Criminal Justice
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
CRJ 202 - Social Problems
This course is about learning to critically think about society and various
problems in society. This course will examine a number of social issues as
we wrestle with how we can decide if an issue is a social problem, decide
which social problems might be more significant than others, and evaluate
potential solutions for social problems. We are going to wrestle with some
challenging questions with the goal of helping us to think deeply about how
we might seek justice on an individual level and within society. (4 credits)
CRJ 218 - Deviance & Social Control
In this course, we are going to explore a number of questions about the
boundaries of acceptability within societies. Instead of just taking such
boundaries for granted, we will look at how the creation of normality and
deviance is a process of social construction. We will examine how society
can influence or constrain people to live within or outside of the socially
constructed boundaries. As we explore this subject, we will be challenged to
reexamine our own understanding of what is deviant and what is normal, to
reflect on how definitions of deviance shape our identities and values, and
to wrestle with how definitions of deviance and attempts at social control
affect others. (4 credits)
CRJ 220 - The Criminal Justice System
This course provides an introduction to the criminal justice system. The
primary goal of this course is to develop a general understanding of the
criminal justice system's response to crime in society. It is important to
note the general theme of this course involves the delicate balance between
community interests and individual rights that criminal justice decision
making requires. This theme is explored by examining the criminal justice
process in some detail, focusing on how the system is structured to respond
to crime. This requires an understanding of the core elements of the
criminal justice system: police, courts, and corrections. (4 credits;
alternate years, consult department)
CRJ 304CC - Ethnicity, Power and Identity
This course develops a sociological perspective on ethnicity, power, and
identity. Socialists 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, the 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). (4 credits) (NWCore option under Cross-Cultural Engagement)
CRJ 305 - Policing & Law Enforcement
This course will provide an introduction to policing and law enforcement and
will include a history of policing, police-community relations, police
operational and administrative practices and an examination of important
trends, issues, and limitations issues facing law enforcement today. The
course will also examine police behaviors and attitudes, police culture, and
how officers exercise discretion. (4 credits; alternate years, consult
department)
CRJ 307 - Corrections
This course offers students the opportunity to learn the role of
community-based corrections in the criminal justice system. The course will
address all aspects of probation and parole supervision, the current prison
systems, and evidence based practices in working within the criminal justice
system. Critical thinking, reflective decision-making and collaboration will
be emphasized. (4 credits; alternate years, consult department)
CRJ 310 - Criminology
This course is a survey of the field of criminology. It examines the nature,
location, and impact of crime in the United States by exploring a broad
range of issues related to criminology. Topics include the theoretical
underpinnings of criminality, how we measure criminal acts, the development
of criminal careers, the various typologies of offenders and victims, and a
critical analysis of public policies concerning crime control in society. (4
credits; alternate years, consult department)
CRJ 340 - Research Methods
Evidence-based reasoning is central to professional leadership, public life,
and everyday decision-making. This course trains students to design,
analyze, and evaluate quantitative research. Students develop these skills
by using survey and statistical software to carry out hands-on projects that
matter to them and their community. (4 credits, alternate years, consult
department)
CRJ 410 - Restorative Justice
This course focuses on restorative conceptions of justice related to the
criminal justice system. It places justice in the context of social health
rather than only in relation to punishment or criminality. Prominent is the
concept of restoring social rights and order threatened by harm to victims,
society, and offender. A key goal of restorative justice is to repair harm
and restore relationships broken by crime and other wrongdoings. It also
recognizes the perspective of the survivors of various crimes and seeks to
bring about healing through attempted reconciliation. Crucial conversations
are core to the change process through both victim offender dialogue and
motivational interviewing. (4 credits; alternate years, consult department)
CRJ 417 - Internship
(4 credits may apply toward the major)
CRJ 450SR - Justice as a Skill and Commitment
This course is the senior capstone to a student's entire Northwestern
education. The course challenges students to thoughtfully reflect on and
integrate their education in their major and across the curriculum with
their personal, intellectual, spiritual, and vocational life. In particular,
the class will consider the challenge of determining what it means to pursue
justice in one's life and vocation. Through reading, discussing, writing,
oral presentations, and a capstone research project students will address
the questions: Who have I become? To whom and I responsible? How will we
live in the world? (4 credits)
Cognate requirements
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 - Introduction 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)
