Criminology and Criminal Justice Requirements | 2024-2025 Academic Catalog | SIU

The Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice meets the objectives of students interested in law enforcement, the courts, corrections, juvenile justice, criminal behavior, and other aspects of crime and criminal justice.

The curriculum is designed to provide students with a broad view of crime and criminal justice. Building on the fundamental knowledge developed in core courses and a set of electives, students can select from a variety of courses to gain in-depth, specialized knowledge about their particular areas of interest within the curriculum. To supplement their educational experience, students may consider coursework or a minor in other fields such as: accounting, anthropology, geography and environmental resources, Latino and Latin American studies, political science, psychology, sociology, or Spanish. These courses are best chosen in consultation with faculty guidance, depending on interests and career goals. This approach provides a sound foundation in Criminology and Criminal Justice while allowing the flexibility necessary to accommodate individual interests and needs.

A field internship placement may be an important element in the program and is encouraged for interested students who meet program criteria.

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Criminology and Criminal Justice Degree Requirements

Degree Requirements			Credit Hours
University Core Curriculum Requirements				39
Requirements for Major in Criminology & Criminal Justice				42
Core Requirements: CCJ 101, CCJ 203, CCJ 290, CCJ 310 or CCJ 360, CCJ 316, CCJ 317			18
CCJ Electives: 24 credit hours, with at least 12 credit hours from 400-level CCJ courses			24
Electives				39
Total				120

Completion of CCJ 101 and CCJ 290 (or consent of the instructor) is required for taking many 300- or 400-level Criminology and Criminal Justice courses. In addition, completion of CCJ 316 (or consent of instructor) is required for taking most 400-level Criminology and Criminal Justice courses. Prerequisites may be associated with individual courses; refer to the catalog description of the specific course.

No more than four credit hours of CCJ 495 can be counted toward the major.

At least 24 of the credit hours applied toward completion of the requirements of a B.A. in Criminology and Criminal Justice must have been earned in Criminology and Criminal Justice courses offered at SIU Carbondale.

A student may substitute PSYC 211 for CCJ 316.

Criminology and Criminal Justice Minor

A minor in Criminology and Criminal Justice consists of 15 credit hours of Criminology and Criminal Justice courses, which must include CCJ 101 and CCJ 290. At least nine of the 15 credit hours must consist of Criminology and Criminal Justice courses taken at SIU Carbondale.

Undergraduate Certificate in Conservation Law Enforcement

The Conservation Law Enforcement Certificate is designed for students interested in the intersection of forestry, wildlife management, conservation, policing, and law. It is intended to provide students with a broad knowledge base applicable for careers as conservation officers, wildlife/game wardens, park rangers, or other similar careers. The 42-credit certificate includes 12 credit hours of foundational skills, 6 credit hours of conservation law enforcement classes, 12 credit hours of Forestry classes, and 12 credit hours of Criminology and Criminal Justice classes. All coursework used to complete the certificate program may be counted toward a bachelor’s degree in Forestry and/or a bachelor’s degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice. A minimum of 24 credits toward the certificate must be earned at SIU Carbondale. See the Forestry page for course requirements.

Special Opportunities

Motivated, high-achieving students interested in continuing their studies may save time and money by applying for entry to the CCJ accelerated master's or joint CCJ B.A./School of Law JD during their junior year through one of the special programs available in Criminology and Criminal Justice.

The Accelerated Master of Arts program in Criminology and Criminal Justice allows students to begin progressing towards a master's degree during their senior year and the opportunity to earn the degree with one additional year of study beyond the undergraduate degree.

The joint Criminology and Criminal Justice B.A./School of Law J.D. program allows students to earn both degrees in as few as six years. Students should refer to the SIU Graduate Catalog or School of Law Catalog for full details. Consult an academic advisor for minimum admissions requirements and undergraduate course planning. Admission to the Graduate School or School of Law must also be earned prior to graduation with the undergraduate degree.