2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog - R 
    
    Nov 23, 2024  
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog - R

Criminal Justice: Law Enforcement Concentration (5831), B.S.C.J.


Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: College of Education, Health, and Behavioral Sciences

Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice (B.S.C.J.) - Law Enforcement Concentration (5831)


The goal of the criminal justice major is to prepare students for entry-level positions in a variety of criminal justice careers. Students pursuing the B.S.C.J. are provided with opportunities to analyze the underlying philosophies and practices of the criminal justice system, distinguish the causation, consequences, and prevention of crime and delinquency, and examine the issues of diversity and inclusion that will allow them to work with and serve a multicultural community.     

All students pursuing a criminal justice major must complete core courses in criminal justice. Core coursework develops foundational skills and knowledge for all areas of the criminal justice major. The B.S.C.J. Program offers four concentrations that builds on foundational skills and knowledge to allow specialization beyond the core coursework based on a student’s career goals. The four concentrations in this major are: 

The law enforcement, juvenile justice, and forensics concentrations do not require a minor. Students are encouraged to complete a minor in any area complementing their chosen area of study if degree hours permit. The justice studies concentration requires either the completion of a minor in any area approved by the student’s advisor or the completion of 18 upper-division hours in any discipline other than criminal justice. 

The law enforcement concentration is a strong choice for students interested in working in law enforcement, whether as a police officer or member of a federal or state agency. This concentration will educate students in the science, history, and social expectations surrounding the law enforcement profession. Students will develop the pre-professional skills needed for initial police employment, including law, communication, fitness, firearms familiarization, and de-escalation strategies.  

The major is composed of the following broad areas of coursework:  
 

General Education Core Curriculum Requirements 

38 hours 

Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Requirements 

6 hours 

Major Core Requirements  

30 hours 

Law Enforcement Concentration Courses 

24 hours 

Experiential Learning Requirement 

3 hours 

Electives 

19 hours 

TOTAL 

120 hours 

 

For more information about the Criminal Justice major, please contact:  

Department of Behavioral Sciences- Criminal Justice Program 
105 Sociology Building 
205 Hurt Street 
Martin, TN 38238 
criminaljustice@utm.edu  
731-881-7520 

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS


  

  • 120 credit hours are required  
  • Minimum of 30 credit hours completed at the University of Tennessee at Martin 
  • Minimum of 60 credit hours earned at an accredited four-year institution required 
  • A minimum overall GPA of 2.0 is required 
  • A minimum institutional GPA of 2.0 is required  
  • Must meet all General Education Requirements  
  • Must meet all Major Requirements  
  • Must meet all Exit Exam Requirements  
    • General Education Test 
    • Major Field Test/Exit Exam 
  • If a student is admitted to the University of Tennessee at Martin with documented entrance deficiencies OR is subjected to mandatory placement requirements, then the student must meet those requirements 
  • Satisfy all financial obligations (fees and/or fines) owed to the University. 
  • File an application for a diploma online with the Office of Academic Records 

COURSEWORK REQUIRED FOR THE DEGREE


  

Guidance for choosing general education courses: SWRK 220 is required for the criminal justice major and is an option in the general education core curriculum requirements. A student using this course to simultaneously satisfy general education core curriculum and the major requirement may need to complete additional elective coursework to meet the minimum number of credit hours required for the degree. 

Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice with a Law Enforcement Concentration (63 credit hours)


Program-Specific Degree Requirements 

  • Minimum grade of C required in all core and most concentration courses. 
  • Students must earn a grade of B or higher in CJ 321, 322, 421, and 422.  
  • Students may substitute CJ 304 (12 hours) to satisfy any or all requirements for CJ 321, 322, 421, and 422.  
  • Minor is not required but recommended 
  • Minimum of 3 hours of Experiential Learning required 

Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Requirements (6 credit hours)


These courses are required for every concentration in the criminal justice major: 

  • Credit(s): 3
  • Credit(s): 3
  • SWRK 220 is required for the criminal justice major and is an option in the general education core curriculum requirements. A student using this course to simultaneously satisfy general education core curriculum and the major requirement may need to complete additional elective coursework to meet the minimum number of credit hours required for the degree. 

Criminal Justice Major Core (30 credit hours)


These courses are required for every concentration in the criminal justice major: 

Law Enforcement Concentration (24 credit hours)


Experiential Learning (3 credit hours)


A minimum of 3 hours from: 

Minor


This BSCJ concentration does not require a minor. Students are encouraged to complete a minor in any area complementing their chosen area of study if degree hours permit. 

Electives


Complete elective hours to achieve 120 credit hours. 

Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: College of Education, Health, and Behavioral Sciences