Be An Advocate for Justice
The criminal justice major at Elms College teaches you to act ethically, think critically, and communicate clearly while advocating for a more just society. Our program prepares you to make a difference in a wide range of settings, including law enforcement, the court system, correctional facilities, rehabilitative institutions, and human service agencies.
As a criminal justice major you will learn from experienced faculty members who uphold justice on a daily basis. Your instructors draw on personal experience in the field to explain topics ranging from how to provide a positive police presence in the community; advocate for offenders, victims, and witnesses in courts; and provide treatment and rehabilitation services through correctional facilities.
Interdisciplinary Learning
Before you can wear a badge, be a strong advocate, or develop successful treatment and rehabilitation programs, you need a broad understanding of the criminal justice system. In our program you will build this foundation from the ground up, learning the fundamentals of the American criminal justice and legal systems, the history of policing, and procedures for preserving the human dignity of people in the process of being incarcerated.
Instead of exploring criminal justice from a single perspective, CJ majors use an interdisciplinary approach, taking electives in psychology, sociology, social work, and even biology and religion. By examining the racial, social, political, and legal aspects of deterring crime, you will gain a deeper understanding of how peace is maintained in society.
Why do people commit crimes? How do we define violence? What role do ethics and morality have in preserving the status quo? Criminal justice majors ask questions of this nature to engage with the complex issues facing our world today.
Internships and Real-World Training
Before graduating, students in our program apply their skills and insights through internships to gain real-world experience. Elms faculty take a proactive role in helping you make connections with local police departments, court systems, correctional facilities, and human services agencies. Guest speakers working in these fields also visit different classes and give you the chance to ask questions about how to get involved.
In the News:
Mayor Sarno Welcomes New Intern AJ Cook to the Mayor’s Office – Read Article
Internship Turns into Employment
Criminal justice major Rosa Colon ’17 earned her associate’s degree at Holyoke Community College, but knew she needed her bachelor’s degree to get the job she wanted. But with a full-time job and a husband and two young sons, she had to be choosy when picking a college. “I wanted a small school, and I didn’t want to move far away,” she said.
Read Rosa’s story.
Curriculum
Click to view course requirements for the Criminal Justice (B.A.).
Minimum at Elms College: 24 credits/Minimum GPA: 2.5
Criminal justice majors complete an internship during their senior year.
Core Criminal Justice Requirements (37 credits)
Course # | Course Name | # of Credit Hours |
---|---|---|
CRJ 1000 | Introduction to Criminal Justice | 3 |
CRJ 2600 | American Legal Systems | 3 |
CRJ 2800 | Principles of Criminal Investigations | 3 |
CRJ 3100 | Policing in America | 3 |
CRJ 3102 | Corrections and Rehabilitation | 3 |
CRJ 3402 | Effective Communications for the Criminal Justice Professional | 3 |
CRJ 4600 | Internship in Criminal Justice | 4 |
CRJ 4900 | Criminal Justice Capstone | 3 |
LEG 2009 | Criminal Law and Procedure | 3 |
LEG 3107 | Constitutional Law | 3 |
SOC 3005 | Social Research | 3 |
SOC 3006 | Criminology | 3 |
Criminal Justice Electives (choose 9 credits)
Course # | Course Name | # of Credit Hours |
---|---|---|
BIO 2105 | Anatomy and Physiology | 3 |
CRJ 3500 | Probation, Parole, and Restorative Justice | 3 |
CRJ 3600 | Private Security | 3 |
CRJ 3800 | Global Perspectives in Criminal Justice | 3 |
CRJ 3900 | Technology in Criminal Justice | 3 |
CRJ 3905 | Homeland Security and Terrorism | 3 |
LEG 2509 | Family Law | 3 |
LEG 3400 | Advanced Criminal Law | 3 |
LEG 4502 | Juvenile Law | 3 |
PSY 2006 | Social Psychology | 3 |
PSY 3004 | Forensic Psychology | 3 |
PSY 3305 | Psychology of Adolescence | 3 |
SOC 2009 | Social Deviance | 3 |
SOC 3200 | Special Topics: Violence in America | 3 |
SOC 3104 | Victimology | 3 |
SOC 3106 | Racial and Ethnic Groups | 3 |
SWK 2004 | Human Behavior in the Social Environment | 3 |
SWK 3901 | Substance Abuse | 3 |
Recommended courses that satisfy college core requirements (18 credits)
Course # | Course Name | # of Credit Hours |
---|---|---|
BIO 1103 | Forensic Science | 3 |
MAT 1009 | Statistics | 3 |
PED 1104 | Intro. to Physical Fitness (or PED 1301 Total Physical Fitness) | 3 |
PED 1301 | Total Physical Fitness (or PED 1104 Intro. to Physical Fitness) | 3 |
REL 4400 | Addiction and Recovery | 3 |
SOC 1001 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
Click to view course requirements for the Criminal Justice minor.
Minor in Criminal Justice (18 credits)
Course # | Course Name | # of Credit Hours |
---|---|---|
CRJ 1000 | Introduction to Criminal Justice | 3 |
CRJ 2600 | American Legal Systems | 3 |
CRJ 3100 | Policing in America | 3 |
CRJ 3102 | Corrections and Rehabilitation | 3 |
LEG 2900 | Criminal Law and Procedure | 3 |
SOC 3006 | Criminology | 3 |