University General Course Catalog 2025-2026 (DRAFT)
Criminal Justice (Justice Studies Specialization), B.A. in C.J.
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Students who earn a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice with a specialization in Justice Studies complete a social science degree preparing them for justice-related careers across a wide array of organizations, graduate study, and/or law school. The Criminal Justice degree is recommended for students who desire an understanding of the criminal justice system and justice. While the Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice degree has different specializations, all the specializations focus in the first two years on general education and foundation criminal justice courses. The foundation criminal justice courses provide students with key information about the U.S. criminal justice system. In the last two years of the degree, students select a specialization, including the option of Justice Studies. The Justice Studies specialization explores issues of inequality, injustice, and social change in order to improve justice in society.
Students in the Justice Studies specialization take criminal justice courses addressing efforts to build and improve justice systems that ensure fairness, promote safety, and strengthen communities. Further, students take 21 units in courses in other programs to learn more about justice and justice related challenges in society. These 21 units are in four groupings of:
- Social Identities;
- Ethics & Rights;
- Conflict & Resolution; and
- Institutions, Systems, & Global justice issues.
Courses in these four groupings provide students with the most current knowledge in the field so as to prepare them to meet the challenges of an increasingly complex, technological, and diverse society. The Justice Studies specialization is grounded in rigorous and interdisciplinary study. The Justice Studies specialization encourages systematic, creative, and critical thinking so as to prepare students with the experiences, skills, and knowledge to live and work in a diverse society so as to make both the criminal justice system and society fairer, more inclusive, and better for all.
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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.
Transfer to the University of Nevada, Reno
Use the transfer agreements and the degree planner (available by clicking  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
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 (3 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.
B. Diversity & Equity - CO10
Choose one course; the following recommended courses also count in the Major Requirement:
D. Ethics - CO12
Choose one course; the following recommended courses also count in the Major Requirement:
E. Capstone Integration & Synthesis - CO13
Choose one course; the following recommended courses also count in the Major Requirement:
III. Additional College Requirements (6-20 units)
Units may vary depending on initial course placement in foreign language coursework.
A. World Language Requirement (0-14 units)
Students seeking this bachelor’s degree must demonstrate proficiency in a world language other than English equal to a fourth semester course level through one of the following options:
- complete a fourth semester college course in a world language other than English;
- 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 world language assessment test, or providing transcript evidence of a high school or equivalent diploma in which English was not the language of instruction; or,
- participate in a study abroad language program pre-approved by the Department of World Languages and Literatures to meet the world language requirement.
Note: Four years of high school world 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 (63 units)
CRJ Senior Experience (3 units)
B. Justice Studies Specialization (36 units)
Criminal Justice (15 units)
CRJ Justice Studies (6 units)
Related CRJ Elective (3 units)
Additional 300-400 Level CRJ (3 units)
- 300-400 Level CRJ (3 units)
Justice Studies Outside CRJ (21 units)
Complete 21 units in Justice Studies courses outside the Department of Criminal Justice:
- 6 units from Group I,
- 6 units from Group II,
- 6 units from Group III, and
- 3 units from Group IV
Double counting courses between the groups is not allowed.
Many of these courses carry outside prerequisites. Consult with an academic advisor to develop a plan to meet prerequisites. In many cases, prerequisite courses can also be used to satisfy the CO6 Cultures, Societies, & Individuals requirement and/or the College of Liberal Arts Breadth requirement.
Group I: Social Identities (6 units)
Choose two courses from the following. - COM 275 - Racism, Colonialism, and Communication (3 units) CO10
- COM 348 - Latina/o/x Communication Studies (3 units) CO10, CO11
- COM 407 - Gender and Communication (3 units) CO10
- COM 412 - Intercultural Communication (3 units) CO10, CO11, CO13
- ETS 251 - Theories of Race and Ethnicity (3 units) CO6, CO10
- ETS 307 - Topics in Race and Racism (3 units) CO10
- GRI 201 - Narratives of Identity and Difference (3 units) CO10
- HIST 293C - Introduction to African-American History I (3 units) CO8, CO10
- HIST 416B - Contemporary America: The United States since 1945 (3 units) CO10, CO11
- HIST 433A - The African American Freedom Struggle After 1865 (3 units) CO10, CO13
- PSC 353 - Identity Politics in the United States (3 units) CO10
- PSC 354 - Politics and Women (3 units) CO10
- PSC 401A - Urban Politics (3 units) CO13
- SOC 342 - Social Stratification (3 units) CO10
- SOC 379 - Ethnic and Race Relations (3 units) CO10, CO13
- SOC 453 - Gender and Society (3 units) CO10, CO13
- SOC 490 - Class, Race and Gender (3 units) CO10
Group II: Ethics and Rights (6 units)
Choose two courses from the following. Group III: Conflict and Resolution (6 units)
Choose two courses from the following. Group IV: Institutions, Systems, and Global (3 units)
Choose one course from the following. V. Minor Requirements (0 units)
While a minor is not required for the Criminal Justice (Justice Studies Specialization) option since there is required justice studies related supporting course work (21 units), students may select a minor to expand their knowledge and skills, but selecting a minor will require additional coursework. Please see an advisor if a minor is selected. VI. Electives (7-27 units)
Students will need to take general elective courses to meet the 120 unit degree requirement. Students need to be aware of the need 42 unit upper-division requirement when selecting general electives. (Please see an advisor if there are questions or for assistance).
VII. Recommended Schedule
Use the Planner in MyNEVADA to build a custom graduation plan. Review and adjust the plan in each academic advisement session.
Spring Semester (16-17 units)
Fall Semester (15-16 units)
Spring Semester (15 units)
Fall Semester (15 units)
- CRJ Diversity (3 units) CO10
- Justice Studies Outside CRJ (3 units) (1 of 7)
- Justice Studies Outside CRJ (3 units) (2 of 7)
- College Breadth Requirement (3 units)
Spring Semester (15 units)
- CRJ 388 - Topics in Justice Studies (3 units)
- College Breadth Requirement (3 units)
- Justice Studies Outside CRJ (3 units) (3 of 7)
- Justice Studies Outside CRJ (3 units) (4 of 7)
- 300-400 Level CRJ Elective (3 units)
Fall Semester (15 units)
- CRJ 427 - Struggle for Justice (3 units) CO10, CO13
- CRJ Theory (3 units)
- Justice Studies Outside CRJ (3 units) (5 of 7)
- Justice Studies Outside CRJ (3 units) (6 of 7)
- 300-400 Level General Elective (3 units)
Spring Semester (12-13 units)
- CRJ Senior Experience (3 units)
- Related CRJ Elective (3 units)
- Justice Studies Outside CRJ (3 units) (7 or 7)
- General Elective (3-4 units)
NOTE: Select General Electives to complete 120 units overall and 42 upper-division units. See “Graduation Requirements” above.
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