Secure your future.

Prepare yourself for a career in the competitive - and important - field of safety and security through Nichols unique Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration (BSBA) specialization. Available 100% online, your courses build on the strength of Nichols business core curriculum and help you to understand current criminal justice issues, including:

  • terrorism
  • disaster recovery management
  • white-collar and high-tech crimes and investigation
Requirements

Criminal Justice Management majors complete 120 credit hours (approximately 40 courses), including courses from Nichols base business curriculum and these required specialization courses:

CJM 209
 
Crime, Justice and Society
3 Hours, 1 Semester
 

This course will introduce the student to the field of criminal justice and security by presenting an overview of federal and state enforcement agencies. This course will discuss the role of the State in protecting business enterprises and furnish the student with a broad understanding of the developing relationships between a business enterprise and its security function.

CJM 210
 
Criminal Law and Procedure
3 Hours, 1 Semester
 

This course will provide an in-depth examination of the crimes and actions most encountered by the private industry and the public law enforcement officer. We will also examine recent court decisions. Students will become acquainted with concepts of search and seizure, individual restraint, and limitations of personal freedom and expression.

CJM 302
 
Security Investigations
3 Hours, 1 Semester
 

This course will cover investigative methodologies, financial and quantitative data analysis, investigative plans, multi-disciplinary teams, and best practices.  Students will also examine legal and ethical duties and issues, use case study analysis to emphasize background verifications, employee misconduct, employee and external fraud, and joint investigations with law enforcement. Overall, students will understand how properly conducted investigations may be used as a risk management tool.
Prerequisite: MIS 109, CJM 209

CJM 333
 
Physical Security
3 Hours, 1 Semester
 

Physical security includes an assembly (combination) of security-related equipment, devices and technologies, designated and arranged to signal (alert) personnel to negative (loss causing) event or circumstances.  Topics to be covered in this course include controlling and monitoring the access of persons and vehicles, prevention and detection of unauthorized intrusions and surveillance, safeguarding negotiable documents, proprietary information, merchandise, and buildings.  Students will learn that critical to effective physical security is identifying and assessing the security (asset protection) requirements related to (anticipated) risks and threats to a given facility’s perimeter, interior, and contents.
Prerequisite: CJM 302

CJM 347
 
Emergency Planning and Disaster Management
3 Hours, 1 Semester
 

This course will cover topics such as risk identification and assessment of multi-hazards whether natural and man-made, violence in the workplace, development of crisis and disaster incident management programs, and business/agency continuation planning.  Students will understand that natural and man-made hazards represent a threat to the financial welfare of a corporation/agency and the safety of its employees and visitors.
Prerequisite: CJM 209

CJM 447
 
Information Security
3 Hours, 1 Semester
 

This course will examine legal, ethical and privacy issues (national and international context) along with practical applications related to the development of effective information security measures intended to mitigate current and emerging threats and vulnerabilities. This course will also discuss the area of crime through the use of a computer and the ethical use of computer related technologies. The importance of this area of study is driven by the growing worldwide demand and reliance on nanno second communication and dissemination of information/data through combinations of electronic satellite technologies.
Prerequisite: CJM 347

CJM 480
 
Advanced Issues in CJM
3 Hours, 1 Semester
 

This capstone course will examine state-of-the-art (best practice) methodologies, strategies and approaches relevant to the acquisition of skills, competencies and conceptual (big picture) expertise necessary for successful and effective security management. This course will emphasize qualitative and quantitative (analytical) approaches relevant to the accurate forecasting, identification and assessment of security-related issues, and concerns in multi-national environments using problem-based learning as the primary instructional strategy.
Prerequisite: CJM 347

Focused Choices

  • Advanced Writing - 3 credit hours: ENGL 321
  • Environmental Science - 4 credit hours: ESCI 243 (4 credit hours)
  • Human Behavior - 6 credit hours: 2 courses to be selected from Psychology or Sociology
  • Humanities - 6 credit hours: 2 courses to be selected from Art, Literature, Philosophy or Religion
  • Social Science - 3 credit hours: 1 course to be selected from Economics, History or Political Science

Foundation Courses

ECON 221
 
Principles of Microeconomics
3 Hours, 1 Semester
 

An introductory course in microeconomics focusing on individuals as consumers, producers, and resource owners operating in a market system. The supply and demand model is used to analyze how prices and output are determined in both the product and factor markets. Decision making in the firm is studied under different market structures.

ENGL 105
 
Expository Writing
3 Hours, 1 Semester
 

This introductory writing course is designed to build writing skills and to increase students' enjoyment of writing through extensive practice. The course focuses on teaching students to discover and develop idea they wish to communicate, and then on the numerous technical skills which are necessary to make communication effective and engaging. Students will develop their voice, their style, and their mechanics through multiple writing projects and trough a focus on revision. Readings will illustrate the styles and organizational patterns of effective student and professional writers.

ENGL 252
 
Effective Speaking
3 Hours, 1 Semester
 

This course will establish the fundamental principles of effective speaking, which will be practiced in informative and persuasive speeches. Students are responsible for written critiques of one another's speeches.

HIST 107
 
World Civilizations I or HIST 108 World Civilizations II
3 Hours, 1 Semester
 

HIST 107 World Civilizations I - This course considers the evolution of civilization from pre-historic beginnings to the 15th century through generalized development stages including the rise of agriculture, the evolution of major civilizations, and the establishment of commercial and cultural ties.

HIST 108 World Civilizations II - This course focuses on the five centuries after 1450 as technology, and military and political organizations resulted in the creation of international trade systems, power alliances, leading to the decline in western imperialism and reemergence of major Asiatic civilizations.

MATH 117
 
College Mathematics I
3 Hours, 1 Semester
 

Designed for students with 3 years of high school mathematics, which includes 2 years of high school algebra or its equivalent. Topics include real numbers, the number system, linear equations, inequalities, exponents, radicals, factoring, functions, slope, equations of straight lines, graphing, linear models, break-even analysis, market equilibrium, quadratics, applications of quadratic functions, graphing polynomials, and applications of functions to practical, ‘real life' situations.

Prerequisite: MATH 090, its equivalent, or three years of high school mathematics.

MGMT 100
 
Business and Society
3 Hours, 1 Semester
 

This course provides an introductory understanding of business. Offered to all freshmen and transfer students, regardless of intended concentration, the course defines business, explores the role of business in and its relationship to society, presents an overview of business management theories and practices and previews the disciplinary functions of business, including accounting, finance, information systems, marketing and human resources.

MIS 109
 
Micro Computer Applications
1 credit hour
 

A hands-on course designed to introduce the student to microcomputer application software, with an emphasis on Microsoft Office. As well, students will learn about the Nichols Network, and the security and ethical implications of being connected to both the Nichols Network and the global internet.

SEM 444
 
Professional Development Seminar
3 Hours, 1 Semester
 

This course is designed to enhance the student's professional and communication skills in order to develop and maintain a positive environment at work while preparing for future advancement opportunities. The course will cover career planning, communication, decision making, negotiation, ethics, leadership and public speaking.

Business Core

ACCT 238
 
Financial Accounting
3 Hours, 1 Semester
 

A basic course focusing on the accounting systems, preparation of financial statements, selected balance sheet items and financial statement analysis, as applied in various business organizations. This course will assist the organization manager with decision making.

ACCT 239
 
Financial Accounting Lab
1 Credit Hour, 1 Semester
 

Financial Accounting Lab will help students apply fundamental accounting concepts and principles to realistic business events through the use of a commercially available accounting software product. It provides a computerized environment in which students learn to analyze, interpret, and investigate accounting information to make business decisions.

ACCT 240
 
Managerial Accounting
3 Hours, 1 Semester
 

Examines the uses of accounting data for planning and control in organizations. Topics include cost classification, profit planning, activity based costing, flexible budgets, marginal and break-even analysis. Computer usage is integrated. Not open to accounting majors. Prerequisite: ACCT 238

ECON 222
 
Principles of Macroeconomics
3 Hours, 1 Semester
 

An introduction to the macroeconomic concepts of employment, income, and output, with an emphasis on their measurement and determination. The impact of policy decisions on the business cycle is investigated.

FIN 203
 
Principles of Finance
3 Hours, 1 Semester
 

General principles of business finance focusing on markets, analysis, interest rates, the time value of money, the valuation of securities and capital allocation within the system. A brief exposure to mergers and international finance is included Prerequisite: ACCT 238, MATH 117

MKTG 202
 
Principles of Marketing
3 Hours, 1 Semester
 

A comprehensive introduction to the various facets of marketing in current business applications. Topics include product development, pricing, distribution channels, and promotion; as well as the environments in which marketers work in the USA and in other markets. Prerequisite: MGMT 100

MATH 215
 
Statistics I
3 Hours, 1 Semester
 

A first course in probability and statistics covering descriptive statistics, statistical graphs, probability, probability distributions, sampling, and hypothesis testing. Elements of regression and correlation are potential topics. Statistical tables and the Excel software package will be used throughout the course. Prerequisite: MATH 117 or MATH 121 or MATH 190.

MGMT 226
 
Management and Organizational Behavior
3 Hours, 1 Semester
 

This course will introduce the study of management theory and practice. The managerial process, organizational dynamics and behavior, as well as other selected topics including entrepreneurship and careers in management will be presented. Prerequisite: MGMT 100

LSB 227
 
Business Law I
3 Hours, 1 Semester
 

Business Law I is a broad introduction to the American legal system concentrating on issues related to commerce. The course begins with an overview of the judicial system and a look at the difference between dispute resolution through litigation (court) and alternate methods such as mediation and arbitration. That's followed by an exposure to the fundamental law of the land, the U.S. Constitution. After a brief look at criminal law the course focuses on the areas of civil law that are most significant to business. These include contracts, torts (non criminal wrongs), warrantees and product liability, employment law and intellectual property (patents and copyrights). The course finishes with an in depth study of the most important piece of business legislation passed in the last 50 years, the Sarbanes-Oxley act of 2002. Prerequisite: MGMT 100

MGMT 365
 
Operations Management
3 Hours, 1 Semester
 

This course provides a set of Operations Management concepts and tools for your use in managing your organization and in gaining competitive advantage. The course is structured to provide you with practical and relevant applications of these tools. It recognizes the key role of processes in business and explores the elements which impact these business processes. It is equally suited for either the manufacturing sector or the service sector. Key elements include operations strategy, process design and improvement and process layout, capacity management, technology, the role of quality and quality systems, and the management of the supply chain, including inventory, forecasting and scheduling. Prerequisite: MGMT 226 and ECON 221

MIS 309
 
Management Information Systems
3 Hours, 1 Semester
 

This course introduces students to the world of Management Information Systems from a manager's perspective. Hardware, software and network technologies that support a firm's operations will be studied. Real world cases and contemporary issues brought about by computers will be discussed. Prerequisites: MGMT 226

PSCI 315
 
Government and Business Regulations
3 Hours, 1 Semester
 

This course focuses on the interplay between business activities and their relationships with society and governmental institutions. Prerequisites: ECON 221 or ECON 222, MGMT 226 or MKTG 202

MGMT 485
 
Strategic Management
3 Hours, 1 Semester
 

An interdisciplinary capstone course for business administration majors that is designed to integrate divergent but relevant business issues, interrelationships and corporate and managerial agendas. Various stakeholders are identified and studied. Requires case analysis and an end-of-semester project dealing with a major strategic analysis and presentation of a Fortune 500 corporation. Prerequisite: MGMT 365