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Nichols College

Learn. Lead. Succeed

Criminal Justice

At Nichols, our Bachelor’s of Arts in Criminal Justice program offers undergraduate students the opportunity to develop the skills and knowledge required for obtaining rewarding career opportunities in the public and private sectors. The core curriculum is grounded in the liberal arts and includes a focus on current trends in criminal justice such as homeland security, emergency management and planning, white collar crime, high tech crime, and criminal/fire investigations.  

Our Criminal Justice faculty is comprised of knowledgeable professors with diverse backgrounds—such as a former Deputy Sheriff and a former Military Police Officer. Their years of real-world experience bring a significant perspective and expertise to the Criminal Justice curriculum.

Careers in Criminal Justice

Career opportunities for Criminal Justice majors are plentiful in both the public and the private sectors. Some possible occupations for graduates of the program include:  

  • Paralegal
  • Police Officer
  • Court Reporter
  • Forensic Technician
  • Detective—Private or Homicide
  • Crime Scene Investigator
  • Parole or Probation Officer
  • Dispatcher
  • Fraud Investigator
  • State Trooper 

Regardless of your career path, all Nichols students have access to our Career and Professional Development Center. A myriad of resources are at your disposal from your first day on campus to the day you retire. Find out about our lifelong career support here.

Learn more about our Criminal Justice degree program!

A Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from Nichols College can prepare you for the challenges and rewards of a career preventing and investigating crime and protecting your community. Ready to begin? Contact us for general information or to schedule a campus tour, or download our program guide today!

Courses & Requirements

Criminal Justice Course Descriptions

Research Methods

Course description: This course introduces students to scientific methodology as it relates to criminal justice in order for students to become researchers and understand the field of research as it relates to criminal justice. This course provides students with an understanding of the methods of research available to criminologists and the police. It also connects theory to data, and emphasizes the ability to comprehend the logic behind statistical tests of significance. Understanding the development and testing of hypotheses, data collection, data analysis, and presentation of findings is the underlying theme of the course. Already offered.

Prerequisite: CJM 209, 210, 302. 3 Hours, 1 Semester

Juvenile Delinquency

Course description: Students will acquire an awareness regarding the concepts of juvenile delinquency, the sociological and developmental views of delinquency as well as environmental influences.  Selected theories on delinquency and causes of juvenile delinquency will be presented.  The role of the different components of the juvenile justice system including the police, courts, and correctional facilities will be discussed; their impact on prevention and rehabilitation will be emphasized.  Juvenile justice advocacy, intervention, preventions and the future of juvenile delinquency and juvenile justice will also be presented. Already offered.

Prerequisite: 3 Hours, 1 Semester

Crime/Fire Scene Investigation

Course description:  This course will explore a basic study of fire scene investigation procedures and techniques used to determine the origin and cause of fire. Included are reasons for accurately determining the origin and cause of fire, the systematic approach to fire scene examination, and determining if the fire is criminal in nature. Other topics that will be covered are: basic scene security, major fire scene control, report writing and interviewing.  Under development for Fall 2018.

Required Courses

This course will introduce the student to the field of criminal justice and security by presenting an overview of federal and state enforcement agencies. This course will discuss the role of the state in protecting business enterprises and furnish the student with a broad understanding of the developing relationships between a business enterprise and its security function.
This course will provide an in-depth examination of the crimes and actions most encountered by the private industry and the public law enforcement officer. We will also examine recent court decisions. Students will become acquainted with concepts of search and seizure, individual restraint, and limitations of personal freedom and expression.
This course will cover investigative methodologies, financial and quantitative data analysis, investigative plans, multi-disciplinary teams, and best practices. Students will also examine legal and ethical duties and issues, use case study analysis to emphasize background verifications, employee misconduct, employee and external fraud, and joint investigations with law enforcement. Overall, students will understand how properly conducted investigations may be used as a risk management tool.
This course will cover topics such as risk identification and assessment of multi-hazards whether natural and man-made, violence in the workplace, development of crisis and disaster incident management programs, and business/agency continuation planning. Students will understand that natural and man-made hazards represent a threat to the financial welfare of a corporation/agency and the safety of its employees and visitors. Students will have the opportunity to be certified in ICS levels as well as FEMA certifications.
This capstone course will examine state-of-the-art (best practice) methodologies, strategies and approaches relevant to the acquisition of skills, competencies and conceptual (big picture) expertise necessary for successful and effective security management as well as research emerging in the field of criminal justice. This course will emphasize qualitative and quantitative (analytical) approaches relevant to the accurate forecasting, identification, and assessment of security-related issues, and concerns in multi-national environments using problem-based learning as the primary instructional strategy.
The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the American Correctional system and to cover the history of corrections, punishment of offenders, the prison experience, incarceration of women, and institutional management.
This internship will afford students the opportunity to apply the knowledge acquired in the classroom to the real world. The criminal justice management internship program works closely with the Washington Center at the Fischer Institute, Career Services, as well as independently placing students in convenient locations. A cumulative grade point average of 2.5 as well as 60 credits completed is required; the internship consists of 120 hours of work.

Electives

Physical security includes an assembly (combination) of security-related equipment, devices, and technologies, designated and arranged to signal (alert) personnel to negative (loss causing) events or circumstances. Topics to be covered in this course include controlling and monitoring the access of persons and vehicles, prevention and detection of unauthorized intrusions and surveillance, safeguarding negotiable documents, proprietary information, merchandise, and buildings. Students will learn that critical to effective physical security is identifying and assessing the security (asset protection) requirements related to (anticipated) risks and threats to a given facility's perimeter, interior, and contents.
This course will cover the historical foundations of terrorism. Students will learn ideologies, organizational structures, and methods of operations. Class discussions will provide an overview of the problem of terrorism, and explore public and private sector terrorism. Students will discuss and understand the concepts of domestic terrorism and its implications as well as political and social ramifications.

Offered Spring 2018
 
Within the field of criminal justice, it is necessary to understand why some people commit crimes and others do not.  Crime rates throughout the world are continuously monitored and everyone wants to know the profile of the typical offender; yet it’s relevant that we explore the principles and theories that correlate with crime rates and its offenders.  This course will explore historical and contemporary theories of the causes of crime; including theories derived from biological, psychological, sociological, geographic, economic, and political perspectives.  Prerequisites:  CJM 209, CJM 210, CJM 302, and CJM 333.

The forensic sciences have become a vital part of our criminal justice system over the past several decades. A rise in more sophisticated technology and several high profile cases have helped to move forensic science out of the laboratory and into popular culture. This class will present the forensic sciences in a straight forward fashion. Basic scientific principles will be explained and case examples used to understand how those principles are applied. An emphasis will be placed on the role of the crime scene investigator and how he or she preserves, records, and collects evidence at the crime scene. Specific areas of study will include how a crime scene is recorded and evidence collected, death investigations, crime scene reconstruction, fingerprints, blood spatter analysis, ballistics, fire and explosion investigations, trace evidence, and the use of DNA. Prerequisite: CJM-209

Offered Spring 2018
This course will cover some of the non-technical aspects of cybersecurity. Students will be able to trace historical developments of cybersecurity as well as become familiar with cybersecurity theory. Students will also learn about cybersecurity law and policy, namely national and international laws and policies that guide cybersecurity and cyberspace. Some of the topics will include cybercrime, intellectual property, Internet fraud, cyberwarfare and homeland security (e.g. Critical Infrastructure and Key Resources, NRF, NIMS, etc.) as well as about organizations and entities involved in the formulation of such laws and policies. Students will also examine cybercrime laws and investigations through use of real-life case scenarios and examples. A focus will be placed on the ethics of Internet hacking as well as operations security from an enemy/hacker’s viewpoint, which is necessary to develop and apply countermeasures accordingly. At the end of the semester, students will be able to identify and describe key, non-technical aspects of cybersecurity as well as develop reflective and critical skills for thinking about creative solutions to most pressing issues in cybersecurity.

Faculty