Foundation courses give the student an overview of key areas in criminal justice studies. A possible foundation course may be "Introduction to Criminal Justice," which outlines how criminal justice is applied in a modern, democratic society. Another possible course could be titled an "Introduction to Criminology," which introduces students to various types of criminal behavior and the methods used in studying and punishing them.
Courses in this area of focus include those that explain the structure of institutions involved in criminal justice. Such institutions as courts, prisons and law enforcement are analyzed in this set of courses. Some course titles may include "Criminal Courts," "The Death Penalty" and "Law Enforcement Administration." Students may learn about the history of such institutions and the contemporary issues surrounding them.
Courses in this area concentrate specifically on the legal and ethical elements of criminal justice. Students may investigate the relationship between law and justice, or study various theories of justice that have been proposed in the history of Western philosophy. Some examples of course titles are "Surveillance, Technology and the Law," "Politics, Law and Justice" and "Criminal Law." Often such courses may be offered in conjunction with the school's philosophy department.
Many schools require that forensics and psychology courses be taken to earn a degree in criminal justice. In such courses students may be required to conduct lab experiments and perform psychological profiles. Some course titles include "Criminal Investigation," "Forensic DNA Analysis" and "Forensic Psychology." Often in conjunction with these courses, students may have to fulfill biology or chemistry requirements.