Bachelor of Arts, Major in Victim Studies

Additional information: Reference the Program Landing Page for additional information, such as cost, delivery format, contact information, or to schedule a visit. 

Bachelor of Arts, Major in Victim Studies
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) 24
Degree Specific Requirements
MATH 3379Statistical Methods in Practice3-4
or PSYC 3402 Psychological Statistics
or STAT 3379 Statistical Methods in Practice
Foreign Language 214
Major: Foundation
CRIJ 2361Introduction To The Criminal Justice System 3,43
CRIJ 2362Criminology 43
CRIJ 3378Introduction To Methods Of Research 53
VCST 3350Victimology 53
VCST 4398Problem Analysis in Victim Studies3
Major: Prescribed Electives27
Select nine of the following
Fundamentals Of Criminal Law
Substance Use And Abuse
Undergraduate Internship in Criminal Justice
Criminal Justice and Social Diversity
Victims' Rights, Politics, and Policy
Aging, Crime and Victimization
Victim Service Delivery
Child Abuse And Neglect
Trauma and Crisis Intervention
Interviewing & Counseling
Family Violence
Violence Against Women
Electives: General
General Electives16
Electives: Advanced
Advanced Electives 12
Minor: Not Required 6,7
Total Hours120-121
1

MATH 1332 or MATH 1342 is recommended. 

2

WOLC 2311 satisfies the Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area IV, and WOLC 2312 satisfies three hours of the Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area IX.

3

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

4

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

5

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

6

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 will be needed above the degree program’s stated total semester credit hours. 

7

The following minors cannot be paired with this degree program: Minor in Criminal Justice and Minor in Victim Studies. 

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.

Additional information: Reference the Program Landing Page for additional information, such as cost, delivery format, contact information, or to schedule a visit.  

First Year
FallHoursSpringHours
Component Area II13Component Area III4
Component Area III4Component Area V3
CRIJ 23612,33CRIJ 236223
ENGL 130143ENGL 130243
HIST 130153HIST 130253
 16 16
Second Year
FallHoursSpringHours
Component Area IX1General Electives3
CRIJ 337863MATH 3379, PSYC 3402, or STAT 33793-4
General Electives3POLS 230673
POLS 230573VCST 335063
WOLC 14114WOLC 14124
 14 16-17
Third Year
FallHoursSpringHours
Advanced Electives 3Advanced Electives 3
General Electives3General Electives3
Prescribed Electives83Prescribed Electives83
Prescribed Electives83Prescribed Electives83
WOLC 231193WOLC 2312103
 15 15
Fourth Year
FallHoursSpringHours
Advanced Electives 6General Electives4
Prescribed Electives83Prescribed Electives86
Prescribed Electives83Prescribed Electives83
VCST 43983 
 15 13
Total Hours: 120-121
1

MATH 1332 or MATH 1342 is recommended. 

2

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

3

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

4

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

5

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

6

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

7

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

8

See, Prescribed Electives course list below.

9

Satisfies Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area IV (Language, Philosophy, and Culture).

10

Satisfies three hours of the Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area IX (Component Area Option).

Prescribed Electives 8
Select nine of the following
CRIJ 2364Fundamentals Of Criminal Law3
CRIJ 4362Substance Use And Abuse3
CRIJ 4373Undergraduate Internship in Criminal Justice3
CRIJ 4385Criminal Justice and Social Diversity3
POLS 3338Victims' Rights, Politics, and Policy3
VCST 3341Aging, Crime and Victimization3
VCST 3351Victim Service Delivery3
VCST 4338Child Abuse And Neglect3
VCST 4351Trauma and Crisis Intervention3
VCST 4370Interviewing & Counseling3
VCST 4383Family Violence3
VCST 4390Violence Against Women3

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. 

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 will be needed above the degree program’s stated total semester credit hours. 

The following minors cannot be paired with this degree program: Minor in Criminal Justice and Minor in Victim Studies. 

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.

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 in Victim Studies is designed to provide graduates with the following marketable skills:

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