Psychology (Criminal Justice Option)

What Is Psychology (Criminal Justice Option) ?

The psychology/criminal justice option is sponsored jointly by the Department of Psychology in the McMicken College of Arts and Sciences and the criminal justice program in the College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services (CECH). This interdisciplinary track combines the insights of human behavior with educational career preparation in the field of criminal justice. The enriched curriculum thus provided is intended for students seeking to expand their knowledge base regarding our criminal justice system and its philosophy, for students seeking careers in law enforcement and corrections, as well as for students considering graduate work in the social sciences professions. Students considering graduate training in psychology or criminal justice might also find this option worth considering.

Success Factors

The criminal justice concentration strengthens investigative, interviewing and decision-making skills through an overall understanding of the criminal justice system. Through the psychology major, students will learn to evaluate the nature of crimes and gain understanding of human behavior. Aspiring law enforcement professionals develop the ability to work with diverse populations through electives like race, class and crime; biosocial crime; police effectiveness; and psychology of urban life.

Career Possibilities

A BA in psychology can be a pre-professional degree, leading to graduate study in psychology, followed by a career as a psychologist. The master's degree is generally the minimum professional degree for licensing or certification of psychologists who work in education, business, hospitals, clinics, prisons and private practice. An emphasis in criminal justice prepares students for professional careers in the criminal justice system at the bachelor’s degree level. Finally, strong critical-thinking skills, along with the ability to research, write and understand human behavior developed in the general psychology major, are highly valued. Graduates are employed in a wide range of positions including industry, business law and social services.

Major Details

Enrollment is limited to psychology and criminal justice majors who meet the academic and personal qualifications and who apply to and are admitted into the track. Two parallel but somewhat different routes are available, depending upon the student’s college. Psychology majors who wish to enroll must complete an application form. This form is available from Dr. Kathleen Burlew (334 Dyer Hall, 556-5541).

This option is a special variation of the psychology major leading to the BA degree. No distinction between this and any other option will be made on the diploma or transcripts. Psychology majors who are admitted into and complete all requirements of this special track may receive a document from CECH acknowledging their work in criminal justice. Psychology majors electing this option are subject to the general requirements and regulations of the department and the McMicken College of Arts and Sciences, as outlined elsewhere.

This concentration is for the undergraduate student who wants to add a criminal justice specialty to a psychology major. A minimum of 38 hours of course work in psychology along with 39 hours in criminal justice must be completed in addition to the general McMicken College requirements. An introductory psychology course is a prerequisite to all other psychology courses and will not be counted toward the requirements in the field of concentration.

The psychology department has selective and competitive admissions. In order to apply to the psychology/criminal justice concentration, one first must be admitted to the Psychology Department as a major. Interested students are referred to Dr. Daniel Langmeyer, director of undergraduate studies, for information about the procedures (556-5546).

McMicken College's flexible degree requirements allow for and highly encourage students to pursue multiple areas of study. Free electives allow for enough credits for students to pursue a minor, certificate program or even complete a second major. Some of the most common pairings are listed below.

• Africana Studies
• Asian Studies
• Biological Sciences 
• Communication
• History
• Neuroscience
• Organizational Leadership
• Political Science

Minor Details

Curriculum

This curriculum information is intended as a general information guide for students considering enrollment in this major. These online tools are designed to assist you, but are not a substitute for planning with an academic or faculty advisor.

If you are currently enrolled at UC, you can audit your degree online. If you are considering transferring to this major from another school use the course applicability system (CAS) to see how credits you have earned will apply to this major at UC. For course descriptions by college, click here.

*Needed to fulfill A&S college requirements.

Special Opportunities

Students in the McMicken College of Arts & Sciences enjoy many benefits afforded through study at a research-intensive institution ranked among the nation's top 25 public research universities. UC's urban, tri-state location offers exciting opportunities for global education, research and service learning, while its student-centered focus includes an 11:1 student-faculty ratio, a nationally recognized Center for Exploratory Studies and a highly successful First Year Experience program that teaches critical skills for first-year students and provides connections with important campus resources.

Special Programs

At the undergraduate level, our majors are taught by active researchers who bring the excitement of the scientific quest into the classroom and provide invaluable hands-on experience for majors interested in psychology careers. The highly ranked criminal justice program boasts an outstanding faculty and has been cited as the nation’s leader in publication of research, according to the Journal of Criminal Justice.

Admission Requirements

Admission criteria for this program vary based on the relative strength of test scores, class rank and GPA. Please see the Freshman Class Profile for this major in the Quick Facts sidebar on this page for the range of academic credentials typically accepted into this program. Test scores in the lower range may be acceptable with higher class rank and/or GPA. Freshmen applying to this program should also have completed the following state of Ohio articulation requirements with no more than two units missing:

• English (4 units)*
• College-preparatory mathematics (3 units)*
• Science (2 units)
• Social science (2 units)
• Foreign language (2 units)*
• Fine arts (1 unit)
• Additional college-prep subjects (2 units)

*McMicken College of Arts & Sciences does not allow units missing from these areas.

Transfer Requirements

Applicants to A&S whose most recent enrollment was not in any of the UC colleges must apply to the Office of Admissions. Applicants in this category must submit transcripts for all secondary school and college-level work. A cumulative GPA of 2.0 for all college-level work is required for admission consideration. Admission to A&S is generally available for any off-campus applicants who have received an associate degree from an accredited college or university and whose cumulative GPA is 2.0 or higher.

Although midyear, off-campus transfer students are not able to participate in priority registration in the quarter prior to their enrollment, they are included in the summer registration period prior to their fall quarter enrollment.

Changing Major Requirements

Applicants to A&S whose most recent enrollment was as a degree student in one of UC’s other colleges can apply directly to the A&S college office. Admission to A&S is generally available for any on-campus students who have:

• at least a 2.0 GPA in all college-level courses (both at UC and at other institutions),
• successfully completed two quarters of English Composition or its equivalent and
• gained credit for a college-level mathematics course.

Further details on individual programs are available online or in the A&S Office of Undergraduate Affairs and Advising (102 McMicken Hall).

Graduation Requirements

A minimum GPA of 2.0 in psychology is required in order to be certified to graduate as a psychology major.

In addition to meeting the university's General Education requirements, the requirements listed in the McMicken College Core Requirements are common to all potential graduates of the college, whether they are pursuing the bachelor of arts, bachelor of science or bachelor of interdisciplinary studies degree.

Application Deadlines

UC operates on a quarter system, with 10-week grading periods beginning in late September, early January, late March and mid-June. While midyear admission is possible, the fall is generally the best time to enter the college, since many course sequences begin in that quarter. Applicants to the College of Arts & Sciences who are enrolled or who were previously enrolled as degree students in A&S or in other UC colleges should apply for admission directly to A&S (in McMicken 102). All other applicants who wish to earn an undergraduate degree from A&S should apply through the Office of Admissions (3rd Floor, University Pavilion).