Criminal Justice is the study of both domestic and international structures, functions,
behaviors, and public policies related to the apprehension, prosecution, sentencing,
and incarceration of offenders.
About This Program
The Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice offers a course of study that leads
to the Bachelor of Criminal Justice (BCJ) degree.
Criminal Justice at Florida A&M University is an interdisciplinary and professionally
oriented academic discipline concentrating on many aspects of crime and the concepts
that impact our system of justice.
The Bachelor of Criminal Justice (BCJ) program requires 120 semester hours to complete.
The Bachelor of Criminal Justice (BCJ) program equips students with the fundamentals
of social science research to stimulate their ability to apply social and criminological
theory and social science research methods to address social and cultural issues related
to the criminal justice system.
With an emphasis on law enforcement, criminal procedures, the courts, and corrections,
FAMU’s Criminal Justice program has educated and trained students who now serve as
law enforcement, correctional, and probation officers. Many others went on to pursue
law degrees and now hold positions in courts, colleges, and public and private practices
or agencies across the nation and the world.
In addition to general studies requirements, students must meet all University requirements.
All courses must be passed with a grade of “C” or better.
Students in Criminal Justice programs typically develop critical thinking, analytical,
communication, and problem-solving skills. They also gain knowledge about criminal
law, criminal behavior, ethics, and social justice issues.
What is Criminal Justice?
Criminal justice is the study of both domestic and international structures, functions,
behaviors, and public policies related to the apprehension, prosecution, sentencing,
and incarceration of offenders.
Criminal justice is the system of practices and institutions of governments directed
at upholding social control, deterring and mitigating crime, or sanctioning those
who violate laws with criminal penalties and rehabilitation efforts.
A degree in Criminal Justice can open up various career paths, including roles in
law enforcement (police officer, detective), corrections (probation officer, correctional
officer), legal professions (paralegal, legal assistant), government agencies (FBI,
DEA), private security, and more.
Criminal Justice Careers
Criminal Justice provides a number of job options and career paths. Many are found
in the public sector, either in law enforcement, the court system, or the corrections
system
Example Career Paths
Criminal justice is an extensive field of study that can lead to career possibilities
in politics, homeland security, criminology, business, forensic science, and social
work. Positions include, but are not limited to:
The job outlook for Criminal Justice graduates can vary by specific occupation and
geographic region. However, overall, the demand for professionals in fields related
to Criminal Justice tends to remain relatively stable, with opportunities available
in both the public and private sectors.
Criminal Justice Employment Expectations
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, overall employment of police and detectives
is projected to grow by 3 percent from 2022 to 2032, about as fast as the average
for all occupations. There are about 64,500 openings for police and detectives projected
each year, on average, over the decade.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who
transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
A criminal justice major offers a broad understanding of the criminal justice system,
which can be applied to various professions beyond law enforcement. It provides a
foundation for careers in corrections, legal services, homeland security, social work,
and more.
Q: Do I need to attend law school to work in criminal justice? A:While some roles within the field of Criminal Justice may require advanced degrees
such as a Juris Doctor (JD) for lawyers or master's degrees for certain specialized
positions, many entry-level positions only require a bachelor's degree in Criminal
Justice or a related field.
Q: Is an internship required for criminal justice majors? A: The internship is optional, but students are strongly encouraged to arrange their
schedules so that they can complete an internship before they graduate. The Department
maintains relationships with agencies from each of the areas of the criminal justice
field, and you may have opportunities to work with law enforcement, course, corrections,
or juvenile justice programs.
Q: Is a minor required for criminal justice majors. A: Yes, a minor is required for criminal justice majors. The minor requires eighteen
(18) credit hours of course work in an approved discipline. The curriculum for the
minor follows the requirements specified by the minor discipline. Contact your academic
advisor for more information.
Q: How will I know if this major is a fit for me? A: For students who are interested in reducing crime, seeking justice, and serving society,
a career in criminal justice may be for you. FAMU’s Criminal Justice major will permit
you to explore these areas and determine where you belong as a professional in this
field.
Bachelor of Criminal Justice (BCJ) Degree Requirements
The components of the criminal justice program consist of theory, research, criminal
law, law enforcement, corrections, and juvenile justice.
In addition to general studies requirements, students must meet all University requirements
(e.g. grades of "C" or better in Gordon Rule Courses), and grades of "C" or above
in all criminal justice courses.
Students must master CCJ 2010 “Introduction to Criminal Justice” before taking upper
level courses. It is expected that these twenty-one (21) semester credit hours of
core courses will be taken at Florida A&M University. The additional nine (9) semester
hours are to be taken from a single substantive area.
Students may choose from the substantive areas of:
(1) Legal Studies CCJ 4932 Contemporary Judicial Issue (3) OR CJL 4065 American Criminal Procedure (3) CCJ 4031 Cases In Corrections (3) CJL 4064 American Criminal Law (3)
(2) Minority and Gender CCJ 4670 Women And Crime (3) CCJ 4662 Race, Class, And Justice (3) CCJ 3129 Multicultural Perspectives on Adolescence and Adolescent Development (3)
(3) Juvenile Justice CJJ 3010 Juvenile Delinquency And The Juvenile Justice System (3) CJJ 3544 Youth Management, Community Organization, And Advocacy(3) CJJ 3545 Social Problems Of Youth (3)
(4) Corrections CCJ 4031 Cases In Corrections (3) CCJ 4360 Contemporary Issues in Corrections (3) CJC 4164 Community Corrections (3)
Criminal Justice majors are required to complete eight (8) required courses totaling
thirty (30) semester hours of upper division criminal justice courses and three (3)
courses in a designated substantive area* as provided below:
CCJ 2010 Introduction to Criminal Justice (3)
CCJ 3117 Theories of Criminal Behavior (3)
CCJ 3718 Statistics in Criminal Justice (3)
CCJ 4700 Research Methods in Criminal Justice (3)
CCJ 4934 Seminar in Criminal Justice (3)
CJE 4065 Police and Society (3)
CJL 3510 American Court System (3)
CJL 4012 Penology (3)
A minor is required for criminal justice majors. The minor requires eighteen (18)
credit hours of coursework in an approved non-criminal justice/juvenile justice field.
The curriculum for the minor follows the requirements specified by the minor field.
A grade below a “C” will not be accepted for credit toward the minor.
Minors in criminal justice are required to complete eighteen (18) credit hours of
course work [15 hours must be satisfied at the 3000 level or above]. The following
course may not be used to satisfy the minor: CCJ 4947 Field Experience in Criminal
Justice (Internship).
Internships are available for students to acquire experience in their chosen field
of study. The internship is optional, but students are strongly encouraged to arrange
their schedules so that they can complete an internship before they graduate. Graduates
of the program will be qualified to work in agencies throughout the criminal justice
system or enter graduate or law school. A grade below a “C” will not be accepted for
credit toward the major.
Elective Internship Options for Criminal Justice Majors Only
Criminal Justice Program Curriculum : The degree audit is a management tool to indicate what major courses have been
completed and which are needed to earn a BCJ degree.
Program Faculty
Name
Email
Phone
Dr. Phyllis Welch Chair, Department of Sociology & Criminal Justice
