Criminal Justice Major Curriculum

Our Criminal Justice curriculum is built with the future of the field in mind; its focus is on restorative justice, with flexibility that can take you into a variety of careers. Because of our Upside-Down Curriculum, you'll take classes in your first semester that allow you to quickly get up to speed with current technologies and topics in the field—and stay current through graduation.

Many of the courses in our Criminal Justice major are program electives, allowing you to focus your studies in a specialized area or explore a variety of vocations in the field. Additionally, many students use their general electives to study a minor like Social Work, Law, Psychology, or Digital Forensics.

Criminal Justice Curriculum 2020–2021


First Year

First Semester

Computers & Telecommunications
(NET 120)

Criminal Law
(CRJ 120)

Making Connections
(EHS 100)

Navigating Higher Education in a Global Context
(COR 101)

FYI: Reading, Writing, & ____
(COR 102)

Intro to Statistics
(MTH 180)

Second Semester

Criminal Procedure
(CRJ 121)

Introduction to Criminology
(CRJ 250)

Criminal Justice elective

Navigating Your Information Landscape 
(COR 103)

FYI: Making, Doing, &____
(COR 104)


Second Year

First Semester

Introduction to Cybercrime & Digital Forensics
(FOR 100)

Criminal Justice elective

Criminal Justice elective

Choose a 200-level COR course
(COR 2XX)

Choose a 200-level COR course
(COR 2XX)

Second Semester

General elective

Social Justice Intensive
(EHS 210)

Criminal Justice elective

Criminal Justice elective

Choose a 200-level COR course
(COR 2XX)

Choose a 200-level COR course
(COR 2XX)

We encourage you to speak with your advisor and/or the Office of International Education about possible curriculum adjustments in order to create a semester abroad in your third year.


Third Year

In the third year, students must take COR 310, COR 320, and two COR 330 courses. COR 310 and COR 320 must be taken together, and the two COR 330 courses must be taken together. Either pair may be taken in either semester.

First Semester

Social Justice: Oppression & Empowerment
(SWK 305)

Technical Writing
(WRT 231)

The Global Condition
(COR 310)

Human Rights & Responsibilities
(COR 320)

General elective

Second Semester

Choose a Local Contexts, Global Connections course
(COR 330)

Choose a Local Contexts, Global Connections course
(COR 330)

General elective

General elective

Criminal Justice elective


Fourth Year

Students may attend the 15-week Vermont Police Academy in the spring semester instead of completing the three program electives and one general elective. Those students will complete their capstone work in the fall.

First Semester

Criminal Justice Field Experience (Internship)
(CRJ 490)

Introduction to Forensic Science
(SCI 170)

Seminar in Criminal Justice
(CRJ 450)

Second Semester

Criminal Justice Senior Capstone
(CCC 410CRJ)

Criminal Justice elective

Criminal Justice elective

Criminal Justice elective

General elective