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2011-2012 Argosy University Academic Catalog—Undergraduate Programs | Volume 2, Issue 3 
    
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2011-2012 Argosy University Academic Catalog—Undergraduate Programs | Volume 2, Issue 3 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Degree Program

Offering Campuses

Argosy University, Atlanta; Argosy University, Chicago; Argosy University, Dallas; Argosy University, Denver; Argosy University, Hawai‘i; Argosy University, Inland Empire; Argosy University Los Angeles; Argosy University, Nashville; Argosy University, Orange County; Argosy University, Phoenix; Argosy University, Salt Lake City; Argosy University, San Diego; Argosy University, San Francisco Bay Area; Argosy University, Sarasota; Argosy University, Schaumburg; Argosy University, Seattle; Argosy University, Tampa; Argosy University, Twin Cities; Argosy University, Washington DC

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Science (BS) in Criminal Justice degree program is a practitioner-oriented program that is designed to prepare students to be successful professionals in the fields of law enforcement, corrections, probation and parole, and security. The curriculum is designed to provide students with critical thinking, communication, research, and professional skills that contribute to career development.

In addition to core course work students complete two concentrations from the following categories:

  • Corrections
  • Forensic Psychology
  • Homeland Security
  • Management
  • Police
  • Security Management
  • Substance Abuse

All students admitted to the BS in Criminal Justice degree program are expected to possess the following basic skills: The ability to use standard written and spoken English effectively; basic calculation skills (pre-algebra) and the ability to use a calculator to perform basic operations.

Program Learning Outcomes

Program Outcome One: Communication
Competency 1.1
Communicate business concepts in the language of business, both written and orally, appropriate to the audience.
Competency 1.2
Analyze through observation, active listening, and probing questions how others are responding to your communication and adjust as necessary.
Competency 1.3
Create an awareness of how you are absorbing the content and nuance of information provided to you, orally or written, and recognize when personal biases are in play.
Competency 1.4
Demonstrate awareness of body language and other non-verbal communication that lead to the “true message”, both implied and inferred.
 

Program Outcome Two: Team
Competency 2.1
Define the attributes of an effective team member and leader behaviors in reaching specific business goals.
Competency 2.2
Identify situations and conditions under which team or individual projects are most appropriate and communicate the information to relevant parties.
Competency 2.3
Select appropriate strategies for motivating teams to reach goals under different constraints and conditions.

Program Outcome Three: Cognitive
Competency 3.1
Basic Problem Solving – Given a business opportunity or problem, select and defend a course of action.
Competency 3.2
Advanced Problem Solving – Identify business opportunities and problems in ambiguous situations, generate solution options and recommend alternatives.
Competency 3.3
Information Literacy – Identify appropriate sources and access those sources to generate qualitative and quantitative information necessary to make an informed business choice.

Program Outcome Four: Analysis and Application
Competency 4.1
Integration – Identify the tensions and synergies between the basic business disciplines.
Competency 4.2
Analysis – Determine the critical information necessary to make an informed business. choice under a variety of conditions, and also determine critical missing information for informed choice.
Competency 4.3
Generate options and recommendations for action that support the mission of the organization while simultaneously meeting the needs of critical stakeholders in conditions of imperfect and ambiguous information.
 

Program Outcome Five: Ethics/Diversity
Competency 5.1
Identify the ethical framework of managers and employees in both routine work life and highly volatile change situations.
Competency 5.2
Express a code of professional ethics and/or behavior for yourself and your organization.
Competency 5.3
Identify synergies/benefits and tensions/constraints of diversity within and across organizational settings and be able to communicate professionally the underlying ethics and values that govern your approach.
 

Admission Requirements

Applicants must provide proof of high school graduation or GED and meet one of the following conditions:

  • ACT Composite score of 18 or above, or
  • Combined Math and Critical Reading SAT score of 870, or
  • Minimum High School or College as follows:
    • For students with 12 or fewer college credits, cumulative High School GPA of 2.0 or above
    • For students with 13 or more college credits, cumulative College GPA of 2.0 or above
  • A minimum score on an Argosy University pre-approved English language proficiency test is required for all applicants whose native language is not English or who have not graduated from an institution at which English is the language of instruction as specified in Section Five, Admission Policies, “English Language Proficiency Policy .”

–OR–

Applicants with lower grade point averages and scores on ACT or SAT will be admitted and assigned “Academic/Financial Aid Warning” in accordance with Argosy University’s Standards for Satisfactory Progress.

Other Admission Requirements 

  • Proof of high school graduation documented by one of the following:
    • Official high school transcript
    • State issued high school equivalency (home school)
    • Official General Educational Development (GED) document
    • Official college transcript from a regionally accredited institution,  or nationally accredited institution approved by the Dean of the College of Undergraduate Studies,  or an appropriately certified foreign institution that shows proof of high school graduation 
  • Proof of high school graduation or earned college degree

All applications for admission must be submitted to the Admissions Department. An admissions representative will help interested applicants complete the following required documentation:

  • Completed Application for Admission Form
  • Application fee (Non-refundable, except in California and Arizona. In the state of Arizona, the application fee is refundable if the application is canceled within three business days of the applicant signing the Enrollment Agreement)
  • Official transcripts from all postsecondary schools attended*
  • Proof of high school graduation or GED or college degree from a regionally accredited institution or nationally accredited institution approved and documented by the faculty and dean of the College of Undergraduate Studies
Note

*Students admitted on the basis of their high school GPA need only submit official transcripts for coursework they wish to have considered for transfer credit.

Graduation Requirements

  • Satisfactory completion of all required courses within the program  with a grade of “C-” or better
  • Completion of 120 credit hours as follows
    • 42 credit hours General Education Curriculum Requirements1
    • 30 credit hours Core Course Requirements
    • 24 credit hours Concentration Requirements
    • 24 credit hours Open Elective Requirements2
    • Completion of a minimum of 42 credit hours of upper division courses
    • An Argosy University grade point average of 2.0 or higher
    • A completed Petition to Graduate submitted to campus administration

1 The General Education Requirements at Argosy University, Sarasota and Argosy University, Tampa are 45 credit hours. To satisfy these requirements, students choose an additional general education elective. Open Electives Requirements are 7 courses or 21 credit hours. The total credit hours required to complete the program remains the same at 120 credit hours.

2 The Open Electives Requirements are 21 credit hours at Argosy University, Sarasota and Argosy University, Tampa.

Program Outcomes

  • Interpret the historical foundations and contemporary theories associated with the causes of crime, systems of social control, law enforcement, judicial process, and correctional philosophies.
  • Apply principles of scientific methodology in order to solve varied and complex problems associated with the management of public safety and maintenance of social control.
  • Recognize the purposes for, and be able to ethically apply, laws, policies, procedures, and operational techniques to the investigation, detection, apprehension, adjudication, and rehabilitation or punishment of criminal offenders.
  • Use basic research methods for gathering, analyzing, and interpreting statistical data associated with criminal activity, law enforcement, the judicial process, and corrections.
  • Gather, document and communicate pertinent information, using software systems, computer technology, and other resources.
  • Use information to enhance operational performance, aid in strategic planning, predict crime trends, and promote personal safety.
  • Analyze and evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of a diverse society and manage social problems and interpersonal conflict with due respect for race, ethnicity, gender, religion, culture, economic status, and lifestyle.

 Program Requirements

The BS in Criminal Justice degree program requires the satisfactory completion of a minimum of 120 credit hours distributed as follows.

General Education Curriculum Requirements (42 credit hours)³

  • 6 credit hours in academic and interpersonal skills4
  • 6 credit hours in communications
  • 6 credit hours in humanities5
  • 6 credit hours in social sciences6
  • 6 credit hours in natural science
  • 6 credit hours in mathematics
  • 6 credit hours in elective courses (in any general education distribution area)7

3 The General Education Requirements at Argosy University, Tampa  and Argosy University, Tampa are 45 credit hours.

4 To satisfy the Academic and Interpersonal Skills requirements, students are required to take ASP100 Skills for Success   and PSY180 Interpersonal Effectiveness  during the first semester of attendance. Transfer credit is not accepted for either course. Academic and Interpersonal Skills requirements are 3 credit hours at Argosy University, Twin Cities and are fulfilled by successful completion of PSY180 Interpersonal Effectiveness .  Students at Argosy University, Twin Cities apply ASP100 Skills for Success  towards the Open Electives requirements.

5 Students at Argosy University, Twin Cities are required to take 9 credit hours within the humanities category.

6 Students at Argosy University, Twin Cities are required to take 9 credit hours within the social sciences category.

7 Students at Argosy University, Sarasota and Argosy University, Tampa are required to take 9 credit hours general education elective courses. Students at Argosy University, Twin Cities are required to take 3 credit hours general education elective courses.

Core Curriculum Requirements (30 credit hours)

Students are required to complete ten core courses or 30 credit hours.

Core Requirements — Students Are Required to Take the Following

 

Core Requirements—30 Credit Hours

 

Concentration Requirements

Students are required to complete two concentrations which enable them to tailor their program to fit their career goals. Each concentration is comprised of four courses or 12 credit hours. Options include Corrections, Forensic Psychology, Homeland Security, Management, Police, Security Management, and Substance Abuse. Upon the approval of the program chair, students may select any combination of courses within the Criminal Justice concentration offerings to complete a customized concentration.

Corrections Concentration Requirements

The Corrections Concentration is designed for students who are interested in entry-level careers in adult or juvenile corrections or probation and parole.

Corrections Concentration Requirements — Students Are Required to Take the Following

 

Corrections Concentration Requirements — 12 Credit Hours

 

Forensic Psychology Concentration Requirements

The Forensic Psychology Concentration is designed to provide students with a psychological perspective for understanding crime and its causes.

Forensic Psychology Concentration Requirements — Students Are Required to Take the Following

 

Forensic Psychology Concentration Requirements — 12 Credit Hours

 

Homeland Security Concentration Requirements

The Homeland Security Concentration is designed for students who desire to enhance their understanding of foreign and domestic threats to national security and/or who may be interested in entry-level careers with state or federal Homeland Security agencies.

Homeland Security Concentration Requirements — Students Are Required to Take the Following

 

Homeland Security Concentration Requirements — 12 Credit Hours

 

Management Concentration Requirements

The Management Concentration is designed to provide students with an understanding of business management practices that can benefit leaders in various criminal justice fields.

Management Concentration Requirements — Students Are Required to Take the Following

 

Management Concentration Requirements — 12 Credit Hours

 

Police Concentration Requirements

The Police Concentration is designed for students interested in law enforcement careers.

Police Concentration Requirements — Students Are Required to Take the Following

 

Police Concentration Requirements — 12 Credit Hours

 

Security Management Concentration Requirements

The Security Management Concentration is designed for students interested in entry-level careers in public or private security.

Security Management Concentration Requirements — Students Are Required to Take the Following

 

Security Management Concentration Requirements — 12 Credit Hours

 

Substance Abuse Concentration Requirements

The Substance Abuse Concentration is designed to provide students with an understanding of the nature and impact of the abuse of controlled substances on individuals, families and society.

Substance Abuse Concentration Requirements — Students Are Required to Take the Following

 

Substance Abuse Concentration Requirements — 12 Credit Hours

 

Open Electives Requirements (24 credit hours)

Students choose eight courses from any area with the approval of their program chair.

Note

The Open Electives requirements at Argosy University, Sarasota and Argosy University, Tampa are seven courses or 21 credit hours..

Note

Students at Argosy University, Twin Cities apply ASP 100 Skills for Success   towards the Open Electives requirements.