Criminal Justice

Criminal Justice mission

The mission of the Missouri Valley College Criminal Justice program is to provide a brief summary of the aims and values of the program. Criminal Justice is the procedure by which criminal conduct is investigated, evidence gathered, arrests made, charges brought, defenses raised, trials conducted, sentences rendered, and punishment carried out. The Missouri Valley College Criminal Justice curriculum is a balanced focus to prepare graduates for employment with any law enforcement agency, corrections department, or for pre-law and work within the court system. This is accomplished through a thoughtful analysis of theory, practical emphasis on investigation, evidence, forensics, law, corrections, administration, ethics, and research analysis. 

Learning Outcomes:

  • Recognize an adequate concept of the criminal justice system, its major subsystems, the inter-relationship at each government level.
  • Show an understanding of problems facing the criminal justice system, an awareness of individual rights, and an understanding of the U.S Constitutional provisions applicable to the criminal justice system.
  • Discuss and apply an understanding of the theories that define deviance and have affected the laws and policies aimed at its control.
  • Distinguish an understanding of the American philosophies of punishment within the social structure.
  • Understand and apply knowledge of the proper procedures for criminal investigation, criminal procedure and the subsequent actions necessary for adult and juvenile court proceedings.
  • Prepare written work that illustrates understanding of American Psychological Association (APA) style academic writing and basic grammatical principles.
  • Create research projects that communicate (written, graphically, and orally) basic research methodology, research results, and statistical analysis.

Major assessment:  All criminal justice seniors must complete an original research inquiry and thesis, on a relative criminal justice topic.  In addition to the final thesis paper, all students must present their research results in a poster conference at the bi-annual student symposium in conjunction with CJ485 (Research Design & Senior Seminar).

Major requirements:

Completion of the Criminal Justice Core plus a concentration in one of the following areas: Law Enforcement; Corrections/Probation & Parole; Juvenile Justice. NOTE: Required or elective hours taken for one Criminal Justice Division major, major concentration, or minor, cannot be used to satisfy elective requirements in another Criminal Justice Division major, major concentration, or minor. 

Criminal Justice Major - Law Enforcement Concentration requirements

Criminal Justice core courses;
4 courses from CJ285, CJ, 300, CJ340, CJ350, CJ390, SC375 and SC320
3 courses from CJ240, CJ280, CJ307, CJ360, CJ370, CJ380, CJ385, CJ420, and CM485

Criminal Justice Major - Corrections/Probation & Parole Concentration requirements

Criminal Justice Core; 
4 courses from CJ205, CJ210, J220, CJ330 and SC375
3 courses from CJ240, CJ280, CJ307, CJ350, CJ370, CJ380, CJ420, CM325

Criminal Justice Major - Juvenile Justice Concentration requirements:

Criminal Justice Core;
4 courses from CJ205, CJ210, CJ220, CJ300, CJ401 AND SC375
3 courses from CJ320, CJ350, CJ360, CJ380, CJ385, CJ420, PY225, PY331 and CM325

Total credits:
54

Overview

Program

Type

Major