2011-2012 Academic Catalog - Victory University

MINOR IN CRIMINAL JUSTICETOTAL: 18 SEMESTER HOURSThe Criminal Justice minor evaluates, researches, and serves the justice professions through theinterdisciplinary and comparative study of crime and criminal behavior, as well as the policiesand systems designed to control criminality. The minor promotes life-long learning amongstudents so they are prepared to ethically lead public and private efforts that makecommunities safer and promote the equitable application of the law. Our curricular offeringsprovide a substantive and practical knowledge base that links multidisciplinary social-scientifictheories and methods with effective and responsible public policy and the ethical practice ofthe justice professions within a free, multicultural, constitutional democracy.As a result of study in this program, students will:Become empowered as critical thinkers, ethical actors, and competent communicatorsconcerning matters of crime and justice at the local, state, national, international levels;Be introduced to the philosophy, theories, policies, practices, processes, and reforms ofthe major institutions of social control;Explain the inter-dependent operations of the major components of the criminal justicesystem (i.e., police, courts, correctional agencies) and the political, legal, ethical, andsocioeconomic environments in which they operate, as well as the implications of theserelationships for victims, offenders, justice professionals, and society;Analyze the major historical and contemporary issues facing the criminal justice system,including events, information, programs, policies, and concepts that affect the operationof criminal justice agencies and actors, as well as issues affecting contemporary urbansociety and respect for racial, ethnic, cultural, and gender diversity;Apply skills and methods in criminal justice research including the acquisition, analysis,interpretation, dissemination, and policy implications of data;Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, and demonstrate basic knowledgeof information technology as applied to criminal justice research and practice.CJ-1003 Introduction to Criminal Justice 3 semester hoursCJ-2003Introduction to Courts and Criminal Law 3 semester hoursCJ-2103 Introduction to Corrections 3 semester hoursCJ-3203 Introduction to Law Enforcement 3 semester hoursCJ-3003 Criminology 3 semester hoursCJ-4503 Criminal Justice Internship 3 semester hoursTotal18 semester hours143