CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Criminal Justice

The Criminal Justice Program offers a baccalaureate (B.S.) concentration. The B.S. concentration involves a major in Sociology with a large proportion of course work in criminal justice. Those who complete the B.S. degree will have a sound foundation that prepares them to compete for positions in law enforcement, corrections and social service agencies, or for admission to law school.

Director: Dr. H.W. Mannle
Daniel Hall, Room 323
E-mail: HWMannle@tntech.edu
Phone: (931) 372-3816

 

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN SOCIOLOGY:
CRIMINAL JUSTICE OPTION

Although some agencies may prefer applicants who have majored in criminal justice, experience indicates that a strong background in a related social science with a focus on criminal justice is also desirable in today's career market. The Department of Sociology and Political Science offers a Bachelor of Science degree in sociology with a criminal justice concentration. By choosing this option, the student automatically fulfills the requirement for a minor. While students concentrating in criminal justice take a number of core and supportive courses in sociology, much of the departmental coursework is in criminal justice. As is the case with most baccalaureate programs, it normally requires four years in which to complete the B.S. in sociology (criminal justice) degree.

The concentration in criminal justice has three primary goals. First, it is intended to further the goal of professional education within a liberal arts framework. Second, it is designed to promote an understanding of the relationships between social control, the social structure and the criminal justice system. Third, the concentration is designed to allow sufficient flexibility for career alternatives, yet provide a core of substantive criminal justice coursework.

The criminal justice concentration is intended to avoid over-specialization. Neither the criminal justice courses nor other core requirements are vocationally oriented. As employment opportunities change on the national, state and local levels, narrowly structured degrees often prove to be a handicap. Those who successfully complete the concentration will have a sound foundation that prepares them to compete for positions in law enforcement, corrections, social service agencies or for admission to law school.