The Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Criminal Justice is designed to meet the needs of students pursuing a career in several areas of the criminal justice system. The major qualifies graduates for employment in many public service professions. Opportunities currently exist for men and women in law enforcement, courts, and corrections agencies at the federal, state, and local levels of government. The Criminal Justice major is a general criminal justice degree with sets of electives catering to interests in policing, corrections, victim services and other areas of criminal justice. Some web-based courses are available and offer 24/7 worldwide access. Face-to-face classroom-based courses allow for hands on learning in areas such as criminal investigation, cybercrime, forensic ballistics, etc.
Minor in Criminal Justice
Students who wish to minor in Criminal Justice must take CJ 1301, Introduction to Criminal Justice, CJ 4304, Criminology, and 12 additional hours of CJ courses including at least 6 hours of upper division (3000 or 4000 level) CJ courses. For these 12 hours, students should consult with a Homeland Security and Criminal Justice faculty member.
The Master of Science degree with a major in Criminal Justice is offered to serve the needs of several different groups of students: (1) pre- and in-service criminal justice personnel seeking a career-enhancing education; (2) those interested in teaching or research in the profession or higher education; and (3) those interested in preparing for a doctoral degree. The degree program may be tailored to meet the needs of individual students. This program is a 36-semester credit hour (SCH) degree. In addition to general courses, there are specialized courses for those interested in law enforcement, corrections or professional field activity and research. A large number of electives are available from political science graduate courses for those interested in general public administration or political science perspectives. Graduate level electives are also available from other disciplines with the prior approval of the Graduate Coordinator. All of our graduate course offerings are web-based. Graduate programs in particular cater to the needs of the working professional, allowing 24 hour access, advanced topics and projects, and peer networking with others working in the field.
Alpine Program Coordinator
Dr. Oguzhan Basibuyuk
oxb18qh@sulross.edu
432.837.8166
RGC Program Coordinator
Dr. Martin Urbina
murbina@sulross.edu
830.703.4838
Careers in Criminal Justice
- State highway patrol
- Municipal police
- Sheriffs’ departments
- U.S. Customs and Border Patrol
- Adult and juvenile probation
- Parole
- Prisons
- Treatment centers
- Victim and witness assistance programs
- State parks and wildlife agencies
- National Park Service
- Alcoholic Beverage Commission
- Emergency management
| Oguzhan Basibuyuk Chair, Professor of Homeland Security and Criminal Justice MAB 109 C-12 432.837.8166 oxb18qh@sulross.edu |
Thea Glenn Lecturer MAB 109 C-18 432.837.8490 Tglenn2@sulross.edu |
| Ismail D. Gunes Assistant Professor MAB 109 C-12 432.837.8166 ismail.gunes@sulross.edu |
Liza Ware Lecturer MAB 109 C-12 432.837.8169 lwar275@sulross.edu |
All graduate students must pass a comprehensive exam at the end of their graduate studies. Comprehensive exams are designed to demonstrate how well the student has integrated the knowledge gathered throughout their studies in the master’s program. While the questions come from specific areas, they generally reflect broader issues than what a student will find in a single class.
Students may attempt the comprehensive exams only if they have been admitted to candidacy and only during the last semester of their graduate studies. The student will be permitted access to the practice exams throughout the last semester of study and will take the actual exam at some point during the last 3 weeks of the semester – to be scheduled through the Graduate Coordinator.
Exams will consist of 300 multiple choice questions divided into the 3 core subject areas represented by the required core courses on the degree plan (100 questions per area). Students must score a minimum of 75% on each of the 3 sections to pass. This score is not cumulative.
For the CJ or CJ/PA degrees, the comprehensive exams will cover Theory, Research Methods and Courts/Legal subjects. For the HS or HS/PA degrees, the comprehensive exams will cover Homeland Security, Research Methods and Policy subjects.
If a student does not pass all the sections of the Comprehensive Exam the first time, they must retake the failed section(s) of the exam a second time, at a time to be scheduled through the Graduate Coordinator. A student who fails their second attempt on any section of the comprehensive exam may petition (must show significant cause) the Graduate Coordinator for a third attempt. The student can expect one of 3 outcomes from their petition:
- Student will be required to take remedial course work – to be determined in consultation with the CJ faculty – before taking the exam again.
- Student will be allowed to take the exam a third time with no other requirements.
- Student will not be allowed to take the exam again and will be removed from the program.
Students who do not take the comprehensive exams during their last semester of study will not be permitted to graduate until this exam is taken and passed. Any student sitting out a semester (not enrolling in courses for their program of study) will be required to apply to the university for readmission to the program. Readmission will require taking at least one graduate level course, to be chosen in consultation with the Graduate Coordinator, during the semester for which the student is readmitted. The student must complete this course with a grade of B or better and complete the comprehensive exams during this semester in order to graduate.
Note – Students in one of the dual degree programs with Public Administration must also take the comprehensive exams in that area.
Recommended Readings
This list is provided as a guide to help you prepare for graduate level Criminal Justice classes at Sul Ross State University, as well as, your preparation for the Criminal Justice comprehensive exams. It is therefore in your best interest to not only read these texts but also be familiar with the topics presented and the views of each of the authors. Remember that the comprehensive examination process is designed to test both the breadth and depth of your criminal justice knowledge.
Students should seek out the newest edition of the books:
- Peter H. Rossi, Mark W. Lipsey, and Howard Freeman, Evaluating Systematic Approach. Sage Publishing
- Earl Babbie, The Practice of Social Research Wadsworth Publishing
- James Q. Wilson, Thinking About Crime Vintage. Revised Edition
- Norval Morris and Michael Tonry, Between Prison and Probation Oxford University Press
- Jeffrey Reiman and Paul Leighton, The Rich Get Richer and the Poor Get Prison Routledge.
- Herbert Johnson and Nancy Travis Wolfe, History of the Criminal Justice System Routledge.
- John Dilulio, Governing Prisons Free Press
- James Marquart, Sheldon Ekland-Olson, and Jonathan Sorensen The Rope, the Chair, and the Needle. University of Texas Press.
- Roger Dunham and Geoffrey Alpert, Critical Issues In Policing: Contemporary Readings Waveland Press
- Frank Schmalleger, Criminal Justice Today Prentice Hall
- Terrence E. Poppa and Charles Bowden. Drug Lord: A True Story: The Life and Death of a Mexican Kingpin Cinco Puntos Press
- Del Carmen, Rolando V. and Jeffry Walker, Briefs of Leading Cases in Law Enforcement Routledge
- Herman Godstein, Policing a Free Society Harper Collins
- Barry Hancock and Paul Sharp, Public Policy, Crime, and Criminal Justice Pearson.
- Herbert Packer, The Limits of the Criminal Sanction Stanford University Press
- Jack Kuykendall, Roy R. Roberg and Kenneth Novak. Police Management Roxbury Publishing Company
- Bennett Wayne W. & Karen M. Hess. Management and Supervision in Law Enforcement, Wadsworth, Belmont, California
- Bayley David H. What Works in Policing, Oxford University Press
- Black, Donald. The Manners and Customs of the Police , Academic Press
- Gaines, Larry K. and Victor E. Kappeler. Community Policing, A Contemporary Perspective. Anderson Publishing
- Greene Jack R., and Stephen D. Mastrofski. Community Policing Rhetoric or Reality, Praeger Publishers
- Horton, David M. Pioneering Perspectives in Criminology, Copperhouse
- Jacoby, Joseph E., Theresa A. Severance and Alan S. Bruce. Classics of Criminology, Waveland Press
- Bernard, Thomas J., George B. Vold and Jeffrey B. Snipes. Theoretical Criminology, Oxford University Press
- Walker, Samuel. Sense and Nonsense about Crime and Drugs , Wadsworth: CA,
- Cole, George F., Marc, G. Getz, and Amy Bunger. The Criminal Justice System: Politics and Policies Wadsworth
- Harris, Philip W. and Wayne N. Welsh. Criminal Justice Policy and Planning. Anderson Publishing
- DeLone, Miriam, Cassia Spohn and Samuel Walker. The Color of Justice. Race, Ethnicity And Crime in America, Wadsworth
- Tony, Michael. Malign Neglect Race, Crime, and Punishment in America, Oxford University Press
- Gross, Samuel R. and Robert Mauro. Death and Discrimination: Racial Disparity in Capital Sentencing. Northeastern University Press
- Gaines, Larry K, and Victor E. Kappeler. Homeland Security. Prentice Hall
- White, Jonathan R. Defending the Homeland: Domestic Intelligence, Law Enforcement and Security. Wadsworth
- Homeland Security Annual Editions. McGraw Hill. – several editions – each different
- May, Ernest. The 9/11 Commission Report with Related Documents. Bedford/St. Martin’s
- Oliver, Willard M. Homeland Security for Policing. Pearson, Prentice Hall.
- Swain, Carol M. (ed) Debating Immigration. Cambridge University Press.
- Williams III, Frank P, and Marilyn D. McShane Criminological Theory. Pearson
- Oliver, Willard, Nancy E. Marion and Joshua B. Hill. Introduction to Homeland Security:
- Policy, Organization and Management. Jones and Bartlett
- Whitehead, John T., and Lab, Steven P. Juvenile Justice: An Introduction. Routledge
- Pollock, Joycelyn M. Ethical Dilemmas and Decisions in Criminal Justice. Cengage Learning
- Baum, Lawrence. American Courts: Process and Policy. Wadsworth publishing
- Del Carmen, Rolando V. and Craig Hemmens. Criminal Procedure: Law and Practice. Wadsworth Publishing
- Chesney-Lind, Meda, and Lisa J. Pasko (Editors) Girls, Women, and Crime: Selected Readings. Sage Publications
- Alarid, Leanne F. and Philip L. Reichel. Corrections. Pearson
Criminal Justice Major
Freshman Year
Semester I
Semester II
ENG 1301
3 credit hours
ENG 1302
3 credit hours
ENG 2312/2315/2322/2323/2327/2328/2331/2341, HIST 2301/2302, MAS 2301, PHIL 1301 or WS 2301
3 credit hours
ANTH 1301, ECO 2301/2302, GEOG 1302/2302, PSY 1302, or SOC 2303
3 credit hours
HIST 1301
3 credit hours
HIST 1302
3 credit hours
PS 2305
3 credit hours
PS 2306
3 credit hours
CJ 1301
3 credit hours
MATH 1342
3 credit hours
SRSU 1101
1 credit hour
University Elective
2 credit hours
Total: 16 sch
Total: 17 sch
Sophomore Year
Semester I
Semester II
ASTR 1303/1304, BIOL 1311/1313, CHEM 1311/1312 GEOL 1303/1304/1305, NRM 1301/2303/2305, PHY 1301/1302 + Lab
4 credit hours
ASTR 1303/1304, BIOL 1311/1313, CHEM 1311/1312 GEOL 1303/1304/1305, NRM 1301/2303/2305, PHY 1301/1302 + Lab
4 credit hours
COMM 1310/1311/1320, ENG 2312/2315/2322/2323/2331/2341, THEA 2304 or 2336
3 credit hours
COMM 1310/1311/1320, ENG 2312/2315/2322/2323/2331/2341, THEA 2304 or 2336
3 credit hours
CJ 2323
3 credit hours
Art 1301, FA 1302, 1315, IT 2304, MUS 1303, 1308, or THEA 1310
3 credit hours
MATH 1314
3 credit hours
CJ/CRIM 3312
3 credit hours
University Elective
3 credit hours
University Elective
3 credit hours
Total: 16 sch
Total: 16 sch
Junior Year
Semester I
Semester II
Additional Science course + Lab
4 credit hours
CJ/CRIM 3302
3 credit hours
CJ/CRIM 3340
3 credit hours
CJ Concentration Area Course
3 credit hours
CJ/CRIM 3341
3 credit hours
CJ Concentration Area Course
3 credit hours
CJ Concentration Area Course
3 credit hours
CJ Concentration Area Course
3 credit hours
CJ Major Elective
3 credit hours
CJ Major Elective
3 credit hours
Total: 16 sch
Total: 15 sch
Senior Year
Semester I
Semester II
CJ/CRIM 4330
3 credit hours
CJ/CRIM 4309
3 credit hours
CJ/CRIM 4304
3 credit hours
CJ/CRIM 4368
3 credit hours
CJ Concentration Area Course
3 credit hours
CJ Concentration Area Course
3 credit hours
CJ Major Elective
3 credit hours
CJ Major Elective
3 credit hours
Total: 12 sch
Total: 12 sch
Total Credit Hours Required for Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice: 120
Master of Science in Criminal Justice
Year 1
Fall Semester
Spring Semester
CJ 5318
3 credit hours
CJ 5334
3 credit hours
General Elective
3 credit hours
CJ 5311
3 credit hours
General Elective
3 credit hours
General Elective
3 credit hours
Total: 9 sch
Total: 9 sch
Year 2
Fall Semester
Spring Semester
CJ 5315
3 credit hours
CJ 5325
3 credit hours
CJ 5314
3 credit hours
General Elective
3 credit hours
General Elective
3 credit hours
General Elective
3 credit hours
Total: 9 sch
Total: 9 sch
Total Credit Hours Required for Master of Science in Criminal Justice: 36
