Criminal Behavior

The Bachelor of Criminal Justice in Criminal Behavior is designed to provide you with an understanding of why people commit crime. The major is designed for students interested in examining the relationship between psychology and the criminal justice system. You’ll study diverse areas of criminal behavior and come to understand common traits among offenders and how the justice system manages such individuals.

With a basis in forensic psychology, the program focuses on criminal justice and criminal behavior. Some universities offer online forensic psychology courses or criminal justice programs, but very few merge the two into a program geared toward developing a better understanding of criminal behavior. The program is intended for students who intend to work in fields such as law enforcement, institutional or community corrections, and public or private security.

Professional Criminal Behavior Training

• The major is well suited for those who desire to help people or make a difference in the world.
• Tiffin University has a reputation for being a leading institution in the field of forensic psychology.
• The program will prepare you to work in fields such as prison systems, rehabilitation centers, police departments, courthouses, law firms, schools, government agencies or the private sector.
• The program offers courses focused on criminal justice and criminal behavior, such as Psychology of Violence and Aggression, Threat Assessment, Correctional Strategies, and Applied Criminal Investigation and Criminalistics.

Most of our professors who teach online are working professionals in the field, either previously or currently. They bring professional experience in law enforcement, law, probation and parole, psychology, counseling, forensic psychology, government and federal and national security. Their real-world field experience greatly enhances content offered in courses.

Courses in the program are created and updated to reflect the most current, relevant theory in the field. You’ll acquire career-ready knowledge and the latest perspectives on criminal behavior, including:

• Ethical principles of the field
• The nature and causes of crime
• Psychological causes of crime and criminal behavior
• Psychology of violence and threat assessment
• Trends and major crime problems and statistics
• The changing features of the American legal system
• Justice agencies and personnel
• Criminal justice agency management
• Agency and case management
• Correctional strategies
• Population management strategies
• Offender reentry
• Offender motivation, theory and policy

While ours is an online program, you’ll actively engage in discussion forums with classmates and instructors, and some courses involve outside assignments where you’ll visit criminal justice system sites or interview people in the community.

In the final year of coursework, you’ll complete an internship in the field and you can choose a setting where you can focus on the area in which you’d like to specialize. Students complete an internship usually at a community or social service agency in Tiffin or the surrounding community.

A semester-long course is devoted to cultural awareness and multicultural issues. You’ll engage in experiential learning activities as well as research to learn more about various groups and cultures, and they learn skills for engaging with diverse populations. Case examples, cultural issues, and information about working with diverse populations is woven throughout various other courses and assignments within the program.

CURRICULUM

Core Curriculum of the School of Criminal Justice = 18 hours

Criminal Behavior Major = 48 hours

Online major courses, 3 hours each – unless noted (to be taken in addition to Criminal Justice Core):

• COR110 Correctional Strategies
• COR420 Agency Management
• ENF239 Applied Criminal Investigation and Criminalistics
• ENF293 Criminology
• FOR105 Victimology
• FOR344 Psychology of Violence and Aggression
• FOR365 Drugs and Society
• FOR423 Case Management
• PSY101 Introduction to Psychology
• SOC360 Multicultural Issues in Society
• PSY362 Abnormal Behavior
• FOR310 Threat Assessment
• SOC101 Introduction to Sociology
• PSY250 Social Psychology
• Two Open Electives (3 hours each)

Total = 48 hours

Total Bachelor of Criminal Justice hours = 121

This is a sample course sequence to illustrate course offerings for this major. Consult the official Academic Bulletin for detailed registration and advising information.

SAMPLE COURSES

Agency Management (COR420) – This course analyzes some of the distinct differences between public and private management. The theory of controlling, organizing, planning, directing and assembling resources is covered. Students will develop a course project designed to cover the concepts explored in this course.

Applied Criminal Investigation and Criminalistics (ENF239) – Emphasis on the investigation of specific crimes including, but not limited to, homicide, sexual assault, aggravated assault, robbery, burglary, theft, auto theft and arson. Students will be required to investigate a “mock” crime scene, collect and analyze evidence obtained and present their investigation in a “moot” court.

Psychology of Violence and Aggression (FOR344) – Course examines the changes in the methods, patterns, and meanings of violence. Special attention is paid to individual and collective violence in the streets, in schools, at home, within the media, by the police, by terrorists and by the military. The major theories explaining the causes of violence, and important research about attitudes toward violence and the showing of force to bring about change are reviewed.

Drugs and Society (FOR365) – Considers various types of drugs, dynamics of use, abuse, addiction, and recovery; social, legal, economic, and psychological impact on structure and function of society; current trends; diagnosis and treatment; prevention strategies.

FORMAT

Online – Offered in two terms per semester starting in January, March, May, July, August and October

The Bachelor of Criminal Justice in Criminal Behavior is designed for those who desire to work in the field of criminal justice, forensic psychology, law, corrections, mental health and more.

CAREERS

• Community Corrections
• Courthouses
• Government Agencies
• Institutional Corrections
• Law Firms
• Police Departments
• Prison Systems
• Private or Public Security
• Rehabilitation Centers
• Schools

GRADUATE SCHOOL

If graduate school becomes part of your career plan, Tiffin University has a large online graduate program in criminal justice with a variety of concentrations. Our students in these graduate programs often have decades of experience in the field and come to us to get their master’s degrees to attain top administrative positions, such as Chief of Police.