Criminal Justice Administration, Concentration Forensic Investigation

Requirements for Bachelor of Science Degree

The Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice Administration prepares students for a variety of careers in the field of Criminal Justice. Graduates of the program may find employment as police officers, correctional officers, probation or parole officers, or counselors at the local, state, and federal level. The Criminal Justice Administration curriculum offers a choice of concentrations in either Law Enforcement, Corrections or Forensis Investigation.

The program of study follows a recommended eight-semester format. Students should be aware that certain factors may require deviation from the recommended schedule, and that completion of the degree could require longer than eight semesters. Entering students, who have already completed an associate degree in criminal justice or the equivalent from an accredited institution may transfer in and be admitted at junior status in the particular specialization chosen. They can then earn the baccalaureate degree by completing the general studies program and those courses specified for the third and fourth year of the concentration. Up to 72 hours of credit from all regionally accredited community colleges may be applied toward the degree; all transferred hours will be entered on the transcript and will be calculated in a student’s GPA at Bluefield State College.

Academy Training

Students may petition for up to 13 credit hours upon successfully completing law enforcement training from an accredited, police academy or an accredited state or federal correctional academy by presenting a photocopy of a graduation certificate to the Registrar’s Office. Additional credits may be awarded in accordance with articulation agreements made by Bluefield State College and various institutions.

A certified law enforcement academy providing entry-level enforcement training, in-service, and specialty training with full-time staff of instructors possessing criminal justice expertise.

Forensic Investigation

The Forensic Investigation Concentration is designed to prepare Bluefield State College students for careers in federal and state law enforcement. It is particularly useful for those students seeking specialized positions in these fields which focus on criminal investigations and analyzing evidence. Graduates of this program may find employment in any of the many different law enforcement agencies in the United States. The following courses must be taken in addition to the Criminal Justice Core.

• CRMJ 335 - Forensic Investigation Credit Hour(s): 3
• CRMJ 343 - Firearms & Tool Marks Credit Hour(s): 3
• CRMJ 414 - Victimology Credit Hour(s): 3
• CRMJ 477 - Directed Investigations Credit Hour(s): 3
• CRMJ 480 - Sexual Assault Investigations Credit Hour(s): 3
• NASC 205 - Introduction to Forensic Science Credit Hour(s): 4

Total Credit Hours: 19

First Semester

• BUSN 130 - Microsoft Word & Presentations Credit Hour(s): 3

• or

• COSC 102 - Computers and Society Credit Hour(s): 3
• CRMJ 151 - Introduction to Criminal Justice Credit Hour(s): 3
• CRMJ 163 - Criminal Law Credit Hour(s): 3
• ENGL 101 - Composition I Credit Hour(s): 3
• SOCI 210 - Principles of Sociology Credit Hour(s): 3

Total Credit Hours: 15

Second Semester

• CRMJ 164 - Criminal Procedure and Evidence Credit Hour(s): 3
• CRMJ 252 - Substance Abuse and the Criminal Justice System Credit Hour(s): 3
• ENGL 102 - Composition II Credit Hour(s): 3
• MATH 101 - General Mathematics Credit Hour(s): 3
• PSYC 103 - General Psychology Credit Hour(s): 3

Total Credit Hours: 15

Third Semester

• CRMJ 208 - Criminology Credit Hour(s): 3
• CRMJ 221 - American Correctional Systems Credit Hour(s): 3
• CRMJ 232 - Criminal Justice Writing and Communication Credit Hour(s): 3
• POSC 210 - Introduction to Politics Credit Hour(s): 3
• Health & Wellness Credit Hour(s): 2-3

Total Credit Hours: 14-15

Forth Semester

• COMM 201 - Basic Communications Credit Hour(s): 3

• or

• COMM 208 - Fundamentals of Speech Credit Hour(s): 3
• CRMJ 292 - Juvenile Delinquency Credit Hour(s): 3
• CRMJ 335 - Forensic Investigation Credit Hour(s): 3
• POSC 218 - State and Local Government Credit Hour(s): 3
• POSC 350 - Public Administration Credit Hour(s): 3

Total Credit Hours: 15

Fifth Semester

• CRMJ 301 - Probation, Parole, and Community-based Corrections Credit Hour(s): 3
• CRMJ 331 - Ethics in Criminal Justice Credit Hour(s): 3
• ENGL 201 - World Literature I Credit Hour(s): 3

• or

• ENGL 205 - World Literature II Credit Hour(s): 3
• Phys. or Bio. Sciences I & Lab Credit Hour(s): 4
• POSC 325 - Judicial Process in America Credit Hour(s): 3

Total Credit Hours: 16

Sixth Semester

• BUSN 301 - Business Law and the Legal Environment Credit Hour(s): 3
• NASC 205 - Introduction to Forensic Science Credit Hour(s): 4
• Phys. or Bio. Sciences II & Lab Credit Hour(s): 4
• SOCI 323 - Social Deviance Credit Hour(s): 3

Total Credit Hours: 14

Seventh Semester

• CRMJ 341 - Contemporary Issues in Criminal Justice Credit Hour(s): 3
• CRMJ 343 - Firearms & Tool Marks Credit Hour(s): 3
• CRMJ 414 - Victimology Credit Hour(s): 3
• CRMJ 477 - Directed Investigations Credit Hour(s): 3
• Foreign Language Credit Hour(s): 3

Total Credit Hours: 15

Eighth Semester

• CRMJ 312 - Legal Research Credit Hour(s): 3
• CRMJ 480 - Sexual Assault Investigations Credit Hour(s): 3
• CRMJ 490 - Seminar in Criminal Justice Credit Hour(s): 3
• Elective Credit Hour(s): 4
• POSC 401 - American Constitutional Law Credit Hour(s): 3

Total Credit Hours: 16