Criminal Justice Schools Lead to a Fulfilling Future

Criminal Justice Schools: Course Content

A typical course of study for those aiming for a career in law enforcement is a bachelor's degree at one of the many accredited criminal justice schools across the country.

Here is a sampling of courses offered in bachelor degree programs that will prepare you for a career in the field of criminal justice, law enforcement or corrections.

A Bachelor's Degree at the Best Criminal Justice Schools

Each school is unique, but to earn a bachelor's degree at most criminal justice schools, you'll generally need to take mandatory liberal arts classes that include English, math, and often a foreign language. This ensures that when you finish your criminal justice degree, you'll have the same well-rounded education as other undergraduate students.

You'll also need to complete courses in your criminal justice major: both core courses and electives.

All criminal justice schools require you to take an introductory course in criminal justice that provides students with a general understanding of law, crime and the criminal justice system. In it, you'll discuss crime causation and the responses of the criminal justice system to those who break the law.

The following are examples of popular criminal justice core courses:

• Punishment and Corrections looks at the theories of punishment and the rehabilitation of offenders. Topics covered include mandatory sentencing laws, offender education programs, drug treatment programs and probation.
• Theories of Crime is a study of the historical, sociological, biological, psychological and economic theories of crime causation.
• Crime Analysis examines the methods used to analyze crime data, including crime patterns, crime rates, the physical description of victims and offenders, and recidivism (behaviors of repeat offenders).
• Criminal Law and Reasoning presents the basic concepts of criminal law, including the legal elements of crime and evidence, defenses and mitigation, and reasonable doubt, with an emphasis on the application of logical reasoning in making legal decisions.

Not all criminal justice schools have the same core courses, so make sure you research criminal justice course options before deciding which criminal justice school is best for you.

Criminal Justice Schools: Elective Courses

While certain core courses are required for all criminal justice students, you'll have more flexibility in your choice of electives. When you study criminal justice, you'll naturally be more interested in some subjects than others. It's in your choice of electives that you'll follow your own interests and study what you like most. Although all criminal justice schools may offer different electives, the following list is representative of some of the most popular courses.

• Prisoner Rehabilitation is another elective offered in criminal justice schools, and is popular with people who want to work in corrections or probation. In it, you'll study the foundations of correctional intervention, including the major theories and techniques of effective treatment programs for criminals.
• Juvenile Justice is another popular elective. Topics covered include theories of delinquency, drug abuse, school violence, mistreated children, problems with the incarceration of juveniles, race and gender issues and the prevention of juvenile delinquency.
• White Collar Crime has been in the news lately so this has become another attractive elective. In it, you'll learn about corporate, political and organized crime, including the nature of elite deviance and how it relates to crime and power. You'll study white-collar crime from a number of different perspectives: criminology, sociology, political science and economics.

There are many other courses offered at criminal justice schools. For a more complete course listing, see our criminal justice syllabus.

Choose From the Best Criminal Justice Schools

Between your required courses and electives, you'll get a well-rounded education at many high-quality criminal justice schools. Your first job is to find the school that best meets your needs.

For more information on courses offered at any particular school, contact the criminal justice schools that interest you to request more information.

Your career in criminal justice is just a click away!

Source: online.ccj.pdx.edu/criminal-justice-curriculum

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