Criminal Justice: Forensics Concentration (5835), B.S.C.J.

Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice (B.S.C.J.) - Concentration in Forensics (5835)

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 forensics concentration focuses on coursework and field exercises supporting crime scene management, evidence identification and collection, shooting incident reconstruction, bloodstain pattern analysis, latent prints, forensic anthropology, human remains recovery and decomposition, and well as other areas of crime scene investigation.

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
Forensics Concentration Courses	18 hours
Experiential Learning Requirement	3 hours
Electives	25 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

University 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

General Education Core Curriculum Requirements

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 Forensics Concentration (57 credit hours)

Program-Specific Degree Requirements

Minimum grade of C required in all core and concentration courses
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:

SWRK 220 - Understanding Human Diversity and Oppressed Populations Credit(s): 3
SOC 319 - Data Analysis 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:

CJ 200 - Introduction to Criminal Justice Credit(s): 3
CJ 211 - Principles of Law Enforcement Credit(s): 3
CJ 212 - Courts Credit(s): 3
CJ 213 - Introduction to Corrections Credit(s): 3
CJ 302 - Criminal Justice Ethics Credit(s): 3
CJ 303 - Research Methods Credit(s): 3
CJ 325 - Criminology Credit(s): 3
CJ 370 - Juvenile Justice Credit(s): 3
CJ 400 - Criminal Law Credit(s): 3
CJ 460 - Senior Seminar in Criminal Justice Credit(s): 3

Forensics Concentration (18 credit hours)

CJ 310 - Criminal Investigation Credit(s): 3
CJ 330 - Serial Killers Credit(s): 3
CJ 420 - Criminal Evidence Credit(s): 3
CJ 435 - Criminalistics Credit(s): 9

Experiential Learning (3 credit hours)

A minimum of 3 hours from:

CJ 304 - Law Enforcement Professional Practice Credit(s): 3-12
CJ 305 - Correction Professional Practice Credit(s): 6
CJ 401 - Command and Leadership Credit(s): 9
CJ 421 - Apprenticeship III Credit(s): 3
CJ 435 - Criminalistics Credit(s): 9
CJ 455 - Travel Study in Criminal Justice [Selected Topics] Credit(s): 1-6
CJ 480 - Internship Credit(s): 3-12
Experiential Learning hours may satisfy course requirements in various BSCJ Concentration Areas. Student may need to complete additional elective coursework to meet the minimum number of credit hours required for the degree.

*To enroll in CJ 421, students must have completed CJ 321, and CJ 322 with a grade of B or higher.

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.