Chaminade University

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Criminology and Criminal Justice

School of Education and Behavioral Sciences

CRIMINOLOGY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE

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School of Education and Behavioral Sciences

CRIMINOLOGY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE

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Let’s face it: Crime happens.

And if you want to solve crime, study it or seek out justice, you’ve come to right place.

Our Criminology and Criminal Justice program is the largest and oldest in Hawaii, offering theory-based and experiential learning experiences, a suite of internships and career development programs, and a supportive, vibrant and innovative learning environment.

We offer a bachelor’s degree through daytime or online coursework, which prepares our graduates to pursue careers in law enforcement, public safety, criminal justice or criminology or an advanced degree, including in law or criminology research. Our curriculum gives students an understanding of: the complexities of the American criminal justice system, causes of crime, criminal justice law and research and the basic techniques of crime scene investigation.

We are particularly proud of the immersive learning experiences we offer students. In crime scene re-enactments, for example, students learn a host of invaluable skills such as how to secure a crime scene, interview a witness and properly collect and preserve evidence. We also offer a number of exciting and unique electives, including underwater evidence recovery.

Experiential Learning

Internships are available through various agencies that allow you to gain firsthand knowledge in criminal justice. Our undergraduate curriculum is based on direct correspondence with the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences, and course offerings include interactive crime scene investigation and comprehensive law courses.

Immersion Learning Experiences provides hands-on experience opportunities. In our crime scene reenactments, students learn by immersing themselves in various situations which they will encounter in their careers, such as securing a crime scene, interviewing witnesses and properly collecting evidence.

Learning from peers allows you to acquire new skills from those who have experience in their fields. Throughout many course offerings, students will be joined by active police officers, members of the armed forces and government agencies.

Criminology and Criminal Justice (B.S.)

Upon completion of the B.S. undergraduate program in Criminology & Criminal Justice, students will be able to:

  1. Describe the interrelated institutions and processes of the criminal justice system, including the basic rights guaranteed to each individual by both state and federal constitutions and laws.
  2. Apply theories of crime and criminal justice to explain actual and hypothetical scenarios, behaviors, and trends.
  3. Evaluate social, cultural, and technological change and its impact on the criminal justice system.
  4. Assess social inequities in crime and criminal justice processes by race, social class, gender, region and age.
  5. Articulate a working knowledge of qualitative and quantitative research methods by explaining the various social science methods of inquiry and use these to test specific criminological research questions.
  6. Engage the Marianist tradition of education for service, peace, and justice as it pertains to local and national social justice, injustices, and inequities in the criminal justice field.
Pre-Major Requirements
  • CJ 151 Criminal Justice Systems
  • CJ 201 Foundations in Criminology
  • CJ 220 Criminal Investigation
  • CJ 223 Introduction to Law
  • CJ 270 Supervision & Management
  • CJ 291 Juvenile Justice System

Note: English 102 and Communication 101 are prerequisites for all upper division courses.

Major Requirements
  • CJ 315 Behavioral Sciences Statistics
  • CJ 321 Research Methods
  • CJ 327 Career Development in the Behavioral Sciences
  • CJ 375 Contemporary Issues in Criminal Justice
  • CJ 423 Criminal Law
  • CJ 424 Criminal Procedures
  • CJ 432 Law Enforcement
  • CJ 451 Corrections: Prisons and Community Alternatives
  • CJ 490 Seminar in Criminal Justice Agencies
  • CJ 491 Juvenile Deviancy and Juvenile Justice

Elective (choose one):

  • PSY 321 Psychology of Personality
  • PSY 424 Abnormal Psychology
  • SO 401 Race and Ethnic Relations
  • SO 407 Society and Mental Disorders

Criminology and Criminal Justice (A.S.)

Upon completion of the A.S. Criminology and Criminal Justice degree, students will demonstrate an understanding of:

  1. The basic complexities of the American criminal justice system
  2. Race, gender and social class and the causes of crime
  3. Criminal justice research
  4. Basic techniques of crimes scene investigation and the law of evidence

The Associate of Science degree requires the completion of a minimum of 60 semester hours of credit with a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 (C) for all course work completed at Chaminade. The degree also requires completion of the general education core. At least 15 semester hours of course work must be completed at Chaminade.

Degree Requirements
  • CJ 151 Criminal Justice Systems
  • CJ 201 Foundations in Criminology
  • CJ 220 Criminal Investigation
  • CJ 223 Introduction to Law
  • CJ 270 Supervision & Management
  • CJ 291 Juvenile Justice System
  • At least 9 semester hours of course work must be completed at Chaminade

Note: English 102 and Communication 101 are prerequisites for all upper division courses.

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CRIMINOLOGY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE MAJOR SHEET (PDF)

Accreditation

Chaminade University of Honolulu is accredited by WASC Senior College and University Commission.

Faculty

Our faculty members are leaders in their fields. They believe in the power of personal experience—stressing mentorship, collaboration and project-based learning inside and outside the classroom.

Meet Our Faculty

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