Criminal Justice Learning Community

Students who join the CJLC are provided with high impact, project-based learning opportunities throughout their time at BGSU. The CJLC curriculum is designed to prepare members not only while they are on-campus, but also outside BGSU. For example, only members will have the option to engage in an internship experience between their sophomore and junior year. CJLC members receive priority registration for all community service activities, tours, trips, and conferences.

After you have submitted your request to join a community, you will receive an email from the community director approving your request. If you have any questions about your application or the community, please contact Catherine Pape.

FIRST-YEAR MEMBERS | FALL

During Fall Semester, first-year students in the community will be enrolled in a section of Introduction to Criminal Justice together. This course focuses on philosophical, historical, operational aspects of criminal justice agencies and processes in a framework of social control in a democracy. Crime and corrections problems and response of criminal justice agencies to them. 

FIRST-YEAR MEMBERS | SPRING

Typically taught by Judge Matthew Reger, Wood County Court of Common Pleas, Criminal Courts focuses on the structure, jurisdiction, and procedures including the nature of criminal law. The interaction of other criminal justice agencies including police, prosecutor, and probation with the courts is discussed. This course provides students an opportunity for field experiences in the way of court observations.

SECOND-YEAR MEMBERS | FALL

During Fall Semester, second-year students in the community will be enrolled in a section of Interviewing and Observation together. This course focuses on the development of interviewing and observational skills used in working with diverse populations in human service fields. Examine interviewing from various perspectives for different purposes: clinical, forensic, organizational, and social.

SECOND-YEAR MEMBERS | SPRING

Spring semester, second-year students will be enrolled in a course focusing on careers and leadership within Criminal Justice. As part of this course students will have the opportunity for career shadow days. Successful completion of the year two sequence serves as eligibiltly for an early internship experience throughout the summer between years two and three.

THIRD-YEAR MEMBERS | FALL

During Fall Semester, third-year students in the community will be enrolled in a section of Research Methods for the Human Services together. Survey of research methods including research design, measurement and sampling, survey, experimental and field methods and data collection and analysis. Emphasis on interpreting and critically evaluating research for human services.

THIRD-YEAR MEMBERS | SPRING

Course description forthcoming

FOURTH-YEAR MEMBERS | FALL

This course aims to explore crime, efforts to control crime, and the influence of these efforts on crime and society. A focus on criminological theory and the development, research, and testing of theory is a common theme throughout the course.

FOURTH-YEAR MEMBERS | SPRING

Fourth-year students in the community will be enrolled in the Senior Seminar together. Consideration and evaluation of selected policies and practices in criminal justice field. Attempt to integrate criminal justice field and to focus on common problems and concerns. Problems of theoretical and practical nonconvergence. Individual research interests explored, formalized, reported.