James Madison University - Criminal Justice

Dr. Peggy Plass, Coordinator

Phone: (540) 568-7932

The interdisciplinary minor in criminal justice is designed for students who are preparing for careers in law enforcement, corrections, judicial administration or other areas related to the study or management of crime, either directly upon graduation or after further graduate training. The requirement for a minor in criminal justice is 21 credit hours including:

Minor Requirements	Credit Hours
PUAD 215. Introduction to Criminal Justice	3
SOCI 325. Criminology	3
PSYC 250. Introduction to Abnormal Psychology	3
(Non PSYC majors only; Psychology majors must take PSYC 335)
Electives	12
Choose four courses from the following; no more than two classes may
be in any single discipline.
PHIL 325. Crime, Punishment and Justice
POSC 326. Civil Rights
PSYC 312. Forensic Psychology
PUAD 323. Comparative Criminal Justice
PUAD 327. Criminal Law
PUAD 328. Criminal Procedure
PUAD 329. Criminal Investigation and Evidence
PUAD 410. Administration in Criminal Justice
SCOM 231. Introduction to Alternative Dispute Resolution
SCOM 331. Communication and Conflict
SOCI 214. Social Deviance
SOCI 327. Juvenile Delinquency
SOCI/SOWK 330. Corrections
Any one of the following¹:
POSC 495. Internship in Political Science
POSC 497. Internship in Law
PSYC 495. Field Placement in Psychology
PUAD 496. Internship
SOCI 485. Internship in Sociology
Any one of the following²:
PSYC 402. Independent Research in Psychology
SOCI 490. Special Studies in Sociology
	21

1 Internships must be in a criminal justice-related field in order to receive credit for the criminal justice minor. Credit for only one internship will be given toward the minor.
2 Readings and Research courses must be specifically related to the field of criminal justice. Students may register for only one Readings and Research class for credit toward the minor.

For further information and advice regarding the criminal justice minor, students should contact the Criminal Justice program director.