Bachelor of Criminal Justice (BCJ) Program

Criminal Justice is the study of both domestic and international structures, functions, behaviors, and public policies related to the apprehension, prosecution, sentencing, and incarceration of offenders.

Historic Capitol Square Richmond Virginia Civil Rights Monument with quote from Thurgood Marshall (first African American U.S. Supreme Court justice). It reads: "The legal system can force open doors, and sometimes-even knock down walls, but it cannot build bridges. That job belongs to you and me."

Criminal Justice is the study of both domestic and international structures, functions, behaviors, and public policies related to the apprehension, prosecution, sentencing, and incarceration of offenders. 

  • Charismatic African american Male lawyer in courtroom

  • Career Opportunities: Legal

  • *May require additional certification(s) and/or advanced level degree.

    Attorney*
    Court Reporter
    Judge*
    Paralegal
    Court Administration
  • Confident looking Female African American woman lawyer dressed in elegant black suit folding arms and looking to the side, standing in front of white government building.

  • Career Opportunities: Law Enforcement

  • Bailiff
    Border Patrol Agent
    Bounty Hunter
    Corrections Officer
    Crime Analyst
    Crime Scene Investigator
    Criminal Intelligence Analyst
    Criminal Profiler
    Criminologist*
    Customs Agent
    Evidence and Property Specialist
    Federal Special Agent
    Forensic Specialist
    Game Warden
    Geographic Information Systems Analyst
    Substance Abuse Counselor
    Military Police
    Parole Officer
    Police Detective
    Private Investigator
    Probation Officer
    Security Officer
    TSA Officer

  • More About Criminal Justice Careers

Bachelor of Criminal Justice (BCJ) Degree Requirements

The components of the criminal justice program consist of theory, research, criminal law, law enforcement, corrections, and juvenile justice.

In addition to general studies requirements, students must meet all University requirements (e.g. grades of "C" or better in Gordon Rule Courses), and grades of "C" or above in all criminal justice courses.

Students must master CCJ 2010 “Introduction to Criminal Justice” before taking upper level courses. It is expected that these twenty-one (21) semester credit hours of core courses will be taken at Florida A&M University. The additional nine (9) semester hours are to be taken from a single substantive area.

Students may choose from the substantive areas of:

(1) Legal Studies
CCJ 4932 Contemporary Judicial Issue (3) OR CJL 4065 American Criminal Procedure (3)
CCJ 4031 Cases In Corrections (3)
CJL 4064 American Criminal Law (3)

(2) Minority and Gender
CCJ 4670 Women And Crime (3)
CCJ 4662 Race, Class, And Justice (3)
CCJ 3129 Multicultural Perspectives on Adolescence and Adolescent Development (3)

(3) Juvenile Justice
CJJ 3010 Juvenile Delinquency And The Juvenile Justice System (3)
CJJ 3544 Youth Management, Community Organization, And Advocacy(3)
CJJ 3545 Social Problems Of Youth (3)

(4) Corrections
CCJ 4031 Cases In Corrections (3)
CCJ 4360 Contemporary Issues in Corrections (3)
CJC 4164 Community Corrections (3)

Criminal Justice majors are required to complete eight (8) required courses totaling thirty (30) semester hours of upper division criminal justice courses  and three (3) courses in a designated substantive area* as provided below:

  • CCJ 2010 Introduction to Criminal Justice (3) 
  • CCJ 3117 Theories of Criminal Behavior (3)
  • CCJ 3718 Statistics in Criminal Justice (3)
  • CCJ 4700 Research Methods in Criminal Justice (3)
  • CCJ 4934 Seminar in Criminal Justice (3)
  • CJE 4065 Police and Society (3)
  • CJL 3510 American Court System (3)
  • CJL 4012 Penology (3)

 

Elective Internship Options for Criminal Justice Majors Only
CCJ 4947 Field Experience In Criminal Justice (3)
A minor is required for criminal justice majors. The minor requires eighteen (18) credit hours of coursework in an approved non-criminal justice/juvenile justice field. The curriculum for the minor follows the requirements specified by the minor field. A grade below a “C” will not be accepted for credit toward the minor.

Minors in criminal justice are required to complete eighteen (18) credit hours of course work [15 hours must be satisfied at the 3000 level or above]. The following course may not be used to satisfy the minor: CCJ 4947 Field Experience in Criminal Justice (Internship).

Learn more about Minoring in Criminal Justice

 

Internships are available for students to acquire experience in their chosen field of study. The internship is optional, but students are strongly encouraged to arrange their schedules so that they can complete an internship before they graduate. Graduates of the program will be qualified to work in agencies throughout the criminal justice system or enter graduate or law school. A grade below a “C” will not be accepted for credit toward the major.

Criminal Justice Course Offerings: The course offerings indicate courses offered during the Fall and Spring semesters.

Criminal Justice Program Curriculum : The degree audit is a management tool to indicate what major courses have been completed and which are needed to earn a BCJ degree.

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Contact Us

The Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice
1740 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd
Perry Paige #403
Tallahassee, Florida 32307
P:
(850) 599-3316
F:
(850) 599-8541
E:
sociologycj@famu.edu