Criminal Justice is a discipline that attempts to identify and explain patterns of criminal behavior, as well as analyze society’s ability to control crime and delinquency. It emphasizes the study of crime, criminals, and the criminal justice system. The Criminal Justice degree program utilizes an interdisciplinary approach to capture both the academic liberal arts emphasis and the professional and policy knowledge required to educate criminal justice professionals.
Sociology applies the methods of social science to understand how broader social forces influence our thoughts, beliefs, and behavior. It provides an important background for careers in human resources, education, business, law, social work, criminal justice, politics, arts, sports, and public administration. Students may select from a broad range of courses related to contemporary issues and problems; inter-group relations, popular culture, social movements and social change, modernity and post-modernity, family patterns and relationships, sexuality, crime and deviance, environmental and social problems, globalization, and field experiences.
The dual Bachelor of Arts degree program in Sociology and Criminal Justice is designed to make it easier for students to complete these two majors simultaneously (in the College of Letters, Arts & Sciences and School of Public Affairs, respectively).
Policies and Procedures
Refer to the College of Letters, Arts and Sciences section and the School of Public Affairs section of this academic catalog for the eligibility criteria, policies, and procedures relevant to this program.
For further information, please contact:
The Sociology Department Chair or the BA in Criminal Justice Program Director.
General Requirements
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A minimum of 120 credit hours including the UCCS general education courses must be completed with a cumulative CU grade point average of 2.0; at least 45 of these credit hours must be at the upper-division level (courses numbered 3000-4999).
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Standard LAS/SPA college general education and Compass Curriculum courses are required.
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No more than 54 credit hours of SOC and no more than 54 credit hours of CJ coursework can count towards the degree.
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The last 30 credit hours of the degree must be completed while registered in the School of Public Affairs and the College of Letters, Arts & Sciences at UCCS.
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Courses numbered below 1000 do not count toward degree completion.
Criminal Justice Major Requirements
Sociology Major Requirements
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A minimum of 34 credit hours of SOC coursework, at least 18 credit hours of which must be upper-division (3000+ level).
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All courses counting toward the Sociology major must be completed with a grade of C or better.
