Criminal Justice (Minor)
Minor: Criminal Justice
Program Code: M701
About This Minor. . .
This minor is designed to provide students interested in careers in the justice system with the knowledge, communication and critical thinking skills necessary for success in their field. Graduates secure positions in policing, probation, parole and other aspects of corrections. Many also use this degree as the starting point in their pursuit for a law degree.
Graduates of this minor will be able to:
- Discuss the history and practice of each segment of the Criminal Justice System: police, courts, and corrections. (Specialized Knowledge)
- Examine diversity issues and assess their impact on work and ethical practices in criminal justice (Ethical Reasoning/Personal and Social Responsibility).
- Apply major criminological theories to criminal behavior. (Critical Thinking)
Each section below contains details about the requirements for this program. Select a header to expand the information/requirements for that particular section of the program's requirements.
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Institutional Minor Requirements
The following institutional requirements apply to all CMU minors. Specific programs may have different requirements that must be met in addition to institutional requirements.
- A minor consists of 15-24 semester hours. There may be prerequisites required for the minor which will increase the total number of credit hours for a student who has not already taken those prerequisites.
- Courses taken to satisfy Essential Learning, major requirements, or electives can be counted toward the minor if applicable.
- At least 33 percent of the credit hours required for the minor must be in courses numbered 300 or above.
- At least 25 percent of the classes must be taken at CMU.
- 2.00 cumulative GPA or higher for the courses used for the minor.
- A minor is not a degree by itself and must be earned at the same time as a baccalaureate degree.
- A minor must be outside the major field of study.
- A student may earn up to five minors with any baccalaureate degree at CMU.
- The Catalog Year determines which program sheet and degree requirements a student must fulfill in order to graduate. Visit with your advisor or academic department to determine which catalog year and program requirements sheet you should follow.
- See “Requirements for Undergraduate Degrees and Certificates” in the catalog for a complete list of graduation requirements.
Program Specific Minor Requirements
(24 semester hours)
| Code | Title | Semester Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| CRMJ 201 | Introduction to Criminal Justice | 3 |
| CRMJ 302 | Ethics in Criminal Justice | 3 |
| CRMJ 310 | The Police Process | 3 |
| CRMJ 320 | Corrections | 3 |
| CRMJ 328 | American Court Systems | 3 |
| CRMJ 370 | Criminology | 3 |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 18 | |
| Code | Title | Semester Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Restricted Electives | ||
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| Criminal Procedure | ||
| Community Policing | ||
| Mental Illness and Crime | ||
| Crisis Intervention in Criminal Justice | ||
| Topics | ||
| Criminal Investigations | ||
| Counter-Terrorism and Law Enforcement | ||
| Criminal Law | ||
| Trial, Evidence and Legal Advocacy | ||
| Restorative Justice | ||
| Comparative Criminal Justice | ||
| Internship | ||
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 6 | |
Advising Process and DegreeWorks
Documentation on the pages related to this program is intended for informational purposes to help determine what courses and associated requirements are needed to earn a minor. Meeting with an academic advisor is essential in planning courses and developing a suggested course sequencing. It is ultimately the student’s responsibility to understand and fulfill the requirements for their intended minor.
DegreeWorks is an online degree audit tool available in MAVzone. It is the official record used by the Registrar’s Office to evaluate progress towards a minor. Students are responsible for reviewing their DegreeWorks audit on a regular basis and should discuss questions or concerns with their advisor or academic department head for the minor. Discrepancies in requirements should be reported to the Registrar’s Office.
Graduation Process
A minor cannot be awarded by itself. It must be combined with a baccalaureate degree outside the major field of study. Students should follow the graduation process outlined for the baccalaureate degree and list their majors and minors on the “Intent to Graduate” form.
If a student’s petition for graduation is denied, it will be their responsibility to consult the Registrar’s Office regarding next steps.