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Criminology and Justice Studies - B.A.

The Criminology and Justice Studies undergraduate major combines coursework in law, psychology, sociology and other fields to provide a comprehensive understanding of crime and justice. With experienced faculty and opportunities for research and practical experience, this program prepares you for a successful career in a wide range of criminal justice roles.

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David Graff | Senior Lecturer | Sociology
Phone: 330-339-3391
Email: dgraff@kent.edu

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Program Information for Criminology and Justice Studies - B.A.

Program Description

Program Description

Full Description

The Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminology and Justice Studies takes an interdisciplinary approach to the study of crime, law and justice. The curriculum provides a firm understanding of the basic institutions of the criminal justice system. Students are also exposed to criminological theory and diversity courses, which help them understand the complex relationship between the individual, society and the criminal justice system. The program stresses effective writing and analytical skills. Students are afforded the opportunity to earn credit through internship placements.

Consultations with faculty and advisors enable students to make informed choices about which combination of courses will maximize their preparation for future careers and graduate education. Such specializations include policing; corrections; victimology; law and society; criminology and deviance; and justice and human relations.

Criminology and Justice Studies students may apply early to the M.A. degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice and double count 9 credit hours of graduate courses toward both degree programs. See the Combined Bachelor's/Master's Degree Program policy in the University Catalog for more information.

Admissions for Criminology and Justice Studies - B.A.

Admissions

Admission Requirements

The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents and adult students who graduated from high school three or more years ago.

First-Year Students on the Kent Campus: First-year admission policy on the Kent Campus is selective. Admission decisions are based upon cumulative grade point average, strength of high school college preparatory curriculum and grade trends. Students not admissible to the Kent Campus may be administratively referred to one of the seven regional campuses to begin their college coursework. For more information, visit the admissions website for first-year students.

First-Year Students on the Regional Campuses: First-year admission to Kent State’s campuses at Ashtabula, East Liverpool, Geauga, Salem, Stark, Trumbull and Tuscarawas, as well as the Twinsburg Academic Center, is open to anyone with a high school diploma or its equivalent. For more information on admissions, contact the Regional Campuses admissions offices.

International Students: All international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions) by earning a minimum 525 TOEFL score (71 on the Internet-based version), minimum 75 MELAB score, minimum 6.0 IELTS score or minimum 48 PTE Academic score, or by completing the ELS level 112 Intensive Program. For more information, visit the admissions website for international students.

Transfer Students: Students who have attended any other educational institution after graduating from high school must apply as undergraduate transfer students. For more information, visit the admissions website for transfer students.

Former Students: Former Kent State students or graduates who have not attended another college or university since Kent State may complete the reenrollment or reinstatement form on the University Registrar’s website.

Admission policies for undergraduate students may be found in the University Catalog's Academic Policies.

Some programs may require that students meet certain requirements before progressing through the program. For programs with progression requirements, the information is shown on the program's Coursework tab.

Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

  1. Communicate orally and in writing.
  2. Develop skills through experience.
  3. Have substantive knowledge in specific areas of the discipline, namely law, law enforcement, corrections, courts and diversity.
  4. Demonstrate an understanding of ethics.
  5. Describe theoretical issues related to the causes of crime and development of justice practices.
  6. Find and explain research in the field.
  7. Develop critical thinking skills.

Coursework

On This Page

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

Major Requirements (courses count in major GPA)
CRIM 12000INTRODUCTION TO JUSTICE STUDIES 3
CRIM 26704ISSUES IN LAW AND SOCIETY (KSS) 3
CRIM 36702CRIMINOLOGY 3
CRIM 37311MINORITIES IN CRIME AND JUSTICE (DIVD) 3
or CRIM 37411 WOMEN IN CRIME AND JUSTICE (DIVD)
SOC 12050INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY (DIVD) (KSS) 3
SOC 32210RESEARCHING SOCIETY (ELR) (WIC) 13
SOC 32220DATA ANALYSIS 23
SOC 32221DATA ANALYSIS LABORATORY 21
Criminology and Justice Studies (CRIM) Electives 39
Criminology and Justice Studies (CRIM) Upper-Division Electives (30000 or 40000 level)9
Additional Requirements (courses do not count in major GPA)
UC 10001FLASHES 101 1
Foreign Language (see Foreign Language College Requirement below)14-16
Kent Core Composition6
Kent Core Mathematics and Critical Reasoning3
Kent Core Humanities and Fine Arts (minimum one course from each)9
Kent Core Basic Sciences (must include one laboratory)6-7
Kent Core Additional6
General Electives (total credit hours depends on earning 120 credit hours, including 39 upper-division credit hours)35
Minimum Total Credit Hours:120
1

A minimum C grade must be earned to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement.

2

Students declared in both the Psychology major and Criminology and Justice Studies major may substitute PSYC 21621 in place of SOC 32220 and SOC 32221.

3

POTA 11001 may count toward lower-division Criminology and Justice Studies electives.

Graduation Requirements
Minimum Major GPA Minimum Overall GPA
2.000 2.000

Foreign Language College Requirement, B.A.

Students pursuing the Bachelor of Arts degree in the College of Arts and Sciences must complete 14-16 credit hours of foreign language.1
To complete the requirement, students need the equivalent of Elementary I and II in any language, plus one of the following options2:

  1. Intermediate I and II of the same language
  2. Elementary I and II of a second language
  3. Any combination of two courses from the following list:
  • Intermediate I of the same language
  • ARAB 21401
  • ASL 19401
  • CHIN 25421
  • MCLS 10001
  • MCLS 20001
  • MCLS 20091
  • MCLS 21417
  • MCLS 21420
  • MCLS 22217
  • MCLS 28403
  • MCLS 28404
1

All students with prior foreign language experience should take the foreign language placement test to determine the appropriate level at which to start. Some students may start beyond the Elementary I level and will complete the requirement with fewer credit hours and fewer courses. This may be accomplished by (1) passing a course beyond Elementary I through Intermediate II level; (2) receiving credit through one of the alternative credit programs offered by Kent State University; or (3) demonstrating language proficiency comparable to Elementary II of a foreign language. When students complete the requirement with fewer than 14 credit hours and four courses, they will complete remaining credit hours with general electives.

2

Certain majors, concentrations and minors may require specific languages, limit the languages from which a student may choose or require coursework through Intermediate II. Students who plan to pursue graduate study may need particular language coursework.

Roadmap

Roadmap

Roadmap

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this major. However, courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

Plan of Study Grid
Semester OneCredits
!CRIM 12000 INTRODUCTION TO JUSTICE STUDIES 3
UC 10001 FLASHES 101 1
Foreign Language 4
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours14
Semester Two
SOC 12050 INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY (DIVD) (KSS) 3
Foreign Language 4
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours16
Semester Three
CRIM 26704 ISSUES IN LAW AND SOCIETY (KSS) 3
Criminology and Justice Studies (CRIM) Elective 3
Foreign Language 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Four
Criminology and Justice Studies (CRIM) Elective 3
Foreign Language 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Five
CRIM 36702 CRIMINOLOGY 3
CRIM 37311
or CRIM 37411
 MINORITIES IN CRIME AND JUSTICE (DIVD)
or WOMEN IN CRIME AND JUSTICE (DIVD)
3
!SOC 32210 RESEARCHING SOCIETY (ELR) (WIC) 3
General Electives 6
 Credit Hours15
Semester Six
!SOC 32220 DATA ANALYSIS 3
!SOC 32221 DATA ANALYSIS LABORATORY 1
Criminology and Justice Studies (CRIM) Elective 3
Criminology and Justice Studies (CRIM) Upper-Division Elective 3
General Elective 3
 Credit Hours13
Semester Seven
Criminology and Justice Studies (CRIM) Upper-Division Elective 3
General Electives 12
 Credit Hours15
Semester Eight
Criminology and Justice Studies (CRIM) Upper-Division Elective 3
General Electives 14
 Credit Hours17
 Minimum Total Credit Hours:120

Program Delivery

Program Delivery

  • Delivery:
    • Mostly online
    • In person
  • Location:
    • Ashtabula Campus
    • East Liverpool Campus
    • Kent Campus
    • Salem Campus
    • Stark Campus
    • Trumbull Campus
    • Tuscarawas Campus

Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries for Criminology and Justice Studies - B.A.

First-line supervisors of correctional officers

-7.8%

decline

48,700

number of jobs

$60,910

potential earnings

First-line supervisors of police and detectives

5.2%

faster than the average

126,100

number of jobs

$92,970

potential earnings

Public safety telecommunicators

6.2%

faster than the average

98,300

number of jobs

$43,290

potential earnings

Notice: Career Information Source
* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.

Career Opportunities

Career opportunities related to criminology and justice studies interests and credentials include positions in criminal and regulatory law enforcement affiliated with a wide variety of municipal/city, county, state, regional and national agencies; correctional positions including guards, counselors, probation and parole officers, and supervisors; homeland security; courthouse security; park/forest rangers; private security services, including businesses, transportation systems, hospitals and campuses; juvenile detention, counseling and supervision; investigative and criminal history research positions for courts or private businesses; victim services and victim advocacy. Many students take advantage of police academies located conveniently at Kent State and Kent State University at Trumbull.

In combination with relevant graduate degrees, students may also qualify for professional positions legal practice; teaching; policy research including applied statistics and crime mapping; policy analysis; social work, clinical psychology, counseling or therapy; and forensics (with cross-training in fields such as psychology, biology, chemistry, physics, anthropology, accounting, computer science or linguistics).

JUSTICE CAREER RESOURCES

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