Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice
The criminal justice undergraduate program at South provides a broad exposure to the core aspects of the criminal justice system, including law enforcement, courts and corrections. Criminal justice majors can choose to take courses on South’s main campus, at the Baldwin County campus or fully online.
Why Criminal Justice at South?
South offers a variety of elective courses and internships in criminal justice with local, state and federal agencies. Students gain strong analytical and critical thinking skills that prepare them well for careers in criminal justice, including jobs in law enforcement, probation, parole and victim services. Criminal justice alumni are also prepared for graduate programs, including law school.
At South, you’ll discover an exceptional classroom experience supporting a number of career options in criminal justice, and many campus organizations and activities to join. Our program offers a variety learning experiences to help prepare students for their careers, with courses led by award winning faculty who have been recognized for their teaching, advising, service, and research. The critical thinking, writing, and analytical skills our programs provide have prepared our graduates well for work in fields that have included law enforcement; education; government; law; corrections; public policy; business; NGOs and non-profits; and more.
The department has a long history of both student internships and community engagement, as the city of Mobile is home to the field offices of multiple law enforcement agencies (federal, state, and local), a jail, a juvenile detention center, a county courthouse, a federal district courthouse, and multiple victim service agencies. Our active Criminal Justice Association provides social and educational opportunities for students within our department, and students are encouraged to join the Alpha Phi Sigma honors society.
| Course | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| CJ 105 Introduction to Criminal Justice | 3 hours |
| PSC 130 Introduction to U.S. Government | 3 hours |
| CJ 210 Policing and Society | 3 hours |
| CJ 215 Correctional Policies and Procedures | 3 hours |
| CJ 310 or PSC 310 (W) Research Methods | 3 hours |
| CJ 330 or PSC 330 Judicial Process | 3 hours |
| CJ 360 Theories of Offending | 3 hours |
| CJ 492 (W) Capstone Seminar in Criminal Justice | 3 hours |
| 300/400 Level CJ Electives | 15 hours |
| Total Credit Hours for the CJ Major | 39 hours |
| Course | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| CJ 105 Introduction to Criminal Justice | 3 hours |
| 200/300/400 Level CJ electives | 6 hours |
| 300/400 Level CJ electives | 9 hours |
| Total Credit Hours for the CJ Minor | 18 hours |
| Elective |
|---|
| CJ 105 is a prerequisite for most other Criminal Justice courses, and a grade of C or better in CJ 105 is required. |
| CJ 321 Public and Private Security |
| CJ/PSC/PHL 331 Constitutional Law |
| CJ/PSC 332 Criminal Law |