School of Criminal Justice

Lisa S. Nored, Director
601.266.4509

Balamurugan, Bertram, Carlan, Griffin, Gulledge, Johnson, Panko, Payne, Pittman, Thompson

The School of Criminal Justice offers specialized course work for students interested in federal, state and local careers in the criminal and 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 48 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 ) exclusive of the optional field practicum (CJ 400 ). Additional degree requirements include ENG 333 , PHI 151 or REL 131 , and six hours of 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 advising to identify the best minor for each student’s professional development.

The Bachelor of Arts degree with a special emphasis in juvenile justice also is available. This degree option requires a minimum of 48 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 ) exclusive of the optional field practicum (CJ 400 ). Additional degree requirements include ENG 333 , PHI 151 or REL 131 , and six hours of foreign language. The juvenile justice emphasis requires completion of a minor in psychology, social work, sociology or a related 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. They will be well-versed in the relevant science, law and courtroom procedures required for successful careers.

The educational objectives of the B.S. in forensics degree are

to develop critical thinking skills;
to develop problem-solving skills;
to transmit knowledge of crime scenes, of physical evidence, of the interface between law and science, of ethics and professional responsibility, and of quality assurance;
to develop expertise in forensic toxicology, drug identification, arson and explosives and crime scene documentation; and
to provide laboratory-focused students the knowledge and skill to be rapidly courtroom certified.

The forensics programs provide education and training for students pursuing careers as forensic investigators, crime laboratory technicians, or pursuing graduate-level education in forensics. The Bachelor of Science in forensics degree program includes emphases in criminal justice, anthropology, biological sciences, chemistry and biochemistry, physics and polymer science. The Bachelor of Science in forensics degree with emphasis in criminal justice is designed for students who pursue employment as crime scene investigators. The Bachelor of Science in forensics degree with emphases in anthropology, biological science, chemistry and biochemistry, physics and polymer science is designed for students who pursue employment as crime laboratory technicians.

Programs

Bachelor of Arts

Bachelor of Science

Non-degree