This program was approved for students entering the university in the Summer 2025-Spring 2026 catalog year. For more information about catalog year, go to Catalog Year Information.
Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice
Unit: College of Arts and Sciences (AS)
Department: Criminal Justice
Academic Plan Code(s): JA_ _BS, JA_ _BS_O
Program Information
This program can be completed 100% online.
The Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice program is designed to prepare students for a career in the criminal justice system or for further education through a graduate program. Completion of this degree requires work to be submitted for the department’s Learning Outcomes Measurement. For details, contact the department.
Degree Summary
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Requirements 1 | 31 | |
| College/School Requirements | 13-15 | |
| Program/Major Requirements 1 | 54 | |
| Supporting Courses | 21-23 | |
| Minimum Total Hours | 121 | |
- 1
Some credit hours from the General Education Requirements may be satisfied by courses defined by the program, in which case additional electives will be required to complete the minimum hours for the degree. See the Degree Requirements tab for specific coursework.
Specific coursework information can be found on the Degree Requirements tab.
Soaring Scholars Program-Accelerated BS/MS in Criminal Justice
Criminal Justice majors who are considering pursuing a master's degree (MS) in Criminal Justice can speed up the process through the Soaring Scholars program. Students accepted into the Soaring Scholars program (Accelerated BS/MS program) can take four graduate courses (12 credit hours) as an undergraduate that would apply toward both the bachelor’s degree and the master’s degree. An additional benefit of the Soaring Scholars program is that those 12 credit hours would be charged at the undergraduate tuition rate.
Interested students should apply to the Soaring Scholar's program during their Junior year (i.e., when they have accumulated 60-75 hours of credit). Applicants must have at least a 3.0 GPA at the time of application. This program is available to both on campus and online students.
Undergraduate students interested in participating in an accelerated dual bachelor’s/master’s degree offered through the university’s Soaring Scholar Program must first meet with their Academic Advisor to determine eligibility and apply to the program. Once accepted, students will receive an official admission letter outlining program policies and details. They will then work with their department and academic advisor to register for classes each semester, ensuring they meet the milestones and academic progress requirements of the Soaring Scholar Program. A Soaring Scholar student is considered an undergraduate student until their bachelor’s degree is conferred. In their final undergraduate semester, they are expected to apply for admission to their respective master's program.
Departmental Admission Requirements
There are no specific admission requirements for this degree plan.
The Change Major Request form can be found under the Academic Progress tile on ULink.
Soaring Scholars Program-Accelerated BS-MS in Criminal Justice
Students apply during the first or second semester of their Junior year (usually when they have earned between 60-75 hours) and must have a 3.0 GPA at the time of application.
Students interested in applying to the BS/MS Criminal Justice Soaring Scholars program should follow the application process outlined in the Soaring Scholars Application Checklist; minimum requirements for the BS/MS in Criminal Justice Soaring Scholars program are also listed there.
Admission to a Soaring Scholar program does not guarantee admission into the associated master’s degree program. Soaring Scholar students must apply to the associated graduate program in their last semester, before graduating with the bachelor’s degree, to be considered for the Accelerated Master’s graduate program. They must meet all the requirements for admission to the graduate program at the time of application to be admitted. Learn more about the graduate admissions process and admission requirements for the Criminal Justice Master’s program (insert unique URL for each program).
General Education Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Requirements * | 31 | |
| The following courses are required by the program and can satisfy the respective General Education Requirement: | ||
CJ 200 | Introduction to Criminal Justice - SB (or CJ 201 or CJ 202) | |
CJ 326 | Quantitative Analysis in Criminal Justice - QR | |
*All degrees require the completion of the University-wide General Education Program (link provided above). Some General Education requirements may be met in the requirements for the major or supporting coursework, in which case additional electives may be required to complete the minimum hours for the degree.
College/School Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Arts & Sciences Requirements | ||
| GEN 100 | Student Success Center First Year Experience | 1 |
| or GEN 101 | Arts & Sciences First Year Experience | |
| Foreign Language 1 | 6-8 | |
| Electives in Humanities or Natural Sciences at 300 level or above 2 | 6 | |
| WR—two approved courses at the 300 level or above 3 | ||
| Minimum Total Hours | 13-15 | |
Program/Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Criminal Justice - Required Core Courses | ||
| CJ 200 | Introduction to Criminal Justice - SB 4 | 3 |
| CJ 201 | Introduction to Law Enforcement - SB 4 | 3 |
| CJ 202 | Introduction to Corrections - SB 4 | 3 |
| CJ 305 | Theories of Crime and Behavior | 3 |
| CJ 306 | Criminal Procedure | 3 |
| CJ 325 | Criminal Justice Research Methods | 3 |
| CJ 326 | Quantitative Analysis in Criminal Justice - QR 4 | 3 |
| CJ 360 | Juvenile Justice | 3 |
| CJ 395 | Criminal Law and Evidence | 3 |
| CJ 485 | Criminal Justice Senior Seminar - CUE, WR 5 | 3 |
| Minimum Total Hours | 30 | |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Supporting Courses | ||
| Criminal Justice Electives (see approved list below) 6 | 24 | |
| Minimum Free Electives 7 | 21-23 | |
| Minimum Total Hours for Graduation | 121 | |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Culminating Undergraduate Experience (Graduation requirement) | ||
| Requirement fulfilled by completing: | ||
CJ 485 | Criminal Justice Senior Seminar - CUE, WR 5 | |
Students must have a minimum of 50 hours at the 300 level or above.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Approved Criminal Justice Electives | ||
| A minimum 15 hours must be in Criminal Justice | ||
CJ 299 | Criminal Justice Occupational Courses and Learning | |
CJ 300 | Career Development and Cultural Intelligence - P1, SB | |
CJ 301 | Introduction to Digital Forensics and Media Analysis | |
CJ 304 | Criminal Justice Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) | |
CJ 335 | Court Administration | |
CJ 352 | Sex Crimes | |
CJ 354 | Crime and the Media | |
CJ 355 | Forensic Science and Investigative Techniques | |
CJ 356 | Harm Reduction and Public Safety | |
CJ 358 | Private Security Management | |
CJ 365 | Community Corrections | |
CJ 366 | Introduction to Cyber Investigations | |
CJ 370 | Law Enforcement Administration | |
CJ 375 | Social and Restorative Justice | |
CJ 390 | Criminal Court Procedures | |
CJ 400 | Legal Issues in Corrections | |
CJ 403 | Institutional Corrections | |
CJ 405 | Crimes Against Older Adults | |
CJ 406 | Crime Victims and Victimization | |
CJ 415 | Drugs and Crime | |
CJ 420 | Computer Applications in Criminal Justice | |
CJ 421 | Organized Crime | |
CJ 425 | Behavioral Analysis of Violent Crime | |
CJ 426 | Violence in the United States | |
CJ 430 | Environmental Crime | |
CJ 435 | Comparative Criminal Justice - WR | |
CJ 440 | Human Trafficking | |
CJ 445 | Computer and Electronic Crime | |
CJ 450 | Internship | |
CJ 460 | Correctional Rehabilitation | |
CJ 471 | Police Administration | |
CJ 473 | Law and Police Administration | |
CJ 477 | Police Organizational Behavior | |
CJ 493 | Police and the Community | |
CJ 495 | Directed Studies | |
CJ 496 | Special Topics in Criminal Justice | |
CJ 499 | Criminal Justice Honors Thesis - WR | |
CJ 500 | Crime and Criminal Justice in Film | |
CJ 505 | International Terrorism | |
CJ 509 | Crime Analysis | |
CJ 510 | Managing Conflict, Change, and Justice | |
CJ 516 | Seminar in Juvenile Justice Issues | |
CJ 517 | Gangs in the United States | |
CJ 519 | Domestic and Family Violence | |
CJ 520 | Capital Punishment - WR | |
CJ 521 | Corporate and Financial Crime - WR | |
CJ 522 | Serial and Mass Murder | |
CJ 523 | Race and Gender in Criminal Justice - WR | |
CJ 530 | Introduction to Homeland Security | |
CJ 576 | Managing Organizational Performance | |
CJ 577 | Trauma Informed Policing | |
CJ 578 | Criminal Justice Leadership - WR | |
CJ 580 | International Service Learning: Criminal Justice Seminar | |
CJ 596 | Seminar in Criminal Justice | |
CJ 597 | Ethics in Criminal Justice - WR | |
| Approved Program Related Electives | ||
| Students may supplement the required 15 hours of CJ electives with 9 additional hours from the CJ list above or from the list below. | ||
ANTH 309 | Sex, Gender and Culture | |
ANTH 310 | Race, Culture, Identity | |
ANTH 327 | The Human Skeleton | |
ANTH 337 | Nationalism, Violence, and the State | |
ANTH 410 | Skeletal Forensics | |
BSW 301 | Human Behavior and the Social Environment I | |
BSW 302 | Social Welfare Policy I | |
BSW 307 | Diversity, Oppression and Social Justice Practice | |
COMM 304 | Argument In Everyday Life | |
COMM 311 | Persuasion | |
COMM 312 | Group Process | |
COMM 313 | Organizational Communication | |
COMM 315 | Introduction to Interpersonal Communication | |
COMM 320 | Newswriting - WR | |
COMM 324 | Communication and Gender | |
COMM 327 | The Influence of Media | |
COMM 328 | Introduction to Urban Communication | |
COMM 350 | Introduction to Intercultural Communication - P2, SB | |
COMM 411 | Mass Communication Law | |
COMM 432 | Advanced Organizational Communication - WR | |
GEOG 327 | Economic Geography | |
GEOG 328 | Urban Geography | |
GEOG 331 | Population Geography | |
GEOG 350 | Introduction to Mapping and Geospatial Technologies | |
GEOG 356 | Introduction to Spatial Statistics | |
GEOG 361 | Sustainable Human Environments - WR | |
GEOG 367 | Applications Development for GIS | |
Honors Approved Social Science Seminars | ||
PAS 305 | Legal Lynchings: A Survey of Race, Law, and the American Justice System | |
PAS 313 | Urban Ritual Violence | |
PAS 322 | The History of the Civil Rights Movement, 1900 to Present | |
PAS 324 | Politics, Political Violence and Black Resistance | |
PAS 325 | Politics of Black Male Identity in Post-Modern America | |
PAS 326 | Black Political Thought: Africa to Afrocentricity | |
PAS 327 | Politics of the Black Community - P1, SB | |
PAS 338 | Race and Economics | |
PAS 362 | Civil Rights and the Law I | |
PAS 363 | Civil Rights and the Law II | |
PAS 364 | Racism and Sexism - P1, SB | |
PAS 374 | The Black Power Movement | |
PEAC 325 | Peace, Justice & Conflict Transformation | |
PEAC 350 | Mediation & Conflict Transformation | |
PEAC 525 | Peace, Justice & Conflict Transformation | |
PEAC 545 | Basic Mediation & Conflict Transformation | |
PEAC 550 | Service Learning in Peacebuilding | |
POLS 302 | Urban Political Economy | |
POLS 304 | Comparative Urban Politics | |
POLS 305 | Urban Politics | |
POLS 306 | State Government | |
POLS 312 | Constitutional Law | |
POLS 313 | Constitutional Law | |
POLS 314 | Judicial Politics | |
POLS 315 | Race, Law and Politics - P1, SB | |
POLS 316 | Gender, Sexuality & Law | |
POLS 320 | Civil Rights and the Law II | |
POLS 325 | Public Administration | |
POLS 326 | Public Policy - SB | |
POLS 327 | Black Politics & Democracy - P1, SB | |
POLS 332 | International Law - WR | |
POLS 333 | American Foreign Policy | |
POLS 444 | Law, Diplomacy and Power: The Foreign Relations of the U.S. | |
POLS 338 | National and International Security: Issues and Policies | |
POLS 339 | Terrorism | |
PSYC 305 | Brain and Behavior | |
PSYC 306 | Life Span Developmental Psychology | |
PSYC 308 | Foundations of Psychopathology | |
PSYC 310 | Psychology of Diversity | |
PSYC 312 | Social Psychology | |
PSYC 315 | Personality | |
PSYC 342 | Drugs and Behavior | |
PSYC 318 | Forensic Psychology | |
SCHG 302 | Topics in Social Change: Social Sciences | |
SCHG 303 | Topics in Social Change: Social Sciences - WR | |
SCHG 305 | Hip-Hop and Social Movements - WR | |
SCHG 323 | Modern American Social Movements | |
SCHG 333 | Globalizing Inequalities - WR | |
SCHG 375 | Social and Restorative Justice | |
SCHG 399 | Lectures in Social Change | |
SCHG 401 | Social Change Community Internship | |
SCHG 453 | Social Change | |
SCHG 502 | Advanced Topics in Social Change: Social Sciences | |
SCHG 503 | Advanced Topics in Social Change: Social Sciences - WR | |
SCHG 510 | Managing Conflict, Change, and Justice | |
SCHG 513 | U.S. Social Justice Movements of the 20th Century | |
SCHG 538 | Critical Social Theory | |
SOC 305 | Urban Sociology | |
SOC 320 | Social Theory - WR | |
SOC 323 | Diversity and Inequality | |
SOC 329 | Sociology of Families | |
SOC 334 | Sociology of Deviant Behavior | |
SOC 337 | Motherhood and the Law | |
SOC 339 | Black Women and the Criminology System | |
SOC 340 | Mental Health and Illness | |
SOC 416 | Sexual Assault and the Legal System | |
SOC 418 | Domestic Violence | |
WGST 300 | Sex, Gender and Culture | |
WGST 301 | Introduction to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Studies | |
WGST 316 | Gender, Sexuality & Law | |
WGST 337 | Motherhood and the Law | |
WGST 347 | Racism and Sexism - P1, SB | |
WGST 416 | Sexual Assault and the Legal System | |
WGST 418 | Domestic Violence | |
WGST 513 | U.S. Social Justice Movements of the 20th Century | |
- 1
Completion of the second semester of a single foreign language; hours will vary depending on language taken
- 2
In addition to courses counted toward General Education
- 3
May be incorporated into other degree requirements
- 4
Fulfills General Education requirement.
- 5
Fulfills 3 hours of the 6 hour 300+ WR requirement.
- 6
Criminal Justice electives must be from approved departmental list at the 300 level or above. A minimum of 15 hours must be in Criminal Justice, but may not exceed 30 hours
- 7
Students who satisfy General Education Requirements by courses defined by the program will require additional electives to complete the minimum hours for the degree.
Flight Plan
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | |
| GEN 100 or GEN 101 | Student Success Center First Year Experience or Arts & Sciences First Year Experience | 1 |
| ENGL 101 | Introduction to College Writing - WC | 3 |
| CJ 200 | Introduction to Criminal Justice - SB | 3 |
| General Education: Cardinal Core Natural Sciences - S | 3 | |
| Foreign Language (students who take 3 credits will require additional elective credits) | 3-4 | |
| General Education: Cardinal Core U.S. Perspectives - P1 | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| CJ 201 | Introduction to Law Enforcement - SB | 3 |
| ENGL 102 | Intermediate College Writing - WC | 3 |
| General Education: Cardinal Core Arts & Humanities - AH | 3 | |
| General Education: Cardinal Core Natural Sciences with Lab - S & SL or B | 4 | |
| Foreign Language (students who take 3 credits will require additional elective credits) | 3-4 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| CJ 202 | Introduction to Corrections - SB | 3 |
| CJ 305 | Theories of Crime and Behavior | 3 |
| General Education: Cardinal Core Arts & Humanities - AH | 3 | |
| General Education: Cardinal Core Social & Behavioral Sciences Historical Perspective - SBH | 3 | |
| General Education: Cardinal Core Oral Communication - OC | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| CJ 306 | Criminal Procedure | 3 |
| CJ 325 | Criminal Justice Research Methods | 3 |
| General Education: Cardinal Core Global Perspectives - P2 | 3 | |
| General Free Elective | 3 | |
| 300+ Humanities or Natural Science Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Fall | ||
| CJ 326 | Quantitative Analysis in Criminal Justice - QR | 3 |
| CJ 360 | Juvenile Justice | 3 |
| Criminal Justice Elective | 3 | |
| 300+ Humanities or Natural Science Elective | 3 | |
| 300+ WR Course | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| CJ 395 | Criminal Law and Evidence | 3 |
| Criminal Justice Elective | 3 | |
| Criminal Justice Elective | 3 | |
| Criminal Justice Elective | 3 | |
| General Free Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Fall | ||
| Criminal Justice Elective | 3 | |
| Criminal Justice or Program Approved Elective | 3 | |
| Criminal Justice or Program Approved Elective | 3 | |
| General Free Elective | 3 | |
| General Free Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| CJ 485 | Criminal Justice Senior Seminar - CUE, WR (WR, CUE) | 3 |
| Criminal Justice or Program Approved Elective | 3 | |
| General Free Elective | 3 | |
| General Free Elective | 3 | |
| General Free Elective (if needed) | 2 | |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Minimum Total Hours | 121 | |
The Flight Plan outlined above is intended to demonstrate one possible path to completing the degree within four years. Course selection and placement within the program may vary depending on course offerings and schedule, elective preferences, and other factors (study abroad, internship availability, etc.). Please consult your advisor for additional information about building a flight plan that works for you.
Degree Audit Report
Degree Audit reports illustrate how your completed courses fulfill the requirements of your academic plan, and which requirements are still outstanding. Degree audits also take transfer credits and test credits into account. "What-if" reports allow you to compare the courses you have completed in your current academic plan to the courses required in another academic plan. Should you have questions about either report, please consult with your academic advisor.
Flight Planner
The Flight Planner tool is available for you to create a personalized Flight Plan to graduation. Advisors have access to review your Flight Planner and can help you adjust it to ensure you remain on track to graduate in a timely manner.
To create these reports:
- Log into your ULink account.
- Click on the Academic Progress tile.
- Select the appropriate report.
- To run a Degree Audit report, click on "View my Degree Audit."
- To create a What-if report, click on "What-if Advisement Report."
- To run a Flight Planner report, click on "Use My Flight Planner."
Click here to run a Degree Audit report, create a What-if report, or run a Flight Planner report.
Soaring Scholars Program-Accelerated BS/MS in Criminal Justice
Criminal Justice majors who are considering pursuing a master's degree (MS) in Criminal Justice can speed up the process through the Soaring Scholars program. Students accepted into the Soaring Scholars program (Accelerated BS/MS program) can take four graduate courses (12 credit hours) as an undergraduate that would apply toward both the bachelor’s degree and the master’s degree. An additional benefit of the Soaring Scholars program is that those 12 credit hours would be charged at the undergraduate tuition rate.
Interested students should apply to the Soaring Scholar's program during their Junior year (i.e., when they have accumulated 60-75 hours of credit). Applicants must have at least a 3.0 GPA at the time of application. This program is available to both on campus and online students.
Undergraduate students interested in participating in an accelerated dual bachelor’s/master’s degree offered through the university’s Soaring Scholar Program must first meet with their Academic Advisor to determine eligibility and apply to the program. Once accepted, students will receive an official admission letter outlining program policies and details. They will then work with their department and academic advisor to register for classes each semester, ensuring they meet the milestones and academic progress requirements of the Soaring Scholar Program. A Soaring Scholar student is considered an undergraduate student until their bachelor’s degree is conferred. In their final undergraduate semester, they are expected to apply for admission to their respective master's program.
Accelerated BS/MS in Criminal Justice Option
Students accepted into the Soaring Scholar Program should select up to four (4) classes from the following list to count as Criminal Justice electives for the bachelor's degree and toward the master's degree:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CJ 621 | The Criminal Justice System | 3 |
| CJ 625 | Legal Aspects of Criminal Justice Management | 3 |
| CJ 643 | Theories of Crime and Delinquency | 3 |
| CJ 649 | Applied Statistics in Criminal Justice | 3 |
| CJ 650 | Research Methods | 3 |