are able to see an example of a community policing model when the course is taught face to face. Meets the general education global foundations requirement.
Prerequisite: CRJS 203.
This course will introduce students to ethics and how it applies to, and is applied within, Criminal Justice. This course will explore and analyze ethical dilemmas. This course will consider the roles of individuals and professional organizations and agencies when confronted with ethical dilemmas. Additionally, this course will discuss ethics in community relations, ethics in criminal justice laws, the philosophy of punishment, and procedures and civil liability in law enforcement and correctional environments. Finally, this course will explore the standards and codes of professional responsibility in criminal justice professions (e.g. Law Enforcement Code of Ethics, ABA Standards of Professional Responsibility, American Jail Association Code of Ethics for Jail Officers, and the American Correctional Association Code of Ethics.)
Prerequisite: PSYC 101 or SOCI 101. (Offered fall semester of odd calendar years.)
Effective law enforcement requires an understanding of human behavior - deviant or otherwise. Emile Durkheim, a famous early sociologist, even went so far as to say that deviance, or breaking societal rules for behavior, is normal, and occurs in every human community. Thus an understanding of deviance begins with an understanding of human behavior, period. You will study the topic of human behavior-both conforming behavior and deviant behavior, take a diagnostic tool to identify your own personality traits, and learn to apply individual differences to human interactions and organizations. You will study and seek to understand the historical and societal context for deviance, theories or deviance, and social control mechanisms, from social scientific perspectives, but also from a Christian perspective which sees all human beings with worth, dignity, and potential.
Prerequisite: CRJS 203.
Each student must successfully complete one or more practicum experiences totaling 3-9 hours of academic credit, where 40 clock hours on location equals one hour of credit. Ideally each practicum should be based on a criminal justice related agency (court, probation office, correctional facility, local police station or sheriff's department, etc.), which specializes in some aspect of the criminal justice system. However, agencies or practices that heavily intersect with the criminal justice system, or some aspect of the criminal justice system will also be considered. Ideally an on-site supervisor with an appropriate degree or license will supervise the student's practicum.
Additionally, Greenville University requires upper division status for students to participate in internships/practicums.
A basic course introducing the student to the concepts, theories, and methods employed in an objective scientific analysis of society, culture, social institutions and organizations, social control, deviancy, and social factors involved in personality development. Meets the general education social science or business management requirement. (Offered every semester.)
This course is an introduction to the world of crime scene investigation and forensic criminalistics. Students will learn from actual cases and hear lectures from lead investigators about the science of crime scene investigation. Lab exercises will engage the students in the biological, chemical and physical analysis of evidence, including several crime scene scenarios. Three hours lecture and optional two hours lab each week. Students enrolling in and successfully completing the lab portion of this class will receive four credits; students not enrolled in the lab will receive three credits for the class. To take the lab, students must be concurrently enrolled in the lecture part of the class. Meets the general education laboratory science requirement. (Offered spring semester of even calendar years.) Corequisite: BIOL 155L
This course is an introduction to the study of criminal law in the United States and does not cover any specific federal or state law. Topics include the reliance of U.S. law on the Constitution and peripherally on the Declaration of Independence, the relationship of criminal law to civil law, U.S. criminal law and its relation to British common law, principles of criminal law, principles of criminal liability, complicity, inchoate crimes, defenses, justifications and excuses, crimes against persons, crimes against property, crimes against public order, and crimes against the state. (Offered fall semester of even calendar years.)
It is the goal of this course to devlop a greater understanding of the complexities of the law enforcement function-its intricacies and diversity. This will be done through a thoughtful consideration of the structure and functions of law enforcement and through exploring the topics of police and police functions. (Offered fall semester of odd calendar years.)
This class will introduce students to a critical study of corrections-the institutionalized system through which society incarcerates or otherwise punishes and supervises individuals identified as criminals. The course will consider the correctional system, with particular attention to the social forces that shape and are shaped by corrections. The course will focus on models and trends in corrections with application for both understanding society and preparation for practice. (Offered spring semester of odd calendar years.)
This course covers the purpose and value of research as a problem-solving tool in criminal justice. Students will learn to form testable hypotheses, create questionnaires, gather and analyze data, and to read research articles with critical understanding.
Prerequisite: PSYC 202 or SCWK 202
A study of problem formulation, data collection, and data analysis including primary and secondary data collection. Major assignments include research design, literature review, survey design and method selection.
Prerequisites: SOCI 101, SCWK 202 (may be taken concurrently). (Offered fall semester.)
Course content focuses upon basic concepts and operations in descriptive and inferential statistics. The areas of study will include measures of central tendency and dispersion, probability, correlation and regression analysis, parametric (t-tests and ANOVA) and non-parametric (chi-square) tests of significance. A basic introduction to Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software is provided. Cross listed with SCWK 202. Meets the general education quantitative reasoning requirement.
Course content focuses upon basic concepts and operations in descriptive and inferential statistics. The areas of study will include measures of central tendency and dispersion, probability, correlation and regression analysis, parametric (t-tests and ANOVA) and non-parametric (chi-square) tests of significance. A basic introduction to Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software is provided. Cross listed with PSYC 202. Meets the general education quantitative reasoning requirement. (Offered every semester.)
This course will provide an overview of the history and application of law enforcement and intelligence. Moreover, the course will review the numerous challenges presented to officials in the law enforcement and intelligence communities. Topics include the integration of intelligence and policing within the community, the development of the intelligence cycle, structure, and the application of legal and ethical parameters to intelligence work. The student will develop critical thinking skills and an understanding of intelligence work at the operational, tactical, and strategic levels.
This course will provide an overview of vice and narcotics crimes. These crimes deal with issues which are policed based on their moral ramifications. This study will examine how certain behaviors become taboo by cultural standards, how they are criminalized, and what happens to those who are convicted of such crimes. During the course, students will learn about how police agencies attempt to mitigate threats to the United States.
In this course students will learn what is required to provide ethical and effective leadership within a law enforcement agency while building trust between citizens and police officers. The course will examine various policing strategies and the advantages and disadvantages of each strategy. You will also learn about the basic administrative responsibilities required of any law enforcement agency including planning, budgeting, organizational design, and assessment. We will also examine the important area of human resource management concerning the recruiting and hiring of personnel. Lastly, you will come to understand the concepts and principles that are essential in leading others in a way that inspires them to want to follow you.
This course will provide an overview of the structure and development of the homeland security network of the United States. This study will examine the dominant Intelligence Community position in this structure but will also address some of the law enforcement components which further support the system. During the course, students will learn about the roles of member agencies and how they mitigate threats to the United States.
This course presents an introduction to Social Psychology by exploring theories and research related to social perceptions, social influence, and social relations. Major topics to be covered in the course include, but are not limited to, social influence processes, interpersonal attraction, group behavior, aggression, conformity, and attitude formation and change. Students will further explore these topics by designing and conducting a social psychological research project. Cross listed with SOC304.
Prerequisites: PSYC 101, PSYC 202, and PSYC 210. Cross-Listed as: SOCI 304.
A course designed to investigate delinquency, including juvenile deviancy and juvenile crime. Applicable theories and models of delinquency will be investigated, as will social construction of delinquency. The course is appropriate for the students focusing on criminal justice generally as well as social work. Professional implications will also be examined. Cross-Listed as SCWK 351.
Prereq: PSYC 101 or SOCI 101
A course designed to investigate delinquency, including juvenile deviancy and juvenile crime. Applicable theories and models of delinquency will be investigated, as will social construction of delinquency. The course is appropriate for students focusing on criminal justice generally, as well as social work. Professional implications will also be examined. Cross listed with CRJS 351.
Prerequisite: PSYC 101 or SOCI 101.
The study of a variety of social organizations and of the policies enacted or pursued related to mission, structure, and social work and criminal justice will be included. Using organizational theory and real-life models, students will engage in institutional problem-solving exercises. Cross listed with SCWK 361. Meets the general education upper division writing intensive requirement.
Prerequisite: PSYC 101 or SOCI 101. (Offered fall semester of odd calendar years.)
The study of a variety of social organizations and of the policies enacted or pursued related to mission, structure, and social-political environments. Governmental and non-governmental agencies in the areas of social work and criminal justices will be included. Using organizational theory and real-life models, students will engage in institutional problem solving exercises. Cross listed with CRJS 361. Meets the general education upper division writing intensive requirement.
Prerequisite: PSYC 101 or SOCI 101. (Offered fall semester of odd calendar years.)
