Criminal Justice Minor

Program Coordinator/Contact

Mary Emery, Department Head
Department of Sociology and Rural Studies
Hansen Hall 004
605-688-4132

Program Information

The minor in Criminal Justice is designed for students seeking careers in probation, parole, court services, pre-law, private security, or general law enforcement. This dynamic minor is administered by the Department of Sociology and Rural Studies and is available to students majoring in any field at SDSU. The purposes of this program are 1) to provide qualified personnel for all segments of the Criminal Justice system; and 2) to help improve the competence and professional status of existing Criminal Justice personnel. An internship is strongly recommended. Students desiring more information or who are interested in minoring in Criminal Justice should consult with the coordinator of the program no later than the beginning of their junior year.

Student Learning Outcomes

Graduates with a minor in Criminal Justice will be able to:

• identify and describe the patterns, causes, and types of crime.
• describe the structure of, function of, and interaction among law enforcement, adjudication, and corrections.
• understand, analyze, and communicate criminal justice policies, practices, and procedures.
• describe and apply knowledge of perspectives on prejudice and discrimination as they apply to law enforcement, adjudication, corrections, and juvenile justice.
• develop an understanding of issues that impact the criminal justice system including poverty, inequality, gender, diversity, race, culture, and socialization.
• understand and apply ethical considerations in working with people and communities.
• demonstrate basic communication skills in writing, speaking, and small group work.

Academic Requirements

Students must have a cumulative GPA of 2.2 to enter the program and a minimum GPA of 2.2 in the minor to complete. Students may select any major, but (*) courses may not be used for both a Criminal Justice Minor and Sociology Major or Minor. Students will need to earn a C grade or better in courses taken for the minor.

Course Delivery Format

The program offers coursework on campus, on-line, and at attendance centers around the state.