Jun 09, 2025

2025-2026 Undergraduate Catalog (IN PROGRESS)

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2025-2026 Undergraduate Catalog (IN PROGRESS)

Criminal Justice B.A./B.S.

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Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Degree/Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Degree

May be either depending on option selected; see the “Requirements for Baccalaureate Degrees ” section of this catalog.

Major in Criminal Justice

(Major Codes: 133, 834, 835)

Criminal justice is an interdisciplinary program. Students select a major track in:

Administration (Code 133) - available as an ONLINE DEGREE
Corrections (community supervision, prison, parole) (Code 834)
Policing (Code 835)

University Core Curriculum Requirements (42 hours)

**IMPORTANT: Before selecting from these courses, students should review any major-specific core requirements in the major below as they will be required to take those courses instead.**

Core 10 - Communication (3 hours from ENGL options)

ENGL 1301 or ENGL 1311

Core 10 - Communication (3 hours from COMM options)

COMM 1315 ; COMM 1318 ; or COMM 1321

Core 20 - Mathematics (3 hours)

MATH 1314 ; MATH 1316 ; MATH 1324 ; MATH 1325 ; MATH 1332 ; MATH 1342 ; MATH 1350 ; MATH 2412 ; or MATH 2413
(4th hour from 4-hour course moves to Core 90.)

Core 30 - Life and Physical Sciences (6 hours)

ANSC 1319 ; BIOL 1308 or BIOL 1406 ; BIOL 1309 or BIOL 1407 ; BIOL 1411 ; BIOL 1413 ; CHEM 1305 or CHEM 1411 ; CHEM 1412 ; ENVR 1407 ; GEOL 1301 or GEOL 1403 ; GEOL 1302 ; GEOL 1404 ; PHYS 1311 ; PHYS 1312 ; PHYS 1371 ; PHYS 1401 ; PHYS 1402 ; PHYS 2425 ; PHYS 2426 ; PSES 1301 or PSES 1307
(Cannot receive University Core credit for both BIOL 1308 and BIOL 1406; or for both BIOL 1309 and BIOL 1407; or for both CHEM 1305 and CHEM 1411; or for both GEOL 1301 and GEOL 1403. CHEM 1305 does not count as a prerequisite for CHEM 1412.)
(4th hour from 4-hour courses move to Core 90.)

Core 40 - Language, Philosophy and Culture (3 hours)

ANTH 2351 ; ENGL 2321 ; ENGL 2326 ; ENGL 2331 ; ENGL 2341 ; ENGL 2343 ; HIST 2311 ; HIST 2323 ; HIST 2372 ; MCOM 1307 ; PHIL 1301 ; PHIL 2374 ; SPAN 2311 ; SPAN 2312 [or an equivalent course (second year or intermediate level) in a foreign language]; SPAN 2313 ; SPAN 2315 ; or SPAN 2371

Core 50 - Creative Arts (3 hours)

ARTS 1301 ; ARTS 1303 ; ARTS 1304 ; DANC 2303 ; MUSI 1306 ; MUSI 1307 ; MUSI 1310 ; or THRE 1310

Core 60 - American History (6 hours)

HIST 1301 ; HIST 1302 ; HIST 2301 ; HIST 2381 ; or HIST 2382

Core 70 - Government / Political Science (6 hours)

POSC 2305 and POSC 2306

Core 80 - Social and Behavioral Sciences (3 hours)

AGBE 2317 ; COMM 2377 ; CRIJ 1301 ; ECON 2301 ; ECON 2302 ; GEOG 1302 ; PSYC 2301 ; or SOCI 1301

Core 90 - Component Area Option (6 hours or fewer; may depend on major requirements)

AGRI 2300 ; BUSI 1301 ; BUSI 1304 ; CIDM 1105 ; CIDM 1301 or CIDM 1315 ; CS 1301 ; ECON 2331 ; EDUC 1300 ; ENGL 1101 ; ENGL 1102 ; ENGL 1302 ; ENGL 1312 ; ENGL 2311 ; HSCI 2300 ; IDS 1071 (1-3 hours); MUSI 1053 (1-2 hours); PHIL 2303 ; or SES 1120
(Cannot receive credit for both CIDM 1301 and CIDM 1315 for Core 90.)
(ENGL 1101 and ENGL 1102 cannot count for English B.A. requirement.)
(4th hours from 4-hour courses in Cores 20 and 30 may be used in this section.)

Criminal Justice Major Requirements

Major-Specific University Core Requirements

**IMPORTANT: The following courses are required for their specific Core areas instead of the courses listed above in the general University Core Curriculum.**

Core 80 - Social and Behavioral Sciences (3 hours)

Students are encouraged to take the following course:

SOCI 1301 - Introduction to Sociology 3

Criminal Justice Core Requirements (18-21 hours)

SOCI 1301 - Introduction to Sociology 3 (If not taken in Core 80)
CRIJ 1301 - Introduction to Criminal Justice 3
CRIJ 1306 - Court Systems and Practices 3
CRIJ 1307 - Crime in America 3
CRIJ 1310 - Introduction to Law 3
CRIJ 2313 - Correctional Systems and Practices 3
CRIJ 2328 - Contemporary Policing 3

Required Criminal Justice Courses for Emphasis

Three advanced semester hours of CRIJ/POSC/SOCI

B.A./B.S. Requirements (6-12 hours)

Complete the requirements for your specific degree.

B.A. Degree

In addition to the core curriculum, a minimum of 12 hours as follows:

At least six hours of foreign language, and
Six hours chosen from art, communication studies, dance, English, history, media communications, modern languages, music, philosophy, religion, and theatre.

B.S. Degree

In addition to the core curriculum, a minimum of 6 hours as follows:

Six hours chosen from biology, chemistry, environmental science, geology, geosciences, mathematics, physics, and natural sciences.

Electives (est. 0-9 hours)

Total hours required to complete degree: 120 hours

Depending on transfer credits and other substitutions/waivers, student may need to take additional electives as needed to total a minimum of 120 hours or the minimum total hours required for this degree, of which at least 36 must be advanced (3000/4000 level) and earned at WTAMU.

Additional Information

Accepted Coursework

Students transferring into the Criminal Justice Program may transfer the following courses: Introduction to Criminal Justice (CRIJ 1301 ), Court Systems and Practices (CRIJ 1306 ), Fundamentals of Criminal Law (CRIJ 1310 ), Correctional Systems and Practices (CRIJ 2313) and Police Systems and Practices (CRIJ 2328 ). An additional six hours of selected academic classes may be accepted upon individual review.

Transfer Students

Transfer students should be aware that some of the courses required for an associate degree in criminal justice may not apply to baccalaureate degree requirements.

Online Degree

Students may complete criminal justice degree in administration online.

M.A. Degree in Criminal Justice Studies

For information about the master of arts (M.A.) degree in criminal justice studies, refer to the “Graduate Catalog”.

Advising Services Degree Checklists and Curriculum Guides

Degree checklists and curriculum guides (suggested course sequences) are available by linking to the Advising Services Degree Checklists webpage.