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Criminal Justice (B.A.)

Program Overview

The criminal justice degree program at Messiah University is a liberal arts degree that appeals to students who wish to pursue a career in criminal justice. You will gain a deep understanding of human behavior, including deviance, and social structures that preserve order and address crime. This will allow you to examine new and innovative practices in criminal and restorative justice, and grasp the concept of responsible service in the criminal justice field.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates from Messiah’s Criminal Justice program can:

  1.  Use theory to identify patterns of social behavior.
  2. Recognize issues and significance of diversity -- race, class, culture, gender, religion ethnicity, values, age.
  3. Apply information and technology relevant to the social sciences and the study of criminality.
  4. Demonstrate professional skills in the field of criminal justice.
  5. Apply critical thinking skills in their examination of social institutions and issues of conflict, inequality, prejudice, discrimination, deviance, and crime.
  6. Identify career options in the field of criminal justice and assess one's own skills and dispositions for the field.
  7. Use faith to augment our service to the community.

Major Requirements

Complete the following for your major:

CRIJ 103Introduction to Criminal Justice

3
CRIJ 201Law Enforcement

3
CRIJ 259Criminal Law and the Court

3
CRIJ 362Criminology

3
CRIJ 366Corrections

3
CRIJ 367Victimology

3
CRIJ 369Forensics

3
SOAN 285Research Methods

3
SOAN 356Social Inequality

3
SOAN 371Global Justice

3
SOAN 442Senior Thesis

3
INTE 391Internship

1-3
INTE 391: Three credits needed to meet major requirement.

Three credits from the following:

CRIJ 386Topics in Criminal Justice

3
CRIJ 491Independent Study

1-3
BIBL 291Issues of War, Peace and Social Justice in Biblical Texts

3
PACS 201Basic Conflict Mediation

3
PSYC 365Drugs and Human Behavior

3

NOTE: At least eighteen (18) credits of the major requirements must be 300- or 400- level courses.

General Education Requirements

Experiential Learning requirement   0
General Education requirements   Credits
First Year Seminar IDFY 101/102H  3
Written Communication ENGL 110/110H 3
Oral Communication COMM 105 3
Mathematical and Scientific Ways of Knowing Mathematics 3 or 4
Science with Lab 3 or 4
Social Scientific Ways of Knowing
 Social Science (CRIJ 103) met/major
Cultural/Humanistic Ways of Knowing 24GE History 3
Literary & Aesthetic Ways of Knowing
 Literature or Arts 3
Cultural/Humanistic Ways of Knowing
 Philosophy or Religion 3
Cultural/Humanistic Ways of Knowing 1st and 2nd Level Language 6
Intercultural Perspectives Intercultural Global (SOAN 371) or International Cross-cultural or 3rd Level Language met/major
Bible
 24GE Bible 3
Christian Beliefs
 24GE Christian Beliefs 3
Holistic Wellness
 WELL 1xx 3
Ethics and the Common Good
 24GE Ethics and the Common Good 1
Intercultural Perspectives
 Intercultural U.S. (SOAN 356) or Domestic Cross-cultural met/major
Common Learning
 Experiential Learning (INTE 391) met/major 
General Education requirements   40-42
Major requirements (inclusive of concentration)   39
Free Electives    42-44
Total credits   123