School of Criminal Justice

Lisa S. Nored, Director
601.266.4509

Balamurugan, Bertram, Carlan, Chism, Gulledge, Hill, Johnson, Lange, Scheer, Thompson

The School of Criminal Justice offers specialized course work for students interested in federal, state and local careers in the criminal or juvenile justice systems (such as corrections, courts, homeland security, juvenile justice, law enforcement, private security, probation and parole and a host of other government settings). The criminal justice curriculum also provides excellent preparation for graduate school and/or law school.

The Bachelor of Arts degree requires a minimum of 51 hours of criminal justice course work (to include CJ 200 , CJ 325 , CJ 330 , CJ 341 , CJ 352 , CJ 360 , CJ 420 , CJ 430 , CJ 433 , CJ 435 , CJ 445 and CJ 482 ). Additional degree requirements include ENG 333 , PHI 151 or REL 131 , three hours of a social science (ANT 101 , SOC 101 , GHY 101 , PS 201 ) and six hours of one foreign language. The School of Criminal Justice requires its majors to complete a minor in a separate academic discipline selected with an eye to enhancing occupational opportunities and marketability. The school endeavors through individual advisement to identify the best minor area of study for each student’s professional development.

The Bachelor of Arts degree in juvenile justice also is available. This degree option requires a minimum of 51 hours of criminal justice course work (to include CJ 200 , CJ 325 , CJ 330 , CJ 341 , CJ 360 , CJ 364 , CJ 420 , CJ 430 , CJ 433 , CJ 445 , CJ 460 , CJ 461 , CJ 463 and CJ 482 ). Additional degree requirements include ENG 333 , PHI 151 or REL 131 , three hours of a social science (ANT 101 , SOC 101 , GHY 101 , PS 201 ) and six hours of foreign language. The juvenile justice emphasis requires completion of a minor in a related discipline such as psychology, child and family studies, foreign language or other discipline.

Program in Forensics

The Forensics program at The University of Southern Mississippi is broad-based and designed using the recommendations of the Technical Work Group on Education and Training in Forensic Science (TWGED). The program provides graduates with the knowledge base required to become highly skilled crime scene investigators and crime laboratory technicians. Graduate are well-versed in the relevant science, law and courtroom procedures required for successful careers.

The bachelor’s degree in forensic science is designed to:

develop critical thinking skills;
develop problem-solving skills;
develop expertise regarding crime scenes, physical evidence, the interface between law and science, ethics and professional responsibility, and of quality assurance;
develop expertise in forensic toxicology, drug identification, arson, explosives and crime scene documentation; and
develop skills necessary to understand the legal environment and to testify effectively in legal proceedings.

The forensics program provides education for students pursuing careers as forensic investigators, crime laboratory technicians, or graduate school. The Bachelor of Science in forensics degree program includes emphases in criminal justice, anthropology, biological sciences, and chemistry and biochemistry. The Bachelor of Science in forensics degree with emphasis in criminal justice is designed for students who pursue employment as crime scene investigators. Emphases in anthropology, biological science, and chemistry and biochemistry are designed for students who pursue employment in public and private laboratory environments.

Programs

Bachelor of Arts

Bachelor of Science

Non-degree