Marymount University
Undergraduate Catalog 2014-15
Criminal Justice
Marymount provides a Bachelor of Arts in criminal justice as well as the Bachelor of Science in criminal justice with a concentration in forensic science.
Internship Prerequisites: When other requirements are successfully completed in the senior year, the student is placed in an internship (CJ 400) for 280 hours (6 credits). Prerequisites for the internship are a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or higher, a grade of C- or better in all required courses for the major, a minimum of 18 credits earned at Marymount, and permission of the internship coordinator. If the student cannot complete the prerequisites for the internship, the faculty retain the right to dismiss the student from the program.
Minimum Grade Requirement: A minimum grade of C- is required for all courses in the major.
Residency Requirement: Transfer students must complete the internship and at least 18 credits in Marymount criminal justice courses, including CJ 304, CJ 308, and CJ 495.
Criminal Justice (B.A.)
The B.A. program is distinctive in its combined emphasis of introductory professional skills and theoretical foundations. Career preparation reinforced by commitment to lifelong learning and advanced education that extends beyond the baccalaureate level are central to the study of this demanding field of inquiry. Simulations and review of problem-solving methods from actual cases are used to enhance the student’s understanding of lectures and materials. By examining decision-making processes, including policy analysis and the day-to-day practical operations of various components of the criminal justice system, participants learn to value and apply "theory to practice."
Exploration of traditional and contemporary models of crime prevention, criminal investigation, jurisprudence, punishment and rehabilitation, and organization and administrative theory help prepare graduates for eventual advancement to management positions in law enforcement, correctional, and court (probation and parole) agencies. Graduates of this rapidly developing field also find positions in corporate security firms and with government and private research agencies.
Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to
- demonstrate a working knowledge of the origin and development of the criminal justice field and how its component parts function;
- demonstrate skills in the use of research methods and statistics;
- demonstrate proficiency in written communication; and
- demonstrate an understanding of ethical issues and exhibit their application to social phenomena.
Degree Requirements — Criminal Justice (B.A.)
Liberal Arts Core and University Requirements
See University Requirements and the Liberal Arts Core for details.
Major Requirements
To fulfill the requirements of the major, all students in this program will take the following coursework in a sequence determined in collaboration with a faculty advisor. Some courses also satisfy Liberal Arts Core and/or University Requirements. A minimum grade of C- is required for all courses in the major.
CJ 200 Careers in Criminal Justice
CJ 209 The Criminal Justice System
CJ 300 Writing for Criminal Justice
CJ 304 Applied Research Methods
CJ 307 Juvenile Justice
CJ 308 Principles of Forensic Science
CJ 310 Policing in American Society
CJ 312 Criminal Justice Management
CJ 400 Internship
CJ 495 Senior Seminar
LA 302 Criminal Litigation
MA 132 Statistical Analysis
SOC 131 Principles of Sociology
SOC 250 Deviant Behavior
SOC 305 Criminology
Five (5) electives from the following: CJ 302 Introduction to Counterintelligence; CJ 309 Principles of Forensic Science II; CJ 311 Correctional Institutions; CJ 320 Cybercrime and Digital Terrorism; PH 301 Ethics and Public Policy; PSY 220 Social Psychology; PSY 230 Abnormal Psychology; PSY 332 Psychology of Addictions; SOC 205 Crime, Media, and Culture; SOC 322 Racial and Ethnic Diversity
Sample Degree Plan — Criminal Justice (B.A.)
Please note that this is a sample plan; all students must consult with an advisor in making course selections.
Year One — Fall
SOC 131 Principles of Sociology §
EN 101 Composition I (WR core course)*
MA 132 Statistical Analysis (MT core course)*
TRS 100 Theological Inquiry (TRS-1 core course)*
DSC 101 DISCOVER First-Year Seminar*
Year One — Spring
CJ 200 Careers in Criminal Justice §
EN 102 Composition II (WR core course)*
PSY 101 General Psychology or PSY 110 Human Growth and Development (SS-1 core course)*
Natural Science (NS) core course*
CJ 209 The Criminal Justice System §
Year Two — Fall
SOC 250 Deviant Behavior §
Introductory History (HI-1) core course*
Introductory Literature (LT-1) core course*
PH 200 Introduction to Philosophy (PH-1 core course)*
One (1) elective
Year Two — Spring
CJ 300 Writing for Criminal Justice §
LA 302 Criminal Litigation §
SOC 305 Criminology §
One (1) major elective § **
POL 104 American Government, ECO 210 Principles of Microeconomics, or ECO 211 Principles of Macroeconomics (SS-1 core course) or Natural Science (NS) core course*
Year Three — Fall
CJ 307 Juvenile Justice §
CJ 308 Principles of Forensic Science §
CJ 310 Policing in America §
CJ 304 Applied Research Methods § *
Advanced Theology/Religious Studies (TRS-2) or Theological Ethics (TRS-E) core course*
Year Three — Spring
One (1) major elective § **
CJ 304 Applied Research Methods § *
CJ 312 Criminal Justice Management §
One (1) major elective § **
Fine Arts (FNA), Advanced History (HI-2), or Advanced Literature (LT-2) core course*
Advanced Social Science (SS-2) core course*
Year Four — Fall
CJ 495 Senior Seminar § *
One (1) major elective § **
Advanced Philosophy (PH-2) or Philosophical Ethics (PH-E) core course*
Fine Arts (FNA), Advanced History (HI-2), or Advanced Literature (LT-2) core course*
One (1) elective
Year Four — Spring
CJ 400 Internship § *
One (1) major elective § **
Two (2) electives
§ Requirement for the major
* Fulfills Liberal Arts Core/University Requirements. See University Requirements and the Liberal Arts Core and Course Descriptions for further information.
** See Major Requirements for course selections
Criminal Justice – Forensic Science Concentration (B.S.)
This major with a concentration in forensic science is designed for students seeking basic training in the sciences, law, and physical evidence in order to increase specialized orientation to professional areas of work such as criminal investigation, crime-scene processing, and crime laboratories. Minimally, this program introduces students to the application of science to law. Investigators in various law enforcement agencies (state and local police, FBI, ATF, DEA, Secret Service) at all levels are expected to possess rudimentary knowledge of various lab techniques, including serology (DNA testing), hair and fiber analyses, gunshot residue testing, toxicology, and drug analyses.
Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to
- demonstrate a working knowledge of the origin and development of the criminal justice field and how its component parts function;
- demonstrate skills in the use of research methods and statistics;
- demonstrate proficiency in written communication;
- demonstrate an understanding of ethical issues and exhibit their application to social phenomena;
- understand and apply the principles and practices of forensic science and their contribution to the criminal justice system; and
- analyze the role of forensic science in the identification and investigation of criminal
activity.
Degree Requirements — Criminal Justice/Forensic Science Concentration (B.S.)
Liberal Arts Core and University Requirements
See University Requirements and the Liberal Arts Core for details.
Major Requirements
To fulfill the requirements of the major, all students in this program will take the following coursework in a sequence determined in collaboration with a faculty advisor. Some courses also satisfy Liberal Arts Core and/or University Requirements. A minimum grade of C- is required for all courses in the major.
BIO 151 General Biology I
BIO 152 General Biology II
BIO 260 Microbiology
BIO 262 Genetics
CHM 151 Principles of Chemistry I
CHM 152 Principles of Chemistry II
CJ 200 Careers in Criminal Justice
CJ 209 The Criminal Justice System
CJ 300 Writing for Criminal Justice
CJ 304 Applied Research Methods
CJ 308 Principles of Forensic Science I
CJ 309 Principles of Forensic Science II: Advanced Criminalistics
CJ 312 Criminal Justice Management
CJ 400 Internship
CJ 495 Senior Seminar
LA 302 Criminal Litigation
MA 132 Statistical Analysis
PSY 250 Biological Bases of Behavior
SOC 250 Deviant Behavior
SOC 305 Criminology
Sample Degree Plan — Criminal Justice/Forensic Science Concentration (B.S.)
Please note that this is a sample plan; all students must consult with an advisor in making course selections.
Year One — Fall
BIO 151 General Biology I (NS core course) § *
EN 101 Composition I (WR core course)*
SOC 131 Principles of Sociology
TRS 100 Theological Inquiry (TRS-1 core course)*
DSC 101 DISCOVER First-Year Seminar*
Year One — Spring
BIO 152 General Biology II (NS core course) § *
CJ 200 Careers in Criminal Justice §
MA 132 Statistical Analysis (MT core course) § *
EN 102 Composition II (WR core course)*
PSY 101 General Psychology or PSY 110 Human Growth and Development (SS-1 core course)*
Introductory History (HI-1) core course*
Year Two — Fall
CHM 151 Principles of Chemistry I §
CJ 209 The Criminal Justice System §
SOC 250 Deviant Behavior §
Introductory Literature (LT-1) core course*
PH 200 Introduction to Philosophy (PH-1 core course)*
Year Two — Spring
CHM 152 Principles of Chemistry II §
CJ 300 Writing for Criminal Justice §
LA 302 Criminal Litigation §
PSY 250 Biological Bases of Behavior §
SOC 305 Criminology §
Year Three — Fall
BIO 260 Microbiology §
CJ 308 Principles of Forensic Science §
Advanced Social Science (SS-2) core course*
Advanced Theology/Religious Studies (TRS-2) or Theological Ethics (TRS-E) core course*
One (1) elective
Year Three — Spring
BIO 262 Genetics §
CJ 304 Applied Research Methods § *
CJ 309 Principles of Forensic Science II §
CJ 312 Criminal Justice Management §
One (1) elective
Year Four — Fall
CJ 495 Senior Seminar § *
Fine Arts (FNA), Advanced History (HI-2), or Advanced Literature (LT-2) core course*
Advanced Philosophy (PH-2) or Philosophical Ethics (PH-E) core course*
Two (2) electives
Year Four — Spring
CJ 400 Internship §
Fine Arts (FNA), Advanced History (HI-2), or Advanced Literature (LT-2) core course*
Two (2) electives
§ Requirement for the major
* Fulfills Liberal Arts Core/University Requirements. See University Requirements and the Liberal Arts Core and Course Descriptions for further information.
Criminal Justice (Minor)
Minor Requirements
Seven (7) courses from the following: CJ 209 The Criminal Justice System; CJ 300 Writing for Criminal Justice; CJ 307 Juvenile Justice; CJ 308 Principles of Forensic Science I; CJ 310 Policing in American Society; CJ 311 Correctional Institutions; CJ 312 Criminal Justice Management; CJ 320 Cybercrime and Digital Terrorism; SOC 131 Principles of Sociology; SOC 200 Law and Society; SOC 205 Crime, Media, and Culture; SOC 250 Deviant Behavior; SOC 305 Criminology; SOC 322 Racial and Ethnic Diversity
Forensic Scholars Program
This competitive program, open to first-time college students, guarantees admission into the Forensic and Legal Psychology (MA) program to a select group of well-qualified incoming freshmen. These students, chosen by the Forensic and Legal Psychology Admissions Committee, must meet stringent acceptance and continuation requirements. To be accepted into the program, a student must have
- a minimum high school GPA of 3.3;
- SAT (M & Critical Reading) score of 1100+ or ACT of 24+;
- essay addressing the applicant’s interest in and commitment to the field of forensic and legal psychology;
To continue in the program, a student must
- maintain a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.5;
- complete PSY 302 Research Design or CJ 304 Applied Research Methods research project on relevant topic (include project as part of portfolio);
- complete PSY 400 Internship or CJ 400 Internship at relevant site (include documentation as part of portfolio);
- attend at least three Forensic and Legal Psychology Department events, e.g. career night, seminar speaker, appreciation dinner (include documentation as part of portfolio);
- attend at least one meeting of one forensic psychology M.A. course (include documentation as part of portfolio); and
- strong, positive recommendation from a faculty member in the student’s major.
In addition to their major program requirements, psychology majors must complete (18 credits):
CJ 209 The Criminal Justice System
CJ 311 Correctional Institutions
LA 302 Criminal Litigation
PSY 326 Forensic Psychology
PSY 332 Psychology of Addictions
SOC 305 Criminology
In addition to their major program requirements, criminal justice majors must complete (13 credits):
PSY 101 General Psychology
PSY 105 General Psychology Lab
PSY 110 Human Growth and Development
PSY 260 Learning and Cognition
PSY 326 Forensic Psychology
As part of their major programs electives, criminal justice majors must complete (12 credits):
CJ 311 Correctional Institutions
PSY 220 Social Psychology
PSY 230 Abnormal Psychology
PSY 332 Psychology of Addictions
By the application deadline of the year in which the student intends to graduate with their bachelor's degree, the following materials need to be submitted to Graduate Enrollment Services:
- portfolio
- undergraduate transcript
- letter of recommendation
Forensic Computing (Undergraduate Minor or Post-Baccalaureate Certificate)
The undergraduate minor and post-baccalaureate certificate program are offered jointly by the School of Business Administration and the School of Education and Human Services. See further information about the minor. Find information about the post-baccalaureate certificate.
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Academic Information and Policies
Academic Integrity Policy Summary
Credit Acquisition Opportunities
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Student Academic Policies
Students Pursuing a Double Major or Dual Degrees
Students Enrolled in Bachelor’s/Master’s Programs
University Requirements and the Liberal Arts Core
Undergraduate Pre-professional Studies
Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area
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