2025-2026 DRAFT Academic Catalog

Nov 09, 2024

2025-2026 DRAFT Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Combined Crime and Justice Studies, BA & Public Administration, MPA

Program Description

The combined BA/MPA degree program allows students to earn a BA in Crime and Justice Studies and Master of Public Administration (MPA), with up to nine (9) semester credit hours of approved graduate courses at the 5000, 6000, or 7000 level to be double-counted and applied to both the BA and MPA degree requirements.

Admission Requirements

To participate in the combined-degree program, students must meet the following qualifications:

- Senior standing for the semester they start the combined-degree program.
- 3.0 or better cumulative grade point average on all undergraduate work
- Undergraduate advisor’s approval, and
- A recommendation from the Master of Public Administration (MPA) advisor to be accepted in the program

Admission Process

At the end of their junior year, students who wish to pursue a five-year combined BA/MPA degree should submit to the Graduate School an application for the combined degree program. Additionally, required documents include: (1) a WSU transcript; (2) A program of study approved by both the Crime and Justice Studies undergraduate advisor and MPA program director.

CJS BA Program Learning Objectives

Students in the BA in CJS will learn to:

Explain the specific structures, operations, and roles of key participants within the US criminal justice system, including, but not limited to police, courts, corrections, and law.
Demonstrate effective writing skills conveying their overall knowledge of the components, policies, and research methods within field of criminal justice.
Develop and continue to hone career skills through experiential learning, which will enable them to transition into a career in criminal justice or related field.

CJS BA Program Learning Outcomes

Students graduating with the BA in CJS can:

Explain the specific structures, operations, and roles of key participants within the US criminal justice system, including, but not limited to police, courts, corrections, and law.
Demonstrate effective writing skills conveying their overall knowledge of the components, policies, and research methods within the field of criminal justice.
Develop and continue to hone career skills through experiential learning, which will enable them to transition into a career in criminal justice or a related field.

MPA Program Learning Objectives

Students enrolled in the MPA program will learn to:

Understand the fundamental knowledge, concepts, and principles associated with the discipline and profession of public administration
Develop awareness of the key institutional, political, and cultural factors that shape the field of public administration
Critically assess the range of theoretical perspectives which exist to understand the public and nonprofit management of the world’s problems
Communicate effectively in writing and speech to diverse audiences
Understand how to act ethically and responsibly in the field of public service

MPA Program Learning Outcomes

As a result of their learning experience, graduates of the MPA program can:

Lead and manage in the public interest;
Participate in, and contribute to, the policy process;
Analyze, synthesize, think critically, solve problems and make evidence-informed decisions in a complex and dynamic environment;
Articulate, apply, and advance a public service perspective;
Communicate and interact productively and in culturally responsive ways with a diverse and changing workforce and society at large.

For More Information

Public Administration, MPA
School of Social Sciences and International Studies
College of Liberal Arts

Program Requirements:

I. Wright State Core: 38 Credit Hours

First-Year Seminar: 3 Credit Hours

All students must successfully complete a First-Year Seminar during their first year. Transfer students who transfer 24 or more credit hours (post high school graduation) are exempt from this requirement and will need to satisfy three additional credit hours in the Additional Core Courses category.

Element 1 - Communication: 6 Credit Hours

Element B - Mathematics, Statistics, and Logic: 3 Credit Hours

Element 3 - Global Traditions: 6 Credit Hours

Element C - Arts and Humanities: 6 Credit Hours

Element D - Social Sciences: 6 Credit Hours

Element E - Natural Sciences: 7 Credit Hours

Additional Core Courses: 6 Credit Hours

Credits / Units: 3
LA 1020 - First-Year Seminar: College of Liberal Arts Credit Hour(s): 3

II. Departmental Requirements: 45 Credit Hours

SOC 2700 - Introduction to Criminal Justice in Society Credit Hour(s): 3
OR
PLS 4420 - Criminal Justice System Credit Hour(s): 3
OR
SOC 3710 - Comparative Criminal Justice Credit Hour(s): 3
OR
URS 4280 - Criminal Justice Organization and Management Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 3000 - Internship in Criminal Justice and Family Credit Hour(s): 3
OR
PLS 4821 - Pre-Law Internship Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 3700 - Criminology Credit Hour(s): 3
OR
SOC 4700 - Explaining Crime Credit Hour(s): 3
PLS 3420 - Civil Liberties I: First Amendment Credit Hour(s): 3
OR
PLS 3430 - Civil Liberties II: Due Process Credit Hour(s): 3
OR
PLS 4360 - Criminal Law Credit Hour(s): 3
OR
PLS 4370 - Criminal Procedure Credit Hour(s): 3
OR
PLS 4400 - Constitutional Law Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 3410 - Introduction to Research Methods Credit Hour(s): 3

Foundation Areas

Area 1. Behavior: 6 Credit Hours

CJS majors take 2 courses or 6 hours from the list below (excluding MIL courses)

*Military Science Concentration within CJS: Choose only 1 course from the list below AND take MIL 3010/3011: Applied Team Leadership (and lab)

MIL 3010 - Adaptive Team Leadership Credit Hour(s): 3
MIL 3011 - Adaptive Team Leadership Lab Credit Hour(s): 0
PLS 4350 - Seminar in Political Corruption Credit Hour(s): 3
PSY 2810 - Psychology of Incarceration Credit Hour(s): 3
PSY 3110 - Abnormal Psychology Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 3210 - Sociology of Deviance Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 3220 - Juvenile Delinquency Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 3700 - Criminology Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 4700 - Explaining Crime Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 4710 - Victimology Credit Hour(s): 3

Area 2. Institutions & Practices: 6 Credit Hours

CJS majors take 2 courses or 6 hours from the list below (excluding MIL courses)

*Military Science Concentration within CJS: Choose only 1 course from the list below AND take MIL 3020/22: Applied Team Leadership (and lab)

ATH 3110 - Forensic Anthropology Credit Hour(s): 3
MIL 3020 - Applied Team Leadership Credit Hour(s): 3
MIL 3022 - Applied Team Leadership Lab Credit Hour(s): 0
PLS 3220 - State Government Credit Hour(s): 3
PLS 3410 - Fundamentals of Criminal Investigation Credit Hour(s): 3
PLS 3440 - Police Procedures and Operations Credit Hour(s): 3
PLS 3450 - Public Administration Credit Hour(s): 3
PLS 4420 - Criminal Justice System Credit Hour(s): 3
PLS 4440 - Topics in Criminal Justice Credit Hour(s): 3
PLS 4450 - Advanced Criminal Investigation Credit Hour(s): 3
PSY 2520 - Forensic Psychology Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 3710 - Comparative Criminal Justice Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 3720 - Policing in Society Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 3730 - Sociology of the Courts, Law, and Justice Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 3740 - Penology and Corrections Credit Hour(s): 3
URS 4280 - Criminal Justice Organization and Management Credit Hour(s): 3

Area 3. Law: 3 Credit Hours

CJS majors take 1 course or 3 hours from the list below (excluding MIL courses)

*Military Science Concentration within CJS: Take only MIL 4010/4011: Adaptive Leadership (and lab)

MIL 4010 - Adaptive Leadership Credit Hour(s): 3
MIL 4011 - Adaptive Leadership Lab Credit Hour(s): 0
PHL 4140 - Philosophy of Law Credit Hour(s): 3
PLS 3400 - Law and Society Credit Hour(s): 3
PLS 3420 - Civil Liberties I: First Amendment Credit Hour(s): 3
PLS 3430 - Civil Liberties II: Due Process Credit Hour(s): 3
PLS 4170 - Appellate Politics and Moot Court Credit Hour(s): 3
PLS 4360 - Criminal Law Credit Hour(s): 3
PLS 4370 - Criminal Procedure Credit Hour(s): 3
PLS 4400 - Constitutional Law Credit Hour(s): 3
PLS 4710 - International Law Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 3730 - Sociology of the Courts, Law, and Justice Credit Hour(s): 3

Area 4. Ethics & Diversity: 6 Credit Hours

Both CJS majors and *Military Science Concentration within CJS take 2 courses or 6 hours from the list below

PHL 3110 - Ethics Credit Hour(s): 3
PHL 3120 - History of Ethics Credit Hour(s): 3
PLS 3750 - Human Rights in United States Credit Hour(s): 3
PHL 3780 - Bioethics Credit Hour(s): 3
PLS 4040 - Struggles for Civil Rights in America Credit Hour(s): 3
PLS 4180 - Politics and Ethics Credit Hour(s): 3
PLS 4480 - Gender Violence & American Politics Credit Hour(s): 3
PLS 4490 - Gender Violence and International Politics Credit Hour(s): 3
PLS 4520 - International Human Rights Credit Hour(s): 3
PSY 2110 - Human Sexuality Credit Hour(s): 3
PSY 2420 - Psychology of Men and Women Credit Hour(s): 3
PSY 2510 - Stereotyping and Prejudice Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 3600 - Social Inequality Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 3610 - Sociology of Gender Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 3620 - Race and Ethnicity Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 4600 - Sociology of Sexuality Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 4610 - Gender and Crime Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 4630 - Race and Labor Markets Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 4650 - Global Sexualities and Human Rights Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 4670 - Disability: Power, Politics, Privilege Credit Hour(s): 3
URS 3300 - Ethics in Public Service Credit Hour(s): 3

Advanced Criminal Justice Electives: 9 Credit Hours

CJS majors take 3 courses or 9 hours from the list below (excluding MIL courses)

*Military Science Concentration within CJS: Take MIL 4020/22: Leadership in a Complex World (and lab) AND choose 1 course from each area:

1) History course: HST 3600 or HST 4550

2) Additional required course: Upper Division Foreign Language Course or PLS 4720 or PLS 4730 or *PHL 3110 or CLS 3700

*Military Science Concentration Students who take PHL 3110 for CJS Foundation Area 4: Ethics, cannot double count it here; they will need an additional course.

CLS 3700 - Studies in Ancient Politics, Law and Warfare Credit Hour(s): 3
CNL 4610 - Principles of Counseling Credit Hour(s): 3
GEO 3600 - Concepts of Geo-Spatial Mapping Credit Hour(s): 3
HST 3600 - Surveys of American History Credit Hour(s): 3
HST 4550 - Studies in U.S. Foreign Relations Credit Hour(s): 3
MIL 4020 - Leadership in a Complex World Credit Hour(s): 3
MIL 4022 - Leadership in Complex World Lab Credit Hour(s): 0
PHL 3110 - Ethics Credit Hour(s): 3
PLS 3460 - Public Personnel Administration Credit Hour(s): 3
PLS 4010 - Development and Construction of American Civil Liberty Credit Hour(s): 3
PLS 4070 - Seminar in Political Theory Credit Hour(s): 3
PLS 4160 - Sex and the Law Credit Hour(s): 3
PLS 4210 - American Constitutional Politics Credit Hour(s): 3
PLS 4260 - Supreme Court in American Politics Credit Hour(s): 3
PLS 4310 - Cyber Crime Credit Hour(s): 3
PLS 4380 - Environmental Law and Policy Credit Hour(s): 3
PLS 4390 - Bioethics and Law Credit Hour(s): 3
PLS 4410 - Natural Resources Law Credit Hour(s): 3
PLS 4440 - Topics in Criminal Justice Credit Hour(s): 3
PLS 4460 - Public Budgeting Credit Hour(s): 3
PLS 4710 - International Law Credit Hour(s): 3
PLS 4720 - Terrorism and Counterterrorism Credit Hour(s): 3
PLS 4730 - American Foreign Policy Credit Hour(s): 3
PLS 4870 - Politics of Intelligence Gathering Credit Hour(s): 3
PSY 2830 - Chemical Dependency Credit Hour(s): 3
PSY 2910 - Drugs and Behavior Credit Hour(s): 3
PSY 3510 - Social Psychology Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 3100 - Marriage and Family Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 3320 - Sociology of Work Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 4090 - Studies in Selected Subjects Credit Hour(s): 1 to 3
SOC 4310 - Urban Sociology Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 4410 - Applications Research Methods Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 4620 - Elite Crime Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 4830 - Sex, Drugs, and HIV Credit Hour(s): 3

III. College Requirements: 18-22 Credit Hours

Foreign Language: 12-16 Credit Hours

Through 2020 level (1010, 1020, 2010, 2020) of one language: Spanish, French, German, Greek, Latin, Chinese, American Sign Language or other.

Methods of Inquiry: 6 Credit Hours

PHL 3000 - Critical Thinking Credit Hour(s): 3
Research Methods: (Choose one course from the following approved list) Credit Hour(s): 3:
SOC 3400 - Sociological Analysis Credit Hour(s): 3 or
PLS 3100 - Quantitative Methods in Political Science Credit Hour(s): 3

IV. Electives: 15-19 Credit Hours

Total: 120 Credit Hours

Double-Counted Courses: Up to 9 Credit Hours

ABS 7220 - Seminar on Criminal Justice Credit Hour(s): 3
ABS 7240 - Social Problems Credit Hour(s): 3
ATH 5800 - Special Topics in Anthropological Methods Credit Hour(s): 3
ATH 6030 - Urban Anthropology Credit Hour(s): 3
ATH 6100 - Special Topics in Cultural Anthropology Credit Hour(s): 3
GEO 6430 - Geographic Information Science Principles Credit Hour(s): 4
GEO 6440 - Advanced Geographic Information Applications Credit Hour(s): 4
MPA 6230 - Ethics and Leadership in Public Service Credit Hour(s): 3
MPA 6340 - Fundraising and Grant Writing Credit Hour(s): 3
MPA 7000 - Foundations and Tools of Public Administration Credit Hour(s): 3
MPA 7010 - Public Budgeting and Fiscal Management Credit Hour(s): 3
MPA 7025 - Administrative Law Credit Hour(s): 3
MPA 7030 - Organization Theory and Management Behavior Credit Hour(s): 3
MPA 7040 - Managing Human Resources in Public Service Credit Hour(s): 3
MPA 7050 - Quantitative Analysis Credit Hour(s): 3
PLS 5420 - Civil Liberties I: First Amendment Credit Hour(s): 3
PLS 5430 - Civil Liberties II Credit Hour(s): 3
PLS 5750 - Human Rights in USA Credit Hour(s): 3
PLS 6050 - Political Polarization in American Politics Credit Hour(s): 3
PLS 6180 - Politics and Ethics Credit Hour(s): 3
PLS 6230 - American Public Policy Analysis Credit Hour(s): 3
PLS 6340 - Political Leadership Credit Hour(s): 3
PLS 6350 - Seminar - Political Corruption Credit Hour(s): 3
PLS 6360 - Criminal Law Credit Hour(s): 3
PLS 6370 - Criminal Procedure Credit Hour(s): 3
PLS 6400 - Constitutional Law Credit Hour(s): 3
PLS 6420 - Criminal Justice Systems Credit Hour(s): 3
PLS 7982 - Intelligence and Homeland Security Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 5100 - Marriage and Family Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 5210 - Sociology of Deviance Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 5220 - Juvenile Delinquency Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 5310 - Globalization and Social Change Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 5600 - Social Inequality Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 5610 - Sociology of Gender Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 5620 - Race and Ethnicity Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 5700 - Criminology Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 5710 - Comparative Criminal Justice Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 5720 - Policing in Society Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 5730 - Sociology of Courts, Law and Justice Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 5740 - Penology and Corrections Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 6310 - Urban Sociology Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 6320 - Neighborhoods and Communities Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 6600 - Sociology of Sexuality Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 6610 - Gender and Crime Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 6620 - Elite Crime Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 6640 - Gender and Sexuality: Global Issues Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 6650 - Global Sexualities & Human Rights Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 6670 - Disability: Power, Politics, Privilege Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 6700 - Explaining Crime: From Beccarria to Thornberry Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 6710 - Victimology Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 6810 - Health of Vulnerable Populations Credit Hour(s): 3
WGS 6800 - Studies in Selected Subjects Credit Hour(s): 3

Graduate Program Requirements

Core Courses: 21 Credit Hours

MPA 7000 - Foundations and Tools of Public Administration Credit Hour(s): 3
MPA 7010 - Public Budgeting and Fiscal Management Credit Hour(s): 3
MPA 7025 - Administrative Law Credit Hour(s): 3
MPA 7030 - Organization Theory and Management Behavior Credit Hour(s): 3
MPA 7040 - Managing Human Resources in Public Service Credit Hour(s): 3
MPA 7050 - Quantitative Analysis Credit Hour(s): 3
MPA 7060 - Research Methods Credit Hour(s): 3
MPA 7220 may substitute for one of the above core courses.
MPA 7220 - MPA Directed Study Credit Hour(s): 3

Additional Requirements: 3-6 Credit Hours

Select one from:

MPA 7070 - MPA Capstone Project Credit Hour(s): 3
MPA 7080 - MPA Applied Research Project Credit Hour(s): 3
MPA 7090 - MPA Thesis Credit Hour(s): 1 to 3
A minimum 3 hours is required for the thesis option. If 6 hours taken, one elective may be waived. Credits / Units: 3

Internship: 3 Credit Hours

The internship may be waived for students working in service or who meet the Prior Learning Assessment requirement. If internship waived, an additional elective is required to meet the 12 hours minimum.

MPA 6950 - MPA Internship Credit Hour(s): 3

Electives: 9-12 Credit Hours

Complete a minimum 9 credit hours from selected track. If internship waived, complete an additional 3 credit hours.

Total: 36 Credit Hours

Graduation Planning Strategy

The Graduation Planning Strategy (GPS) has been created to illustrate one option to complete degree requirements within a particular time frame. Students are encouraged to meet with their academic advisor to adjust this plan based on credit already earned, individual needs or curricular changes that may not be reflected in this year’s catalog.