Undergraduate Curriculum

For a complete description of the courses listed below please refer to the course descriptions or the Admissions: Course catalog.

PLEASE NOTE THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY UPDATING THIS LIST.

The criminology and criminal justice program provides students with exposure to all aspects of the discipline. The required courses include: Introduction to Criminal Justice, Juvenile Justice, Criminology, Law Enforcement, Principles of Justice, Corrections, Criminological Research Methods, and Research Thesis. 

These courses provide the student with a comprehensive understanding of the adult and juvenile justice systems. The research methods courses provide a capstone experience for students, providing them with an opportunity to conduct research in an area of interest. Under the supervision of a faculty member , students undertake a thorough examination of an issue in a way as to illustrate the difficulties and rewards of scientific and legal investigations. Each year the best research thesis is awarded the department's Faculty Prize. Students also take courses in such substantive areas as: Criminology, Law Enforcement, Law and Adjudication, and Penology.

A. Criminology and Criminal Justice

• Criminology - An examination of the causes of crime and the treatment of offenders. 
• Organizational Crime - Analysis of organized, white-collar, and political crime. 
• Comparative Criminal Justice - A survey of crime and criminal justice in other countries.

B. Law Enforcement

• Law Enforcement - The legal powers and restrictions of police and an assessment of police performance. 
• Private Security - The history and growth of private law enforcement, its legal authority, and crime prevention strategies. 
• Drugs and the Criminal Justice System - The history of drug use and an evaluation of current practices used to combat drug abuse.

C. Law Adjudication

• Criminal Procedure - The role of the prosecutor and defense in criminal law. 
• Criminal Law - Analysis of common law crimes. 
• Principles of Justice - An analysis of the philosophy of justice and its application to the criminal justice system.

D. Penology

• Corrections -A comprehensive view of the correctional enterprise. 
• Alternatives to Incarceration - A comprehensive view of probation, electronic monitoring and various other alternative sanctions. 
• Sentencing - Types of sentences, sentencing trends, and current sentencing philosophies. 

Detailed descriptions of these courses and others can be found in the Niagara University undergraduate catalog. The catalog also explains the large number of academic minors that may be pursued simultaneously with the criminal justice major.

For further information . . . 

For additional information regarding the program in Criminology and Criminal Justice please contact: