Criminal Justice

Program learning outcomes: What Will I Learn?

Students who complete the major in Criminal Justice at Excelsior College will be able to:

1. Describe the various components - Legislative, Enforcement, Judicial, and Correctional - and their interactions within the criminal justice system.
2. Identify and explain the major legal, criminological, and sociological theories underlying the criminal justice system.
3. Explain and apply the ethical issues involved in the decision-making process of the criminal justice system.
4. Explain and critically evaluate contemporary literature in the field of criminal justice.
5. Identify and analyze the various forms of diversity (social, racial, religious, age, socioeconomic status, etc.) and their relationships to the criminal justice system.

Degree level outcomes for a BS in Criminal Justice degree.

Students who complete any Baccalaureate degree from the School of Liberal Arts will be able to:

1. Critical Thinking: Students will be able to engage in advanced critical thinking skills, including: demonstrating the ability to remember information, understanding key concepts, apply these concepts appropriately, analyze phenomena, evaluate and justify positions, create coherent arguments in the student’s chosen field of study.
2. Communication: Students will demonstrate: advanced written communication skills, advanced oral communication skills, be able to express complex ideas with clarity and precision.

Evidence of Student Learning - Internal: How will the program measure what I have learned?

Criminal Justice All students are required to complete the Criminal Justice Capstone Course (CJ498) during their senior year of study. Students must receive a grade of "C" or better in this capstone to graduate. The capstone course measures student ability to demonstrate their mastery of the program level and degree level outcomes.

Results of External Exams/Assessments: What third-party assessments will measure what I have learned?

During the capstone course CJ498, Criminal Justice Capstone, the student will submit a written assignment of 1000+ words. A rubric will be used to evaluate the student's performance on this outcome.

2011-2012-CRITERION: The program will be considered to have successfully met the Exceeds Expectations level if 90% or more of the students completing the Capstone Course during the one year period score at or above the Meets Expectations level for this outcome and 10% or more of these are at the Exceeds Expectations level. Additionally, no more than 2% of the students will receive a score of Does Not Meet Expectations. The program will be considered to have met the Meets Expectations level if at least 85% of the students completing the Capstone Course during the one year period score at or above the Meets Expectations level and no more than 5% of the students score at Does Not Meet Expectations. The program will be evaluated as Does Not Meet Expectations if fewer than 85% of the students completing the Capstone Course during the one year period score at or above Meets Expectations level for this outcome and/or if more than 10% of the students score at Does not Meet Expectations.

The CJ capstone course, CJ498, began in the year 2010-2011 and was used to assess all outcomes of Bachelors in Criminal Justice program. 21 students participated in this capstone course. The results for specific program outcomes are reported below and suggest that the program exceeded expectation for all outcomes.

• Outcome #1 - 61.9% of the students were evaluated as "exceeds expectations", 33.3% were evaluated as "meets expectations" and 4.8% were evaluated as "does not meet expectations". 
• Outcome#2-76.2% were evaluated as "exceeds expectations", 23.8% were evaluated as "meets expectations" and 0% were evaluated as "does not meet expectations".
• Outcome#3- 76.2% were evaluated as "exceeds expectations", 23.8% were evaluated as "meets expectations" and 0% were evaluated as "does not meet expectations".
• Outcome#4- 38.1% were evaluated as "exceeds expectations", 57.1% were evaluated as "meets expectations" and 4.8% were evaluated as "does not meet expectations".
• Outcome#5-71.4% were evaluated as "exceeds expectations", 23.8% were evaluated as "meets expectations" and 4.8% were evaluated as "does not meet expectations".
• Degree level outcome Critical Thinking: 95.2% of the students scored "meets expectations" or better, 38.1% scored "exceeds expectations".
• Degree level outcome Communication: 95.2% of the students scored "meets expectations" or better, 33.3% scored as "exceeds expectations".