The Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Criminal Justice provides students with in-depth knowledge of the three key areas of the criminal justice system; the police, the courts, and corrections.

This degree consists of several key courses, some of which include criminal law, criminal procedure, criminal investigation, courtroom processes, prison system operations, probation and parole, criminological theory, the juvenile justice system, legal liabilities, constitutional law, as well as managerial and administrative aspects of criminal justice.

In addition, students can pursue specialized areas of study in criminal investigations, substance abuse, specialized offender typologies, gang-related offenders, terrorism, as well as private and/or industrial security.

Degree Requirements

During the first two years of the degree program, the basic degree requirements are completed. Coursework includes arts, English, speech, mathematics, computer science, science, government, humanities, psychology, sociology, and basic criminal justice coursework.

During the third and fourth years of the degree plan, students will typically enroll in upper level criminal justice coursework. This coursework allows students to gain specialized knowledge in any of the three key areas of the criminal justice field through their selection of upper-level electives. It is also during this time that many students opt to enroll in the internship program whereby students obtain placement with a criminal justice agency on a voluntary basis to gain course credit and valuable experience within their field of study.

During their fourth year of study, students will also complete a capstone experience in the course entitled CJUS 499 Senior Seminar in Criminal Justice. During this course, students will interview practitioners in various fields of criminal justice and they will participate in volunteer with a selected agency. This experience also integrates the student’s course of study with the real world of the practitioner. Both the internship and the capstone experience have led to students successfully securing employment with local and statewide agencies.

It is during the fourth year of study that students tend to finish their required coursework from the criminal justice discipline. It is also during this time that many students consider applying for our graduate program to pursue an advanced degree in criminal justice beyond their four-year course of study.

The specific criminal justice courses required for a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice are detailed below. Further information regarding the description and content of these courses can be found at:

www.ulm.edu/criminaljustice/course_descriptions_1.html

Students visiting this link will also find descriptions for the various elective courses that may be chosen when pursuing their degree.

NOTE: This information is provided as a reference only and is subject to change. Always verify all curriculum information with your faculty advisor or the dean's office. For complete curricular information, see the ULM Undergraduate Catalog.