Criminology and Justice Studies BS

Major: Criminology and Justice Studies
Degree Awarded: Bachelor of Science (BS)
Calendar Type: Quarter
Minimum Required Credits: 181.0
Co-op Options: One Co-op (Four years); No Co-op (Four years)
Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code: 45.0401
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code: 11-9199

Criminal Justice Concentration

The Criminal Justice concentration, housed in the Department of Criminology and Justice Studies, is designed as the most flexible of our three concentrations. The Criminal Justice concentration focuses its curriculum primarily on the substance of criminal justice institutions though still requiring the same research methodology and Geographic Information System sequences as the other two thematic concentrations. Criminal Justice is primarily intended for students seeking to double major, prepare for law school, take on multiple minors (e.g., a language and legal studies), or for students who desire a more traditional criminal justice education. Because the Criminal Justice concentration reserves 46.0 credits of free electives, it easily allows students to explore a wide range of curriculum opportunities throughout Drexel. Students in the Criminal Justice concentration often double major in Psychology, Behavioral Health, Legal Studies, Business and Global Studies; and they often take on a language minor. Moreover, although the Criminal Justice concentration does not require as many of the analytical courses as the Crime Science and Analysis concentration, it does allow students to take any number of those courses as electives while they pursue other curricular pathways.

The Criminal Justice concentration offers the same community-based learning and global perspective courses as the other two concentrations. Students in all three concentrations are encouraged to participate in at least one faculty-led study abroad program during which students will explore various justice related themes. Recent trips have been The Legacy of Nazi Policing in Munich and Prague; and Crime and Justice in Scandinavia. Please see the Study Abroad Program webpage to view the location and itinerary of the study abroad tour. The emphasis on comparative justice and study abroad reside at the leading edges of Drexel's core value of global citizenship.

Degree Requirements (Criminal Justice Concentration)

*

Students not participating in co-op will take one additional credit of free elective instead of COOP 101.

Co-op cycles may vary. Students are assigned a co-op cycle (fall/winter, spring/summer, summer-only) based on their co-op program (4-year, 5-year) and major. 

COOP 101 registration is determined by the co-op cycle assigned and may be scheduled in a different term. Select students may be eligible to take COOP 001 in place of COOP 101.

**

See Core Curriculum for complete list of course options.

Writing-Intensive Course Requirements

In order to graduate, all students must pass three writing-intensive courses after their freshman year. Two writing-intensive courses must be in a student's major. The third can be in any discipline. Students are advised to take one writing-intensive class each year, beginning with the sophomore year, and to avoid “clustering” these courses near the end of their matriculation. Transfer students need to meet with an academic advisor to review the number of writing-intensive courses required to graduate.

A "WI" next to a course in this catalog may indicate that this course can fulfill a writing-intensive requirement. For the most up-to-date list of writing-intensive courses being offered, students should check the Writing Intensive Course List at the University Writing Program. Students scheduling their courses can also conduct a search for courses with the attribute "WI" to bring up a list of all writing-intensive courses available that term.

Sample Plan of Study (Criminal Justice Concentration)

4 year, no co-op

4 year, one co-op

*

COOP 101 registration is determined by the co-op cycle assigned and may be scheduled in a different term. Select students may be eligible to take COOP 001 in place of COOP 101.

5-year three co-op

*

COOP 101 registration is determined by the co-op cycle assigned and may be scheduled in a different term. Select students may be eligible to take COOP 001 in place of COOP 101.

Criminal Justice Concentration

Professional Experiences

Students will complete one co-op (i.e., professional placement), typically during the spring and summer quarters of their Junior year. When they return for the start of their senior year, they can immediately begin their (impending) post-graduation job search with their co-op experience still recent on their resume. Some placements are paid (usually in the private sector) and others are unpaid (primarily in the public sector). The placements earn students academic credit while providing professional socialization and learning with crime and justice professionals. The networking aspects of these placements are invaluable for future career development. In addition to the learning experiences, past students have received excellent letters of recommendation for future employment agencies and for graduate and law school admissions.

In recent years, students have been placed in local agencies such as the District Attorney’s Office, the Institutional Law Project, the Juvenile Law Center, the Defendants Association of Philadelphia, the Philadelphia and Bucks County Prison Systems and the Pennsylvania Prison Society, Pennsylvania and New Jersey State Police. Several students have done co-ops and later worked full time at the Eastern State Penitentiary Historical Site and Museum. On the state level, co-op students have worked with the Board of Probation & Parole and other agencies. At the federal level, the US Customs Service had an agreement to accept cooperative education placements after having been screened by faculty. The faculty in Criminology and Justice Studies has been working over the past few years to expand its list of research co-ops (primarily for students working toward graduate school) and international co-ops.

Program Level Outcomes

Criminology and Justice Studies Faculty