International Criminal Justice Major Resources

International Criminal Justice Major Resources

The International Criminal Justice major introduces students to the nature and cause of crime at the international level and to the mechanisms for its prevention and control. Rather than dealing mostly with conventional crime, the ICJ major focuses more on international crimes such as genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity, including torture and terrorism, and transnational crimes such as trafficking, money laundering that threaten the peace, wellbeing and security of the globalized world.

Here you will find:
● Key information about your major
● How and when to meet with your major advisor
● Planning tools that will help you track your progress in the major
● Ways to explore career opportunities related to the International Criminal Justice major
 
Take a few moments to look at the information below. It will help you plan effectively and void surprises during your studies at John Jay.
 
ICJ Requirements

Major Requirements

You are responsible for the major requirements that were in effect when you declared the major. To confirm the requirements you should be following, go to the Undergraduate Bulletin for that academic year. For example, if you declared the ICJ major in Fall 2020 or Spring 2021, you would click on the 2020-2021 Undergraduate Bulletin. If you declared the major and then left the College for more than one full semester, you’re responsible for the major requirements in effect when you return, if they have changed. Not sure when you declared the major? Find out here.
 
Below, find the Undergraduate Bulletin that was in effect when you declared the major.

ICJ Courses That Meet General Education Requirements

Since the ICJ major is interdisciplinary, it allows you to take courses in a wide range of departments. A number of ICJ major course options also happen to meet general education requirements. We encourage you to be aware of this possible overlap, know that it’s ok for major courses to also meet general education requirements, but make an effort to look at interesting ways to meet requirements that don’t necessarily involve overlapping courses.
 
 
U.S. Experience: POL 101 (ICJ prerequisite)
 
Individual & Society: SOC 101 (ICJ prerequisite)
 
300 level justice: AFR 320, HIS 352, HIS 359, POL 320, EJS 300
 
Communications: SPA 212, SPA 231

 

Major Advising

Major Advising in Fall/Spring

International Criminal Justice major advising is available year-round, including summer and winter terms, and we are happy to meet with you.

 

Ms. Caitlin Garcia (General Education and ICJ Advisor)
Caitlin is an ICJ major advisor offering both remote and in person advising availability for the ICJ major and general education requirements. She will serve as an ICJ major's first stop for advisement, and can answer your questions, clarify which ICJ requirements you need, and confirm your progress with general education requirements. You can email Caitlin (cagarcia@jjay.cuny.edu), remembering to include your EMPL ID, or make a Zoom appointment through our new Navigate scheduling platform. Follow these instructions to find her availability on Navigate:

1. Go to the John Jay website and click on Web Apps.
2. Under the CUNY Services Tab click on Navigate (EAB).
3. Log in with your CUNYfirst username and password.
4. When Navigate opens, click the blue "Schedule an Appointment button" on the right.
5. Choose "Academic Advising" (this may already be selected).
6. Under "Service" choose "Major Advisement-International Criminal Justice."
7. Choose a date for your appointment, then click "Find an Available Time."
8. On the next page you'll see the available days and times.
9. Click on an available time slot for your appointment.
10. Review the appointment details, add a comment or note, and provide a cell phone number (you will receive a text reminder about your appointment).
11. Click "Schedule."

 

Caitlin Garcia advising hours for Fall 2023 (tentative): 

Tuesday 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Wednesday 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Thursday 11:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.

 

The ICJ BA major Director is Professor Verónica Michel. Students are advised to make an appointment with Professor Michel once per semester. Advising will be done remotely in Fall 2023. Professor Michel will also hold occasional group advising sessions. Keep an eye on your John Jay email account for updates. If you would like to talk to Professor Michel, please schedule your appointment here https://calendly.com/vmichel-luviano/icj_advising.

For a different time/day please email her at vmichel@jjay.cuny.edu.

 

Note: Professor Michel will be available in person on Tuesdays from 1:00 p.m.- 2 p.m. for walk-in advising in her office (9.65.11 New Building). No appointment necessary; she will see students during that time on a first come first served basis.

 

Major Advising in Summer/Winter

ICJ majors who need advising during Winter session 2023 can email Professor Verónica Michel (vmichel@jjay.cuny.edu), who will have limited availability.
 

Ms. Caitlin Garcia's availability for ICJ major advising will be limited during Summer session 2023 due to incoming freshmen, transfer students, and readmit students (especially in August), but she will be doing as much major advising as possible. Email her (cagarcia@jjay.cuny.edu) if you would like to set up an appointment.

Registration and Major Holds

Sophomores with 45-59 credits may have a major hold placed on their registration. The hold will be removed when they have an appointment with ICJ program director Professor Verónica Michel (vmichel@jjay.cuny.edu). This discussion will encourage wise planning and allow students to ask any questions they may have about the major. How do you know if you have a major hold? Go to CUNYfirst and complete the following steps:

 

  1. Check the Holds box of your CUNYfirst Student Center. If "Advisement Required" appears, click on “details.”

 

 

  1. Click on “Advisement Required.”

  1. See which type of advisement you need. If you must see a major advisor, then make a major advising appointment following the steps preferred by this department.

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Plan Ahead: Graduate on Time

Avoid Course Planning Mistakes!

The ICJ major has several prerequisites and course sequences, so it is important to be aware of this and plan accordingly.
 
 
  • There are three prerequisite courses to the major: ECO 101, POL 101, SOC 101. Take these prerequisites early, since many major courses require them as a foundation.
  • ICJ 101 is the first course in the major, and is also a prerequisite for several higher level major courses. Freshmen should focus on the major's prerequisites (ECO 101, SOC 101, POL 101) and delay ICJ 101 until the first semester of their sophomore year.
  • ICJ requires STA 250, which has a  MAT 108 or MAT 141 prerequisite. Complete the necessary math foundation early, preferably in your freshman year, and then take STA 250 right away.

  • ICJ has a 200 level language requirement, and many students will need to take the 100 level language foundation courses (101-102 or 111-112). Take your language courses early, in consecutive semesters, and remember that they can count towards general education requirements as well. See the Language Requirement section below for important planning information.
  • Plan carefully for the required course sequences shown in the chart above. For example, POL 101 → POL 259 → ICJ 310 ICJ 401.
  • 300-level courses will often require that you have junior standing (at least 60 credits earned).
     
  • For detailed information about prerequisites for your Part Four Specialized Areas course options, click here!

  • If you are interested in pursuing the optional internship (ICJ 381) in the major, speak with Professor Michel about this early so you can work it into your academic plan​. Both POL 259 and SOC 341 are required prerequisites for this course, along with permission from the ICJ coordinator. See the Internships section of the ICJ major resource page for more information.

  • Remember that you will need at least a 2.0 GPA in the major and at least a 2.0 overall GPA to graduate.

Language Requirement

ICJ majors must complete a 200-level course in a foreign language (usually the course number is 201), and these courses have 100-level prerequisites. Keep the following important information in mind:
 
  • The foreign language 201 courses are typically offered only in the fall semesters.

  • SPA 207, SPA 308 and SPA 335 (and any other courses taught in English) do NOT fulfill the ICJ language requirement.

  • The ICJ language requirement can be waived for students who show the ICJ program director their high school diploma from a non-English speaking country. As an alternative, the ICJ language requirement can be waived if students choose to take a Foreign Language Proficiency exam (such as CLEP or the NYU Foreign Language Proficiency Exam) and submit a passing score to the Office of Academic Credit Evaluation. For more information, please speak with the ICJ major advisor.

  • If you have prior knowledge of a foreign language, you can take a placement exam in the Modern Language Center to place out of prerequisites and possibly the 200 level requirement. You can drop by 7.64 New Building on M-F to take a placement test; no advance appointment is necessary. Note that placement tests at John Jay are only available in Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese and Spanish. If you have background in a language that is not on this list, ask the Modern Language Center about the NYU proficiency exam, which will determine your language proficiency and may allow you to earn credits towards your John Jay degree (be sure to find out what this NYU option would cost).

Study Abroad

The John Jay College Office of International Studies and Programs and many other CUNY Study Abroad Offices offer our students a wide range of short-term, semester, and year-long programs that lead to significant cultural and academic experiences.
 
The ICJ BA program honors study abroad course credits. To use study abroad credits towards the ICJ major, students must get approval from the ICJ BA program director Professor Verónica Michel (vmichel@jjay.cuny.edu) before registering for the study abroad course. No approval will be given retroactively for study abroad courses that you’ve already taken.

Monitor Your Progress in the Major (Major Checklist, Sample 4 yr Plan)

  • DegreeWorks degree audit - Use this online planning tool to track your overall progress toward graduation. You will see which of your general education and major requirements are completed, in progress, or still needed.  Refer to the DegreeWorks FAQs to better understand how to use this helpful tool. Note: be sure to confirm the accuracy of your degree audit with a general advisor and major advisor.

     
  • ICJ Major Checklist - Fill out this printable worksheet to keep track of which major requirements you have completed and which ones you still need.​ For detailed information about prerequisites for your Part Four Specialized Areas course options, click here!

     
  • Sample Four Year Plan - See an example of how you could complete all your degree requirements (major, general education, electives) and graduate in four years! Remember that this sample plan shows just one possible way to combine your requirements. Transfer students in particular should work with advisors to determine a plan that works best for them.

Meet with a General Academic Advisor

A General Academic Advisor will confirm what general academic requirements you still need, make suggestions about smart course planning that will help you graduate without delays, discuss your interest in adding a minor or second major, inform you about opportunities such as study abroad, discuss general questions and concerns, and make helpful referrals. Visit the Academic Advisement Center's webpage for more information.

 

 ICJ and Careers

Internships

ICJ majors are not required to pursue an internship, but we strongly recommend it. Internships provide valuable perspective as well as practical work experience, helping you shape career goals and showing potential employers a willingness to take initiative.
 
If you are interested in finding out about ICJ internships, the first step is to talk with Professor Verónica Michel (vmichel@jjay.cuny.edu). She can answer your preliminary questions and give you general information about ICJ 381, the 3-credit course connected with any ICJ internship. This course runs in both the fall and spring terms. Please note that POL 259 and SOC 341 are prerequisites for this course.
 
The second step is to find an internship. Be aware that you will need to find an internship before registering for the course.  For help in your internship search, you can consult with Professor Verónica Michel (vmichel@jjay.cuny.edu). She can offer helpful guidance and provide a list of agencies where students have been placed for an ICJ internship. The Center for Career and Professional Development is also available to answer your questions about any procedures necessary to set up your internship and register for ICJ 381.

Graduate School Guidance

ICJ provides a strong foundation for graduate work in many fields, including Criminal Justice, Criminology, Public Management/Administration, International Criminal Justice, Comparative Criminology/Criminal Justice, International Affairs, International Business Management, International Human Rights, International Law, International Relations, International Politics, and Gender Studies.
 
If you are interested in pursuing graduate work, please consult with the ICJ program director, Professor Verónica Michel (vmichel@jjay.cuny.edu) for guidance.
 

 

ICJ Dual Admission Accelerated Program (DAAP)

 

The ICJ dual admission / accelerated program leads to the Bachelor's degree in International Criminal Justice and the Master's degree in International Crime and Justice.  The program allows exceptional students to complete both degrees in a five year time period.

 

The BA in International Criminal Justice introduces students to the nature and cause of crime at the international level and to the mechanisms for its prevention and control. Components of the criminal justice system as they apply to transnational and international crime are studied, as well as the impact of international law and human rights in addressing crimes against humanity. The BA is intended to equip students with the knowledge and skills needed for careers in which the globalization of crime plays an important role. 

 

The MA in International Crime and Justice combines advanced substantive knowledge of international crime challenges and domestic and international responses, with analytic and research techniques in an interdisciplinary framework. It aims to produce graduates with a truly global outlook on criminal justice, a moral commitment to international justice, and professional competence in the increasingly multicultural workforce.

 

The DAAP program offers advanced students in the ICJ major the opportunity to:

Understand global crime (root causes, facilitators, risk factors)
Respond to global crime (criminal justice responses)
Gain research skills and interdisciplinary knowledge
Improve career opportunities
Improve networking and social opportunities

 

 

DAAP Admission and Application Requirements

DAAP FAQs    

DAAP Five Year Plan  

 

Career Guidance

For guidance concerning internships, jobs, and careers, visit John Jay’s Center for Career and Professional Development. CCPD staff are available to meet individually with students and alumni in L72.00 New Building. To request a 45-minute counseling appointment, log on to John Jay Careers Online. 15-minute drop-in sessions are available all day Mon-Fri. (Stop by in person earlier the same day to schedule a drop-in session.)
 
Other helpful resources:
  • We encourage students to participate in the job fairs that are held at the college every semester. See the Center for Career and Professional Development for job fair information.
 
  • The CUNY Edge Program helps students navigate successfully through college and obtain employment.

Career Opportunities Related to the Major

The ICJ major prepares students for jobs in Federal, State, or Local Government; Security & Investigations; Law Enforcement; and International Agencies. Research the agencies below as you consider your professional path. Please note that jobs in these organizations are competitive. They emphasize required skills and competencies including GPA, employment/internship experience, language proficiency, computer and personal skills. Our ICJ graduates have obtained jobs in these agencies over the years.  A Master’s degree with our ICJ is highly recommended for anyone seeking jobs in these agencies/organizations:
 
Amnesty International/International Secretariat
Human Rights Watch and other human rights organizations
Women’s organizations dealing with human trafficking
United Nations (translation/interpretation, security, research assistance, drug control program)
 
The lists below show a range of careers that ICJ majors can pursue. Research the ones that interest you to learn about the field and any particular qualifications required:
 
Federal, State, or Local Government
U.S State Department-Administrative Officer
Diplomat
Foreign Service Officer
Management Analyst or Trainee
Project Director
Homeland Security - entry level employee
Coast Guard employee
Fire and emergency services
Research Assistant/Analyst
 
Security & Investigations
International Criminal Investigator
Security Specialist
Private Security Guard
International Banking Security Clerk
 
Law Enforcement
Air Marshal
Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Agent
Counter Narcotics Policy Oversight Officer
Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) Agent
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
Intelligence Officer
Police Officer
Secret Service Agent
Special Agent
State Trooper
U.S. Marshal
Border Patrol agent
 
Federal Courts and Corrections
Court Clerk
Court Officer
Court Security Specialist
 
Psychology & Social Services
Advocacy Associate
Case Planner
Criminologist
Domestic Violence Against Immigrant Women Counselor
Family Support Worker
Juvenile Counselor
Mediation Counselor
Victim Assistance Counselor
Youth Services Coordinator.