DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE (CJ)

Professor Jimmy J. Williams, Chairperson
Office: 432-C Farrah Hall

The Department of Criminal Justice provides students interested in law enforcement, criminal law, corrections, and the criminal court system with a broad educational background emphasizing social science. At the same time, students in the department gain basic knowledge of the criminal justice field to the extent of specialization compatible with University and divisional requirements. The curriculum leads to the bachelor of arts degree. The mission of the department must be conceived as interdisciplinary in nature, since no traditional discipline covers the wide spectrum of expertise required. The undergraduate program addresses issues respecting the entire criminal justice system, from the nature of crime and delinquency to society's varied responses to crime. Such a focus includes the organization and operation of each of the functional components in the field.

The department recognizes the value of internships. Internships provide a direct learning experience, helping students combine theory and practice. A maximum of 6 hours of internship may be used to satisfy requirements of the major or minor. The department has established internships with the University's Department of Public Safety; the Tuscaloosa Police Department; the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center; the Tuscaloosa County Offices of Juvenile Court, Public Defender, and District Attorney; the U.S. Customs Agency; and the Federal Probation program, among others. Students may work with their advisers to plan other internships and should consult their advisers for further internship information.

Admission requirements. An application to major or minor in criminal justice is required. Acceptance requires at least 12 earned hours and a 2.25 higher education grade point average. The number of criminal justice majors and minors is limited. Consult the department for further details.

Requirements for the major. The major in criminal justice requires 36 hours, including CJ 100, CJ 300, CJ 306, CJ 330, CJ 480, and CJ 481. A minimum of 12 hours of the 18 hours of criminal justice electives must be earned in courses other than CJ 395 and CJ 499. A minimum of 12 hours at the 300 or 400 level must be earned on this campus. A grade of "C" or higher is required in all criminal justice courses.

Requirements for the minor. The minor in criminal justice requires 21 hours, including CJ 100. A minimum of 12 hours of the 18 hours of criminal justice electives must be earned in courses other than CJ 395 and CJ 499. Six hours must be at the 400 level. A minimum of 6 hours at the 300 or 400 level must be earned on this campus. A grade of "C" or higher is required in all criminal justice courses.

A Suggested Sequence of Courses for the Criminal Justice Major
FRESHMAN YEAR
First Semester			Second Semester
Course	Hours		Course	Hours
EN 101	3		EN 102	3
MATH3	3		Natural science	4
Natural science	4		History1	3
Humanities1	3		Foreign language or computer science	3-4
Foreign language or computer science	3-4		Elective	3
	------			------
	16-17			16-17
SOPHOMORE YEAR
First Semester			Second Semester
Course	Hours		Course	Hours
CJ 100	3		CJ 300	3
EN 225	3		EN 226 or EN 227	3
Fine arts1	3		Social and behavioral sciences1	3
Computer science or elective	3		Minor	6
Minor	3
	------			------
	15			15
JUNIOR YEAR2
First Semester			Second Semester
Course	Hours		Course	Hours
CJ electives	6		CJ electives	3
CJ 330	3		Minor	6
CJ 306	3		History or social and behavioral sciences1	3
Minor	3		Electives	3-6
	------			------
	15			15-18
SENIOR YEAR2
First Semester			Second Semester
Course	Hours		Course	Hours
CJ elective	6		CJ electives	3
Minor	3		CJ 481	3
CJ 480	3		Social and behavioral sciences1	3
Electives	3-6		Electives	6-9
	------			------
	15-18			15-18
Total: At least 128

¹A maximum of 6 hours in any one department may be applied to the humanities, literature, and fine arts (HU, L, FA) and history and social and behavioral sciences (HI, SB) requirements.

²Six hours in courses designated W must be included in the junior or senior year. A minimum of 33 hours in 300- and 400-level courses must be completed, including 15 hours in the major and 6 hours in the minor.

³MATH course number is determined by placement. MATH 110 or higher is required.

Graduate programs. The Department of Criminal Justice offers programs leading to the master of science in criminal justice. Degree requirements are stated in the University of Alabama graduate catalog.