Academics

For the majority of Criminal Justice and Criminology majors and minors, preparation revolves around entry into the workforce and occupations. A smaller proportion of Criminal Justice and Criminology majors and minors aspire to graduate education or law school, which indicates that we need a curriculum that is of high quality and efficient: focused on (a) basic conceptual and theoretical understandings, (b) methodological inquiry, (c) statistical/data analysis and (d) practical information. Elective courses reflect mainstream, substantive areas that are relevant to the field, and are also typical of courses offered by many other CJC programs in the United States.

Students have the opportunity to participate in internships from various criminal justice agencies throughout the Denver Metropolitan area including probation departments in various counties as well as municipalities. Other agencies include Colorado Parole Department, public defender offices, police departments, sheriff offices, and other ancillary agencies in Colorado such as half-way houses, safe houses, rape awareness and assistance programs, district attorney offices.

The Criminal Justice and Criminology program at MSU Denver offers a course of study leading to a Bachelor of Science degree in CJC. This 120-credit degree appeals to students who are interested in working in the fields of: law, law enforcement, probation and parole, corrections or other related social service agencies. This degree also prepares students to undertake graduate school in criminal justice or other related fields as well as law schools.

The Criminal Justice and Criminology B.S. program also welcomes students returning to school who are interested in earning their degree to assist in furthering their career goals. Recognizing that many people who are interested in such education are already employed in some form of criminal justice work, and that many people have completed course-work at the community college level, the curriculum is also structured to facilitate transfer from two-year police science/criminal justice programs. The department has articulation agreements with Colorado community colleges to facilitate students to transfer from community colleges to MSU Denver.

Students must meet MSU Denver’s and the Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology’s requirements for the bachelor’s degree, which includes the successful completion of General Studies courses, courses related to the Minor of your choice, and the core and elective courses available to all Criminal Justice and Criminology majors.

Degree Requirements for Criminal Justice and Criminology Majors
Students are required to take the Introduction to Criminal Justice System course (CJC 1010) as a pre-major requirement. This class cannot be counted towards their general studies requirements if you are a CJC major. If you are a CJC major, there are 21 hours of major core requirements to complete the major and 15 hours of area electives. There are an additional 9 hours of CJC electives required. In total, 45 credit hours are required for the CJC degree.

General Studies (33-36 Credits)

• Written Communication 6
• Oral Communication 3
• Quantitative Literacy 3
• Arts and Humanities
• Historical 3
• Natural and Physical Sciences 6
• Social Sciences I 3
• Social Sciences II 3
• Global Diversity* 0-3 (*Students may fulfill the global diversity requirement by taking an approved course within one of the following categories: arts and humanities; historical; natural and physical sciences; or social and behavioral sciences I or II.)

For more information on General Studies requirements and lists of courses that meet the requirements, visit MSU Denver General Studies Program.

Ethnic Studies & Social Justice (ESSJ) and Senior Experience Requirement (3 Credits)

• Ethnic Studies & Social Justice* 0-3 (*The ESSJ course does not require 3 semester hours as a separate category and can be taken in the major, minor, or as an elective, please contact your CJC Academic Advisor for more information)
• CJC 4700 Capstone 3

Criminal Justice and Criminology Pre-Major Requirement (3 Credits)

• CJC 1010: Introduction to Criminal Justice System* 3 (*This cannot be counted toward General Studies.)

Criminal Justice and Criminology Major Core Requirements (21 Credits)

• CJC 1450: Introduction to Corrections 3
• CJC 2020: Research Methods and Basic Statistics for the Criminal Justice Professional 3
• CJC 2050: American Judicial System 3
• CJC 2210: American Policing 3
• CJC 3400: Criminological Theories 3
• CJC 3410: Criminal Justice and the Social Structure 3
• CJC 4700: Capstone Seminar in Criminal Justice and Criminology (Senior Experience) 3

Criminal Justice and Criminology Area Electives (15 credits)

Police (Choose One)

• CJC 3800: Federal Law Enforcement and Terrorism 3
• CJC 4250: Community Policing 3

Courts/Law (Choose One)

• CJC 2100: Criminal Law 3
• CJC 3110: Constitutional Law 3

Corrections (Choose One)

• CJC 3270: Community Corrections 3
• CJC 3290: Probation and Parole 3
• CJC 3470: Punishment and Society 3

Administration of Justice (Choose Two)

• CJC 3130: Victimology 3
• CJC 3350: Juvenile Justice and Delinquency 3
• CJC 4430: Comparative Criminal Justice 3
• CJC 4650: Ethics for the Criminal Justice Professional 3

Criminal Justice and Criminology General Electives (9 credits)

• Additional nine hours of CJC general electives credits are required. However, students can choose to take additional courses from CJC courses from CJC areas electives not previously taken. Six of nine credits must be upper division (3000/4000 level).

For a minor in Criminal Justice and Criminology, a grade of “C” or better is required for each course in this program. Students should note that programs differ in the minimum grade required.

From Fall 2020, the following minor requirement will be applied (Total required credits: 21):

Required Courses

• CJC 1010 – Introduction to the Criminal Justice System 3
• CJC 3400 – Criminological Theories 3

Police (Choose One)

• CJC 3800 – Federal Law Enforcement 3
• CJC 4250 – Community Policing 3

Courts/Law (Choose One)

• CJC 2100 – Criminal Law 3
• CJC 3110 – Constitutional Issues in Criminal Procedure and Evidence 3

Corrections (Choose One)

• CJC 3290 – Probation and Parole 3
• CJC 3470 – Punishment and Society 3

Other Electives (Choose Two)

• CJC 3130 – Victimology 3
• CJC 3350 – Juvenile Justice and Delinquency 3
• CJC 3410 – Criminal Justice and the Social Structure 3
• CJC 4430 – Comparative Criminal Justice 3
• CJC 4650 – Ethics for the Criminal Justice Professional 3
• CYB 2001 – Cyber Laws and Regulations 3

Until Spring 2020:

Total of 21 credits are required for a CJC minor. Also, the following three courses are required:

• CJC 1010 Introduction to Criminal Justice System
• CJC 3410 Criminal Justice and the Social Structure
• CJC 4650 Ethics for the Criminal Justice Professional
• CJC Electives: 12 hours selected in consultation with and approved by the department advisor, at least 4 hours of which must be upper-division.