Criminal Justice (BS)
Introduction
Criminal justice is an umbrella term that refers to the laws, procedures, policies and institutions involved in defining, investigating, prosecuting and punishing criminal behavior. Criminal justice is a multidisciplinary field that reflects development in legal theory, social science, and changes in legal systems. The Canisius University Criminal Justice Major is grounded in a liberal arts curriculum; it emphasizes how the criminal justice system has developed in its present form and how its changes affect other parts of society. The major prepares students for a broad spectrum of occupations, including law enforcement, courts, corrections, border security, and social service related to criminal justice. Students wishing to attend Law School can use the college’s Pre-Law program.
Qualifications
Students must have a minimum grade of C- in all required courses and maintain a 2.0 GPA in their major and a 2.0 overall average to graduate with a degree in Criminal Justice.
Advisement
All students should have an advisor in the major and should contact the department directly to have an advisor assigned if they do not already have one. Meetings with academic advisors are required prior to students receiving their PIN for course registration each semester. All majors should work closely with their advisor in discussing career expectations, choosing their major electives, developing their entire academic program and planning their co-curricular or supplemental academic experiences.
Students should consult with Dr. Anita Butera, Director of Criminal Justice, for current advisement information.
Double Majors
Students who wish to expand their educational opportunities may decide to declare a double major. This decision may be based on career goals, planned graduate studies, and/or other student interests. Before a student declares a double major, it is important to meet with the appropriate academic departments for advisement. In order to declare a double major, the student must complete the Major/Minor Declaration form. This form will be submitted electronically and reviewed and approved by each department chairperson as well as the appropriate associate dean.
Per university policy, each additional major requires a minimum of 15 credits that do not apply to the student's first or subsequent major. Some double major combinations can be completed within the minimum 120 credit hour degree requirement, but in other cases additional course work may be required. Please note that students will receive only one degree unless completing the dual degree requirement including at least 150 undergraduate credit hours, regardless of the number of majors they complete. Both (all) majors appear on a student’s transcript.
Many of the department’s majors combine criminal justice with a second major in another discipline, such as psychology, political science, sociology, history, modern languages, and communication studies.
Minors in Other Disciplines
Minors provide students the opportunity to pursue additional interests but generally do not require as many courses as a major. Minors generally range from five to eight required courses. To receive a minor, the student must complete at least 9 credit hours of coursework distinct from their other credentials (i.e., majors, other minors). The complete list of minors is available on the Canisius website and in the catalog and provides links to each minor. Some majors and minors can be completed within the minimum 120 credit hour degree requirement, but in some cases additional coursework may be required. Students must complete the appropriate minor request form.
Curriculum
An Ignatian Foundation
All undergraduate students must complete either the Canisius Core Curriculum or the All-College Honors Curriculum. Many schools refer to their college-wide undergraduate requirements as "general education" requirements. We believe that the core curriculum and the honors curriculum are more than a series of required classes; they provide the basis for a Jesuit education both with content and with required knowledge and skills attributes that are central to our mission.
Free Electives
Students may graduate with a bachelor's degree with more but not less than 120 credit hours. Free electives are courses in addition to the Canisius Core Curriculum or All-College Honors Curriculum and major requirements sufficient to reach the minimum number of credits required for graduation. The number of credits required to complete a bachelor's degree may vary depending on the student's major(s) and minor(s).
Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Research Methods Requirement - Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Research Methods in the Social Sciences | ||
| Ethnography and Culture | ||
| Research Methods in Psychology | ||
| Core Classes for Criminal Justice: | 24 | |
| Introduction to Criminal Justice | ||
| Introduction to Criminology | ||
| Criminal Law and Procedure | ||
| Corrections and Restorative Justice | ||
| Police and the Community | ||
| Criminal Justice Ethics | ||
| Senior Seminar in Criminal Justice | ||
| Introduction to Sociology | ||
| Criminal Justice Electives (select 3 courses from the list below) 1 | 9 | |
| Total Credits | 36 | |
- 1
Students may choose to follow a specific concentration within the major. We currently offer the following optional concentrations: environmental justice and regulation; law enforcement; law and justice; and corrections. Concentrations will appear on the student's transcript. The requirements for these concentrations are shown below.
Criminal Justice Electives
Students must take three Criminal Justice electives. Students may use any additional Criminal Justice (CRJ) course or any of the following courses as electives for the criminal justice major and minor:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PSC 103 | The American Constitution | 3 |
| PSC 320 | American Constitutional Law I | 3 |
| PSC 321 | American Constitutional Law II | 3 |
| PSC 420 | The Constitution, The War on Terror and Civil Liberties | 3 |
| PSY 303 | Psychopathology | 3 |
| PSY 360 | Psychology and Law | 3 |
| SOC 111 | Contemporary Social Problems | 3 |
| SOC 315 | Geographical Information Systems (GIS) for the Social Sciences | 3 |
| SOC 340 | Sociology of the City | 3 |
| SOC 341 | Race and Ethnicity | 3 |
| SOC 355 | Deviant Behavior | 3 |
Optional Criminal Justice Concentrations
Environmental Justice and Regulation
Students who double major in Environmental Studies (EVST) and Criminal Justice (CRJ) should follow this concentration when selecting their electives.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Students select 5 of the following: | 15 | |
| Animals in the Ancient World | ||
| Green and White Collar Crime | ||
| Narratives of Nature and Culture | ||
| Environmental Policy | ||
| Environmental History of the United States | ||
| Internship | ||
| Environmental Ethics | ||
| Animal Ethics | ||
| Leadership and Motivation | ||
| Ecotheology | ||
| Environment and Society | ||
| Social Movements and Social Change | ||
| Geographical Information Systems (GIS) for the Social Sciences | ||
or ECO 310 | Introduction to Geographic Information Systems | |
| Visual Sociology | ||
| Sociology of the City | ||
| Race and Ethnicity | ||
| Total Credits | 15 | |
Law Enforcement
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select 5 of the following: | 15 | |
| Current Issues in Forensic Psychology | ||
| Drug Treatment Courts | ||
| Violence and the Family | ||
| Gangs in American Society | ||
| Police and the Community | ||
| Juvenile Delinquency | ||
| Treatment of Offenders | ||
| Green and White Collar Crime | ||
| Criminalizing the Mentally Ill | ||
| Death Penalty: Law and Policy | ||
| Current Issues in Criminalistics | ||
| Criminal Justice Internship | ||
| The Constitution, The War on Terror and Civil Liberties | ||
| Psychopathology | ||
| Contemporary Social Problems | ||
| Race and Ethnicity | ||
| Deviant Behavior | ||
| Total Credits | 15 | |
Law and justice
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select 5 of the following: | 15 | |
| Criminal Courts | ||
| Legal Writing and Advocacy I | ||
| Legal Writing and Advocacy II | ||
| Drug Treatment Courts | ||
| Juvenile Delinquency | ||
| Green and White Collar Crime | ||
| Criminalizing the Mentally Ill | ||
| Death Penalty: Law and Policy | ||
| Comparative Criminal Justice Systems | ||
| Criminal Justice Internship | ||
| Mock Trial | ||
| Justice | ||
| Philosophy of Law | ||
| The American Constitution | ||
| American Constitutional Law I | ||
| American Constitutional Law II | ||
| The Constitution, The War on Terror and Civil Liberties | ||
| Psychology and Law | ||
| Race and Ethnicity | ||
| Total Credits | 15 | |
Corrections and Restorative Justice
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select 5 of the following: | 15 | |
| Special Topics in Criminal Justice | ||
| Drug Treatment Courts | ||
| Violence and the Family | ||
| Gangs in American Society | ||
| Juvenile Delinquency | ||
| Treatment of Offenders | ||
| Criminalizing the Mentally Ill | ||
| Criminal Justice Internship | ||
| Children, Schools, and the Community | ||
or PSY 334 | Child, Family and Community Psychology | |
| Philosophy of Human Rights | ||
| Theories of Counseling | ||
| Contemporary Social Problems | ||
| Race and Ethnicity | ||
| Total Credits | 15 | |
Internships
Many internship opportunities upon approval are available to qualified juniors and seniors. As an urban center situated on the Niagara Frontier, Buffalo offers numerous internship experiences where students can explore careers and get valuable real life experience.
Foreign Language and Study Abroad
The department encourages criminal justice majors to study a foreign language of their choice and to participate in the university study abroad program.
Roadmap
Recommended Semester Schedule for Major Course Requirements
| Freshman | |
|---|---|
| Fall | Spring |
| SOC 110 | CRJ 222 |
| CRJ 121 | |
| Sophomore | |
| Fall | Spring |
| CRJ 250 | CRJ Elective |
| Select one of the following: | |
| Junior | |
| Fall | Spring |
| CRJ 351 | CRJ 275 |
| CRJ Elective | |
| Senior | |
| Fall | Spring |
| CRJ 325 | CRJ 455 |
| CRJ Elective | |
Learning Goals and Objectives
Student Learning Goal 1
Criminal Justice Majors will DEMONstrate that they can critically analyze the concept of crime and criminal justice as well as the role that both have in society.
Students will:
- Objective A: Apply the scientific method to the understanding of crime and criminal justice;
- Objective B: Critically evaluate research in the fields of criminology and criminal justice.
Student Learning Goal 2
Criminal Justice majors will ACQUIRE THE KNOWLEDGE NECESSARY TO SUCCEED IN THE FIELD OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND IN GRADUATE SCHOOL.
Students will:
- Objective A: Become familiar with concepts, theories, and theorists in the fields of criminology and criminal justice;
- Objective B: Apply concepts, theories, and theorists to the understanding of real-world situations in the fields of Law, Criminal Justice System, and society.
Student Learning Goal 3
Criminal Justice majors will APPRECIATE DIVERSITY AND THE IMPORTANCE OF RESPECTING THE LEGAL RIGHTS AND THE DIGNITY OF EVERY PERSON.
Students will:
- Objective A: Understand the role that diversity has int eh Criminal Justice System and in Society both in the present and the past;
- Objective B: Appreciate and recognize human diversity both theoretically and in the practice of the profession.
Minors
Department Minors
Related Interdisciplinary Minors
*Criminalistics course CRJ 390 recommended in addition to the minor requirements.
Minors are an important part of the undergraduate curriculum. If students declare a minor by sophomore year, they can usually complete it in a timely manner. Students should work with their advisor to determine if it is possible that the minor can be completed by graduation.
To receive a minor, a student must complete at least 9 credit hours of coursework distinct from their major(s) and from other minors, and students must complete more than 50% of the coursework required for the minor at Canisius. Please note that “ancillary/supporting” courses required for a major may still count as distinct courses as long as the remaining coursework still meets the 30 credit-hours required for a major. For more information about minor policies, please see the Declaring Majors and Minors page in the catalog.
Courses
CRJ 121 Introduction to Criminal Justice 3 Credits
Analyze the US Criminal Justice System, focusing on the history, structure, and functioning of police, courts, corrections, and the juvenile delinquency system. This course highlights the inherent tension between security and civil rights within the larger context of US Criminal Justice System reforms.
Offered: every fall.
CRJ 222 Introduction to Criminology 3 Credits
This course introduces students to the critical analysis of crime from different theoretical perspectives. It analyzes the role that theories of crime have in defining criminal justice polices. It examines selected crimes, such as terrorism and white collar crimes, as examples of the critical concept of crime.
Prerequisite: A minimum grade of C- in CRJ 121.
Fulfills College Core: Field 5 (Social Sciences)
Offered: every spring.
CRJ 250 Criminal Law and Procedure 3 Credits
The substantive criminal law, including offenses against persons, property and public morality with emphasis on New York State Penal Law. Criminal responsibility and defenses. In addition key Supreme Court decisions on the criminal justice related constitutional amendments (4th, 5th, 6th and 8th amendments). Finally, Appeals and post-conviction relief will be discussed.
Prerequisite: A minimum grade of C- in CRJ 222.
Offered: every fall.
CRJ 275 Criminal Courts 3 Credits
This course will explore the legal, social and political institutions that affect the dynamics of the criminal process. Topics will include the adversarial process and the decision-making of different participants in the system. The course will also look at the interrelationships that affect and influence court decisions and justice. A thorough examination of this subject will lead to a better understanding of criminal courts and its function within the criminal justice system.
Prerequisite: CRJ 121 and CRJ 222.
Offered: occasionally.
CRJ 280 Legal Writing and Advocacy I 3 Credits
Explores the use of language in the administration of law, including ways to read and brief cases and to read statutes.
Fulfills College Core: Justice, Oral Communication
Offered: spring.
CRJ 285 Legal Writing and Advocacy II 3 Credits
Introduces undergraduates to the practical written and oral application of legal principles by giving them basic tasks a lawyer would perform. Students gain a basic knowledge of the legal system and legal culture, and they also learn to analyze fact situations to spot and present legal issues from different perspectives: the defense, the plaintiff/prosecutor, the judge, and law enforcement. Class discussion includes legal, political, social, and moral implications of facts and law necessary to understand fact- based legal scenarios and to complete the following written assignments expressing this understanding:
Fulfills College Core: Advanced Writing-Intensive
Offered: every fall.
CRJ 300 Special Topics in Criminal Justice 3 Credits
Critical examination of a selected topic in criminal justice. Subject matter determined by the instructor.
CRJ 325 Corrections and Restorative Justice 3 Credits
Explores the history and theoretical assumptions of corrections in the US. It emphasizes the significance of social inequality, especially race/ethnicity, gender, and social class, for the understanding of crime and the criminal justice system. Restorative justice theory, practices, and policies are examined as tools to mitigate the harm of discriminatory practices in the administration of justice.
Prerequisite: A minimum grade of C- in CRJ 121 and CRJ 222.
Offered: every fall.
CRJ 330 Current Issues in Forensic Psychology 3 Credits
Application of the science of psychology to questions and issues relating to criminal law and the criminal justice system. Topics discussed include competency to stand trial, assessment of mental state for an insanity plea, and prediction of violence and assessment of risk.
Prerequisites: CRJ 227 and CRJ 228 or CRJ 121 and CRJ 222.
Offered: spring.
CRJ 336 Drug Treatment Courts 3 Credits
Examination of drug prohibition and the administration of diversional treatment courts and other treatment of drug offenders.
Offered: occasionally.
CRJ 337 Violence and the Family 3 Credits
How family dynamics can contain elements that give rise to violence, including 'battered women' and abused children.
Offered: fall & spring.
CRJ 345 Gangs in American Society 3 Credits
Examines the theoretical causes for the growth of gangs; including youth and criminal gangs. Topics include the social theories, measurement, and solutions.
CRJ 350 Policy Issues in the Administration of Criminal Justice 3 Credits
Critical examination of a selected policy related to criminal justice phenomenon. Subject matter determined by the instructor.
Prerequisite: None.
Offered: every spring.
CRJ 351 Police and the Community 3 Credits
Critical examination of the operation of all levels of law enforcement in America. Topics include the selection process, training, ethics, and police accountability.
CRJ 354 Juvenile Delinquency 3 Credits
Legal processes in juvenile delinquency as well as understanding and analysis of current practices and historic and contemporary issues. Suggested programs for rehabilitation and prevention of delinquency.
CRJ 356 Treatment of Offenders 3 Credits
Correction theory, offender typologies, and nature and diagnosis of offenders and future trends in dealing with criminal offenders.
CRJ 358 Green and White Collar Crime 3 Credits
Analyzes the definition, nature, extend and social cost of white and green collar crimes from both a legalistic and critical approach. Special attention is given on how perpetrators of white and green collar crimes avoid criminal prosecution and the role that the corporate structure has in avoiding the prosecution of these crimes.
Offered: occasionally.
CRJ 365 Criminalizing the Mentally Ill 3 Credits
This course examines the legal and policy issues regarding the practice of criminalization of persons with mental illness. Topics investigated include the history of criminalization of persons with mental illness, constitutional issues, law enforcement responses to persons with mental illness, mentally ill offenders in jails and prisons, civil commitment, mental health courts and community supervision strategies.
Offered: occasionally.
CRJ 382 Criminal Justice Ethics 3 Credits
The personal, social and criminal justice contexts for understanding justice, crime and ethics. Skills necessary to deal effectively with ethical issues in criminal justice systems. Problems and case studies for active exploration of social issues.
Prerequisite: minimum grade of C in CRJ 121 and CRJ 222.
Fulfills College Core: Ethics
Offered: once a year.
CRJ 385 Death Penalty: Law and Policy 3 Credits
This course examines the major legal and policy issues relating to the practice of the death penalty in the United States. Topics investigated include the history of the death penalty in the United States, the constitutional limits on the types of crimes and criminals for which the death penalty is permitted, and contemporary controversies regarding the death penalty including potential innocence, special populations, methods of execution, race and gender biases.
Offered: occasionally.
CRJ 386 Comparative Criminal Justice Systems 3 Credits
Examines criminal justice systems across the globe including their historical significance and policy implications. Students will also analyze international and transnational crimes within the context of globalization. Students will understand diversity by analyzing similarities and differences across criminal justice systems within the broad categories of policing, legal institutions and correctional structures.
Prerequisite: CRJ 222.
Offered: occasionally.
CRJ 390 Current Issues in Criminalistics 3 Credits
Application of the science to the recognition, documentation, preservation, and analysis in the process of collecting physical evidence as it relates to crime, criminal law and criminal procedure. Topics discussed include evidence collection, analysis, criminal procedure and criminal justice, including civil rights.
Prerequisite: CRJ 121 and CRJ 222.
Offered: occasionally.
CRJ 455 Senior Seminar in Criminal Justice 3 Credits
This is a senior-level course that allows students to review, analyze, integrate, and apply the knowledge and skills they have developed while completing the Criminal Justice degree. As part of the course, the students will complete a policy paper demonstrating mastery of their study program.
Prerequisite: A minimum grade of C- in CRJ 325.
Fulfills College Core: Advanced Writing-Intensive, Justice
Offered: every fall & spring.
CRJ 498 Criminal Justice Internship 3-15 Credits
Opportunity for selected students to participate in daily work of law enforcement agencies, courts, law firms, and social service agencies. Students must apply the semester before they take the internship.
Prerequisite: minimum GPA of 3.0, junior or senior status, & signature of major advisor.
Offered: fall & spring.
CRJ 499 Independent Study 3 Credits
Independent studies allow in-depth study of a specific topic and are most often reserved for seniors who cannot otherwise fulfill a graduation requirement. Independent studies require an application and approval by the associate dean.
Prerequisite: permission of the instructor, department chair, & associate dean.
Offered: fall & spring.
