Criminal Justice
Located within the sociology department, the criminal justice major will prepare you for a future career in law enforcement and related professional fields. You’ll be trained to think critically about the criminal justice system and to understand and implement evidence based practices. You’ll also be encouraged to apply these skills toward the pursuit of restorative justice as you live out your calling.
The criminal justice major is designed to assist students in entering an area of expanding need for professionalization and better prepared personnel in law enforcement, the court system, and in diverse areas in the corrections system. This major is also good preparation for graduate school, providing a knowledge and understanding of theory, social organization, methods and techniques. An internship of one semester is part of the major in order to provide additional practical experience in the field.
Sociology and criminal justice department homepage
Major requirements
SOC 202 - Social Problems
A discussion of myths and facts leading toward an understanding of many social problems, such as sexual deviance, drugs and alcohol, health care and illness (physical and mental), crime and delinquency, violence, wealth and poverty, inequality of opportunity, work, aging, sex inequality, racial minorities and discrimination, education, family problems, war, pollution, ecology and population. Emphasis is placed upon difficulties in defining, critiquing and proposing meaningful solutions.(4 credits)
SOC 218 - Deviance & Social Control
This class focuses on a sociological understanding of deviance. We will explore how both culture and structure may shape the prevalence, definition and reaction to deviance. Various theoretical perspectives will be examined and discussed to see how deviance may be both understood and even perhaps predicted. Finally, a number of more "concrete" areas will be examined, to both see how the theory holds up in real life, and to deepen the understanding of deviance and attempts at social control of deviance. (4 credits)
SOC 220 - The Criminal Justice System
SOC 304CC - Ethnicity, Power, Identity
(4 credits)(IGE option under Cross-Cultural Engagement) This course
develops a sociological perspective on ethnicity, power, and identity.
Sociologists frequently seek to balance an emphasis on both the general
patterns that we observe across social phenomena and the uniqueness of
each specific case. The primary goal of this course is not simply learn
the characteristics of specific historically marginalized populations.
Instead, this course will seek to answer the question: What is the
relationship between power, ethnicity, and identity? Our readings and
discussions will shed light upon this question from different
perspectives. Along the way, we will also draw upon learning materials
that address the unique historical situations of specific groups as they
endure and struggle against power imbalances (for example, the African
American Civil Rights Movement).
SOC 305 - Policing & Law Enforcement
SOC 307 - Corrections
Evolution of and debates concerning community and non-community based correctional programs, relationships between correcting, reforming, rehabilitating, and punishing, tensions between protection of public safety and rights of the accused, evaluation of incarceration, probation, parole, diversion, alternate and restorative justice programs, issues in "proactive" and "reactive" debate. Prerequisites: SOC218 and 303. Recommend general education writing requirement. (4 credits, alternate years, consult department)
SOC 310 - Criminology
SOC 340 - Sociological Research
A comprehensive introduction to sociological research methods with emphasis on survey research. An opportunity for sociology majors or others to apply this methodology in the conduct of major research in an area determined in consultation with the instructor. Finished research reports will be considered for presentation at various sociological association meetings. Prerequisites: SOC101 or equivalent. Recommend general education writing requirement, (4 credits, alternate years, consult department)
SOC 410 - Restorative Justice
SOC 417 - Internship
(4 credits may apply toward the major)
Cognates
PSC 101SS - American Government
(4 credits)(IGE option under Self and Society) A broad survey of the
major political and governmental institutions in the United States, this
course examines how citizens attempt to influence their government and
how the government responds. The course also develops the foundations for
a biblical perspective on the role of government and the task of citizens.
PSC 225WI - Intro to Law
This course briefly surveys the landscape of the American legal system. Most
of the course, however, is devoted to examining significant constitutional
issues, such as government powers, civil rights and civil liberties. (4
credits; alternate years, consult department) (Writing intensive)
