Minor in Criminal Justice
A greater grasp of law and order.
Whether you’re preparing for a career in law enforcement, industrial and homeland security, law, social work, corrections, or the judicial system, or you simply want to gain a better understanding of today’s justice landscape, you can benefit from a minor in criminal justice. It can serve as a useful supplement to a bachelor’s degree in social work, legal studies, business, English, education and more.
The criminal justice minor at William Woods University includes coursework on the American Legal System, Criminal Law and also the flexibility to take various upper level courses in topics that interest you — for example, criminal investigations, terrorism or cybercrime and information warfare.
Requirements/Curriculum
The minor in criminal justice at William Woods University includes 18 course credits total — 9 required course credits and 9 required elective credits.
Courses you may take
CMJ 110 - Introduction to Criminal Justice -S - 3.00
This introductory course will examine crime in America with a focus on the role of police, courts, and correctional institutions. Students will consider the balance between freedom and security issues and evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the American justice system as it adapts to cultural, political, and societal changes.
CMJ 180 - Criminology -T - 3.00
This introductory course will explore the cause and major theories of criminal behavior. Students will learn the various research techniques that have been used to study criminal behavior and examine connections to social, environmental and ethnographical factors. Students will gain a more complete understanding of crime and how it relates to human social life. Finally students will apply the knowledge gained in their studies to examine current policy trends and the methods used to address crime and proscribed social behavior.
CMJ 270 - Criminal Law - 3.00
This course involves the study of substantive and procedural criminal law including due process, probable cause, statutory and case law authorities governing criminal law and rules of criminal procedure. This course will also provide a foundation for further work in the Criminal Justice field, and host an in-depth examination of the crimes committed by suspects, and actions taken by criminal justice professionals to deal with those crimes.