Criminal Justice

Degree: BS Mode of study: On-Campus Location: Main Campus
Degree Type
Bachelor's Degree
Program Type
Undergraduate
Location
Main Campus - Cape
Regional Campus - Kennett
Regional Campus - Sikeston
College
Humanities & Social Sciences
Department
Criminal Justice, Social Work & Sociology
Careers
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A criminal justice student wearing a black jacket and ear protection aims his weapon during handgun training.

Learn to move your community and your career forward: You’ll do that here.

A criminal justice degree will prepare you to contribute towards pressing social issues in the areas of crime prevention, protection, and rehabilitation. And, with a college degree in hand, you’ll be ready to advance your criminal justice career in the future.

What You’ll Do

The degree in criminal justice has two tracks: an Academic/University and a Law Enforcement Academy track. The Academic/University track is for those seeking an undergraduate degree in criminal justice as preparation for entry-level jobs in the field or advanced graduate level or professional study. It gives a theoretical understanding of crime and the criminal justice system.

The Law Enforcement Academy track is for those seeking specialized law enforcement training for law enforcement employment.

  • Learn from faculty with extensive professional and academic experience.
  • Gain valuable real-world learning experience through internships.
  • Build critical spoken and written communication skills.
  • Study various aspects of criminal justice and build critical and analytical thinking and inquiry skills.

What Can You Do with a Criminal Justice Degree?

Your education is just one piece to launching an extraordinary career. Once you’ve mastered the material, you still have to find the job you want, make the right connections, sell your knowledge and experience—and if all this is giving you anxiety, don’t panic. SEMO’s Career Services office is here to help you with the next step. They’ll provide the expertise and support you need, so you’re landing your dream job in no time. 

Internship, Employment, and Graduate School Opportunities of Recent Graduates

  • The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)
  • The US Marshals Service
  • Missouri Highway Patrol
  • The Secret Service
  • The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
  • Private Security Firms
  • Community Corrections Agencies
  • State & Federal Probation and Parole
  • Substance Abuse Counseling
  • Victim Assistance Projects
  • Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA)
  • Law School at Southern Illinois University
  • Graduate schools at local and prestigious universities in the United States

Criminal Justice (BS) Degree Map

Explore the courses you'll need to complete your degree.

View the Degree Map

Outcomes & Careers

  • $67k

    Police and Detective

    According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for police and detectives is $67,290.

  • $56k

    Probation Officer

    According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for probation officers is $55,690.

  • $62k

    Court Reporter

    According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for a court reporter is $61,660.

What You'll Study

Degree Map

The criminal justice curriculum includes core coursework to prepare you for a career in criminal justice. You’ll complete a minimum of 120 credit hours to complete this degree, including the general education requirements and at least 39 senior division hours.

48 hour major – No minor required

Required Courses – 27 hours:
  • CJ100 Introduction to Criminal Justice (3)
  • CJ240 Principles of Law Enforcement (3)
  • CJ250 Corrections (3)
  • CJ321 Criminal Law (3)
  • CJ370 Juvenile Justice (3)
  • CJ425 Planning and Research in Criminal Justice (3)
  • CJ499 Senior Seminar (3)
  • SO305 Convergences of Crime (3)
  • SO360 Criminology (3)
Electives - 21 hours, to include 3 hours of experiential learning:
  • CJ303 Correctional Institutions (3)
  • CJ330 Criminal Investigations (3)
  • CJ350 Criminalistics (3)
  • CJ365 Community-Based Corrections (3)
  • CJ375 Victimology (3)
  • CJ400 Crisis Management (3)
  • CJ410 Police Administration (3)
  • CJ422 Criminal Procedures (3)
  • CJ435 Special Topics (3)
  • CJ440 Offender Rehabilitation (3)
  • CJ471 Directed Research (3)*
  • CJ480 Travel Study (1-6)
  • CJ491 Internship in Criminal Justice (3)*
  • CJ495 Law Enforcement Professional Practice (18)**
  • CJ505 Social Inequalities (3)
  • CJ510 Comparative Criminal Justice Systems (3)
  • CJ519 Restorative Justice (3)
  • CJ520 Law and Social Control (3)
  • CJ522 Critical Analysis of Gangs in America (3)
  • CJ525 Crime and Criminal Justice Policy (3)
  • CJ540 Professional Standards (3)
  • CJ541 The Death Penalty in America (3)
  • SO444 Deviant Social Behavior (3)
  • UI300 Drugs and Behavior (3)
  • UI309 Crime and Human Behavior (3)
Experiential Learning (A minimum of 3 hours in any of the following): Experiential Learning hours also may satisfy elective course requirements within the major without the need for taking additional hours.
  • CJ471 Directed Research (3)*
  • CJ491 Internship (3)*
  • CJ480 Travel Study (1-6)
  • CJ495 Law Enforcement Professional Practice (18)**
  • Any university course earned through PLA (Prior Learning Assessment)

*No more than 3 credits of Directed Research (CJ471) and no more than 6 credits of Internship (CJ491) may be counted toward degree.**Students who demonstrate successful completion of a state-certified law enforcement academy at a Missouri Basic Law Enforcement Training Center and pass the Missouri Peace Officer License Exam (MPOLE); an out of state, federal, or military Basic Police School and Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) exam; or, equivalent will earn 18 credits in CJ 495 toward their Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice.

Some requirements may be fulfilled by coursework in major program.

  • Social and Behavioral Sciences – 6 hours
  • Constitution Requirement – 3 hours
  • Written Communication – 6 hours
  • Oral Communication – 3 hours
  • Natural Sciences – 7 hours (from two disciplines, one to include a lab)
  • Mathematics – 3 hours
  • Humanities & Fine Arts – 9 hours (from at least two disciplines)
  • Additional requirements – 5 hours (to include UI100 for native students)
  • Civics examination

First Year 

Fall Semester (16 Hours) 

  • UI100 (1) 
  • EN100 (3) 
  • CJ100 (3) 
  • General Education (3) 
  • General Education (3) 
  • General Education (3) 

Spring Semester (15 Hours) 

  • CJ240 (3) 
  • General Education (3) 
  • General Education (3) 
  • General Education (3) 
  • General Education (3) 

Milestone: 2.0 cumulative grade point average.

Second Year 

Fall Semester (15 Hours) 

  • CJ115 (3) 
  • CJ321(3) 
  • General Education (3) 
  • General Education (3) 
  • General Education (3) 

Spring Semester (15 Hours) 

  • SO305 (3) 
  • SO360 (3) 
  • General Education (3) 
  • General Education (3) 
  • General Education (3) 

Milestone: 2.0 cumulative grade point average.

Second Year 

Fall Semester (15 Hours) 

  • CJ370 (3) 
  • CJ Elective (3) 
  • CJ Elective (3) 
  •  
  • Elective (3) 
  • Elective (3) 

Spring Semester (15 Hours) 

  • CJ425 (3) 
  • CJ Elective (3) 
  • CJ Elective (3) 
  • Elective (3) 
  • Elective (3) 

Milestone: 2.0 cumulative grade point average.

Fourth Year 

Fall Semester (14 Hours) 

  • CJ Elective (3) 
  • CJ Elective (3) 
  • Elective (3) 
  • Elective (3) 
  • Elective (2) 

Spring Semester (15 Hours) 

  • CJ499 (3) 
  • CJ Elective (3) 
  • Elective (3) 
  • Elective (3) 
  • Elective (3) 

Milestone: 2.0 cumulative grade point average.

What will it cost?

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Get Funding for Your Education

Missouri’s opened the door to a more educated workforce. We want to help you walk through it. If you’re an adult learner and a Missouri resident returning to college, learn about the Fast Track Workforce Incentive Grant. It’s a statewide financial aid program that can be used to pursue a certificate, degree or industry-recognized credential in a high need area in Missouri. This major is eligible for the Fast Track grant.

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Experiential Learning

Criminal Justice, Social Work, and Sociology

  • Sociology students talking.
  • Social Work students work together in the classroom.

Additional Resources

Criminal Justice, Social Work & Sociology
Contact Us
Phone
(573) 651-2541
Location
Office Location
Brandt 329
Mailing Location
One University Plaza, MS 7950
Cape Girardeau, Missouri 63701

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