Criminal and Community Justice (BS)

Degree Type
Degree/Major
Area of Interest
Health and Human Services
Degree Level
Undergraduate
College
College of Engineering, Letters, and Sciences
Sample Plan

Viterbo’s criminal and community justice program provides students with exposure to many aspects of the legal system and careers in corrections, the courts, law enforcement, and victim services. Viterbo students will not only gain knowledge of the structure and function of the criminal justice system, but develop awareness of social issues, ethics, and the role of class, race, and gender in their profession. The major focuses on the importance of communities in addressing and finding solutions for delinquent and criminal behavior.

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Policy
  • Due to the interdisciplinary nature of the criminal and community justice major, students may not minor in sociology unless they take an additional nine credits in sociology, outside those required by the criminal and community justice major.
  • Students must earn a C or better in all courses required for the major. If a student earns less than a C, they must retake the course.
  • Students majoring in criminal and community justice (BA or BS) must maintain a criminal and community justice grade point average (GPA) of 2.25 or higher to continue in and graduate from this program. The criminal and community justice GPA is based on all grades earned in the required and elective courses taken in criminal and community justice and required support courses. Any student whose criminal and community justice GPA falls below 2.25 will be placed on probation for one semester. If the criminal and community justice GPA is not raised during that semester, the student may not enroll in further criminal and community justice courses.
Learning Outcomes
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the structure and function of the components of the criminal and community justice system
  • Demonstrate an understanding of major criminological theories and an ability to apply them to practical examples
  • Employ scientific reasoning and critical thinking when evaluating and conducting social science research about criminal justice issues and policies
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the roles that class, race, and gender play in the workings of the criminal justice system
  • Effectively communicate their ideas orally and in writing
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the professional code of ethics and an ability to make decisions consistent with those standards

    Complete one Franciscan Values and Traditions course (VUSM-100 level course). Transfer or re-entry students may have one or two mission seminars waived based on the number of transfer or completed credits.
    Complete one Living in a Diverse World course. Transfer or re-entry students may have one or two mission seminars waived based on the number of transfer or completed credits.
    Complete one Social Justice and Equity course.
    Complete one The Ethical Life course (VUSM-400 level).

    Complete three credits of historical analysis.
    Complete three credits of literary analysis.
    Complete four credits of scientific reasoning in the natural sciences.
    Complete three credits of scientific reasoning in the social sciences.
    Complete three credits of artistic engagement.
    Complete three credits of theological inquiry.
    Complete three credits of integrating faith and practice.
    Complete three credits of philosophical and moral inquiry.

    Complete 11 credits of natural science and/or mathematics. (Courses that qualify for Scientific Reasoning in the Natural Sciences or Quantitative Literacy credit within the LIVE program may also count toward the total.)

    Complete a minimum of 40 upper division credits (300/400).
    Complete a minimum of 120 college-level credits.

Criminal and Community Justice (transfer agreement) Major (Bachelor of Arts or Science)

Students with an earned AAS degree from any Wisconsin technical college may earn a Bachelor of Science with a major in criminal and community justice. The degree must have been earned May 2006 or later. Students may not begin these programs or be considered a student in these programs until the AAS degree has been completed and documented on a transcript. The student cannot be dually enrolled. The AAS degree must be completed prior to transfer to Viterbo.

(Available to Wisconsin Technical College graduates with an earned Associate of Applied Science degree in criminal justice.)

  • Core curriculum and mission seminars (32-52 credits) – see core curriculum section of catalog
  • Major requirements (30 credits) – CRMJ 351, 375, 490, PHIL 315 (recommended), PSYC 270 or SOWK 280, PSYC 340, MATH 130 or PSYC 223 or SOCL 243, six credits of CRMJ 487, choose one of the following sequences: SOWK 240 and SOCL 338, PSYC 230 and 330
  • Bachelor of Arts requirement – a minimum of three classes (nine credits minimum) of world language in preferably one, but not more than two languages OR
  • Bachelor of Science requirement – a minimum of 11 credits of natural science and/or mathematics
  • Final degree requirements – a minimum of 120 college level credits, minimum of 40 credits at the 300/400 level

Transfer courses and waivers and/or substitutions could modify the required credit total in the core curriculum and major.

Criminal and Community Justice (transfer agreement) Major (Bachelor of Science)

This degree program provides an opportunity for students to complete one year of coursework at Western Technical College and complete a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in criminal and community justice in three additional years. Students must fulfill all requirements for the Core Curriculum, mission seminars, major requirements, Bachelor of Science requirements and final degree requirements.  Transfer courses and waivers and/or substitutions could modify the credit total in the core curriculum and major.