Mapping your Law & Criminal Justice Major
Your Hood experience is about so much more than just your law & criminal justice major.
The Student Success Center, the Center for Career Development & Experiential Learning, and the Office of the Registrar have teamed up to show you where a law & criminal justice major can take you. They will help you cultivate, engage and prepare during your time at Hood so that you are career ready for your journey beyond Hood.
Additionally, these maps will serve as milestones and guideposts when you meet with your academic adviser.
Contact
| Student Success 301-696-3860 | Registrar 301-696-3620 | Center for Career Development & Experiential Education |
| College Catalog | Department of Law and Criminal Justice | Law and Criminal Justice (B.A.) |
Year One
Fall Semester | Credits |
LW 230 Introduction to Law | 3 |
FYS 101 First Year Seminar | 3 |
Core- Foreign language 101 | 4 |
Core-ENGL 100 Elements of Composition | 4 |
CORE- Health and Wellness | 1 |
| 15 |
Spring Semester | Credits |
CJ 230 Introduction to Criminal Justice | 3 |
MATH 112, PSY 211, or PSCI 205* | 3 |
Core- Foreign Language 102 | 4 |
Core - Scientific Thought (with lab) | 4 |
Core - Health & Wellness/PE | 1 |
| 15 |
Year Two
Fall Semester | Credits |
PSCI 200 or 302 | 3 |
SOC 215 Social Problems | 3 |
Core - Literary Analysis | 3 |
Core - Historical Analysis | 3 |
Elective | 4 |
| 16 |
Spring Semester | Credits |
PHIL 221 Ethics | 3 |
Major elective (from CJ list in catalog) | 3 |
Core - Visual & Performing Arts | 3 |
Core - Scientific Thought (non-lab) | 3 |
Elective | 3 |
| 15 |
Year Three
Fall Semester | Credits |
PSCI 307 American Constitutional Law | 3 |
LWCJ 308 Criminal Law | 3 |
Core- Global Perspectives | 3 |
Elective | 3 |
Elective | 3 |
Elective | 3 |
| 18 |
Spring Semester | Credits |
CJ 300 Criminalistics | 3 |
Major elective (from CJ list in catalog) | 3 |
Elective | 3 |
Elective | 3 |
Elective | 3 |
| 15 |
Year Four
Fall Semester | Credits |
CJ 399 Internship or LWCJ 401A Clinic Sem. | 3 |
LWCJ 401B Pre-law Clinic (with 401A) or Elective | 3 |
Elective | 3 |
Elective | 3 |
Elective | 3 |
| 15 |
Spring Semester | Credits |
CJ 470 SrSeminar in Criminal Justice | 3 |
Elective | 3 |
Elective | 3 |
Elective | 3 |
Elective | 3 |
| 15 |
Total Credits = 124
*MATH 112 and PSY 211 meet the Core- Quantitative Literacy (QL) requirement. If PSCI 205 is taken for the major, another course to meet the Core QL should be taken.
Year One
Fall Semester | Credits |
LW 230 Introduction to Law | 3 |
FYS 101 First Year Seminar | 3 |
Core- Foreign language 101 | 4 |
Core-ENGL 100 Elements of Composition | 4 |
CORE- Health and Wellness | 1 |
| 15 |
Spring Semester | Credits |
CJ 230 Introduction to Criminal Justice | 3 |
MATH 112, PSY 211, or PSCI 205* | 3 |
Core- Foreign Language 102 | 4 |
Core - Scientific Thought (with lab) | 4 |
Core - Health & Wellness/PE | 1 |
| 15 |
Year Two
Fall Semester | Credits |
PHIL 221 Ethics | 3 |
Core- Global Perspectives | 3 |
Core - Literary Analysis | 3 |
Core - Historical Analysis | 3 |
Elective | 4 |
| 16 |
Spring Semester | Credits |
PHIL 308 or PSCI 333 | 3 |
Major elective (from Law list in catalog) | 3 |
Core - Visual & Performing Arts | 3 |
Core - Scientific Thought (non-lab) | 3 |
Elective | 3 |
| 15 |
Year Three
Fall Semester | Credits |
PSCI 307 American Constitutional Law | 3 |
Major elective (from Law list in catalog) | 3 |
PHIL 207 Logic | 3 |
Elective | 3 |
Elective | 3 |
Elective | 3 |
| 18 |
Spring Semester | Credits |
PSCI 336 Gender and the Law | 3 |
LW 300 Legal Research and Writing | 3 |
Elective | 3 |
Elective | 3 |
Elective | 3 |
| 15 |
Year Four
Fall Semester | Credits |
PSCI 405/505 Civil Liberties | 3 |
Elective | 3 |
Elective | 3 |
Elective | 3 |
Elective | 3 |
| 15 |
Spring Semester | Credits |
LW 470 Seminar in Law | 3 |
Elective | 3 |
Elective | 3 |
Elective | 3 |
Elective | 3 |
| 15 |
Total Credits = 124
*MATH 112 and PSY 211 meet the Core- Quantitative Literacy (QL) requirement. If PSCI 205 is taken for the major, another course to meet the Core QL should be taken.
An internship is recommended for the Law component.
Learning, Self-Exploration, and Academic Excellence
The Hood College Center for Career Development and Experiential Education is here to support you through your four-year educational journey. Whether you are headed toward additional educational pursuits after graduation or on to the exciting world of work, we recommend that you investigate all your opportunities through three distinct types of exploration. These include Cultivating knowledge of your major and occupations related to your studies, Engaging in activities that give you hands-on experience, and taking practical steps toward Preparing for life after college. Below are three tables that will help you understand these areas and associated activities. Want to know more? Meet with a counselor in the Career Center. Email careers@hood.edu to make an appointment.
Cultivate
Explore your Major and Related Occupations
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
Explore careers in Law & Criminal Justice through the Hood College website. Explore the backgrounds of faculty and learn about course offerings. | Visit with a counselor in the Career Center to update your resume and consider locations for a computer science specific internship. | Update your resume to include classes from the previous year and any experiences, either internship or employment related. | Update your resume to include classes from the previous year and any experiences, either law & criminal justice internships or employment related. Be sure to include your research skills. |
Visit the What Can I Do With the Major?, and the CareerOneStop websites. | Explore club and engagement opportunities related to Law & Criminal Justice. | Obtain an Internship, to gain work experience and college credit. | If you have already completed an internship consider doing a second internship experience, to gain additional work experience and/or college credit. |
Take the Focus 2 Career Assessment to learn more about additional areas of career interest. | If eligible, investigate federal work study positions in a department of career related interest. |
| |
Meet with Career Center staff to begin developing a resume. |
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Engage
Locally and Globally
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
Explore club and engagement opportunities related to Law & Criminal Justice. | Participate in Career Center workshops on interviewing for success and creating a LinkedIn page. | Conduct informational interviews with Hood College alumni working in the law & criminal justice field. | Conduct informational interviews with Hood College alumni working in the law & criminal justice field. |
| Conduct informational interviews with Hood College alumni working in the law & criminal justice field. | Update your LinkedIn page to reflect new experiences and coursework. |
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| Attend Career Center workshops on interviewing for success and how to conduct a job search. | |
|
| Shadow professionals or alumni who work in the computer science field. |
Prepare
For Post-Graduation Success
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
Attend the Fall and Spring Community Engagement Fairs to learn more about not-for-profit agencies that provide low or no-cost services to those in need. | Attend the Spring Internship & Career Fair to meet directly with employers from a variety of industries. | Attend Chamber of Commerce industry related events. Speak with a Career Center counselor to learn more about these. | Attend the annual Business Etiquette Dinner. Register in advance for this event in Handshake. |
| Regularly check the Handshake events page to see employers providing information sessions on campus. | Attend the Spring Internship & Career Fair and/or STEM Career Expo to meet directly with employers from a variety of industries who may need law & criminal justice interns. | Attend the Spring Internship & Career Fair to meet directly with employers from a variety of industries who are recruiting new hires. |
| If considering part-time employment, work with the Career Center and consult faculty to learn about opportunities within the job field. | Attend conferences of professional associations. | Attend conferences of professional associations. |
| Consider taking an exploratory micro-internship in your field of interest. Learn more about the Career Centers partnership with Parker Dewey micro-internships. | Select part-time jobs and internships in your field of interest. |
- Utilize resources at the Library and Learning Commons
- Meet regularly with your academic adviser
- Work with tutors at the Writing Center
- Complete the FAFSA and apply for scholarships
Learn more about careers in law & criminal justice: https://whatcanidowiththismajor.com/major/criminal-justice/
- Corrections
- Probation / Parole
- Juvenile justice
- Program development
- Outreach
- Mentoring
- Victim’s assistance
- Counseling
- Casework
- Prevention services
- Advocacy
- Supervision
- Assessment
- Reporting
- Grant writing
- Consulting
- Administration
- Government agencies
- State and federal correction facilities
- County jails
- Precinct station houses
- Youth correction facilities
- Voluntary correction facilities
- Residential treatment facilities
- Halfway houses and pre-release programs
- Domestic violence agencies
Explore more career opportunities in law & criminal justice: https://www.onetonline.org/
Are you ready to say Hello?
Choose a Pathway
Information will vary based on program level. Select a path to find the information you're looking for!