Criminal Justice Certificate
The criminal justice minor has been a very popular option for all ÐÇ¿ÕÎÞÏÞ´«Ã½ students, including several Flexible Learning students. The new criminal justice certificate makes it easier for both traditional and Flexible Learning students to complete some of the key criminal justice program courses, without completing the 21 hours required for the minor. Several of the criminal justice courses are offered online which will especially help part time and Flexible Learning students complete the certificate program.
Students who complete a certificate in Criminal Justice will be able to identify and understand the primary agents of the U.S. criminal justice system, and to critically evaluate criminal justice programs and policies. Students will engage in performance learning activities as an integral part of their certification through a critical examination of criminal justice programming during on-site visits, meetings with field professionals, and classroom assignments requiring students to develop and propose their own criminal justice program utilizing contemporary theory, scholarship and research in criminal justice.
Program learning outcome goals
- Identify and understand the primary agents of the U.S. criminal justice system.
- Critically evaluate criminal justice programs and policies by examining strengths and weaknesses of these programs and policies in an effort to understand how to improve them.
- Engage in performance learning activities geared toward a critical examination of criminal justice programming, including on-site visits, meetings with field professionals, and classroom assignments requiring students to develop and propose their own criminal justice program utilizing contemporary theory, scholarship and research in criminal justice.
Course requirements
The certificate requires completion of the following 12 credit hours.
- CJ235/PO235 Intro to Criminal Justice (3 credits)
- CJ361/SO361 Criminology (3 credits)
- CJ211/SO211 Juvenile Delinquency (3 credits)
- CJ311/SO312 Restorative Justice (3 credits)
Enrollment Guidelines
The certificate requires fewer hours than the full Criminal Justice minor, and is not equivalent to the minor. This is a stand-alone program of focused study. It is available to traditional or Flexible Learning students who are pursuing any major at ÐÇ¿ÕÎÞÏÞ´«Ã½. Part-time non-degree seeking students or community members may complete this program with an academic degree (associate, bachelor’s, or graduate degree in any field except Criminal Justice) from ÐÇ¿ÕÎÞÏÞ´«Ã½ or elsewhere. Students who have completed a minor in Criminal Justice are not eligible to enroll in the Criminal Justice Certificate program.
The certificate is obtained by completing four courses in criminology and criminal justice. Courses will be offered in various formats (online, hybrid, 5-week Flexible Learning, traditional semester) and students will be able to complete the required coursework within 1-4 semesters. Students who have completed the Criminal Justice certificate may elect to pursue the Criminal Justice minor, or other majors at ÐÇ¿ÕÎÞÏÞ´«Ã½ University. For more information about the Criminal Justice Certificate at ÐÇ¿ÕÎÞÏÞ´«Ã½ University, contact Keyria Rodgers (krodgers@millikin.edu) or by phone at 217-424-3998.
