Criminal Justice (BA)
The Bachelor of Arts Degree in Criminal Justice offers three majors: Criminal Investigation, Forensic Investigation and Cyber Crimes Research. The Program’s modern curriculum adjusts the knowledge, theory and techniques of the field of Criminal Justice to the demands of a dynamic and changing society. The curriculum is inter-disciplinary with branches of knowledge related to human behavior. The Program permits students to acquire personal and professional skills in accord with their interests and aptitudes. It also stresses the importance of the adequate development of attitudes and characteristics of the student’s personality while emphasizing knowledge of the causes and spread of crime, the methods and modern techniques of criminal justice.
The Program aims to: a) prepare the student to occupy positions at the operational level in the field of the criminal justice system, both in the private and public sector, b) upgrade the preparation of personnel offering services in these areas, c) stimulate students to pursue graduate studies.
The campuses authorized to offer the majors of this Program are:
- Criminal Investigation: Aguadilla, Arecibo, Barranquitas, Fajardo, Guayama, Metropolitan, Metropolitan Campus’ University Center in Caguas, Ponce, and San Germán
Criminal Investigation through online education: Aguadilla, Barranquitas, Ponce
- Forensic Investigation: Aguadilla, Arecibo, Barranquitas, Bayamón, Fajardo, Ponce, and Metropolitan Campus’ University Center in Caguas. Forensic Investigation through online education: Aguadilla and Barranquitas.
- Cyber Crime Research: Fajardo
Program Goals
- Develop professionals focused on the mastery of knowledge framed in the skills required in the Criminal Justice discipline.
- Promote the understanding of the factors that affect the criminal phenomenon.
- Promote research and technology as ways to improve the prevention and intervention practices that are carried out in the Criminal Justice System.
- Develop the knowledge and skills to identify and solve problems and decision-making in the area of Criminal Justice.
- Develop commitment with the ethical-legal dimension of the professions related to the field of Criminal Justice.
Program Objectives
- Demonstrate theoretical, social, psychological and legal knowledge related to the o Criminal Justice System, adjusted to the changes and new trends in the profession.
- Analyze the factors that affect the criminal phenomenon from a criminological and legal perspective.
- Use research and the technological advances for the production and construction of knowledge in the areas that make up the field of Criminal Justice.
- Apply the knowledge and skills of the discipline in the identification and solution of problems and decision making related to the area of Criminal Justice.
- Integrate the values and ethical-legal principles related to the field of Criminal Justice to the professional formation.
Competencies Profile of Graduates
This Program is designed to develop the competencies that will enable students to:
Knowledge
Demonstrate the comprehension and knowledge of:
- the human and civil rights, and their legal and social implications in the context of the Criminal Justice System.
- the use of statistics applied to the field of social sciences.
- the methodology and the technological resources that serve as support to social-scientific research.
Skills
- Apply the criminological theories and the legal principles to the comprehensive study of the factors that influence the criminal phenomenon.
- Apply the scientific methodology and the technological resources to the development of criminal, forensic and cyber crime research.
- Apply rules, procedures, methods and strategies in problem solving in scenarios related to the Criminal Justice System.
- Analyze the theories and state and federal legal, political, psychological, sociological and economic principles that underpin the profession, as well as the structure and operation of the Criminal Justice System.
Attitudes
- Recognize the importance of the ethical-legal values to the field of Criminal Justice.
Practice Requirements
The Practice course in Criminal Investigation or Forensic Investigation is an option within the Prescribed Distributive Requirements. However, the student who decides to take this course must do the practice in Puerto Rico. The availability of the course will depend on the practice centers available to receive students.
The practice may be substituted by an investigation project in the criminal investigation or forensic investigation areas. In the cases where the student has documented experience in the field of criminal justice, the substitution will be subject to the following:
- The student must have worked full-time for a period of two (2) years within the five (5) years immediately prior to the application date.
- The experience that is going to be confirmed is related to the practice in the area of the student’s major and to the criteria established by the University to approve this practice.
Students who are candidates for the Practice must meet the requirements established by the University for this Program. These are listed below:
- Internship application
- No Criminal Record Certificate
- Health Certificate
- Release from responsibility
- Official transcript of credits
- Official evaluation of the Registrar
- Three letters of recommendation
- Four pictures 2X2
- Present a certification from the department to the Registrar
In addition, students must meet the requirements stipulated by the practice center.
Graduation Requirements
- Pass, with a minimum grade of C, all the courses that are a part of:
- Core Course Requirements,
- Major Requirements and
- Prescribed Distributive Requirements
Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts Degree in Criminal Justice
| General Education Requirements |
48 credits |
| Core Course Requirements |
40 credits |
| Prescribed Distributive Requirements |
6 credits |
| Major Requirements |
21 credits |
| Elective Courses |
6 credits |
| Total |
121 credits |
General Education Requirements - 48 credits
Forty-eight (48) credits are required as explained in the section “General Education Requirements for Bachelors’ Degrees.” In addition to the course GEHS 2010, students of this Program will select one course, from the following alternatives in the Historic and Social Context category: 4020 or 4030.
Core Course Requirements - 40 credits
Prescribed Distributive Requirements - 6 credits from the following courses:
Major Requirements - 21 credits
Criminal Investigation, Forensic Investigation and Cyber Crimes Research.
Major Requirements for Criminal Investigation - 21 credits
Courses for the major Criminal Investigation
Major Requirements for Cyber Crime Investigation - 21 credits
The major in Cyber Crime Investigation contemplates the study of the commission of passive crime through the use of technology. The student will also be trained in the identification of cybercrime, the collection of evidence and the presentation of written reports and testimony to the relevant investigative scenarios.
Courses for the major Cyber Crime Investigation
Major Requirements for Forensic Investigation - 21 credits
Courses for the major Forensic Investigation