Overview
The present and future needs of the U.S. society require greater numbers of highly educated people in criminal justice agencies at all levels of government. Criminal justice employers demand applicants who have had professional education. There is considerable interest among criminal justice practitioners to increase professionalism through education. The curriculum provides quality criminal justice education and prepares student interested in the study of police, law enforcement, probation and parole, corrections, juvenile agency work, criminal justice administration and private/corporate security. Course offerings within the professional fields are related to other programs at the college, including human services, business and the social sciences.
Criminal Justice and Criminology Major for Bachelor of Science
The bachelor of science in criminal justice and criminology is designed to provide professional courses as well as a broad general education. The curriculum is structured for the student seeking either pre-service or in-service education. Recognizing that many people who are interested in such education are already employed in some form of criminal justice work, and that many people have completed course-work at the community college level, the department has developed a four-year program that provides comprehensive fundamental subjects in the first two years (lower-division). The curriculum is structured to facilitate transfer from two-year police science/criminal justice programs. The department has an articulation agreement with the Colorado Community College System. The articulation agreement states that if a transfer student has completed the total basic requirements at any accredited Colorado community college, Metropolitan State College of Denver will consider the student's General Studies requirements completed.
Students must meet the college's requirements for the bachelor's degree including General Studies, they should consult with a faculty advisor regarding General Studies courses and the selection of criminal justice electives. The department recommends the following General Studies courses: BIO 1000, Human Biology for Non-Majors; PSY 1001, Introductory Psychology; and SOC 1010, Introduction to Sociology. A minor is not required.