Criminal Justice Degree

North American University’s Criminal Justice Program seeks to provide a uniquely relative academic curriculum based on a holistic view of the American Criminal Justice System. NAU students will receive an education based on cutting edge information from highly qualified Professors and Instructors who possess the academic credentials and global experiences that remain relevant and current in an ever-changing world. The program supports a wide array of Criminal Justice employment opportunities starting with entry level positions and extending as far as the students’ desire. NAU is determined to improve the world of law enforcement, one NAU graduate at a time. Whether as a Crime Lab Analyst, Crime Scene Investigator, Forensic Investigator or any other critical law enforcement position, NAU students will be prepared to lead.

Criminal Justice Degree Requirements

For a B.S. degree in Criminal Justice, students must complete 120 semester credit hours:

  • 36 credits of general education
  • 42 credits of core courses
  • 18 credits of forensic science concentration courses, and
  • 24 credits of unrestricted elective courses.

The Criminal Justice program offers one area of concentration: Forensic Science. In addition to the criminal justice core courses, the forensic science concentration courses provide an in-depth understanding of forensic science concepts and the opportunity to enhance forensic science skills. Concentrations require 18 credits for completion. Similar to the core courses, the concentration courses build on the fundamental knowledge attained in lower-level course work

  • CRJS 1301 Introduction to Criminal Justice System
  • CRJS 2302 Policing System and Practices in America
  • CRJS 2303 Criminal Law
  • CRJS 2304 Constitutional Law
  • CRJS 2305 Criminal Trial and the Court
  • CRJS 3306 Correctional System and Practices in America
  • CRJS 3307 Criminology
  • CRJS 3308 Criminal Procedure & Evidence
  • CRJS 3309 Technical Writing
  • CRJS 3310 Criminal Investigations
  • CRJS 3311 Criminal Justice Research
  • CRJS 3312 Criminal Psychology
  • CRJS 3313 Diversity and Multiculturalism
  • CRJS 4322 Ethics in Criminal Justice

Three of the following:

Composition, Communications, and Foreign Language (9 hours)

  • COMM1311 Fundamentals of Communication (3 cr.)
  • ENGL 1311 Composition I (3 cr.)
  • ENGL 1312 Composition II (3 cr.)
  • SPAN 1311 Elementary Spanish (3 cr.)

Two of the following:

Humanities and Fine Arts (6 hours)

  • ARTS 1311 Art Appreciation
  • ENGL 2315 Survey of British Literature I
  • ENGL 2315 Survey of British Literature II
  • ENGL 2316 Survey of American Literature I
  • ENGL 2318 Survey of American Literature II
  • ENGL 2319 Survey of World Literature
  • HIST 1311 U.S. History I
  • HIST 1312 U.S. History II
  • HIST 2314 History of Texas
  • MUSI 1306 Music Appreciation (3cr.)
  • PHIL 1311 Introduction to Logic and Critical Thinking
  • PHIL 1312 Professional Ethics
  • PHIL 1313 Introduction to Philosophy

Two of the following:

Natural Science and Mathematics (6 hours)

  • BIOL 1311 Introductory Biology (3 cr.)
  • BIOL 1312 Nutrition (3 cr.)
  • GEOG 2312 Regional Geography in the World (3 cr.)
  • GEOL 1311 Earth Science (3 cr.)
  • MATH 1311 College Algebra (3 cr.)
  • MATH 1313 Pre-calculus (3 cr.)
  • MATH 2314 Calculus I (3 cr.)

Two of the following:

Social and Behavioral Science (9 Credits)

  • ECON 2311 Principles of Macroeconomics
  • ECON 2312 Principles of Microeconomics
  • GOVT 2311 U.S. Government I
  • GOVT 2312 U.S. Government II
  • PSYC 2311 General Psychology
  • SOCI 2311 Introduction to Sociology

  • FORS 2329 Forensic Science and Criminal Justice
  • FORS 3330 Forensic Investigations
  • FORS 3331 Forensic Psychology
  • FORS 3332 Forensic Biology
  • FORS 4333 Digital Forensic
  • FORS 4334 Forensic Studies Experience

  • CRJS 2315 Issues in Criminal Justice
  • CRJS 2316 Theories in Criminal Justice System
  • CRJS 2317 Comparative/International Criminal Justice
  • CRJS 2318 Victimology
  • CRJS 3314 Statistics in Criminal Justice
  • CRJS 3319 Introduction to Criminalistics
  • CRJS 3320 Juvenile Delinquency
  • CRJS 4322 Ethics in Criminal Justice
  • CRJS 4323 Substance Abuse
  • CRJS 4324 Terrorism
  • CRJS 4327 Crisis Communication/Emergency Management
  • CRJS 4328 Social Justice
  • CRJS 4398 Internship
  • CRJS 4399 Special Topics
  • FORS 3336 Criminal Profiling
  • FORS 4338 Serial Murder
  • FORS 4339 Crime Scene Investigation Techniques

Objectives

The objectives of B.S. in Criminal Justice program are:

  1. Equip students with methods used to reduce and control crime, as well as understand society’s response to crime, the consequences of crime to society from multiple criminal justice perspectives, criminological theories, and correctional ideologies.
  2. Provide students with analytical thinking skills to critically analyze scholarly research, governmental crime statistics as well as private research statistics, & public policy for accuracy, impact, & awareness.
  3. Equip students with a foundational understanding of the ethical implication of professions and the correlations between crime and the various correlates, such as race/ethnicity, gender, age, social class, and social institutions within the judicial system.
  4. Equip students with technology used in forensic science.
  5. Provide students with effective evaluation to understand, analyze, and synthesize relevant information applicable to the criminal justice field, whether it is policing, courts, law, corrections, or the juvenile justice system.

Student Learning Outcomes

B.S in Criminal Justice degree program has seven student learning outcomes (SLO) and each course in the curriculum is designed to correspond to at least one SLO. Graduates of the program will:

  1. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of links between forensic science that will allow students to make reasoned ethical and legal judgements related to the criminal justice profession.
  2. Compare fundamental theories in various criminal justice disciplines and relate them to current criminal justice environments.
  3. Understanding the importance of professionalism and ethical behavior in the forensic science community will allow students to analyze criminal justice problems and formulate relevant solutions as well as assess possible outcomes.
  4. Understand the need for forensic science in the criminal justice field as well as develop written communication skills for presentation of findings in accordance with established professional guidelines.
  5. Develop oral communication skills for discussing the scientific method in a laboratory setting and effectively testifying in a court of law.
  6. Understand the basic principles used in forensic science, crime scene investigation and reconstruction, including evidence collection and preservation.
  7. Develop an understanding of the importance of the interaction between law enforcement, scientists, forensics, correctional agencies, and the legal profession.