Criminal Justice Certificate

Contact: Katherine Young, Ph.D
Email: youngkat@hawaii.edu

Certificate Description:

The purpose of the Criminal Justice Certificate is to provide students with key knowledge for understanding the relationship between crime and society with an emphasis on how social forces and institutions influence the administration of justice. Students will take foundational courses in administration of justice, which provide a core understanding of the relationship between crime and society, the main components of the criminal justice system, and the intersections of race, gender, class, and justice in society; and electives that allow them to focus on specific areas of criminal justice related to their educational and career goals. The Criminal Justice Certificate is designed for students who wish to pursue careers in the criminal justice system and related areas, including law enforcement, social services, and justice advocacy. The Criminal Justice Certificate also prepares students for graduate programs in criminal justice, criminology, law, social justice, and justice studies.

Student Learning Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of this certificate, students will be able to: - Demonstrate understanding of crime, criminal behavior, and their relationship to society. - Identify society’s influence on how crime is defined, controlled, and punished. - Evaluate the role of power and social institutions in conceptions of crime and justice in society. - Analyze criminal justice policies and practices in relation to social stratification. - Communicate effectively in written and verbal forms.

Curriculum (24 Credits)

Core (9 credits):

• AJ 101 Intro to Admin of Justice (3)
• AJ 320 Crime and Society (3)
• AJ 322 Criminal Justice (3)

Civic and Community Engagement:

Choose one course, 3 credits

• AJ 301 Justice, Power, and Democracy (3)
• AJ 302 Capitalism & Economic Justice (3)
• AJ 303 Feminism and Justice (3)
• AJ 305 Justice and the Environment (3)
• AJ 330 Race and Violence (3)
• AJ 333 Indigenous Justice (3)
• AJ 334 Indigenous Constitutional Law (3)
• AJ 361 Advocacy and Criminal Justice (3)

Criminal Justice Electives:

Choose four Courses, 12 credits

• AJ 307 Animal Cruelty (3)
• AJ 308 Green Criminology (3)
• AJ 321 Policing and Punishment (3)
• AJ 323 Criminal Law and Procedure (3)
• AJ 324 Issues in Corrections (3)
• AJ 327 Global Crime (3)
• AJ 328 Terrorism and Radicalization (3)
• AJ 340 Crime and Media (3)
• SOC 326 Juvenile Delinquency (3)
• SOC 328 Gender, Crime, and Justice (3)

Notes:

1. Minimum GPA for all certificate courses is 2.0 (C)