Athens State Graduates

2025-2026 Undergraduate Catalog

Bachelor of Science - Criminal Justice Major: Juvenile Justice Studies Option

This major provides students with interdisciplinary knowledge of criminal, constitutional, and correctional law processes, investigation and evidence collection, policies, and management practices within criminal justice agencies and organizations.

EACH STUDENT MUST ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR KNOWING THE ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE THAT IS BEING PURSUED.

Program components of the Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Criminal Justice - Juvenile Justice Option:

Applicable General University Requirements

Applicable General University Requirements

Students earning the Bachelor of Science (BS) degree with a major in Criminal Justice - Juvenile Justice Studies Option must satisfy all general University requirements and meet all financial obligations before a degree is awarded.

General Education Requirements

Area I - Written Composition

English Composition I and English Composition II

6

Total Credit Hours:6

Area II - Humanities/Fine Arts

Fine Arts Course or Equivalent

3

At Least One Literature Course

3

Other Courses in Humanities and Fine Arts

6

Total Credit Hours:12

At least one literature course: Students must complete a 6 hour sequence in either Literature (Area II) or History (Area IV).

Area III - Mathematics and Natural Sciences

MA 200 or Higher Mathematics Course

3

Natural Sciences

8

Total Credit Hours:11

Natural sciences: Lab-based.

Area IV - History/Behavioral and Social Sciences

At Least One History Course

3

Other Courses in History or Behavioral or Social Science

9

Total Credit Hours:12

At least one history course: Students must complete a 6 hour sequence in either Literature (Area II) or History (Area IV).

Total Credit Hours: 41

Area V - Pre-Professional

Required

Introduction to Criminal Justice

3

Law Enforcement or Policing or Corrections or Security

3

 

Microcomputer Applications (CIS 146)

3

Or

ITE 301Problem Solving with Computers

3

Total Credit Hours: 9

Total General Education and Major Prerequisite Requirement Hours: 50

Major Course Requirements

Required

UNV 300Pathways to Success

3

CJ 301Criminal Justice Process

3

CJ 302Criminal Law

3

CJ 400Law Enforcement in America

3

CJ 401Adult Corrections

3

 

CJ 450Criminal Justice Research Methods and Evaluation

3

Or

PS 342Methods of Behavioral Science Research

3

Or

SO 342Methods of Behavioral Science Research

3

 

CJ 452Advanced Criminology

3

CJ 453Juvenile Delinquency

3

 

PS 304Drugs And Behavior

3

Or

SO 362Deviant Social Behavior

3

 

PS 332Child Psychology

3

Or

PS 334Adolescent Psychology

3

 

PS 352Abnormal Psychology

3

Or

PS 420Cognitive Psychology

3

 

CA 301Perspectives on Child Maltreatment & Child Advocacy

3

CA 302Global Child Advocacy Issues

3

CA 401Child Advocacy II: Professional and System Responses to Child Maltreatment

4

CA 402Mock Cases and Simulations Practicum

1

CJ 464Internship in Criminal Justice

3

CJ 465Senior Research Project

4

UNV 400Career Seminar

1

CJ 465: Students must earn a minimum grade of “C” on Comprehensive Exam, Oral Presentation and the Overall Final Grade.

Total Credit Hours: 52

A minimum of 27 semester hours of upper division CA/CJ/PO/PSHA coursework must be completed at Athens State University.

A minor is not required.

General Electives

Elective hours as needed to meet minimum 124 hour requirement and all other general University requirements (CJ/PO/PSHA 350 Introduction to the American Legal System, CJ/PSHA 455 Ethics in the Public Sector, and CH 302 Introduction to Forensic Science are recommended)

Total Credit Hours: 22

Total Credit Hours: 124