Public Affairs & Community Service Criminology & Criminal Justice
Description
The School of Criminology and Criminal Justice (SCCJ) is a nationally recognized leader in the scientific study of the causes of crime and criminal justice system responses. The school provides its students with the foundation for entering many diversified criminal justice related careers in corrections, courts and law, juvenile services, law enforcement, private security, and victim services. The curriculum is composed of a broad range of courses in corrections, courts, criminology, diversity, deviant behavior and violence, juvenile delinquency, law, law enforcement, research methods, victimology and various special topics. Through the SCCJ internship program, students can obtain valuable work experience within various criminal justice agencies.
Although the bachelor of science in criminology and criminal justice degree can be earned entirely on the Lincoln campus, the degree is granted by the University of Nebraska at Omaha. The Bachelor of Science in Criminology and Criminal Justice (BCCJ) degree requires the completion of 120 credit hours with a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0. Core major requirements are guided by a series of student learning outcomes.
Criminology and Criminal Justice Student Learning Outcomes
- Demonstrate mastery of core areas in criminology and criminal justice.
- Locate, integrate and use information from varied sources to effectively communicate in writing and other mediums.
- Apply specialized knowledge through field-based learning experiences, civic and/or community engagement activities, and/or policy analysis.
- Explain diverse positions, including those representing different cultural, economic, and geographic interests in the context of criminology and criminal justice.
Degree at a Glance
Requirements for the Bachelor of Science in Criminology and Criminal Justice (120 Hours)
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Requirements | 40 | |
| English Composition | 9 | |
| Social Science | 9 | |
| Natural Science | 7 | |
| Humanities and Fine Arts | 12 | |
| Statistics | 3 | |
| Major Requirements | 40 | |
| Minor | 12-18 | |
| Electives | 22-28 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 120 | |
Admission
Major/College Admission
Students who have been admitted to the University may apply for entrance to the College of Public Affairs and Community Service (CPACS) as a criminology and criminal justice major by indicating their preference in the appropriate place on the University Application for Admission form.
Students who wish to transfer into the criminology and criminal justice major from one of the schools or colleges within the University or from another institution must have a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0.
Admission Deficiencies
Students with high school admission deficiencies who have been admitted to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln may enter the College of Public Affairs and Community Service as a criminology and criminal justice major. A college course may fulfill a high school deficiency and may also apply toward a degree in the College.
Transfer Students Declaring Criminology and Criminal Justice
Students wishing to transfer from another institution or department within the University of Nebraska must have a 2.0 cumulative grade point average to declare a criminology and criminal justice major. Students wishing to transfer are encouraged to contact an SCCJ advisor for more details on the transfer policy.
The policies set out above are intended to apply to all students who seek admission to the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice. For good cause shown, the school has the discretion to make exceptions to the admission policy.
Other College Requirements
Acceptability of credits
The student should refer all questions concerning the acceptability of credits earned in programs such as Cooperative Education and Credit by Examination to the department in which enrolled. Credit earned in courses below the 100 level may not be applied toward the degree offered by the College of Public Affairs and Community Service.
Prerequisite Courses
Completion of a course within the major with a grade below a C- will not be considered as having fulfilled prerequisite requirements for additional courses taken in the major field of study.
Grade Appeals Procedure
Students who wish to appeal a grade that they feel was capriciously or prejudicially given shall first discuss the matter with the instructor within 30 days of the final course grade being posted. If the matter is not resolved, the student must meet with the department/school chairperson. If a satisfactory agreement cannot be reached, the student must appeal in writing to the department/school curriculum committee. If a satisfactory agreement cannot be reached, the student may submit a written appeal to the Office of the Dean within 20 working days of the exhaustion of the departmental procedures.
The Committee on Academic Standards and Curriculum for the College of Public Affairs and Community Service is the official body for handling the appeal.
In the event that the instructor is unavailable to handle a grade complaint, the student will meet with the school director and the dean to determine the most appropriate course of action agreeable to all parties.
Copies of the CPACS Procedures for Student Grades and Suspension Appeals are available from the chair of the Committee on Academic Standards and Curriculum for the College and the Office of the Dean.
Graduation Requirements
Degree Audit and Application for Degree
Students are expected to develop a clear understanding of degree requirements and to plan their course of study with a College advisor. Students requiring clarification of outstanding degree requirements should visit with a College advisor promptly.
Students should access their Degree Audit via MyRED at least once each term to review degree requirements and progress toward graduation. It is the student’s responsibility to make sure their Degree Audit accurately reflects their current College and program of study.
Students who believe their Degree Audit has errors or omissions should visit with a College advisor promptly. It is important that you resolve these matters as soon as practicable to avoid a delay in graduation.
Each student with MyRED access must submit an online Application for Graduation via MyRED for each degree to be received by:
- The fourth Friday in January for May graduation
- The second Friday in June for August graduation
- The second Friday in September for December graduation
Students submitting an electronic Application for Graduation via MyRED will be billed a $25.00 per degree fee on their student account. Those students without MyRED access may apply for graduation in person at Husker Hub in the Canfield Administration Building, or by mail. Applications for Graduation submitted in person or by mail must be accompanied by a check or money order in the amount of $25.00 payable to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. Failure to submit a timely Application for Graduation may preclude the awarding of a degree in the intended term.
Your Application for Graduation and required $25.00 fee are good only for the term marked on your application. Neither your application nor your fee are transferrable to another term. If you submit an Application for Graduation and pay the $25.00 fee for a specified term but do not complete your degree requirements in that term, you will need to reapply to graduate in a future term and incur another $25.00 fee.
Commencement ceremony information will be emailed to all degree applicants approximately one month before graduation. Each student who has applied for graduation must submit an online Commencement Attendance Form via MyRED, which will be available when the informational email is distributed.
Only those students who have applied for graduation, had the application accepted, and fulfilled all degree requirements as of the last day of the academic term may participate in the commencement ceremony for that term. Because the University of Nebraska–Lincoln has a commencement for each term, ceremony participation is allowed only in the term during which the student has properly and timely applied for graduation and fulfilled degree requirements.
College Requirements
College Admission
The entrance requirements for the College of Public Affairs and Community Service, including any of the majors or minors offered through the college, are the same as the University of Nebraska–Lincoln General Admission Requirements. Students who have been admitted to the University may apply for entrance to the College of Public Affairs and Community Service during initial registration by indicating their preference in the appropriate place on the University Application for Admission form.
Students who wish to readmit or transfer into the College from another institution or another program within the University should refer to the individual school/department requirements to declare their intended major.
Admission Deficiencies
Students with high school admission deficiencies that have been admitted to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln may enter the College of Public Affairs and Community Service. A college course may fulfill a high school deficiency and may also apply toward a degree in the College.
College Degree Requirements
Achievement-Centered Education (ACE)
All students completing their degree on the Lincoln campus must fulfill the Achievement-Centered Education (ACE) requirements. The 30-hour ACE requirement will include a minimum of 3 hours of approved coursework in each of the 10 designated Achievement-Centered Education (ACE) student learning outcome areas, which can be viewed at ace.unl.edu. Students will be provided a list of courses they can select from to meet each of the 10 ACE Student Learning Outcomes.
Experiential Learning Requirement
All undergraduates in the College of Public Affairs and Community Service must complete an Experiential Learning (EL) designated course. This may include 0-credit courses designed to document co-curricular activities recognized as Experiential Learning.
Foreign Languages/Language Requirement
Students in the College of Public Affairs and Community Service who have completed the University of Nebraska high school admission requirement of two years in the same language will not be required to complete additional language for their degree.
Minimum Hours Required for Graduation
Each candidate must present a total of at least 120 semester hours of college credit to meet graduation requirements.
Grade Rules
C- and D Grades
A minimum grade of at least C- must be earned in all required courses within the major, unless a higher grade is designated by the department/school. Completion of a course within the major with a grade below a C- will not be considered as having fulfilled prerequisite requirements for additional courses taken in the major field of study. A higher grade may be designated by the department/school.
Pass/No Pass Limits
See individual school/department limitations regarding Pass/No Pass.
GPA Requirements
Each candidate for the degree must attain a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0. A minimum grade of at least C- must be earned in all required courses within the major, unless a higher grade is designated by the department/school. All grades reported by the faculty to the registrar become a part of the student’s permanent record and are included in the computation of the grade point average, even though some of these grades may be for work done in excess of the 120 hours required for graduation.
Transfer Credit Rules
The transfer of D grades in non-major courses are accepted only from within the University of Nebraska system. Students from other institutions must present a grade of C- or above for all coursework.
Generally, hours earned at an accredited college are accepted by the University; however, the college will evaluate all hours submitted for transfer to determine applicability toward the degree. A maximum of 64 hours may be transferred from a two-year college and a maximum of 90 hours from a four-year institution.
Course Level Requirements (Hour Requirement 300+)
Individual departments/schools should be consulted for the minimum number of upper-division hours required.
Residency
At least 30 of the last 36 credit hours needed for a degree must be completed at UNO or UNL.
Independent Study and Internship Rules
Individual schools/departments should be consulted for rules regarding independent study and internship credit applicable to majors or minors.
Catalog to Use
Choice of Catalog Policy
A student registering in the College of Public Affairs and Community Service for the first time may, except for limitations described below, complete work for the degree according to one of these requirements:
- The catalog in effect the year the student enters CPACS.
- The catalog current at the time the student applies for the degree.
Students entering the College for the first time in the summer will be subject to the catalog for the academic year immediately following.
Students formerly in a CPACS program who dropped out of the College for one year complete requirements of the catalog current at the time of readmission.
Failure to complete the requirements for the degree within seven years after the date the student first enters the College will subject the student to graduation under the requirements of a later catalog to be approved by the Dean.
The College reserves the right to institute and make effective, after due notice and during the course of a student’s work toward a degree, any new ruling which may be necessary for the general good of the College and to substitute courses currently offered for those no longer offered.
Major Requirements
Criminology and criminal justice majors must complete CRIM 101, CRIM 251, 6-9 hours of CRIM 203, CRIM 211, CRIM 221, CRIM 222, and 6 hours of ENGL 150, ENGL 151, ENGL 254 within their first 45 credit hours. A minimum of C- is required for criminology and criminal justice courses.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Requirements | ||
| English Composition (9 hours) | ||
| Select 3 hours from the following (fulfills ACE 1): | 3 | |
| Writing and Inquiry | ||
| Writing for Change | ||
| Writing and Communities | ||
| Select at least 3 hours at the 200 level or above from the following: | 3 | |
| Writing and Communities | ||
| Writing: Uses of Literacy | ||
CRIM 310 | ||
| Select 3 hours of an additional course from the following: | 3 | |
| Writing and Inquiry | ||
| Writing for Change | ||
| Writing and Communities | ||
| Writing: Uses of Literacy | ||
CRIM 310 | ||
| Acceptable alternatives must be approved by the student's advisor. | ||
| Social Science (9 hours) 1 | ||
| Complete 9 credit hours representing at least two disciplines. Select from nonphysical anthropology (ANTH), economics (ECON), gerontology (GERO), history (HIST), nonphysical geography (GEOG), political science (POLS), psychology (PSYC), sociology (SOCI), social work (SOCW), or selected courses from the following: | 9 | |
| Human Development and the Family | ||
| Family Science | ||
| Dating and Couple Relationships | ||
| Fundamentals of Child Development for Education | ||
| Fundamentals of Adolescent Development for Education | ||
| Child Psychology | ||
| Psychology of Adolescence | ||
| Introduction to Applied Behavior Analysis | ||
| Introduction to Ethnic Studies | ||
| Introduction to African American Studies | ||
| Introduction to Indigenous Studies | ||
| Introduction to Latinx Studies | ||
| Introduction to Africa | ||
| Introduction to Women's and Gender Studies | ||
| Natural Sciences (7 hours) 2 | ||
| Complete seven credit hours representing at least two disciplines. | ||
| Select one ACE 4 natural science with lab course from the following: | 4 | |
| Introduction to Biological Anthropology and Introduction to Biological Anthropology Laboratory | ||
| General Biology and General Biology Laboratory | ||
| Insect Biology and Insect Identification | ||
| Chemistry in Context I and Chemistry in Context I Laboratory | ||
| General Chemistry I and General Chemistry I Laboratory | ||
| Fundamental Chemistry I and Fundamental Chemistry I Laboratory | ||
| Insect Biology and Insect Identification | ||
| Elements of Physical Geography | ||
| Dynamic Earth | ||
| Fundamentals of Biology I and Fundamentals of Biology I laboratory | ||
| Fundamentals of Biology II and Fundamentals of Biology II Laboratory | ||
| Weather and Climate | ||
| Physics for Life Sciences I | ||
| Plant Science and Agronomic Plant Science Laboratory | ||
| Select an additional natural science course from the following disciplines: astronomy (ASTR), biological sciences (BIOS), chemistry (CHEM), computer science (CSCE), entomology (ENTO), geology (GEOL), meteorology (METR), physics (PHYS), or selected courses from the following: | 3 | |
| Biotechnology: Food, Health and Environment | ||
| Introduction to Archaeology | ||
| Energy in Perspective | ||
| Introduction to Energy Systems | ||
| Science, Systems, Environment and Sustainability | ||
| Introduction to Forensic Science | ||
| Introduction to Forensic Science Laboratory | ||
| The Science of Food | ||
| Plants, Landscapes, & the Environment | ||
| Fantastic Fungi - The Fatal and the Friendly | ||
| Brain & Behavior | ||
| Humanities and Fine Arts (12 hours) | ||
| Complete nine credit hours representing at least two disciplines from the following: | ||
| Select one 3-hour course from ACE 5 | 3 | |
| Select one 3-hour course from ACE 7 | 3 | |
| Select an additional course from art and art history (AHIS, CERM, DRAW, GRPH, PANT, PHOT, PRNT, SCLP, WATC), classics (CLAS, GREK, HEBR, LATN), communication (COMM), dance (DANC), English literature (ENGL), foreign languages (ARAB, CZEC, FREN, GERM, JAPN, RUSS, SPAN), journalism (ADPR, JGEN, JOMC, JOUR, SPMC) music (MUAP, MUCP, MUDC, MUEN, MUNM, MUSC), philosophy (PHIL), religion (RELG), or theatre (THEA). 3 | 3 | |
| Select one of the following (fulfills ACE 2): | 3 | |
| Communication in the 21st Century | ||
| Public Speaking | ||
| Business and Professional Communication | ||
| Statistics (3 hours) | ||
| Select only one of the following (fulfills ACE 3): 4 | 3 | |
| Applied Statistics and Data Processing in the Public Sector (recommended) | ||
| Statistical Methods | ||
| Statistics | ||
| Introduction to Social Statistics | ||
| Introduction to Statistics | ||
| Credit Hours Subtotal: | 40 | |
| Specific Major Requirements | ||
| Criminology and Criminal Justice Requirements | ||
| Complete 12-18 hours of lower-level criminology and criminal justice courses and 45 credit hours prior to enrolling in upper-division courses. | ||
| Criminology and Criminal Justice Core | ||
| CRIM 101 | Survey of Criminal Justice (fulfills ACE 6 requirement) | 3 |
| CRIM 241 | Criminal Procedure | 3 |
| CRIM 251 | Research Methods | 3 |
| Criminology and Criminal Justice (200 Level) | ||
| Select at least 6 hours from the following: | 6 | |
| Police and Society | ||
| The Criminal Court System | ||
| Survey of Corrections | ||
| Community-Based Corrections | ||
| Criminology and Criminal Justice (Upper Level) | ||
| Complete at least 21 hours of upper-division (300/400 level) courses including: | 21 | |
| Criminology | ||
| Race, Ethnicity and Criminal Justice (fulfills ACE 9 requirement) | ||
| Select 3 hours from the following: | ||
| Women, Crime and Justice | ||
| International Criminology and Criminal Justice | ||
| Terrorism | ||
| Include one ACE 10 course in the major. Internship is recommended. 5 | ||
| Internship in Criminal Justice | ||
or CRIM 496 | Issues in Crime and Justice | |
| Criminology and Criminal Justice Elective | ||
| Select an additional 3 hours from the following or another CRIM course at the 300/400 level: | 3 | |
| Police and Society | ||
| The Criminal Court System | ||
| Survey of Corrections | ||
| Community-Based Corrections | ||
| Criminology and Criminal Justice Senior Assessment | ||
| Students must register for and complete the senior assessment in the semester they plan to graduate. This course does not count toward the 21 Upper Level Course Requirement. | ||
| CRIM 499A | Applied Senior Assessment | 1 |
| Credit Hours Subtotal: | 40 | |
| Minor Requirement (12-18 hours) | ||
| Explore secondary area(s) of interest early in your program and meet with a CRCJ academic advisor to select and declare a minor (a second major or degree may complete this requirement). Consult with an academic advisor to discuss specific guidelines for an area of study in ROTC to fulfill the minor requirement. | 12-18 | |
| ROTC Area of Study | ||
| Complete 18 hours from AERO, NAVS, or MLSC. At least 12 hours must be completed at the 300/400 level. | ||
| Credit Hours Subtotal: | 18 | |
| Electives (22-28 hours) | ||
| Students may select electives in consultation with their advisor. Elective courses may include criminology and criminal justice courses. | 22-28 | |
| Credit Hours Subtotal: | 22 | |
| ACE 8 | ||
| Students must include an ACE 8 course (Ethical Principles, Civics and Stewardship) somewhere within the program. | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 120 | |
- 1
The following courses will not count: ANTH 232, ANTH 242, ANTH 242L, ECON 215, GEOG 155, GEOG 281, GEOG 308, GEOG 408, GEOG 450, GEOG 467, CASC 150, PSYC 100, PSYC 273, SOCI 205, SOCI 206
- 2
The following course will not count: BIOS 99 Assessment of the Major
- 3
The following courses will not count: ENGL 140, ENGL 141, ENGL 142, ENGL 144, ENGL 145, ENGL 146, ENGL 150, ENGL 151, ENGL 170, ENGL 186, ENGL 187, ENGL 188, ENGL 252, ENGL 254, ENGL 354.
- 4
Only one of these basic statistics courses may apply to the degree. CRIM 300 will not apply toward the 40 hours of CRCJ in the major area. A complete list of antirequisites can be found on the Academic Policies and Procedures page.
- 5
Criminal Justice Internships are coordinated by the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice. Participation in the internship requires a CRCJ major or CRCJ minor, 75 earned hours and a GPA of 2.5.
Additional Major Requirements
Achievement-Centered Education (ACE)
Criminology and criminal justice students on the University of Nebraska–Lincoln campus must fulfill the Achievement-Centered Education (ACE) requirements. The 30-hour ACE requirement will include a minimum of 3 hours of approved coursework in each of the 10 designated Achievement-Centered Education (ACE) Student Learning Outcome areas which can be viewed at http://ace.unl.edu. Students will be provided a list of courses they can select from to meet each of the 10 ACE Student Learning Outcomes.
ACE requirements may be completed within the BSCCJ degree requirements. Students should work with their advisor to carefully review ACE options that will fulfill both degree requirements as well as their ACE requirements.
Other Restrictions/Rules
- The BSCCJ degree requires the completion of 120 semester hours of credit. A minimum of 30 of the last 36 credit hours must be earned by the student within the University of Nebraska system.
- At least 21 hours of criminology and criminal justice must be taken at the University of Nebraska.
- A maximum of 15 hours of military credit for coursework presented through the Joint Services Transcript (JST) is applicable to the BSCCJ degree.
Grade Rules
C- and D Grades
A minimum grade of C- is required in criminology and criminal justice courses used as part of the 40-hour major requirement.
Pass/No Pass
A maximum of 24 hours may be taken Pass/No Pass. None of the 40 hours required for the criminology and criminal justice major may be taken Pass/No Pass (with the exception of CRIM 397, CRIM 398, and CRIM 499A).
Independent Study and Internship Credit Rules
No more than 6 hours of CRIM 397 and CRIM 398 combined and no more than 6 hours of CRIM 495 may be applied toward the BSCCJ degree. A maximum of 12 credit hours of departmental independent study or internship courses may apply. (Transfer courses will be evaluated on an individual basis by the Academic Advisor).
Requirements for Minors Offered by Department
Criminology and Criminal Justice Minor
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CRIM 101 | Survey of Criminal Justice | 3 |
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| Police and Society | ||
| The Criminal Court System | ||
| Survey of Corrections | ||
| Community-Based Corrections | ||
| Select three upper-level (300/400) CRCJ courses 1 | 9 | |
- 1
CRIM 300 is excluded.
Grade Rules
An overall C average in courses applied to the minor is required and all courses must be taken for a letter grade (with the exception of CRIM 397 Internship in Criminal Justice). In addition, all 9 credit hours of upper-division CRCJ coursework must be taken at the University of Nebraska.
Description: The justice process and the criminal justice system in general. Concepts of crime, deviance and justice, and general theories of crime causality. Individual rights in a democratic society and the legal definitions of various crimes. Law enforcement, judicial, juvenile justice and corrections subsystems explored and a number of reform proposals presented.
This course is a prerequisite for: CRIM 203; CRIM 211; CRIM 221; CRIM 222; CRIM 241; CRIM 251; CRIM 301; CRIM 331; CRIM 335; CRIM 337; CRIM 338; CRIM 339; CRIM 400; CRIM 403; CRIM 406; CRIM 413; CRIM 421; CRIM 440; CRIM 441; CRIM 442; CRIM 443; CRIM 444; CRIM 450; CRIM 451; CRIM 453; CRIM 454; CRIM 455; CRIM 456; CRIM 474; CRIM 475; CRIM 476; CRIM 477; CRIM 478; CRIM 480; CRIM 496
| Credit Hours: | 3 |
|---|---|
| Max credits per semester: | 3 |
| Max credits per degree: | 3 |
| Grading Option: | Graded with Option |
| ACE Outcomes: | ACE 6 Social Science |
Credit Hours:3
ACE:ACE 6 Social Science
Prerequisites: CRIM 101.
Description: The role of the police in American society. Origins of policing, the nature of police organizations and police work, and patterns of relations between the police and the public.
| Credit Hours: | 3 |
|---|---|
| Max credits per semester: | 3 |
| Max credits per degree: | 3 |
| Grading Option: | Graded with Option |
Credit Hours:3
ACE:
Prerequisites: CRIM 101.
Description: Analysis of the structure and function of the criminal court system in the United States, including the roles of prosecutor, defender, judge, jury, and court administrator. Issues confronting the system considered from historical, philosophical, sociological, and psychological perspectives. Ideals of the system compared with actual functioning and court reform proposals.
| Credit Hours: | 3 |
|---|---|
| Max credits per semester: | 3 |
| Max credits per degree: | 3 |
| Grading Option: | Graded with Option |
Credit Hours:3
ACE:
Prerequisites: CRIM 101.
Description: History and evolution of the corrections process. Covers all aspects of institutional and community-based corrections.
| Credit Hours: | 3 |
|---|---|
| Max credits per semester: | 3 |
| Max credits per degree: | 3 |
| Grading Option: | Graded with Option |
Credit Hours:3
ACE:
Prerequisites: CRIM 101
Designed to familiarize the student with the most recent developments in community-based corrections.
Description: Discussion will focus on the issues related to implementation, management, effectiveness and challenges of community-based programs. Provides a broad overview of the structure and functions of Community-based Corrections. By the end, expect to understand the best practices in community corrections.
| Credit Hours: | 3 |
|---|---|
| Max credits per semester: | 3 |
| Max credits per degree: | 3 |
| Grading Option: | Graded with Option |
Credit Hours:3
ACE:
Prerequisites: CRIM 101
Description: Deals with the legal aspects of the investigation and arrest processes as well as the rules governing the admissibility of evidence in court.
| Credit Hours: | 3 |
|---|---|
| Max credits per semester: | 3 |
| Max credits per degree: | 3 |
| Grading Option: | Graded with Option |
| Offered: | FALL/SPR |
Credit Hours:3
ACE:
Prerequisites: CRIM 101.
Description: Introduction to the principles, methods and techniques of empirical social research.
| Credit Hours: | 3 |
|---|---|
| Max credits per semester: | 3 |
| Max credits per degree: | 3 |
| Grading Option: | Graded with Option |
Credit Hours:3
ACE:
Prerequisites: Math placement into MATH 101 or ACT Math sub score of 19 or above within the last two years
Credit toward the degree may be earned in only one of: CRIM 300 or ECON 215 or EDPS 459 or SOCI 206 or STAT 218.
Description: Basic statistics of public sector research and public administration decision making. Data processing techniques as they relate to statistical analysis and on understanding the proper application of statistics.
This course is a prerequisite for: BLAW 371H; ECON 417; FINA 361H; SCMA 250; SCMA 331; SCMA 350; SCMA 350H; SOCI 333
| Credit Hours: | 3 |
|---|---|
| Max credits per semester: | 3 |
| Max credits per degree: | 3 |
| Grading Option: | Graded with Option |
| ACE Outcomes: | ACE 3 Math/Stat/Reasoning |
Credit Hours:3
ACE:ACE 3 Math/Stat/Reasoning
Description: Philosophical examination of justice and its administration. Provides the student with a richer understanding of the conceptual foundations of justice.
| Credit Hours: | 3 |
|---|---|
| Max credits per semester: | 3 |
| Max credits per degree: | 3 |
| Grading Option: | Graded with Option |
Credit Hours:3
ACE:
Description: The means by which society attempts to use criminal law to prevent harm to society. Acts which are declared criminal and the punishment prescribed for committing those acts. Philosophies and rationales that have shaped current day substantive criminal law. English Common Law and the historic evolution of substantive criminal law from its early origins.
| Credit Hours: | 3 |
|---|---|
| Max credits per semester: | 3 |
| Max credits per degree: | 3 |
| Grading Option: | Graded with Option |
Credit Hours:3
ACE:
Description: General survey of the nature of causes of crime and efforts of the criminal justice system to predict, prevent, modify, and correct this behavior.
| Credit Hours: | 3 |
|---|---|
| Max credits per semester: | 3 |
| Max credits per degree: | 3 |
| Grading Option: | Graded with Option |
Credit Hours:3
ACE:
Description: How delinquents and juveniles in need of supervision are handled within the juvenile justice system. The nature and extent of delinquent behavior status offenses, child abuse and neglect; theories of delinquency and their implications for intervention; cultural and social factors related to delinquency; as well as the philosophy by and functioning of the juvenile justice system.
| Credit Hours: | 3 |
|---|---|
| Max credits per semester: | 3 |
| Max credits per degree: | 3 |
| Grading Option: | Graded with Option |
Credit Hours:3
ACE:
Description: Survey of minority groups and criminal justice in the United States. Racial minorities as victims of crime, as offenders, as defendants, and as criminal justice professionals.
| Credit Hours: | 3 |
|---|---|
| Max credits per semester: | 3 |
| Max credits per degree: | 3 |
| Grading Option: | Graded with Option |
| ACE Outcomes: | ACE 9 Global/Diversity |
Credit Hours:3
ACE:ACE 9 Global/Diversity
Description: Women's experiences as victims of crime, as offenders, as defendants, and as criminal justice professionals.
| Credit Hours: | 3 |
|---|---|
| Max credits per semester: | 3 |
| Max credits per degree: | 3 |
| Grading Option: | Graded with Option |
Credit Hours:3
ACE:
Prerequisites: CRCJ major or CRCJ minor, 75 credit hours completed, GPA of 2.5 and instructor permission.
May be repeated to a maximum of 6 hours.
Description: Job-related experience in a criminal justice agency and permission to enroll must be received from the student's adviser each semester.
| Credit Hours: | 3 |
|---|---|
| Max credits per semester: | 3 |
| Max credits per degree: | 6 |
| Grading Option: | Pass No Pass |
| ACE Outcomes: | ACE 10 Integrated Product |
| Experiential Learning: | Internship/Co-op |
Credit Hours:3
ACE:ACE 10 Integrated Product
Prerequisites: CRIM major or minor, 75 credit hours completed, minimum overall GPA of 3.0 or higher and a GPA of 3.25 in the major, and instructor permission
Description: Provides advanced majors and minors with experience conducting research in the field of criminology and criminal justice. Students will work under the supervision of a faculty member to complete research tasks that integrate learning with service. Tasks may include reviewing relevant literature, instrument development, data collection, data entry/cleaning, data analysis, codebook development, presentation of findings.
| Credit Hours: | 3 |
|---|---|
| Max credits per semester: | 3 |
| Max credits per degree: | 6 |
| Grading Option: | Pass No Pass |
| ACE Outcomes: | ACE 10 Integrated Product |
| Experiential Learning: | Research |
Credit Hours:3
ACE:ACE 10 Integrated Product
Description: Focuses on the intersection of individuals with mental health, substance abuse, and/or severe & persistent mental illness diagnoses and the criminal justice system. Examine how individuals become involved in the criminal justice system and how the criminal justice system and other social services respond to their involvement.
| Credit Hours: | 3 |
|---|---|
| Max credits per semester: | 3 |
| Max credits per degree: | 3 |
| Grading Option: | Graded with Option |
Credit Hours:3
ACE:
Description: Contemporary concepts, principles, and theories of organization and administration as they relate to criminal justice agencies. Historical development and modern practices of public policy.
| Credit Hours: | 3 |
|---|---|
| Max credits per semester: | 3 |
| Max credits per degree: | 3 |
| Grading Option: | Graded with Option |
Credit Hours:3
ACE:
Description: Examines ethical issues that arise in the three major areas of criminal justice: police, courts, and corrections. General philosophical theories of ethics as well as Codes of Ethics that operate to control the institutional and personal behavior of police, courts and correctional systems.
| Credit Hours: | 3 |
|---|---|
| Max credits per semester: | 3 |
| Max credits per degree: | 3 |
| Grading Option: | Graded with Option |
Credit Hours:3
ACE:
Description: Investigates the etiology of many forms of norm-violating conduct. Rule-breaking behavior as defined by the criminal statutes.
| Credit Hours: | 3 |
|---|---|
| Max credits per semester: | 3 |
| Max credits per degree: | 3 |
| Grading Option: | Graded with Option |
Credit Hours:3
ACE:
Description: In-depth analysis of the history and operation of prisons and jails in the United States and other countries. Management and operation of prisons and jails from the perspective of both employees and incarcerated persons.
| Credit Hours: | 3 |
|---|---|
| Max credits per semester: | 3 |
| Max credits per degree: | 3 |
| Grading Option: | Graded with Option |
Credit Hours:3
ACE:
Description: Examines the criminal justice system response to domestic violence/intimate partner violence. A focus on the interactions between battered victims and components of the criminal justice system, as well as the role of the community in addressing and preventing this violence serves as the foundation for this course. Insight into factors contributing to the incidence of intimate partner violence, explore the background/history of domestic violence.
| Credit Hours: | 3 |
|---|---|
| Max credits per semester: | 3 |
| Max credits per degree: | 3 |
| Grading Option: | Graded with Option |
Credit Hours:3
ACE:
Description: Provides an introduction to the topics and issues that are pertinent to the study of victimology. Prevalence, predictors, and consequences of various forms of victimization, including child abuse, intimate partner violence, rape and sexual assault, stalking, and homicide over the life-course. Examines the nature of criminal justice victimization data, and the issues related to the measurement and costs of victimization.
| Credit Hours: | 3 |
|---|---|
| Max credits per semester: | 3 |
| Max credits per degree: | 3 |
| Grading Option: | Graded with Option |
Credit Hours:3
ACE:
Description: Addresses issues related to child abuse and neglect investigation, intervention and prevention efforts facilitated through criminal justice system processes. Discusses the history of child maltreatment, definitional challenges, statistical trends, physical and behavioral indicators, mandatory reporting, investigative processes, intervention strategies and prevention efforts.
| Credit Hours: | 3 |
|---|---|
| Max credits per semester: | 3 |
| Max credits per degree: | 3 |
| Grading Option: | Graded with Option |
Credit Hours:3
ACE:
Description: A systematic introduction to the study of human trafficking. Learn about what constitutes human trafficking, theories of victimization as they apply to trafficking, debates about the language and definitions surrounding sex trafficking and prostitution. Discuss the prevalence, predictors, and consequences of various forms of trafficking and critically assess efforts related to measurement, intervention, and prevision.
| Credit Hours: | 3 |
|---|---|
| Max credits per semester: | 3 |
| Max credits per degree: | 3 |
| Grading Option: | Graded with Option |
Credit Hours:3
ACE:
Description: Focuses on the experiences of victims of crime through the criminal justice system, from reporting the crime to the closure of the case. Examines types of victim services and advocacy throughout various points of the criminal justice system (police, courts, corrections), the history of victims' rights and the development of victim services over time.
| Credit Hours: | 3 |
|---|---|
| Max credits per semester: | 3 |
| Max credits per degree: | 3 |
| Grading Option: | Graded with Option |
Credit Hours:3
ACE:
Description: Socially constructed nature of drugs and drug policy, focusing on the variety of ways drugs and crime are connected and the socio-historical context of contemporary US drug policy.
| Credit Hours: | 3 |
|---|---|
| Max credits per semester: | 3 |
| Max credits per degree: | 3 |
| Grading Option: | Graded with Option |
Credit Hours:3
ACE:
Description: This course is a survey of the nature and extent of violence. The focus is on patterns of violence across social groups, the causes and correlates of violence and violent behavior, and programs/policies geared toward violence prevention and reduction. Also of interest is the relationship between theory and violence research.
| Credit Hours: | 3 |
|---|---|
| Max credits per semester: | 3 |
| Max credits per degree: | 3 |
| Grading Option: | Graded with Option |
Credit Hours:3
ACE:
Description: Focuses on sex offenses, sex offenders and the responses of the criminal justice system. Examines applications of criminological theory to sex offending, trends and patterns of behavior, characteristic of sex offenders and the psychological and legal responses to sex crimes.
| Credit Hours: | 3 |
|---|---|
| Max credits per semester: | 3 |
| Max credits per degree: | 3 |
| Grading Option: | Graded with Option |
Credit Hours:3
ACE:
Prerequisites: CRIM 101
Description: Examines the processes, practices, and people involved in the investigation of criminal acts, highlighting recent developments in policy, tactics and technology. Explores theoretical approaches to investigating various crimes, examining how aspects of each approach can benefit investigators. Involves analysis, discussion, and learning how to complete thorough investigations that will ensure best chances for successful case prosecution in court.
| Credit Hours: | 3 |
|---|---|
| Max credits per semester: | 3 |
| Max credits per degree: | 3 |
| Grading Option: | Graded |
| Offered: | FALL/SPR |
Credit Hours:3
ACE:
Description: Focuses on American youth street gangs. Topics include history of gangs, gang and gang member characteristics, gang life and strategies of gang control. Link between youth street gangs, prison gangs and other deviant collectivities will be explored.
| Credit Hours: | 3 |
|---|---|
| Max credits per semester: | 3 |
| Max credits per degree: | 3 |
| Grading Option: | Graded with Option |
Credit Hours:3
ACE:
Description: Designed to present an overview of the crime of homicide. Attention is given to homicide data, theories of why homicides occur, types of homicide, investigating/solving homicides, prosecuting homicide cases, and the impact on co-victims and society as a whole. Use critical thinking skills while exploring various investigative techniques.
| Credit Hours: | 3 |
|---|---|
| Max credits per semester: | 3 |
| Max credits per degree: | 3 |
| Grading Option: | Graded with Option |
Credit Hours:3
ACE:
Prerequisites: CRCJ major or CRCJ minor and instructor permission
Study abroad required.
Description: Specialized course which provides a comparison of the criminal justice systems of the United States and the United kingdom. Allows for an exploration of how the American system developed from the British system and why social and cultural factors influenced the differences/similarities in their development.
| Credit Hours: | 3 |
|---|---|
| Max credits per semester: | 3 |
| Max credits per degree: | 3 |
| Grading Option: | Graded with Option |
| Experiential Learning: | Education Abroad |
Credit Hours:3
ACE:
Description: Introduces homeland security and emergency management, including the fundamental concepts of homeland security. Covers the history of homeland security, including the field's complexity through various perspectives. Explores emergency management for a myriad of subfields, including principal hazards and the history of disasters, and the response of the homeland security apparatus. Reviews specific threats ranging from terrorism to natural disasters.
| Credit Hours: | 3 |
|---|---|
| Max credits per semester: | 3 |
| Max credits per degree: | 3 |
| Grading Option: | Graded with Option |
| Offered: | FALL/SPR |
Credit Hours:3
ACE:
Description: Analyzes the dynamics of criminality and the social response to criminality across countries. Differences in crime and justice between developed and developing countries and between socialist and capitalist nations.
| Credit Hours: | 3 |
|---|---|
| Max credits per semester: | 3 |
| Max credits per degree: | 3 |
| Grading Option: | Graded with Option |
Credit Hours:3
ACE:
Description: Development of an understanding of terrorism as a political crime. Examines social, political, and psychological aspects of this behavior.
| Credit Hours: | 3 |
|---|---|
| Max credits per semester: | 3 |
| Max credits per degree: | 3 |
| Grading Option: | Graded with Option |
Credit Hours:3
ACE:
Description: Traces the origins and historical development of the activities that have come to be known as "organized crime." These crimes are some of the most dangerous to American society and range from the commonly known offenses of gambling, racketeering, and narcotics trafficking to the more subtle and sophisticated, less understood but equally serious, crimes of extortion, commercial bribery, and political corruption.
| Credit Hours: | 3 |
|---|---|
| Max credits per semester: | 3 |
| Max credits per degree: | 3 |
| Grading Option: | Graded with Option |
Credit Hours:3
ACE:
Description: Illegal acts committed by nonphysical means and by concealment or guile, to obtain money or property, to avoid the payment or loss of money or property, or to obtain business or personal advantage.
| Credit Hours: | 3 |
|---|---|
| Max credits per semester: | 3 |
| Max credits per degree: | 3 |
| Grading Option: | Graded with Option |
Credit Hours:3
ACE:
Prerequisites: Admission into upper division criminal justice program, 24 hours of criminal justice credit, and permission
Description: Faculty-guided research in an area of mutual interest to the student and the instructor. Students are responsible for selecting the area of inquiry prior to contacting the instructor.
| Credit Hours: | 1-3 |
|---|---|
| Max credits per semester: | 3 |
| Max credits per degree: | 9 |
| Grading Option: | Graded with Option |
Credit Hours:1-3
ACE:
Prerequisites: Upper-division CRIM major or minor
This is a capstone course.
Description: Identify and explore a contemporary issue relevant to crime and justice policy. Develop multimedia packages designed to educate and advocate for a chosen policy action (e.g., adoption, reform, replacement). The purpose is to integrate previous course experiences and skills, independent research, and community stakeholder engagement (via interviews) into an activity that demonstrates critical thinking, synthesis, and evaluation.
| Credit Hours: | 3 |
|---|---|
| Max credits per semester: | 3 |
| Max credits per degree: | 3 |
| Grading Option: | Graded with Option |
| Offered: | FALL/SPR |
| ACE Outcomes: | ACE 10 Integrated Product |
| Experiential Learning: | Case/Project-Based Learning |
Credit Hours:3
ACE:ACE 10 Integrated Product
Description: Independent research project supervised by department/school faculty.
| Credit Hours: | 3-6 |
|---|---|
| Max credits per semester: | 6 |
| Max credits per degree: | 6 |
| Grading Option: | Graded |
Credit Hours:3-6
ACE:
Description: Part of the department's Student Outcomes Assessment effort. Designed to monitor the department's performance and to identify changes needed.
| Credit Hours: | 0 |
|---|---|
| Max credits per semester: | |
| Max credits per degree: | |
| Grading Option: | Pass No Pass |
Credit Hours:0
ACE:
Students must register for CRIM 499A in the term they plan to graduate.
Description: This course is an integrative online senior seminar to be taken during the final semester. It facilitates the transition to criminal justice professional through the use of specific assignments focused on areas of resume development, continuation of research, and reflection of academic progress.
| Credit Hours: | 1 |
|---|---|
| Max credits per semester: | 1 |
| Max credits per degree: | 1 |
| Grading Option: | Pass No Pass |
Credit Hours:1
ACE:
PLEASE NOTE
This document represents a sample 4-year plan for degree completion with this major. Actual course selection and sequence may vary and should be discussed individually with your college or department academic advisor. Advisors also can help you plan other experiences to enrich your undergraduate education such as internships, education abroad, undergraduate research, learning communities, and service learning and community-based learning.
Critical- A minimum 2.00 GPA required for graduation.
- 30 of the last 36 hours must be earned within the University of Nebraska system.
- ***Total Credits Completed Toward 120 Total Hours*** ** Important Note: 'NEEDS' indicates hours still needed to reach 120 credit hours. If you have excess electives, check individual categories for actual remaining hours needed to complete the degree.
Career Information
The following represents a sample of the internships, jobs and graduate school programs that current students and recent graduates have reported.
Jobs of Recent Graduates
- Police Officer, City of Lincoln - Lincoln, NE
- Deputy Sheriff, Seward County Sheriff's Office - Seward, NE
- Transportation Security Officer, Department of Homeland Security - Lincoln, NE
- Assistant District Attorney, Salem District Court - Salem, MA
- Legal Assistant, Baylor Evnen Law Firm - Lincoln, NE
- Airborne Intel Operator, United States Air Force
- 2nd Lieutenant, United States Marine Corps - Quantico, VA
- Operational Support Technician, Department of Justice - Cedar Rapids, IA
- Family Support Worker, Jenda Family Services - Lincoln, NE
- Case Worker, Nebraska Correctional Center for Women - Lincoln, NE
- More...
- Public Safety Dispatcher, Lincoln Police Department - Lincoln, NE
- Pilot, United States Air Force
- Translator/Researcher, China Labor Watch - New York, NY
- Police Officer, Anchorage Police Department - Anchorage, AK
- Mental Health Technician, Bryan Health Center - Lincoln, NE
- Clerk, Berry Law Firm - Lincoln, NE
- Corrections Officer, State of Nebraska - Lincoln, NE
- Secretary, Naval Research Laboratory - Washington, DC
- EMT, Midwest Medical Ambulance - Lincoln, NE
- Security Guard, Frye Frazy and Associates - Lincoln, NE
- Police Officer, Omaha Police Department - Omaha, NE
Graduate & Professional Schools
- Law, Nebraska College of Law - Lincoln, NE
- Law, Creighton University Law School - Omaha, NE
- Master's in Criminology & Criminal Justice, University of Nebraska Omaha - Omaha, NE
- Law, Western State College of Law - Irvine, CA
- Medicine, Creighton University - Omaha, NE
- Law, Washburn University - Topeka, KS
- Master's in Global Affairs, New York University - New York, NY
- Law, University of Nebraska College of Law - Lincoln, NE