Criminology and Criminal Justice, B.A.

Major Requirements

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The B.A. Degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice requires a minimum of 30 credits from the following categories. Courses marked with an asterisk have one or more prerequisites.

Foundation Courses

Prerequisites to some required core or elective courses. Not for credit in major but strongly recommended as General Education and/or free electives.

  • ECN 201 – Principles of Economics: Microeconomics
  • GWS 150 – Introduction to Gender & Women Studies
  • PSC 113 – Introduction to American Politics
  • PHL 212 – Ethics
  • PSY 113 – General Psychology
  • SOC 100 – General Sociology

Core Courses (9 credits)

These courses are required of all majors.

  • CCJ/SOC 230(H) – Crime and Delinquency
  • CCJ/PSC 274(H) – Criminal Justice System
  • Capstone Course – One of the following three courses:
    • CCJ 403 – Gender, Crime, and Justice *
    • CCJ 410 – Race, Crime, and Justice *

CCJ/PSC 476 – Policy, Crime, and JusticeCCJ/SOC 230, CCJ 403, CCJ 410, and CCJ/PSC 476 count toward General Education requirements. Starting in Fall 2020, students must receive a C or better in CCJ/SOC 230 and CCJ/PSC 274(H) to graduate in the major.

Research Methods (3-4 credits)

Students must take one course, selected from the following. ECN 306 – Introduction to Economic Research Methods *

  • PSC 310 – Introduction to Political Science Research (4)
  • PSY 200 – Quantitative Methods in Psychology (4) *
  • SOC 440 (301) – Sociological Research Methods *

Major Electives (18-21 credits)

Students choose 6 courses from the following elective areas. At least two courses must be taken from each elective area and no more than four courses can be taken in either elective area. All electives must be a minimum of 3 credits. One-credit courses listed as electives can be combined with other courses to be the equivalent of a 3-credit elective.

Criminology Electives

  • CCJ 200 – Topics in Criminology & Criminal Justice (approved topics) *
  • CCJ (SOC) 370 – Theories of Crime and Delinquency *
  • CCJ 400 – Advanced Topics in Criminology & Criminal Justice (approved topics) *
  • CCJ (SOC) 403 – Gender, Crime and Justice *
  • CCJ (SOC) 410 – Race, Crime and Justice *
  • CCJ (SOC) 450 – White Collar Crime *
  • CCJ 476 – Policy, Crime, and Justice *
  • AAF 230 – Black Lives Matter Movement
  • HIS 366 – Twentieth-Century Black Politics and Protest *
  • PHL 318 – Power/Justice: Contemporary Political Philosophies *
  • PSY 254 – Behavior Problems and Personality Disorders *
  • PSY 466 – Child Sexual Abuse *
  • SOC 420 – Family Violence *

Criminal Justice Electives

  • CCJ 200 – Topics in Criminology & Criminal Justice (approved topics) *
  • CCJ 280 – Introduction to Policing *
  • CCJ 290 – Introduction to Corrections *
  • CCJ (SOC) 332 – Juvenile Justice *
  • CCJ 333 – Ethics in Criminal Justice *
  • CCJ/HIS 361 — Laws & Outlaws: Rhode Island Legal History *
  • CCJ 381 – Interrogating Criminal Justice Reform (1)
  • CCJ 400 – Advanced Topics in Criminology & Criminal Justice (approved topics) *
  • CCJ (SOC) 403 – Gender, Crime and Justice *
  • CCJ (SOC) 410 – Race, Crime and Justice *
  • CCJ 476 – Policy, Crime, and Justice *
  • CCJ 480 – Critical Issues in Policing *
  • CCJ 490 – Punishment and Society *
  • CHM 391 – Forensic Science Overview (1)
  • HIS 366 — Twentieth-Century Black Politics and Protest *
  • ITR 305 — Workplace Readiness for Social Science Majors (1) *
  • PSC 334 – Government Powers and the Law (4) *
  • PSC 371 – The Constitution and the Supreme Court (4)
  • PSC 388 – The American Legal System (4) *
  • PSC 472 – Civil Liberties (4) *
  • PSY 465 – Introduction to Crisis Intervention *
  • SOC 303 – Immersion in Juvenile Social and Legal Justice *

When appropriate, and by permission of the Department Chair, students may substitute Internship credit (GWS 300, PSC 375/376, PSY 305, or SOC 477 (497)) or Independent Study credit (CCJ 485, GWS 450, PSC 455/456, PSY 489, or SOC 498/499) for one of their elective courses listed above. No more than 3 credits may be used toward the major from Internship or Independent Study.

CCJ Department Learning Outcomes

Goal 1: Students will know the criminal justice system and understand the application of the law

Outcome 1.1: Demonstrate knowledge of constitutional law as it applies to criminology and criminal justice

Outcome 1.2: Locate and interpret research related to discrimination within the criminal justice system

Goal 2: Students will understand the causes of crime and criminal behavior and the social and systematic response mechanisms

Outcome 2.1: Explain the correlates and causes of different forms of criminal behavior and victimization

Outcome 2.2: Identify and evaluate theoretically informed treatment modalities for offenders

Goal 3: Students will use scholarly evidence to inform policy development and practice within the criminal justice system

Outcome 3.1: Summarize and interpret research in criminology and criminal justice

Outcome 3.2: Evaluate policy using theoretically informed research