Criminal Justice

Director: E. Vacha

The Criminal Justice program is administered by the Departments of Sociology. Its faculty is drawn from the departments of Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, and professionals in the field of criminal justice. A Bachelor of Arts degree in criminal justice is offered.

This program provides excellent preparation for students who are planning careers in the field of criminal justice as well as an opportunity to advance the education of individuals who are already members of the law enforcement profession.

The curriculum is structured to blend the best of the liberal arts with courses designed for professional training of present and future members of the law enforcement community. Special emphasis is placed upon the development of the habits of critical thinking and of effective communication skills as well as the acquisition of basic knowledge of the social sciences as they pertain to the area of criminal justice.

Majors should take Introduction to Criminal Justice (CRIM 101) in their first year; and Criminal Theory and Measurement (CRIM 499) in their fourth year.

Students have the opportunity to graduate with honors in the major if they have fulfilled all requirements, achieved a grade point average of at least 3.70 in their criinal justice courses, and written and defended a senior honors thesis (CRIM 494).


B.A. Major in Criminal Justice: 34 credits
Lower Division
CRIM 101 Introduction to Criminal Justice 3 credits
SOCI 202 (MATH 121) Statistics for Social Science 3 credits
Upper Division
SOCI 304 Research Methods 4 credits
One of the following three courses:
CRIM 340 Sociology of Policing
CRIM 352 Corrections
CRIM 390 American Court System		 3 credits
One of the following three courses:
SOCI 350 Deviant Behavior
SOCI 351 Criminology
SOCI 353 Juvenile Delinquency		 3 credits
Two of the following seven courses:
POLS 303 Civil Liberties
POLS 304 Criminal Justice Amendments and Courts
POLS 311 State and Local Government
POLS 312 Urban Politics and City Life
POLS 320 Public Administration
POLS 321 Politics and Public Administration
POLS 323 Constitutional Law		 6 credits
One of the following three courses:
PSYC 340 Personality
PSYC 390 Psychopathology
PSYC 402 Forensic Psychology		 3 credits
CRIM, POLS, SOCI, PHIL, PSYC Elective* 6 credits
CRIM 499 Criminal Theory and Measurement 3 credits
* Acceptable elective choices are: Any CRIM; SOCI 350, SOCI 351, SOCI 353, SOCI 385; POLS 303, POLS 304, POLS 311, POLS 312, POLS 320, POLS 321, POLS 323; PSYC 380, PSYC 426, PSYC 465; and PHIL 470.

Minor in Criminal Justice: 18 Credits
Lower Division
CRIM 101 Introduction to Criminal Justice 3 credits
Upper Division
One of the following three courses:
CRIM 340 Sociology of Policing
CRIM 352 Corrections
CRIM 390 American Court System		 3 credits
One of the following three courses:
SOCI 350 Deviant Behavior
SOCI 351 Criminology
SOCI 353 Juvenile Delinquency		 3 credits
One of the following seven courses:
POLS 303 Civil Liberties
POLS 304 Criminal Justice Amendments and Courts
POLS 311 State and Local Government
POLS 312 Urban Politics and City Life
POLS 320 Public Administration
POLS 321 Politics and Public Administration
POLS 323 Constitutional Law		 3 credits
CRIM, POLS, SOCI, PHIL, PSYC Elective* 6 credits
* Acceptable elective choices are: Any CRIM; SOCI 350, SOCI 351, SOCI 353, SOCI 385; POLS 303, POLS 304, POLS 311, POLS 312, POLS 320, POLS 321, POLS 323; PSYC 380, PSYC 426, PSYC 465; and PHIL 470.


Core Curriculum of the College of Arts and Sciences

The core curriculum or common body of knowledge of the College of Arts and Sciences consists of 59 to 62 credits which are common to and required of all degree programs in the College: the first 31 credits (of which there is a more complete description in the General Degree Requirements and Procedures section of this catalogue) form the University Core, while the remaining 28 to 31 credits are common to all Arts and Sciences degrees.
Students should attempt to spread the core curriculum over their entire fours years at Gonzaga.

  1. Thought and Expression (7 credits): ENGL 101, SPCO 101, and PHIL 101 (preferably in the same semester).
  2. Philosophy (9 credits): PHIL 201, PHIL 301, and  PHIL  400 level elective.
  3. Religious Studies (9 credits): RELI 100, 200, and 300 levels: one course from each level.
  4. Mathematics (3 credits): one MATH (not CPSC) course on the 100 level or above; NURS 320 is substituted for a MATH course for BSN students; MATH 203 fulfills this requirement only for students who graduate with certification in Elementary Education.
  5. English Literature (3 credits): ENGL 102 or 103H or 105 or 106.
  6. History (6 credits): HIST 101 and either HIST 102 or HIST 112 in their first year. If they are unable to complete all six 100-level HIST credits in their first year, HIST 201 or 202 may be substituted for one 100-level course after the first year.
  7. Fine Arts (3 credits): one course in either VART, MUSC, or THEA from courses approved by Dean of Arts and Sciences.
  8. Laboratory Science (4 credits): one course with laboratory in either BIOL, CHEM, or PHYS.
  9. Mathematics or Natural Science (3 credits): one course in either MATH, CPSC, BIOL, CHEM, PHYS, or ITEC.
  10. Literature (3 credits): one British or American literature course (ENGL 201 - 285).
  11. Social Science (6 credits): CRIM 101, ECON, SOCI, POLS, or PSYC: two courses from these departments.
  12. Foreign Language or Culture (3 credits): one course in any foreign language (classical or modern) or one (foreign culture) course approved by the Dean of Arts and Sciences.  Foreign-language speaking students from foreign cultures who have completed the nine English core credits at Gonzaga prior to their fourth year (last thirty credits) may petition the Associate Dean of Arts and Sciences for a waiver of the foreign language or Culture requirement..
  13. Social Justice (3 credits): One course on Social Justice issues related to experiences of difference (like race, class, gender, ethnicity or sexual orientation), from courses approved by the Dean of Arts & Sciences; (may be combined with other core or major requirements).