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Criminal Justice Minor

Study English and writing/literature at George Fox, a top Christian college on the West Coast.

Do you want to make a positive difference through public service? Are you interested in learning more about possible careers in law enforcement, the courts and correctional systems, social welfare, and related private industries?

George Fox offers a criminal justice minor that provides broad information about criminology and the legal system to students interested in pursuing careers that relate to crime and victimization. The 18-credit-hour minor can be completed by students majoring in any field, but it is particularly relevant for individuals completing degrees in sociology, social work, politics, computer science or psychology.

Criminal Justice Course of Study

George Fox’s criminal justice course of study consists of classes that explore …

  • Factors that contribute to crime
  • Major institutions of the criminal justice system, such as the courts, police, and corrections, including their strengths and flaws
  • Contemporary programs leading to restorative justice for communities, institutions and individuals
  • The interface of drug use, mental health and criminal behavior

The program’s focus fits within the university’s ethos – which emphasizes social justice and service – and fills a pressing demand for professionals working within a wide variety of institutions that have a vision for restorative justice.

Classes

Students in the criminal justice minor take the following ...

  • Intro to Criminal Justice
  • Crime and Deviance
  • Juvenile Delinquency
  • Restorative Justice
  • Substance Abuse, Mental Health and Criminal Justice

An additional three-credit-hour class – to be determined by a student’s career field of interest – is also required.

Jobs and Employment Outlook

Graduates from criminal justice programs are employed at municipal, county, state, and federal levels of government throughout the United States, serving in positions such as probation officers, parole officers, police officers, law enforcement personnel, juvenile workers, private security, correctional institutions, and human services. Many students ultimately go on to graduate school, including law school.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of private detectives and investigators is projected to grow 11 percent from 2016 to 2026, while employment of probation officers and correctional treatment specialists is projected to grow 6 percent during that same time frame. The continued desire for public safety is expected to lead to new openings for officers, although demand may vary by location.

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Student Experiences

Allison Ogle

“To live well in God’s world requires asking good questions. Through studying at George Fox, I learned how to ask these questions and how to think critically about the problems in the world. Now equipped with this ‘sociological imagination’ I am able to live the questions I learned to ask and incarnate a Christian response to issues like social stratification, racial reconciliation and gender inequality that plague our society and the church today.”

- Allison Ogle

Sara Eccelston

“My education at George Fox has been fundamental to shaping the way I understand the world and make decisions about how to live. I learned the important connections between power structures in society and theories to understand it all, and heard a Christian voice in the midst of sometimes hopeless statistics. My professors helped me to think critically, encouraged my questions, taught me how to research and gave voice to the parts of society that are often overlooked.”

- Sara Eccelston

Anna Moreshead “My George Fox education helped me develop a readiness and confidence to take with me into a broad range of direct service settings. My classes and internships humbled me as I realized that my education was less about me and more about the clients I am now serving.”

- Anna Moreshead

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Minor Requirements

18 credit hours

Complete the following:
This course will provide students with an introduction and synopsis of the system of criminal justice operated in the United States today. The course will provide an overview of the philosophy of criminal law, theories of deviance and of the nature and extent of crime in America. The theory, structure, and operation of each of the principle components of the Criminal Justice System (i.e., law enforcement, courts, and corrections) will be examined in detail.
An introduction to the study of deviance and criminology, including theoretical and paradigms and research.
A study of the causes and nature of juvenile delinquency, the development of the juvenile court, probation, and other rehabilitative programs. Prerequisite: SOCI 150 Principles of Sociology and SOCI 331 Crime and Deviance, or instructor's permission.
This course will cover the theological and historical backgrounds of alternative systems of justice, and the criminological principles undergirding a variety of restorative justice programs, particularly community policing, problem-solving courts and community corrections, and will apply an international comparative component as well as a study the programs’ effectiveness. Prerequisites: SOCI 150 Principles of Sociology, SOCI 331 Crime and Deviance, and SOCI 333 Juvenile Delinquency.
This course focuses on substance abuse and mental health within American society, with a special emphasis on the connection to the criminal justice system. Students will learn about the major DSM-V mental disorders and treatment for mental illness. Substance addiction, treatment, and the social impact drugs on society will be examined. An overview of current issues involving mentally impaired persons in the U.S. criminal justice system will also be explored. Prerequisites: SWRK 180 Introduction to Social Work, SWRK 331 Human Behavior in the Social Environment, and SWRK 391 Social Work Practice I or declared minor in criminal justice.
Choose one of the following:
The origins, evolution, structure, and present functions of state, county, and city government, with particular reference to Oregon. Special attention is given to the rising problems of urban government and regional planning.
A general study of the role of law and the legal profession in American life, and a survey of the major topics addressed by the law. Attention also is given to the values promoted by our legal system and the Christian's interaction with it.
A study of the unique physical, intellectual, personality, social, and moral developmental changes during the period of adolescence. Prerequisite: PSYC 150 General Psychology.
A survey of the major theorists of personality and their theories. Included are psychoanalytic, dispositional, phenomenological, and behavioral theories. An integrative approach will involve synthesis of important elements of theory and Scripture. Prerequisite: PSYC 150 General Psychology.
This course focuses on the Supreme Court's interpretation of the Bill of Rights and the Fourteenth Amendment. Special emphasis is placed upon the religion clauses of the First Amendment.

Points of Distinction

  • Study criminal justice at a university that emphasizes social justice and service.
  • The minor is open to students in all majors.
  • Engage in course material and discussion surrounding issues related to the criminal justice system.

Why George Fox?

Christ-centered community

Our faith influences everything we do here, from the way our professors teach to the way we relate to one another and serve in the community.

Global opportunities

More than half of George Fox undergraduate students study abroad, ranking George Fox among the nation's leaders in study abroad participation (U.S. News & World Report).

Small classes

Our 14-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio means you'll get to know your professors on a personal level.

National recognition

George Fox University is a Christian university classified by U.S. News & World Report as a first-tier national university, and Forbes ranks George Fox among the highest Christian colleges in the country.

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