Criminal Justice Certificate

E. New Degree Proposal

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General Catalog Information
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  • **Read Before You Begin**

    1. Turn on the help text before starting this proposal by clicking in the top right corner of the heading.

    2. All fields with an * are required. You will not be able to launch the proposal without completing required fields.

  • Level:*
  • Department*
  • Name of Degree*
    Criminal Justice Certificate
    Criminal Justice Certificate
  • Type of Degree Program:*
  • If Other, please specify
  • Major*
    Sociology
    Sociology
  • Minor
  • Description

    This program will provide students with foundational, theoretical, and applied knowledge about the criminal justice system and its parts.  Drawing from existing classes, the certificate in criminal justice consists of 12 credit hours that allow students some degree of flexability in determing which courses best suit their interests in criminal justice.  Students can choose from courses on policing, corrections, forensics from forensic anthropology, and victimization that they can use to position themselves for jobs within those fields, social services, or other governmental agencies.  

    This curriculum aims to support the criminal justice agencies within the region, such as local police and sheriff's departments; county, state, and federal jails and prisons; local service agencies such as the Southern Ohio Domestic Violence Shelter or Serenity House .   

  • Program Type*
  • Prospective Curriculum*
  • If applicable, please record the names of other initiators who contributed to this proposal

    Darrell Rudmann 

    Amr Al-Azm

I. Nature of Request
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  • Type of Degree being requested*
    12 credit hour Undergraduate Certificate in Criminal Justice
    12 credit hour Undergraduate Certificate in Criminal Justice
  • Indicate Location*
II. Objectives for the Proposed Degree
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  • Program Learning Outcomes
    A.  Students will demonstrate an understanding of the origins of criminal behavior, society's response to crime, and the consequences of crime to our society, utilizing multiple perspectives. B.  Students will apply theoretical frameworks to understanding the causes and prevention of crime, the processes of criminalization, and crime enforcement. C.  Students will articulate the link between research, theory, and practice. D. Explain the inter-dependent operations of the major components of the criminal justice system (i.e., police, courts, correctional agencies) and the political, legal, ethical, and socioeconomic environments in which they operate, as well as the implications of these relationships for victims, offenders, justice professionals, and society E.  Analyze the major historical and contemporary issues facing the criminal justice system, including events, information, programs, policies, and concepts that affect the operation of criminal justice agencies and actors, as well as issues affecting contemporary urban society and respect for racial, ethnic, cultural, and gender diversity F.  Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, and demonstrate basic knowledge of information technology as applied to criminal justice research and practice
  • Describe how it helps*

    This certificate fulfills several components of the mission statement and values of the university.  This certificate lives up to the goal of a culture of continuous improvement as it would improve options for current students, the community, and employers in the community.  Having a certificate in criminal justice will make students more prepared for careers in the fields of criminal justice and will be desired by local employers.  This also matches up with the university's mission statement to "prepare student's to succeed in tomorrow's world."  Although bachelor's degrees are not required for some careers in the fields of criminal justice, they can prepare students for those careers and help them advance within departmental or organizational ranks.  

  • Describe unique things*

    This certificate is unique in its focus on the criminal justice system as a whole but allowing students to explore specific areas of interest that suit their goals for employment in the fields of criminal justice.  In particular, the focus on victimology is unique as it positions students to work with an under-served population and can lead to students working with organizations outside the traditional fields of policing, the court systems, and corrections.  The certificate also supports students who do want to work within the traditional fields of policing and corrections, with the added benefit of having a forensic science component through the inclusion of forensic anthropology as a potential course to be taken.  

III. Rationale and Need for the Degree
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  • Explain the rationale for this program.

    A new certificate in Criminal Justice would be advantageous to the university in numerous ways.  Firstly, this is an area that would allow for growth in the university.  As further detailed below, there is student interest for this major that is currently unexplored.  While students presently have the ability to take some Criminal Justice and Criminology courses through the minor, a minor is not recruiting students to the university.  Additionally, this is an area that is underserved in this region.  As detailed further below, if students want to pursue a degree in Criminal Justice they have limited options in doing so and most of those options only allow up to the completion of an Associates degree

  • Cite the benefits for students, the institution, and the region or state, of initiating this degree.

    This certificate would be beneficial to those in the areas of law enforcement, corrections, victim's services, court systems, probation, parole, and other related areas such as retail loss prevention.  Students who have interest in these areas would be able to pursue a track that suits their career plans.  This would also appeal to adult learners out in the community already in these career fields.  Having a certificate could be advantageous to them in the pursuit of promotion for those currently employed and be a foot in the door for those who want to enter into the career fields.  

    For the institution, this would be a low cost certificate to implement and maintain.  The certificate requires few courses and three of those courses have already been consistently offered by the university.  The additional new courses have been added into the course rotation of existing faculty.  Existing faculty can transtition the majority of courses into an online format to further lower any barriers for student enrollment and this would present no additional cost to the university either.  

    As mentioned below, there are few programs in the region that serve the field of criminal justice.  Having this program would be greatly beneficial to the region and state as the career fields in criminal justice experience a consistent need for employment and changes in technology, the economy, or other external factors will have little to no influence on the need for employees in the fields of criminal justice.  

  • If applicable, state the specific local, state, or national needs for individuals trained by the proposed degree. If applicable, describe job opportunities that are available to persons who complete the degree. Provide supporting data.

    Individuals who earn a certificate in criminal justice could go into numerous fields, such as policing, corrections, private investigations, and so on.  According to the Bureau of Labor statistics (bls.gov), job outlook for police officers and detectives is 7% between 2016 and 2026 (https://www.bls.gov/ooh/protective-service/police-and-detectives.htm), 6% for probation officers and correctional treatment specialists (https://www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/probation-officers-and-correctional-treatment-specialists.htm), and 11% for private detectives and investigators (https://www.bls.gov/ooh/protective-service/private-detectives-and-investigators.htm).    

  • Indicate any licensure or certification requirements for which this degree will prepare students.

    To some degree, this would help students prepare for OPOTA certification, the Ohio Peace Officers Training Academy.  An understanding of how the criminal justice system works and understanding the theoretical explanations of crime would be beneficial to future police officers.  

  • Describe and document any needs, other than employment opportunity, which will be met by the proposed degree.

    Not applicable.  

  • Provide evidence of student interest in the program, as well as projections of enrollment (full-time and part-time) for each of the first five years of the degree.

    Using ACT data on reported expected major, 1121 students in Ohio (5.7% of students) and 19,484 students nationwide indicate Criminology as their expected major.  An additional 1142 students indicated a major in a Criminal Justice related field, such as General Legal Studies, Law (Pre-Law), and Court Reporting.   

    See also attachment with results of a interest survey collected summer/fall 2017 of local police and sheriff departments and their interest in a program.  

    As of March 12, 2018, there are 20 students who have a declared criminology minor.  

    Projected enrollments for both full and part time students are 3 students for year 1, 6 students for year 2, 12 students for year 3, 15 students for year 4, and 18 students for year 5.

  • List academic degrees similar to the one proposed that are offered in both public and independent institutions within a fifty-mile radius of the proposed instructional site.

    Regionally, there are two Bachelor degree programs in Criminal Justice.  Marshall University with an enrollment of approximately 300 students and Morehead State which has not returned requests for enrollment numbers.  Ohio University has a combination Sociology/Criminology Bachelors degree but the enrollment numbers for that degree are also unknown.  Four different community colleges and technical schools in the area have Associate degree programs and/or Ohio Peace Office Training Academies (OPOTA).  Hocking College has 32 students enrolled in OPOTA training as well as roughly 60 students in their associate degree programs.  Ashland Community and Technical has four associate degree programs in the fields of Criminal Justice and 75 students enrolled. Mountwest has an Associates degree program and an unknown level of enrollment.  Lastly, Southern State Community College has 16 enrolled in their associates degree program and graduates multiple classes in their OPOTA training each year.  

  • Explain how these degrees differ from the one proposed.

    This differs from the OU program as that is a combantion degree of Sociology and Criminology whereas this would be specifically criminal justice.  The local region has multiple training academies for those in pursuit of OPOTA certification.  However, there is a lack of certificates or programming for those interested in criminal justice beyond pursuing police academy training.  This would fill that gap and provide education to those in policing but also to the other areas within criminal justice that are currently underserved, such as probation, parole, corrections, and victim's services.

IV. Academic Planning
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  • Provide a brief description of the institutional planning process that resulted in the initiation of the proposed degree. Indicate the relative priority level of this degree among institutional purposes, and explain how this has been established.

    Beginning spring of 2017, Dr. Darrell Rudmann was in contact with Dr. Amy Grau about the creation of a new major or certificate in criminology or criminal justice.  In the spring of 2017, Dr. Grau met with Megan Bolter in Institutional Research to see what demand existed for a criminal justice major or certificate.  From conversations with other sociology faculty, it was determined to pursue a certificate program rather than a new major in criminal justice.  During the summer of 2017, Dean Milliken contacted Dr. Rudmann and Dr. Grau about a survey to gauge interest in a criminal justice program.  The survey was administered and data collected in the fall of 2017.  The results of the survey have been attached with this proposal.  In the fall of 2017, the Provost issued a call for new certificate programs.  As a criminal justice certificate would not require an additional line or the expenditure of many resources, the ARMF was not completed.  

  • Describe how and when institutional clearances or approvals for the new degree were achieved.

    During the spring of 2017, Dr. Grau met with Dr. Miller, Dr. Dunne, and Dr. Douthat to get approval to go ahead with the the proposed certificate in criminal justice.  The certificate was discussed and supported during a social science department meeting in April 2017.  

  • Provide information on the use of consultants of advisory committees in development of the proposed degree (append copies of reports from such consultants or advisory committees).

    Faculty within the department of Social Sciences, most specifically Sociology faculty, were consulted in the development of the proposed degree.  The certificate mirrors many of the requirements of the proposed revised criminology minor.  Dr. Amr Al-Azm was also contacted about the inclusion of the Forensic Anthropology course to the certificate program in order to not overwhelm the existing course and its faculty.  Consultations occurred via email and in-person meetings with faculty members.  

V. Academic Control
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  • Describe administrative arrangements for the degree (department and college involved).

    The certificate will be housed within the social sciences department and directly includes courses from sociology and anthropology.  Course offerings will be determined by consultation with the criminology program coordinator and the anthropology faculty.  

    The program will be able to be completed within one year.  Introduction to Criminal Justice is offered fall semesters while Introduction to Criminology is offered spring semesters.  The other sociology courses of Policing, Corrections, and Victimology are offered on a rotating basis within a two-year course rotation.  If the demand requires greater frequency, then course rotations will be altered.  Additionally, Introduction to Criminal Justice has been proposed to be an online class to greater facilitate the certificate in criminal justice.  Other courses may be transitioned to online courses in the near future to also facilitate the certificate program.  The courses will be offered as full semester courses but students may take the courses with either Introduction to Criminal Justice or Introduction to Criminology as pre-requisites or co-requisities.  

  • Indicate any cooperative arrangements with other institutions and organizations that will be used to offer this degree. Specify the exact nature of such agreements and attach any formal statements of agreement that have been developed.

    Not applicable.

  • Specify the articulation arrangements with other institutions that will be in effect for the degree. Attach appropriate documentation for such arrangements, if any.

    Not applicable.

VI. Curriculum
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  • Describe the degree, including each option and concentration, as it would appear in a catalog.

    The certification in criminal justice is a 12 credit hour undergraduate degree certification.  The degree would consist of two required classes: introduction to criminal justice and introduction to criminology.  Beyond those two courses, students would choose two additional courses from a selection of four.  The four courses that students could choose from are Policing, Corrections, Victimology, and Forensic Anthropology.  These four courses cover a wide array of areas of criminal justice that students could potentially enter and allow the certificate to be customized to a degree to the specific interests of the student.  

  • List the courses (title, number, semester credit hours, and catalog description) that would constitute the requirements and other components of the proposed degree. Indicate which courses are currently offered and which will be new (indicate new courses with an X).

    Introduction to Criminal Justice, SOCI 2610, 3 credit hours.  Catalog description: This course is designed to introduce students to the criminal justice system and the attending components of law enforcement, the judicial system, and corrections.  The social institutions which form the criminal justice system as it exists in the United States will be explored.  Attention will be given to cultural elements that influence the administration of justice as well as how the criminal justice system influences our definitions of those whom we define as deviant or criminal.

    Introduction to Criminology, SOCI 2207, 3 credit hours.  Catalog description: Introduction to Criminology is designed to provide the student with an examination and explanation of crime. Emphasis is placed on past and current theories of crime including sociological, economic, psychological and biological theories of crime causation.

    Forensic Anthropology, ANTH 3110, 3 credit hours.  Catalog description: Forensic anthropology is the science that applies reliable and tested methodologies to establish the identity of deceased persons.  Where the role of the pathologist is primarily to determine how somebody died, the forensic anthropologist seeks to determine who the deceased was.  Forensic anthropologists apply bio-anthropological methods to cases of forensic or legal importance and may be called as expert witnesses in court.

    X Policing, SOCI 2620, 3 credit hours.  Catalog description: Development of law enforcement and historical and contemporary issues in law enforcement such as discretion, use of force, and ethics. 

    X Victimology, SOCI 2630, 3 credit hours.  Catalog description: Study of crime victims focuses on the physical, emotional and ï¬nancial harm people suffer at the hands of criminals.

    X Corrections, SOCI 3620, 3 credit hours.  Catalog description: Punishment, penal institutions and reforms in society and history.

  • Describe the specific methods that will be used for evaluation and assessment of the proposed degree.

    The program will adopt the program learning outcomes detailed in Section II.  Each class will detail which program and student learning outcomes will be addressed by the course.  Assessment of fulfilling the program learning outcomes will be conducted by a review of a sample of course materials, such as assignment and project materials, conducted by the criminology program coordinator.

  • Indicate whether your institution intends to seek specialized accreditation from a professional association for this degree and whether additional resources are required to gain accreditation.

    No, specialized accreditation will not be sought out.  

VII. Staffing Qualifications
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  • Describe the number and qualifications of full-time faculty to be involved in the degree. Provide a list of current faculty along with areas of expertise who will be teaching in the degree, and brief description of the type of additional faculty needed.

    1.  Amy Baumann Grau, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Social Sciences (Criminal Justice, Criminology, Victimology, Corrections, and Policing)

    2.  Amr Al-Azm, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Social Sciences (Forensic Anthropology).  

  • Provide specific information on the number and qualifications of part-time faculty to be used in the proposed degree.

    1.  Kristie Martin, M.A., Adjunct faculty, Social Sciences (Forensic Anthropology)

    Any staffing of courses by adjunct faculty will be handled by the Social Sciences department.

VIII. Facilities and Support Services
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  • Provide specific information on the number and qualifications of part-time faculty to be used in the proposed degree.

    1.  Kristie Martin, M.A., Adjunct faculty, Social Sciences (Forensic Anthropology)

    Any staffing of courses by adjunct faculty will be handled by the Social Sciences department.

  • Explain how existing facilities and equipment for the proposed degree will impact on existing degrees.

    Students will have access to the facilities utitlized by the Social Science department for the provision of courses.  

  • Describe additional facilities, facility modifications, and equipment that will be required for use in the proposed degree.

    Not applicable.

  • Indicate institutional plans for meeting any needs for additional facilities and/or support resources.

    Not applicable.

  • Describe the adequacy of the existing library to support the proposed degree in terms of print and non-print materials, equipment, and personnel. If there are library standards used by professional societies and/or accrediting agencies that will evaluate the degree, compare these to existing library resources.

    There may be a need to expand the library offerings related to the field of criminal justice and criminology.  The library offerings already provide access to many journal and book offerings in the areas of criminology and criminal justice.  Additionally, the OHIOLINK system can supplement the existing library offerings.  

IX. Financial Resources
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  • Provide a projected budget for the next four (4) academic years indicating the total needs to support the proposed degree.

    No special or additional funding needed.

  • Indicate the adequacy of expected subsidy and other income to meet these needs.

    Not applicable.

  • Discuss briefly the internal reallocations of resources which will occur, or other sources of funding to be used to support the remaining resource requirements of this degree. Be specific in terms of faculty reallocations.

    No other sources of funding are being pursued.

    As the courses have previously been offered by the Social Science department, no resources are being reallocated for the creation of this program.  

  • Complete and attach the Financial Statement for New Degree Proposal which provides an indication of the impact of the projected FTEs in this degree on the institutions enrollments. (This form must be transmitted by the Ohio Board of Regents to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President of the Senate, the Legislative Budget Office of the Legislative Service Commission, and the Director of Budget and Management, at least ten days prior to formal action taken by the Regents. Ref. Section 333.021 or the Ohio Revised Code.)

X. Assessment
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  • Describe the assessment plan for this new concentration.

    The assessment of students meeting the stated learning outcomes will be completed through a sampling of projects and assignments completed in each of the program courses.   

    Include your goals for student outcomes and the instruments you plan to use to measure these goals.
  • Data Analysis

    Full-time faculty will review the sample of assignments, projects, and assessments to conduct an assessment of student outcomes.  

    Student course evaluations will also be collected and reviewed and reviewed by the criminology program coordinator.  

    How do you propose to interpret results/data from your assessments? How will the results of this interpretation be employed?
  • How will the results of assessment be used for program review?

    Assessment data will be used according to the Guide to Academic Program Review.

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