Academic Programs of Study
Criminal Justice
Bachelor of Arts - BA
- Only regional program with both undergraduate & graduate degrees
- Solid foundation in Policing, Corrections, and Criminology
- Internship opportunities

The Criminal Justice program provides a solid foundation for the growing number of careers for law enforcement, probation and parole, corrections, security services and criminal investigation for college graduates. Students select their course of study from academic courses coupled with an internship and an individualized research project for a sound and practical education.
Fifth-Year Master’s Degree Option
A special feature of the program is the optional five-year master's degree in Criminal Justice offered to qualified undergraduates. This arrangement permits students to complete a master's degree in one year, following completion of the four-year Marywood bachelor's degree program. A traditional master's degree in Criminal Justice is also available.
More About This Degree
- Learn more about this program or visit the Social Sciences website.
- College of Arts and Sciences
- Courses: Available courses in this department
- Student/Faculty Ratio: 25:1
Students are prepared to enter careers in the following areas: Corrections Officer, Juvenile Justice Case Worker, Law Enforcement Administrator, Local, State or Federal Investigator, Police Officer, Prison Manager, Probation Officer, Security Officer.
Undergraduate Admissions Requirements
- Official SAT and/or ACT scores
- Completed application
- Essay
- Official transcripts
- Letter of recommendation
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Four-Year Degree Program in Criminal Justice (54 credits)
A. 27 credits (nine courses) in Criminal Justice:
CJ 100 | Introduction to Criminal Justice |
3
|
CJ 220 | Law Enforcement |
3
|
CJ 303 | Criminology |
3
|
CJ 319 | Criminal Law and Procedure |
3
|
CJ 351 | Social Research |
3
|
CJ 433 | The American Prison |
3
|
CJ 454 | Computer Applications in Social Research |
3
|
CJ 460 | Criminal Justice Internship |
3
|
CJ 465 | Coordinating Seminar in Criminal Justice |
3
|
B. 15 credits (five courses) in electives from the following:
CJ 101 | Shadow and Service |
3
|
CJ/BIOL 105 | DNA Forensics (may be taken to satisfy LA science requirement) |
3
|
CJ 200 | Introduction to the Legal System |
3
|
CJ 201 | The Juvenile Justice System |
3
|
CJ 206 | Community Corrections |
3
|
CJ 219 | Drugs in American Society |
3
|
CJ 224 | Criminal Investigation | 3 |
CJ 302 | White Collar Crime | 3 |
CJ 322 | Criminalistics and the Crime Lab |
3
|
CJ 330 | Prosecuting Criminal Cases |
3
|
CJ 405 | Deviant Behavior in Society |
3
|
CJ 410 | Race, Crime |
3
|
CJ 425 | Children’s Rights and Societal Responses |
3
|
PSYC 440 | Forensic Psychology | 3 |
*CJ 503 | Criminal Justice Administration |
3
|
*CJ 522 | Criminology |
3
|
*CJ 544 | Staff Supervision in Criminal Justice |
3
|
*CJ 576 | Corrections |
3
|
LE 318 | Family Law |
3
|
SOC 411 | The Family |
3
|
C. 12 credits (4 courses) of cognate courses:
ECON 100 | Basic Economics 3 |
3
|
PS 210 | American Government and Politics |
3
|
PS 211 | State and Local Government |
3
|
SOC 214 | Social Problems |
3
|
*CJ 500 graduate electives. Up to 12 graduate credits may be taken by CJ undergraduate students who have been accepted into the five-year CJ Masters program in the fourth year (UG) of their program. These courses are also open to seniors enrolled in the regular four-year undergraduate program with QPA of 3.0 or better and the CJ Program Director’s permission. For graduation, students must have a minimum QPA of 2.33 in the major and a minimum overall QPA of 2.00.
A copy of the complete curriculum is available upon request from the Social Sciences Department.