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Social and Behavioral Sciences

Undergraduate Symposium

The Undergraduate Student Symposium, sponsored by the Farquhar College of Arts and Sciences, presents student projects and performances through oral presentations, paper submissions, and poster displays.

Criminal Justice Major

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In the rapidly expanding fields of law enforcement, courtroom services, corrections, and Homeland Security, a criminal justice major has become a popular course of study. Criminal justice is a career-oriented major focusing upon the relationships between crime, the criminal justice system, and society as a whole. The potential career opportunities for a criminal justice student include: municipal, county or state police officer, Federal law enforcement officer, law, court administrator, probation officer, correctional employee, correctional administrator, parole officer, pre-sentence investigator, private security officer or investigator, social worker, juvenile court counselor, correctional counselor, juvenile after-care worker, criminal justice educator or researcher, and criminal justice planner or evaluator.

The bachelor of science degree in criminal justice will provide the student with a comprehensive overview of the criminal justice system and insight into how its various components interact. The major integrates and applies knowledge of law enforcement practice and procedure, law, and governmental and correctional policies to issues affecting criminal justice and society. Students will also gain insight into social systems that influence attitudes toward punishment, rehabilitation, and treatment. This study of criminology, the theoretical basis of criminal justice, provides insight into human motivations and the forces behind aberrant and destructive behaviors.

Description

Criminal justice is the study of the legal rules of court procedure, police history and procedure, criminology, and the use of corrections as a means of rehabilitating convicted criminals. The study of criminal justice can give the undergraduate student a richer understanding of the structure and process of how laws, police, courts, and corrections all interact to work as a collective whole.

The criminal justice major is offered during the day and evening on NSU’s main campus.

Learning Outcomes

Criminal Justice Learning Outcomes

A successful criminal justice graduate is expected to:

  1. Communicate effectively
    1. Select appropriate writing styles to articulate ideas, instructions, and information clearly, accurately, and comprehensively
    2. Utilize correct structure, organization, grammar, and vocabulary in written communication
    3. Verbally convey ideas, instructions, and information clearly, understandably, and professionally
  2. Analyze complex material and
    1. Identify the elements of a crime and the necessary supporting evidence
    2. Demonstrate the relationship between statutory and constitutional law and its practical application
    3. Evaluate information in a manner that leads to well founded, reasonable conclusions
  3. Comprehend the context within which legal issues arise and the implications of legal decisions so as to
    1. Demonstrate an understanding of the legal and judicial system, its structure, and functions
    2. Demonstrate an understanding of constitutional principles and their implications in law enforcement functions
    3. Demonstrate an understanding of liability, its implications for law enforcement functions, human resources, risk management, and administrative decisions

Dual Admissions Option

Please refer to the Dual Admissions Web site for additional information.