Criminal Justice Focused Elective Area

AT A GLANCE

60 credits
Transfer up to 45 credits
All courses are available online
Select on-site and hybrid courses available

TUITION

$250 per credit hour
(Europe & Downrange)

Gain an understanding of crime and criminal behavior plus use critical thinking and ethical decision-making strategies to get started in the field of criminal justice.

The focused elective area in criminal justice at University of Maryland Global Campus can provide an introduction to the American criminal justice system, crime scene investigation techniques and how to hone your communication skills. Additionally, information about the impact of criminal behavior and the importance of research in the field of criminal justice is stressed.

Courses
Requirements

Within the overall outcomes of the AA degree in General Studies, the focused elective area in criminal justice provides an introduction to the American criminal justice system and helps you develop ethical reasoning and analytical skills.

Total Credits Required: 60

Required Core Courses: 4 Credits
Focused Elective Area Courses: 21 Credits
General Education Courses: 35 Credits

Required Core Courses (4 Credits)

One 3-credit course in communication, writing, or speech, chosen from the following:
- (3 Credits, ENGL 102)
- (3 Credits, ENGL 281)
- (3 Credits, JOUR 201)
- Any 3-credit COMM or SPCH courses
- Any 3-credit WRTG courses (except 486A and 486B)
One 1-credit course, chosen from the following:
- (1 Credit, CAPL 198A)
- (1 Credit, CAPL 198B)
- (1 Credit, CAPL 198C)
- (1 Credit, BMGT 121A)
- (1 Credit, BMGT 121B)
- Any 1-credit course

Suggested Focused Elective Courses:

Suggest Focused Elective Area Courses for Criminal Justice:
- Any CCJS courses for which you have met prerequisites (Courses which met the criminal justice bachelor's degree are suggested.)

General Education Requirements (35 Credits)

Since some recommended courses fulfill more than one requirement, substituting courses for those listed may require you to take additional courses to meet degree requirements. Consult your academic advisor whenever taking advantage of other options. See information on alternate courses (where allowable) to fulfill general education requirements (in communications, arts and humanities, behavioral and social sciences, biological and physical sciences, mathematics, and research and computing literacy).

Research and Computing Literacy Courses (7 credits)

One 3-credit professional exploration course (to be taken as the first course), chosen from the following:

(3 Credits, PACE 111B)
(3 Credits, PACE 111C)
(3 Credits, PACE 111M)
(3 Credits, PACE 111P)
(3 Credits, PACE 111S)
(3 Credits, PACE 111T)

One 1-credit research skills and professional development course, chosen from the following:

(1 Credit, LIBS 150)
(1 Credit, CAPL 398A)
Any general education course

One 3-credit course or three 1-credit courses, chosen from the following:

(3 Credits, IFSM 201)
(3 Credits, DATA 200)
Any CMIS, CMIT, CMSC, CMST, CSIA, IFSM, or SDEV course

Communications Courses (6 credits)

(3 Credits, WRTG 111) or (3 Credits, WRTG 291) or other writing course
(3 Credits, WRTG 112)

Math Course (3 credits)

(3 Credits, MATH 105)
or other approved mathematics course

Arts and Humanities Courses (6 credits)

(3 Credits, HIST 142) or (3 Credits, HIST 157) or other arts and humanities course
(3 Credits, ARTH 204) or foreign language course or other arts and humanities course

Behavioral and Social Science Courses (6 credits)

(3 Credits, ECON 201) or other behavioral and social science course
(3 Credits, GVPT 170) or other behavioral and social science course

Biological and Physical Sciences Courses (7 credits)

(3 Credits, BIOL 101) and (1 Credit, BIOL 102) or other paired science lecture and laboratory course(s)
(3 Credits, NUTR 100) or other science lecture course