COLLEGE of ARTS and SCIENCES
CRIMINAL JUSTICE
Professor Jim Maupin, department head
Professors Maupin, Mays (Emeritus), Winfree; Associate Professor Bejarano, Keys; Assistant Professors Crowley, Duran, Greene, Maratea, Posadas; Assistant College Professors Akins, Corbett, DiMatteo, Dimitrijevic, Joseph, Ryan.
(575) 646-3316
http://crimjust.nmsu.edu
DEGREE: Bachelor of Criminal Justice
MINORS: Forensic Science
The criminal justice degree plan is broadly interdisciplinary in nature embracing the study of the humanities, law, natural, behavioral and social sciences. The curriculum seeks to balance theoretical inquiry with applied knowledge.
Students are prepared for careers in law enforcement, corrections, probation and parole, work with juveniles, victim services, non- and not-for profit organizations connected and the related field of forensics. Graduates have also been successful in law school and graduate programs in the social sciences. The undergraduate major consists of at least 36 credits in the major field, 21 of which must be numbered 300 or above (excluding C J 393, Internship in Criminal Justice).
The department offers an interdisciplinary minor in Forensic Sciences. Students interested in the minor should consult with the department head.
DEGREE: Bachelor of Criminal Justice
Lower Division (100- and 200-level) Departmental Requirements
| C J 101G, Introduction to Criminal Justice | 3 |
| C J 205, Criminal Law I | 3 |
| C J 210, The American Law Enforcement Systems | 3 |
| C J 230, Introduction to Corrections | 3 |
| C J 250, Courts and the Criminal Justice System | 3 |
NOTE: Prior to enrolling in upper division courses, lower division courses must be completed or final courses must be in progress.
Upper-Division (300- and 400-level) Departmental Requirements:
| One course from the following: C J 300, Introduction to Criminal Justice Research; GOVT 300, Political Research Skills; PSY 310, Experimental Methods; SOC 352, Social Research: Methods; S WK 467, Social Work Research I | 3 |
| C J 301, Advanced Research Methods (or any statistics class) | 3 |
| C J 449, Senior Seminar | 3 |
| Criminal Justice electives: 4 upper-division criminal justice courses (not to include C J 393, Internship in Criminal Justice, or any criminal justice required course) | 12 |
Nondepartmental Requirements
Students seeking the BC J degree must complete the College of Arts and Sciences second language requirement (see second language requirement under "College Degree Requirement" section of this catalog) or MATH 191G, and two Viewing a Wider World courses, one each from two different colleges other than the College of Arts and Sciences.
A student must earn a C or better to receive credit for any departmental and nondepartmental requirement for the BC J degrees.
General Electives: Sufficient to bring the total credits to 128, including 48 upper-division credits.
MINOR: Forensic Science
Forensic Science is the application of principles and techniques of scientific analysis in a legal context. Forensic scientists study physical evidence to resolve issues involving criminal investigations, environment analyses and similar areas of research.
A student must pass 18 credits with a grade of C or higher from the following curriculum to earn the Forensic Science minor. No courses may be taken S/U. Students must take at least 6 credits from departments outside their major(s). At least 9 credits in any minor must be upper division. Courses marked with*asterisks* have prerequisites, and students should check the catalog to ensure that they have taken prerequisites before enrolling in these courses. Students must register in the minor before enrolling in any upper division Criminal Justice courses.
The following curriculum represents minimum requirements for a minor. Students interested in a career in Forensic Science are encouraged to take additional courses from those listed below.
I. CORE COURSES: Five credits from among the following courses: C J 306, Criminal Procedural Law; C J 321, Criminal Investigation and Intelligence; C J 424, Forensic Law; PHYS 304, Forensic Physics; and/or TOX 453, Regulatory Toxicology
II. TRACKS: Students must complete 9 credits from ONE of the following tracks; (A) Laboratory Analysis, (B) Human Forensic Analysis, or (C) Forensic Psychology.
| TRACK A. Laboratory Analysis (9 credits from the following): | |
| *BIOL 221/221L,General Microbiology/Lab, or *BIOL 311/331L, General Microbiology/Lab; *BIOL 330, Comparative Anatomy and Embryology; *BIOL 354/354L, Physiology of Humans; *BCHE 395, Biochemistry; *BCHE 396, Biochemistry and Biotechnology; *CHEM 371, Analytical Chemistry; *CHEM 421, Instrumental Analysis; *TOX 361, Basic Toxicology; *TOX 423, Environmental Toxicology; PHYS 211/GL, General Physics I/ General Physics Lab | 4 |
| TRACK B. Human Forensic Analysis (9 credits from the following): | |
| Take 9 credits from: ANTH 315, Introduction to Archeology; ANTH 355, Physical Anthropology; ANTH 357V, Medical Anthropology; ANTH 388, Intermediate Field Session; ANTH 398, Intermediate Historical Field Archaeology; ANTH 451, Practical Forensic Anthropology (1 credit); *BIOL 330, Comparative Anatomy and Embryology; ANTH 474*, Human Osteology; ANTH 477, Fauna Analysis | 9 |
| Honors, Special Topics, or Independent Studies courses if approved by Academic Head, Department of Criminal Justice. | |
| TRACK C. Forensic Psychology (9 credits from the following): | |
| Principles of Behavior: *PSY 317, Social Psychology; *PSY 321, Psychology of Personality; *PSY 324, Sexual Behavior; *PSY 330, Psychology and the Law; *PSY 358, Individual and Group Differences; *PSY 376, Evolutionary Psychology | 9 |
| Psychological Treatment:: *PSY 302, Abnormal Psychology; *PSY 303, Community Psychology; *PSY 374, Psychopharmacology and Toxicology; *PSY 445, Clinical Psychology; C J 346 Psychology and the Justice System | 9 |
| TRACK D. General Track (9 credits from the following): | |
| ANTH 370, Forensic Anthropology; *ANTH 474, Human Osteology; C J 306, Criminal Procedure; C J 307, Law of Evidence; C J 321, Criminal Investigation; C J 346, Psychology and the Justice System; C J 424, Forensic Law; *PSY 330, Psychology and the Law, PHYS 304, Forensic Physics | 9 |
III. ADDITIONAL COURSE
Complete one course from areas I or II above not already completed.