Criminal Justice
(Bachelor of Science Degree)

Professors in Criminal Justice blend practical experience with the scholarship of the criminologist to prepare students for positions in the criminal justice field at local, state and federal levels, and in the private sector. Career opportunities at the federal level include positions with the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Secret Service; Department of Immigration and Naturalization; Department of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; Drug Enforcement Administration; National Security Agency; U.S. Marshals Service, Border Patrol and Customs. Positions also exist in probation; parole; juvenile counseling; prosecution and public defenders’ offices; sheriffs’ departments; and in state, municipal and county police departments. Private sector positions are available in insurance companies, social service agencies and private corporations.

Baccalaureate Degree

Program of Study Requirements Credits
General Core Requirements 48
   (Cj415 Senior Seminar in Criminal Justice)
Major Requirements 44
Criminal Justice Core (16 cr)
  • Cj101 Introduction to Criminal Justice
  • Cj207 Criminology    
  • Cj410 Practicum and Seminar I
  • Py321 Social Research
Criminal Justice Career Tracks (16 cr)

Students must take a minimum of 2 courses in their chosen track (one at the 300 or 400 level) and a minimum of one course from each of the other tracks.

Track A: Administration of Justice

  • Cj203 Criminal Law
  • Cj205 Administration of Justice (required course)
  • Cj208 Evidence and Court Procedure
  • Cj304 Juvenile Justice
  • Cj331 Alternative Dispute Resolution
  • Cj335 Constitutional Law
  • Cj401 4th, 5th, 6th Amendment
  • Cj405 Special Issues in Law

Track B: Public and Private Law Enforcement

  • Cj102 Introduction to Corporate Security
  • Cj201 Police Organization and Management (required course)
  • Cj202 Gender, Race and Justice
  • Cj203 Criminal Law
  • Cj208 Evidence and Court Procedure
  • Cj301 Forensic Science
  • Cj304 Juvenile Justice
  • Cj341 Terrorism
  • Cj405 Special Issues in Law

    Track C: Corrections and Supervision

  • Cj106 Introduction to Corrections (required course)
  • Cj202 Gender, Race and Justice 
  • Cj215 Punishment and Corrections
  • Cj304 Juvenile Justice
  • Cj305 Probation and Parole
  • Cj331 Alternative Dispute Resolution
  • Cj405 Special Issues in Law 

    • Criminal Justice  Electives (12 cr)

    General Electives 36
    Total Credits 128

    Bachelor of Science Criminal Justice - Law Enforcement Track

    The Vermont Police Academy and Southern Vermont College have established a partnership to provide students in the College’s Criminal Justice program the opportunity to complete the required training to become police officers in the state of Vermont while completing a bachelor's degree at Southern Vermont College.  

    The program prepares students for careers as police officers in the state of Vermont. Graduates may also qualify for positions as police officers in other states but would need to complete additional training or requirements specific to the regulations in the state in which they are seeking to be certified as police officers.

    Students complete 113 credits of the 128-credit Bachelor of Science program with a major in Criminal Justice in residence at SVC. Students interested in this opportunity must specialize in career Track B: Public and Private Law Enforcement. Students recommended by SVC will be required to complete the qualification process and be accepted into the academy to be eligible to complete a degree in this track. Those students accepted into the program would enroll in 15 credits in Cj450 Law Enforcement Residency at SVC.  Students take 15 credits in residency at the academy. Upon successful completion of police academy training and certification as a police officer by the state of Vermont, they will be awarded 15 credits. A student who fails to complete police academy training will have to complete all requirements of the Criminal Justice major to receive a degree in Criminal Justice.

    A student must have a total of 20 credits of course work at the 300/400 level in the major, Criminal Justice electives and related electives to complete a major in Criminal Justice—Law Enforcement Track.

    A student must be recommended to the Vermont State Police Senior Training Coordinator for consideration for acceptance into an academy training class.  In order to be eligible for recommendation, a student must be enrolled in a B.S. in Criminal Justice degree program in the Law Enforcement Track with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher and have completed a minimum of 64 credits with a minimum of 20 credits in Criminal Justice major courses.  The number of seats available to SVC students each year will be determined by the academy.

    A student who is recommended must successfully complete all requirements for acceptance into the academy as specified by academy regulations. These include a written test, physical fitness test, MMPI, background investigation and finger printing. Evaluation of students for acceptance, continuation and completion will be the sole responsibility of the academy. 

    Students are responsible for tuition, fees and cost of uniforms, equipment and training materials.