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Criminal Justice Program

The Criminal Justice Undergraduate Curriculum at St. Ambrose is divided into four components: Foundation Courses, CJ Core Courses, Justice Subsystems, and Electives.

Students are required to complete five "Foundation Courses" which are designed to provide basic knowledge in the major areas of study in criminal justice. The "CJ Core" courses were created to build upon the knowledge gained in the foundation courses. Courses such as Criminal Justice Statistics and Research and Practicum expose the students to the knowledge and experience necessary to be successful in academic and practitioner-oriented careers in criminal justice. Other courses in this area deal with the interrelation between the law and the criminal justice system, ethics, and issues related to delinquency and the juvenile justice system.

The "Justice Subsystem" enables students to pursue areas of study in which they have a particular interest. Students are required to take courses in two of the following areas: Policing, Corrections, and Crime Prevention and Security. These courses help the students develop additional knowledge beneficial to them in their chosen careers.

Finally, students are able to choose two electives from courses in Criminal Justice, Psychology, and Sociology. These courses are designed to enhance the student’s knowledge in Criminal Justice and related disciplines.

In addition to the specific degree requirements, students are able to select 17 credit hours of general electives (approximately 8 courses). These courses can be chosen from any of the academic disciplines offered at St. Ambrose University. Students should consider using these electives to develop proficiency in a foreign language, vital for employment in Federal law enforcement agencies; enhancing their writing and communication skills; or developing further expertise in psychology, the natural sciences, and other related areas.