University General Course Catalog 2022-2023 
    
    Mar 28, 2024  
University General Course Catalog 2022-2023 ARCHIVED CATALOG: LINKS AND CONTENT ARE OUT OF DATE. CHECK WITH YOUR ADVISOR.

Criminal Justice (Criminal Justice Major), B.A. in C.J.


Students who receive a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice complete a social science degree preparing them for justice-related careers, graduate study, and law school. The Criminal Justice degree is recommended for students who desire an understanding of the criminal justice system, law, and justice. The degree is not intended to serve as a professional training program; rather it is an academically centered major that focuses on the legal, ethical, administrative, and behavioral aspects of the justice system and its various parts. The degree has two options or programs. All students must complete a core of required courses which focus broadly on the criminal justice system and its components. The Criminal Justice Major particularly focuses on the criminal justice system, its components, and  administration, criminological theory, and issues of theory, diversity, myth, and ethics. The interdisciplinary Law and Justice Specialization concentrates on the context of law and justice in a heterogeneous society including coursework in law and justice theory and policy as well as practical courses in legal research and writing, and coursework in other disciplines such as philosophy.

Department website: http://www.unr.edu/criminal-justice
Go to explore majors: http://whatcanidowiththismajor.com/major/criminal-justice/UNR Career Studio: http://www.unr.edu/career

Student Learning Outcomes


Students will be able to:

  • exhibit a sound understanding of the myths of the criminal justice system and demonstrate meaningful knowledge of issues and dilemmas of problem-solving in a pluralistic society.
  • exhibit quantitative and qualitative social science skills that will allow them to meaningfully analyze empirically developed data and engage in program assessment.
  • demonstrate sophisticated thinking and writing in critical, programmatic, and evaluative venues and demonstrate the ability to approach knowledge from a variety of epistemological traditions.
  • demonstrate a solid grounding in a variety of ethical systems to enhance their ability to conduct themselves as ethical persons in complex and demanding situations.
  • conduct constant self-reflection as required to be an effective philosopher/practitioner amidst the American diversity in race, ethnicity, gender and class.

Contact Information


601 Ansari Business Building
(775) 784-6164

College of Liberal Arts Advising: http://www.unr.edu/liberal-arts/student-resources/academic-advising

Transfer to the University of Nevada, Reno


Use the transfer agreement  and the degree planner (available by clicking Print degree planner icon at the top right of this page) to build your plan for graduation with your advisor. Course substitutions not identified on the transfer agreement require UNR advisor approval.

If a major-to-major transfer agreement is not available for your transfer institution, please check the General Core agreement  if available. If neither is available, access Transferology to assist in your planning.

Graduation Requirements


  • Total Units | 120
  • Cumulative GPA | 2.0
  • University GPA | 2.0
  • Major GPA | 2.0
  • Residency Requirement |  30 Upper-Division Units at UNR
  • Major Residency Requirement | 15 Upper-Division Units in the major at UNR
  • Upper-Division Requirement | 42 Upper-Division Units
  • Half Program Units/4 Year Institution | 60 Units

I. Core General Education Requirements (24-27 units)


NOTE: Refer to the Core Curriculum  chapter of this catalog for information regarding the “Core English and Math Completion Policy  .”

Students must meet all Core Objectives (CO1 through CO14). Courses satisfying Core Objectives are designated (e.g., CO9) in General Catalog curricula and course description.

A. Composition & Communication; Critical Analysis & Use of Information (3-6 units) - CO1, CO3


B. Quantitative Reasoning (3 units minimum) - CO2


Refer to the Core Curriculum chapter for a list of approved CO2 courses .

C. Physical & Natural Phenomena (6 units minimum) - CO4, CO4L


Refer to the Core Curriculum chapter for a list of approved CO4/CO4L courses .

D. Cultures, Societies, & Individuals (3 units) - CO6


Refer to the Core Curriculum chapter for a list of approved CO6 courses .

E. Artistic Composition, Interpretation, & Expression (3 units) - CO7


Refer to the Core Curriculum chapter for a list of approved CO7 courses .

F. History & Culture; Constitution (6 units) - CO5, CO8


Refer to the Core Curriculum   chapter in this catalog.

II. Additional Core Requirements (6 units maximum)


Students must take courses that satisfy the following Core Objectives. Some or all of these Core Objectives may be satisfied in the Major Requirements (Section IV). Refer to the Core Curriculum  chapter in this catalog.

A. Science, Technology & Society - CO9


Refer to the Core Curriculum chapter for a list of approved CO9 courses .

C. Global Context - CO11


D. Ethics - CO12


Choose one course; the following count in the Major Requirement:

E. Capstone Integration & Synthesis - CO13


Choose one course; the following recommended courses count in the Major Requirement:

F. Application - CO14


III. Additional College Requirements (6-20 units)


Units may vary depending on initial course placement in foreign language coursework.

A. Foreign Language (0-14 units)


Students seeking a Bachelor of Arts degree must demonstrate proficiency in a foreign language equal to a fourth semester course level through one of the following options:

  1. complete a fourth semester college course in a foreign language or in American Sign Language;
  2. demonstrate proficiency through a means determined by the Department of World Languages and Literatures including but not limited to minimum standardized test scores (CBAPE, SAT II, or IB), attaining a minimum aptitude on an accredited foreign language assessment test, or providing transcript evidence of a high school or equivalent diploma in which English was not the language of instruction; or,
  3. participate in a studies abroad language program pre-approved by the Department of World Languages and Literatures to meet the foreign language requirement. 

Note: Four years of high school foreign language instruction does not automatically satisfy this requirement.

B. College Breadth Requirement (6 units)


Students seeking a Bachelor of Arts degree in the college shall be required to take, within the College of Liberal Arts, 6 units that are outside the departments in which they major or minor, and that exclude courses taken to fulfill the Core General Education requirements (Core Objectives 1 through 8).

IV. Major Requirements (42 units)


A. Major Core Requirements


B. Group Requirement (9 units)


Choose one course from each of the following groups.

V. Minor Requirements (18-21 units)


The Criminal Justice Department accepts any minor approved by the College of Liberal Arts, OR
Complete criminal justice related subjects (approved list of courses available in the department office.)

VI. Electives (4-27 units)


VII. Recommended Schedule


Use the Planner in MyNEVADA to build a custom graduation plan. Review and adjust the plan in each academic advisement session.

A. First Year


Fall Semester (16 units)


  • Prerequisite Core English (3 units) *
  • Quantitative Reasoning (3 units) CO2 *
  • (3 units)
  • Cultures, Societies, & Individuals (3 units) CO6
  • Foreign Language 111 (4 units)
  •  

  • * English and Math course placement is based on test scores. Please consult the Core Curriculum  chapter in this catalog.

Spring Semester (16-17 units)


B. Second Year


Fall Semester (15-16 units)


Spring Semester (15 units)


C. Third Year


Fall Semester (15 units)


Spring Semester (15 units)


  • 300-400 Level CRJ Group II (3 units)
  • 300-400 Level CRJ (3 units)
  • 300-400 Level Related Subject (3 units) OR 
  • 300-400 Level Minor (3 units)
  • College Breadth Requirement (3 units)
  • 300-400 Level General Elective (3 units)

D. Fourth Year


Fall Semester (15 units)


Spring Semester (12 units)