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Bachelor of Science in Criminology and Criminal Justice

Degree Requirements

The Bachelor of Science in Criminology and Criminal Justice (BSCCJ) degree requires the completion of 125 credit hours with an overall grade point average (GPA) of 2.0. The first 45 hours of course work is defined as the Preprogram Curriculum. Criminology and criminal Justice course work is offered on both the Omaha and Lincoln campuses of the University of Nebraska. The BSCCJ degree can be earned in its entirety on the Lincoln campus; however, the degree is conferred by the University of Nebraska at Omaha. All of the school policies and requirements applicable to students seeking the BSCCJ degree are the same on both campuses.

Preprogram Curriculum. Students who declare Criminology and Criminal Justice as their major must complete all of the 45 hour Preprogram Curriculum with an overall GPA of 2.5 and no grade lower than "C-" in their criminology and criminal justice courses. These courses include:

ENGL1150 or ENGL1154, and ENGL1160 or ENGL1164 (6 hours)
MATH1320 College Algebra or higher (3 hours) - effective Fall 2007
CJUS1010 Survey of Criminal Justice (3 hours)
CJUS2030 Police and Society, CJUS2110 Survey of Criminal Courts, or CJUS2210 Survey of Corrections - (6 hours - must complete 2 of the 3 courses)
CJUS2510 Criminal Justice Research Methods (3 hours)
General Education Requirements (24 hours - Social Sciences, Humanities, Natural Sciences)

Students seeking entrance into the Upper-division Criminology and Criminal Justice Program must submit an application to the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice. Students may apply with fewer than 45 hours if they are enrolled for the remaining hours during the semester in which they make application. In such cases, students may be granted admission contingent upon completion of the hours with a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 and no grade lower than a "C-" in their criminology and criminal justice courses.

Students wishing to transfer from another institution or department within the University of Nebraska must have a 2.5 cumulative grade point average. They must complete required courses stipulated above and apply for admission to the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice before being admitted to the Upper-division Criminology and Criminal Justice Program. Students wishing to transfer are encouraged to contact the Academic Advisor for the School for more details on the transfer policy or consult the current undergraduate catalog.

Application forms may be obtained in the school office. The application deadline for admission for the fall semester is the last working day of July. The application deadline for the spring semester is the last working day of October.

The policies set out above are intended to apply to all students who seek admission to the Upper-division Criminology and Criminal Justice Program. For good cause shown, the School Director has the discretion to make exceptions to the admission policy.

Students are required to fulfill program requirements in effect during the academic year they are admitted to the Criminology and Criminal Justice Program.

English Composition (9 credit hours). Criminology and Criminal Justice students may complete the English Composition requirement in one of the following ways:

Those students who place into ENGL 1150 are required to take 9 hours of English Composition (1150 or 1154, 1160 or 1164, and 2400 or another 2000 to 4000 level composition course approved by the Criminology and Criminal Justice Academic Advisor);

Students who test out of ENGL 1150 and are placed in 1160, will be required to take 6 hours of English Composition (1160 or 1164, and 2400 or another 2000 to 4000 level composition course approved by the Criminology and Criminal Justice Academic Advisor);

Those students testing out of both 1150 and 1160, will be required to take 3 hours of English Composition (2400 or another 2000 to 4000 level course approved by the Criminology and Criminal Justice Academic Advisor).

Social Sciences (minimum of 12 credit hours). Courses may be selected from the departments of Anthropology, Black Studies, Chicano/a-Latino/a Studies, Economics, Geography (except Physical Geography), Gerontology, History, Native American Studies, Political Science, Psychology, Public Administration, Sociology, Social Work, Urban Studies, SPED 4510, TED 4600 or 4630, and Women’s Studies. No more than 6 credit hours may be applied from any one department.

Humanities (minimum of 12 credit hours). Courses may be selected from the departments of Art, Communication (Broadcasting, Journalism, Speech), Dramatic Arts, English Literature, Foreign Languages, Music, Philosophy, and Religion. Each student must complete at least 3 credit hours of oral communication (Speech 1110 or 2120). No more than 8 credit hours may be applied from any one department.

Natural Sciences and Mathematics (minimum of 12 credit hours). Students must complete MATH 1320 College Algebra or higher (effective Fall 2007). Each student will be required to complete a minimum of one laboratory course from the following disciplines: Astronomy (PHYS 1350), Biology, Chemistry, Physical Geography, Geology, and Physics. Additional courses may be selected from any of the above disciplines, Food Science 1310, Computer Science 1500 or higher, or a higher level mathematics course.

Statistics (3 credit hours). Each student must complete one three-hour course in basic statistics. CJUS 3000 (Applied Statistics and Data Processing in the Public Sector) may be used to satisfy this requirement, but does not apply toward the 39 hours of required Criminology and Criminal Justice courses.  Courses from Statistics, Mathematics, Psychology or Sociology may also apply.

Criminology and Criminal Justice (minimum of 39 credit hours). All candidates for the BSCCJ degree must complete CJUS 010 (Survey of Criminal Justice); 2 of the following 3 courses - CJUS2030 (Police and Society), CJUS2110 (Criminal Court System), CJUS2210 (Survey of Corrections); CJUS2510 (Research Methods); CJUS3350 (Criminology); CJUS3510 (Criminal Procedure); plus 21 hours of CJUS electives. A minimum of 21 credit hours of Criminology and Criminal Justice must be completed at the 3000/4000 level.

Minor or Area of Concentration (minimum of 18 credit hours). The area of concentration must contain at least 12 credit hours of 3000/4000 level work chosen in consultation with the Criminology and Criminal Justice Academic Advisor. Students wishing to pursue a minor should refer to the UNO Undergraduate Catalog and consult with the Academic Advisor for specific minor requirements.

Electives (minimum of 20 credit hours). Students may select electives after consultation with their Academic Advisor. In many instances, the elective hours can be used to earn a second minor. Elective courses may include additional criminology and criminal justice courses.

CJUS4999 Senior Assessment (0 credits). During the semester in which students plan to graduate, they must register for and complete the senior assessment, CJUS4999. This instrument is designed to assess student learning, monitor department performance and identify changes needed.  Once registered for CJUS4999, students will be notified of the dates and times the Senior Assessment will be given.

Program Information

Each student must complete 6 credit hours of cultural diversity courses - one course must have a U.S. racial or Hispanic minority group focus (listed as specific). CJUS3380 Minorities and Criminal Justice, meets 3 hours of this requirement. The remaining 3 hours can be satisfied with another 3 hour course in minority studies, women’s studies, or course work with an international or foreign focus. CJUS3390 Women, Crime and Justice, CJUS4760 Terrorism, and CJUS4710 Comparative Criminal Justice Systems: England, meets 3 hours of this requirement.  Please refer to the UNO Undergraduate Catalog for an approved list of Cultural Diversity courses.

Students must achieve a grade of "C-" or better in each criminology and criminal justice course used as part of the 39-hour requirement (except for CJUS3970 CJ Internship, which is graded satisfactory/unsatisfactory where "credit" is given).

A minimum of 30 of the last 36 hours must be earned by the student in residence in the College of Public Affairs and Community Service at either the Omaha or Lincoln campus.

At least 21 hours of criminology and criminal justice must be taken at the University of Nebraska, at either the Omaha or Lincoln campus.

A minimum of 45 credit hours must be earned in upper division (3000/4000) courses. At least 21 of these upper division hours must be taken in the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice.

A maximum of 25 credit hours from non-traditional or non-classroom courses (correspondence, independent study, internet mediated) may be applied toward the BSCCJ degree.

No more than 12 credit hours of independent study courses may be applied toward the BSCCJ degree. Of these, no more than 6 hours can be from UNO and no more than 6 hours can be from another institution.

A maximum of 24 hours may be taken pass/no pass and none of the 39 hours required for the criminology and criminal justice major may be taken pass/no pass (excluding CJUS3970 CJ Internship graded satisfactory/unsatisfactory).

For More Information

For answers to individual questions, please contact the Academic Advisor in the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice at (402) 554-2610.