Why study Criminal Justice at MC?

Are you looking for a stimulating career that provides the opportunity to serve others? A degree in Criminal Justice is one that prepares students to become professionals, researchers, and educators in a wide variety of contexts. Environmental protection officers, park rangers, and counselors of juveniles are fields open to graduates with Criminal Justice degrees. Additionally, federal agencies, such as the Secret Service, Homeland Security, Border Patrol, and Federal Probation and Parole, are seeking college graduates with criminal justice backgrounds. Other related fields include: public health (health inspector/regulation administrator), social work (case worker, child protective services agent, adult services provider), and city and state policy researchers.

Photo of Phoebe

Phoebe Deering

Hometown: Knoxville, Tennessee

As a double major in Criminal Justice and Developmental Psychology (with a track in Child Resilience), Phoebe wants to pursue her doctorate after graduation, with a goal of working for the Federal Bureau of Investigation as a behavioral analysis expert. 

“I chose criminal justice because it sets you up for a broad range of career fields,” Deering said. “As we live in a time where social justice and the criminal justice fields seem to combat each other, I know that my time at Maryville has equipped me with the knowledge to work with a diverse group of people, but to also serve as an ally and a voice for those people.”

In that regard, she added, MC’s liberal arts approach is providing her with so much more than just classroom knowledge.

“Criminal Justice isn’t merely a degree, but rather an opportunity to learn the skills and knowledge of how to be socially and morally just, while protecting the people who need it the most,” she said. “I’m so thankful for the experiences I’ve had working in the criminal justice field at Maryville College.”

 

Gavin Egan ‘20

Currently: Police Officer with Knox County Sheriff’s Office

Gavin has had a passion for law enforcement since youth. When he discovered the Criminal Justice major at Maryville College, he knew right away that he wanted to expand his knowledge regarding the American criminal justice system. He completed an internship at the Knoxville Police Department and was hired on full-time as a KCSO police officer. Eventually, he would like to work for a federal law enforcement agency.

“I believed that the individualized learning at MC combined with a dense criminal justice program would best prepare me for a future career in law enforcement,” he said of his decision to major in Criminal Justice.

Rachel Ponder
Dr. Rachel Ponder
Assistant Professor in Criminal Justice
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Individuals majoring in Criminal Justice can choose from a plethora of careers including: Social Worker, Victims Advocate, Criminal Researcher, Federal Special Agent, Police Officer, Police Detective, Probation Officer, Military Police, Transportation Security Administration Officer, Customs Agent, US Border Patrol, Coast Guard, Substance Abuse Counselor, and Game Warden.

  1. Demonstrate an understanding of the operations of various components of the criminal justice system and how they relate to each other.
  2. Recognize historical and current approaches to law enforcement, courts, and corrections.
  3. Develop critical thinking skills, acquire knowledge in theoretical perspectives and methodological techniques, and gain from experiential learning opportunities.

The Major in Criminal Justice requires a minimum of 50 credit hours.

Required courses include:

Major and Major-Related Courses

CRJ 101: Introduction to Criminal Justice(3 hrs)
CRJ 204: Criminal Law & Procedure(3 hrs)
CRJ 226: Investigative Forensics(3 hrs)
CRJ 349: Selected Topics in Criminal Justice(3 hrs)
CRJ 337: Internship(3 hrs)
CRJ 351: Senior Study I(3 hrs)
CRJ 352: Senior Study II(3 hrs)
PSY 101: Introductory Psychology(3 hrs)
SOC 101: Introductory Sociology(3 hrs)
PLS 322: The Judicial Process(3 hrs)
PSY 331: Abnormal Psychology(3 hrs)
SLS 299: Issues in Professional Development(2 hrs)
SLS 301: Social Sciences Research Methods(3 hrs)
One course in Philosophy at the 200-level

Either of the following courses:

SOC 315: Social Inequality(3 hrs)
Or
PLS 211: Comparative Government and Politics(3 hrs)

Either of the following courses:

BUS 305: Organizational Behavior(3 hrs)
Or
PLS 316: International Organizations and Law(3 hrs)

Either of the following courses:

MTH 221: Inferential Statistics w/Data Visualization(3 hrs)
Or
MTH 222: Regression Analysis(3 hrs)

The Minor in Criminal Justice consists of a minimum of 15 hours.

Required courses include:

Minor and Minor-Related Courses

CRJ 101: Introduction to Criminal Justice(3 hrs)
CRJ 204: Criminal Law & Procedure(3 hrs)
CRJ 226: Investigative Forensics(3 hrs)
CRJ 349: Selected Topics in Criminal Justice(3 hrs)

Three additional hours selected from the following courses:

BUS 305: Organizational Behavior(3 hrs)
PLS 322: The Judicial Process(3 hrs)
SOC 101: Introductory Sociology(3 hrs)
PSY 101: Introductory Psychology(3 hrs)
PSY 331: Abnormal Psychology(3 hrs)

In addition to required courses for majors and minors, Maryville College students take classes in the Maryville Curriculum, a core program of general education. Consisting of 51 credit hours, the Maryville Curriculum ensures that students see their major in a wider context and develop the basic communication, quantitative, and critical thinking skills that are needed for success in college and career.

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