Bachelor of Arts, Major in Criminal Justice

This is an archived copy of the 2022-2023 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.shsu.edu.

Bachelor of Arts, Major in Criminal Justice
Core Curriculum
Component Area I (Communication)6
Component Area II (Mathematics) 13
Component Area III (Life and Physical Science)8
Component Area IV (Language, Philosophy, and Culture) 23
Component Area V (Creative Arts)3
Component Area VI (U.S. History)6
Component Area VII (Political Science/Government)6
Component Area VIII (Social and Behavioral Sciences) 33
Component Area IX (Component Area Option)4
Degree Specific Requirements
ENGL 3330Intro to Technical Writing3
Select one of the following:3-4
Statistical Methds in Practice
Statistical Mthods in Practice
Psychological Statistics
Social Statistics
Foreign Language 214
Major: Foundation
CRIJ 2361Intro To The Crim Justice Sys 33
CRIJ 2362Criminology 43
CRIJ 2364Fundamentals Of Criminal Law 53
CRIJ 2365Correctional Sys & Practice 53
CRIJ 2367Police Systems & Practices 53
CRIJ 3378Intro To Methods Of Research 63
CRIJ 4385Criminl Justc & Social Divrsty (Senior standing is required) 73
VCST 3350Victimology 73
Major: Prescribed Electives
CRIJ Advanced Electives21
Electives: General
General Electives 16
Electives: Advanced General
Advanced Electives 6
Minor: Not Required 8,9
Total Hours120-121
1

Recommend MATH 1342 or MATH 1332.

2

WOLC 2311 and WOLC 2312 satisfy the requirement for Component Area IV (Language, Philosophy, and Culture) as well as three hours of Component Area IX (Component Area Option).

3

CRIJ 2361 satisfies the Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area VIII (Social and Behavioral Science).

4

May be completed either Fall or Spring semester of Year 1.

5

May be completed either Fall or Spring semester of Year 2. 

6

May be completed either Fall or Spring semester of Year 3. 

7

May be completed either Fall or Spring semester of Year 4. 

8

A minor is not required for this degree program; however, a student has the option to add a minor, but to do so additional semester credits hours may be needed above the degree program’s stated total semester credit hours. 

9

All minors can be paired with this degree program. 

Notes

Students must earn a 2.0 minimum overall GPA in all coursework. 

Students must meet a 2.0 minimum overall major GPA in all major coursework.

Students must earn a 2.0 minimum SHSU GPA in all coursework.

Students must meet a 2.0 minimum SHSU major GPA in all major coursework. 

Forty-two semester hours of advanced coursework (3000 or 4000 level) are the absolute minimum. Minimum number of semester hours in residence: 30 semester hours of which 24 must be advanced.

Use general electives to satisfy the 42 advanced hour requirement.

First Year
FallHoursSpringHours
Component Area IX1Component Area II53
CRIJ 236113CRIJ 236263
ENGL 130123ENGL 130223
HIST 130133HIST 130233
POLS 230543POLS 230643
 13 15
Second Year
FallHoursSpringHours
Component Area III4Component Area III4
CRIJ 236473Component Area V3
CRIJ 236573CRIJ 236773
Foreign Language 84Foreign Language 84
General Electives3 
 17 14
Third Year
FallHoursSpringHours
CRIJ Advanced Electives 6Advanced Electives 3
CRIJ 337893CRIJ Advanced Electives 6
ENGL 33303Foreign Language 83
Foreign Language 83General Electives3
 15 15
Fourth Year
FallHoursSpringHours
CRIJ 4385 (Senior standing is required)103Advanced Electives 3
CRIJ Advanced Electives 6CRIJ Advanced Electives 3
General Electives5General Electives5
STAT 3379, MATH 3379, PSYC 3402, or SOCI 33453-4VCST 3350103
 17-18 14
Total Hours: 120-121
1

Satisfies Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area VIII (Social and Behavioral Sciences).

2

Satisfies Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area I(Communication). 

3

Satisfies Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area VI (U.S. History).

4

Satisfies Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area VII (Political Science/Government). 

5

Recommend MATH 1342 or MATH 1332.

6

May be completed either Fall or Spring semester of Year 1.

7

May be completed either Fall or Spring semester of Year 2.

8

WOLC 2311 and WOLC 2312 satisfy the requirement for Component Area IV (Language, Philosophy, and Culture) as well as three hours of Component Area IX (Component Area Option).

9

May be completed either Fall or Spring semester of Year 3.

10

May be completed either Fall or Spring semester of Year 4.

 
 

Notes

Students must earn a 2.0 minimum overall GPA in all coursework. 

Students must meet a 2.0 minimum overall major GPA in all major coursework.

Students must earn a 2.0 minimum SHSU GPA in all coursework.

Students must meet a 2.0 minimum SHSU major GPA in all major coursework. 

Forty-two semester hours of advanced coursework (3000 or 4000 level) are the absolute minimum. Minimum number of semester hours in residence: 30 semester hours of which 24 must be advanced.

Use general electives to satisfy the 42 advanced hour requirement.

A minor is not required for this degree program; however, a student has the option to add a minor, but to do so additional semester credits hours may be needed above the degree program’s stated total semester credit hours. 

All minors can be paired with this degree program. 

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) marketable skills initiative is part of the state’s 60x30TX plan and was designed to help students articulate their skills to employers.  Marketable skills are those skills valued by employers and/or graduate programs that can be applied in a variety of work or education settings and may include interpersonal, cognitive, and applied skill areas.

The BA in Criminal Justice is designed to provide graduates with the following marketable skills:

  • Critical thinking.
  • Written and oral communication.
  • Analytical research.
  • Proactive and action oriented.