Major, Minors, and Concentration

Criminal Justice Major

The Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice equips students with the knowledge, skills, and practical experience needed for meaningful careers in law enforcement, corrections, legal services, forensics, and related fields.

Our program blends rigorous academic study with hands-on learning, including a supervised placement in a police department, court, law firm, corrections agency, or community organization. Students may also choose to obtain a concentration in criminalistics, gaining knowledge in DNA analysis, crime scene investigation, and evidence processing.

Guided by experienced faculty and grounded in current challenges facing the justice system, graduates are prepared to serve with integrity, lead with confidence, and make a lasting difference in their communities.

In addition to their CORE requirements, students majoring in criminal justice must complete 39 hours in the major of which 30 hours are in required courses. These courses include:

• CJUS 101 - Introduction to Criminal Justice
• CJUS 102 - Introduction to Law Enforcement
• CJUS 103 - Introduction to Corrections
• CJUS 206 - Criminology
• CJUS 210 - Basic Constitutional Law and American Justice
• CJUS 240 - Criminal Law
• CJUS 321 - Juvenile Justice
• CJUS 381 - Methods of Research in Criminal Justice
• CJUS 489 - Senior Seminar
• CJUS 491 - Practicum/Ethics
• CJUS Elective
• CJUS Elective
• CJUS Elective

CJUS 491 also involves a supervised placement in criminal justice agencies. Practicum areas include police agencies, courts, and corrections environments at local, state and federal levels. Practica also exist in the areas of counseling, treatment, and casework as well as with juvenile populations.

The nine elective Criminal Justice hours can include a variety of courses such as Women in Criminal Justice, Legal Aspects of Corrections, Crime Prevention, and the Inside Out Prison Exchange course.

Criminal Justice Minor

A Minor in Criminal Justice is earned by completing 18 credit hours of required criminal justice courses. These include:

• CJUS 101 - Introduction to Criminal Justice
• CJUS 102 - Introduction to Law Enforcement
• CJUS 103 - Introduction to Corrections
• CJUS 206 - Criminology
• CJUS 210 - Basic Constitutional Law and American Justice
• CJUS 321 - Juvenile Justice

Criminalistics Concentration/Minor

A Criminalistics Concentration/Minor allows students to gain skills in the areas of forensic science/criminalistics. Specific areas of study include: fingerprinting, crime scene investigation, DNA testing, drug testing procedures, and more.

For students who are Criminal Justice majors, the Criminalistics Concentration includes the following courses: 

• CJUS 239 - Criminalistics I                                                           
• CJUS 439 - Criminalistics II
• CJUS 449 - Criminalistics III

The three Criminalistics courses can fulfill the nine elective Criminal Justice hours required for Criminal Justice majors.

For students who are not Criminal Justice majors, the Criminalistics Minor includes the following courses:

• CJUS 101 - Introduction to Criminal Justice
• CJUS 102 - Introduction to Law Enforcement
• CJUS 239 - Criminalistics I
• CJUS 439 - Criminalistics II
• CJUS 449 - Criminalistics III

For more information, please contact the Chair of the Criminal Justice Department, Dr. Cheryl Lero Jonson (jonsonc@xavier.edu; 513-745-1069) or the Criminal Justice Department's Administrative Assistant, Ms. Cathy Lee (leec29@xavier.edu; 513-745-3518).