Criminal Justice Degree Online

Earn your criminal justice degree online!

Why choose an
online criminal justice degree?
Does your idea of success combine professional opportunity with the chance to make the world a better place? If you’re concerned with justice and social issues, and want to make a difference, a career in criminal justice may be your path. Mountain State University offers online criminal justice programs for maximum convenience; earn an associate or bachelor’s degree from the convenience of your home or office.

Criminal Justice is a changing and dynamic profession, its growth spurred by new technologies, increased need for law enforcement personnel, and a continuing focus on homeland security. Whether you’re a seasoned professional looking to advance in your career, or someone new to the field, an online MSU criminal justice degree offers you the opportunity to pursue any field of study relating to police, courts, corrections, or homeland security.

Regional Accreditation — The Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association.

Affordable Tuition — Full-time financial aid availability and reasonable costs.

Faculty — Academic credentials and real-world experience.

What can I study at MSU?
MSU offers both online associate and bachelor’s degrees in criminal justice.

The online associate criminal justice degree program prepares you to enter criminal justice agencies or can be used as the first step to complete a bachelor’s degree.
Click here for the A.S. course sequence.

MSU offers online bachelor’s degree in criminal justice with two concentrations:

Homeland Security: The focus is on combating terrorism through investigation, detection, location, and apprehension of foreign and domestic terrorists. In this concentration, you will train for law enforcement response to incidents, disasters, and crisis management.
Click here for the Homeland Security course sequence.

Corrections Management: If you see yourself as a future leader in community corrections agencies, prisons, or jails, this concentration allows you to focus on a management and interdisciplinary approach to corrections.
Click here for the Corrections Management course sequence.

Why choose MSU?
Flexible learning delivery. Classes in the criminal justice program are offered online and in-classroom. You can also receive credit for past academic courses and prior learning experience.

Gain both academic and field experience. To supplement the academic classes, MSU offers practicum opportunities which gives our students a competitive edge in a criminal justice field that requires both a college education and relevant field experience for the top jobs.

Homeland security emphasis. All of the bachelor’s degree concentrations include courses and training in homeland security, and MSU is the only university in West Virginia that offers a Criminal Justice concentration in Homeland Security.

Career Opportunities
Criminal justice graduates will qualify for jobs such as:
Local police officer,
Sheriff’s deputy,
Correctional officer,
Private security officer,
Probation/parole officer,
Federal agent positions (with bachelor’s degree), and
Homeland security specialist.

MSU’s new concentration in its online criminal justice programs reflect the need for more law enforcement professionals in all areas of local, state, and national government. The Occupational Outlook Handbook, published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, projects this area to grow faster than average, which means approximately a 21 to 35 percent increase in jobs between 2002 and 2012.

Since both bachelor’s degree programs feature elements of Homeland Security, graduates will be able to target more competitive areas within the federal government, such as the FBI, U.S Marshals, DEA, BATF, and U.S. Customs for career opportunities.

For more information about these exciting online programs,
please contact Jason Holliday 304.929.1704 or email

From heightened national security to concerns about corporate accountability, our changing world has created a high demand for well-trained law enforcement professionals.

The criminal justice degree program at JWU’s Providence Campus can prepare you for a wide variety of police work at the local, national and federal levels—including careers in court administration, private investigation, airport security and social services, or as a federal agent, police officer or border patrol agent, among others.

Through the program, you will:
Learn from professionals experienced in law, criminal justice and forensic science technology
Gain experience using police and other forensic science investigation equipment in our dedicated criminal justice lab
Work with a faculty advisor and career coach to develop a plan tailored to your career goals
Acquire the communication, logic, critical thinking and ethical reasoning skills essential for the understanding of criminal justice issues and for effective career progression
Develop an appreciation for diversity, citizenship, leadership, science and technology, qualitative and quantitative analysis, and social and business culture
Gain real-world experience in the field and build your resume through an externship in your field of interest
Customize your degree with an Arts & Sciences concentration or pursue a collection of criminal justice electives which target your interests and goals

Whether competing for your first job or working to advance your long-term career, you’ll find that employers are looking for candidates with a bachelor’s degree. Take the time to learn more about JWU and start pursuing your passion for criminal justice at our Providence Campus.

Course Listing

From heightened national security to concerns about corporate accountability, our changing world has created a high demand for well-trained law enforcement professionals.

The criminal justice degree program at JWU’s Providence Campus can prepare you for a wide variety of police work at the local, national and federal levels—including careers in court administration, private investigation, airport security and social services, or as a federal agent, police officer or border patrol agent, among others.

Through the program, you will:
Learn from professionals experienced in law, criminal justice and forensic science technology
Gain experience using police and other forensic science investigation equipment in our dedicated criminal justice lab
Work with a faculty advisor and career coach to develop a plan tailored to your career goals
Acquire the communication, logic, critical thinking and ethical reasoning skills essential for the understanding of criminal justice issues and for effective career progression
Develop an appreciation for diversity, citizenship, leadership, science and technology, qualitative and quantitative analysis, and social and business culture
Gain real-world experience in the field and build your resume through an externship in your field of interest
Customize your degree with an Arts & Sciences concentration or pursue a collection of criminal justice electives which target your interests and goals

Whether competing for your first job or working to advance your long-term career, you’ll find that employers are looking for candidates with a bachelor’s degree. Take the time to learn more about JWU and start pursuing your passion for criminal justice at our Providence Campus.

Program Description:
The LCIE undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice requires 128 semester hours including 45 semester hours in the major itself. The Criminal Justice Degree program is designed to provide a broad based education in criminal justice. Upon completing the program students should be prepared to enter the criminal justice career field or pursue further academic study. Completion of the Capstone Course is a requirement for the program and may be taken after all core course requirements are met or concurrently with the final cluster. The Capstone Course will emphasize the theories and concepts of the major from an academic perspective as well as their practical applications in the career setting. The course requires a mastery of the concepts within the major and integrates academic studies with the issues faced by practicing professionals in their area of employment. Consequently, students should expect midterm and final examinations, case analyses and at least one major research paper during the term of enrollment. A grade of “C” or above is necessary to pass this course.
Criminology Cluster
ICJ 20000 Criminology
ICJ 21000 Criminal Justice Systems
ICJ 22500 Comparative Justice Systems
Criminal Procedure Cluster
ICJ 30100 Criminal Procedure
ICJ 31000 Criminal Law
ICJ 31500 Criminal Investigation
The Juvenile Justice System
ICJ 31100 The Juvenile Justice System
ICJ 31200 Juvenile Law
ICJ 31300 Delinquency in Society
Criminal Justice Communications Cluster
ICJ 34100 Criminal Justice Communications
ICJ 34200 The Media and Criminal Justice
ICJ 34300 Criminal justice Alternatives
Policing Cluster
ICJ 30000 Policing
ICJ 30500 Institutional and Community Corrections
ICJ 44000 The Victim and Crime
For comprehensive course descriptions, please see the current catalog.

Certificate

The Justice, Law & Security Department, in coordination with the departments of Biology and Chemistry, offers a Certificate in Forensic Arts and Sciences. This certificate will be awarded to those who have demonstrated proficiency in the forensic application of the sciences of Biology and Chemistry. This forensic application entails a basic understanding and demonstrated knowledge of selected subject matter areas of the Criminal Justice System.

Requirements for completion of a Certificate in Forensic Arts and Sciences are as follows:

FORENSIC COMPONENT (16 credit hours)

Biology, Chemistry and Criminal Justice Majors
CRIM 101 Introduction to the Criminal Justice System
CRIM 310 Crminal Law
CRIM 345 Criminal Investigation
CRIM 341 Criminalistics (Lecture and Lab)
SELECT RS/PH Any SELECT ethics course involving professional responsibility

MAJOR REQUIREMENTS
Biology
Concurrent enrollment in the Bachelor of Science in Biology degree program with a concentration in Forensic Science

OR

Chemistry
Concurrent enrollment in the Bachelor of Science in Chemistry degree program with a concentration in Forensic Science

OR

Criminal Justice
Concurrent enrollment in the Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice degree program
SELECT Science course - Biology
SELECT Science course - Chemistry
BL 103 through BL 106 - General Biology I and II (lecture & lab)
CH 101 through CH 104 - General Chemistry I & II (lecture & lab)
CRIM 340 - Crime Scene and Forensics

RESEARCH REQUIREMENT
During the Senior Seminar or Capstone course, the candidate will complete a research project on an area in forensic science. The proposed topic will be submitted in writing and approved by the coordinating committee, the members of which will ensure that the approval criteria and evaluation criteria are consistent for each project.

Coordinating Committee:
Lawrence E. Likar, MA., JD
Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Justice, Law, and Security
Supervisory Special Agent FBI (Ret’d)
Gail Rowe, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Biology Department
Roberta Hartman, Ph.D.
Associate Professor and Chair, Chemistry Department

GRADE REQUIREMENT
All candidates must receive a minimum grade of “C” for each forensic component course and the research project. Criminal Justice majors must also receive a minimum grade of “C” in all required science courses.

The Associate of Science in Criminal Justice degree program presents the major components of the criminal justice system. It includes criminal behavior, law enforcement organizations and systems, legal principles and fundamentals of criminal investigation.

This program serves the challenging professional growth and career needs of each element of the criminal justice system as well as providing a step up the ladder for students who plan to continue toward a bachelor’s degree.
10 Courses (30 Semester Hours) General Education
6 Courses (18 Semester Hours) Major Electives
4 Courses (12 Semester Hours) General Electives

For information on specific courses and descriptions, please view our catalog.

How can we control crime? How should we treat criminals? What factors in our society affect either the spread or the control of crime? What roles do individuals, law enforcement officials, and human service professionals play in criminal justice? Explore these issues from a well-balanced perspective by enrolling in the University of Hartford’s Criminal Justice degree program. Our skills based program, which emphasizes internships and cooperative education will prepare you well to seek interesting work in almost any level of government, including probation and court administration or rehabilitation services and counseling. In the private sector, there are opportunities in corporate security, program analysis, research, counseling, and insurance investigation. Or you may choose to go on to law school or to graduate school to study criminal justice or sociology. As part of this interdisciplinary program, you’ll take courses in sociology, politics and government, psychology, education, and philosophy. Throughout all your courses, you’ll be grappling with the complexities of crime and social control in the context of human values. As a Criminal Justice major, you will take several core courses including Social Responses to Crime; Methods of Social Research; Deviance; Criminology; and Crime, Law and the Administration of Justice. This program gives you the flexibility to concentrate on a specific area within criminal justice, such as law, law enforcement, or human service intervention. Before you graduate, you will take an off-campus internship of six credit hours with a criminal justice agency or organization. You may intern with local police departments, courts, prosecutors, and probation departments, or work in community correctional facilities, counseling centers, research planning agencies, or youth service bureaus. This practical experience will help you sharpen your career focus, as you add valuable work experience to your resume.

The criminal justice degree program at Bowling Green State University produces graduates who can critically assess issues and use that ability to impact the criminal justice system. Students are prepared for a wide range of post-graduation endeavors. Many students successfully pursue graduate degrees in criminal justice and law, as well as public administration, sociology and counseling. Students also distinguish themselves by taking jobs with federal, state and local agencies involved in criminal justice.

A study by the Police Executive Research Forum provided a good description of the University’s criminal justice program. It noted that police agencies do not want higher education to provide technical training. Instead, agencies need students who can look at issues critically, make informed judgments and decisions, have an understanding about human nature and social arrangements, recognize cultural diversity, understand basic research, and communicate effectively.

Curriculum

The criminal justice degree program places emphasis on academics, oral and written communication and research potential. The curriculum is largely concentrated in social and behavioral sciences with core courses in government, law, psychology and sociology. Students take courses in other departments, as well as in criminal justice, giving them the ability to look at a problem from many viewpoints. This system exposes students to a wide diversity of faculty to explore different ideas and issues.

Various criminal justice courses are also required, as well as a rigorous internship in an agency of the student’s choice. In addition, every student must complete a major research paper during the senior seminar in criminal justice.

Special Features and Opportunities

An intense internship requirement is one of the program’s strengths. Contact is maintained with numerous agencies that accept interns on a regular basis. Internships may be arranged with law enforcement agencies, correctional institutions, probation/parole authorities, private security operations, prosecutors’ and public defenders’ offices, the local courts and some federal agencies. Feedback from both the agencies and the interns has consistently verified the value of “in-the-field” study to a well-rounded education.
Criminal justice students are encouraged to become part of an active criminal justice organization that provides excellent speakers, trips and social functions for members. A chapter of the criminal justice honorary, Alpha Phi Sigma, provides recognition of outstanding criminal justice students.

College Highlights

BGSU’s College of Health and Human Services was the first collegiate unit in northwest Ohio devoted exclusively to academic programs in health and human services.
There are 8 active student organizations with many connected to their national professional affiliation. Each major emphasizes hands-on opportunities through practical experiences and laboratory courses.

The college sponsors a Health Sciences Residential Community where students benefit from learning and socializing with other students taking similar classes, increased contacts with faculty in the health-science academic majors, and academic advising and career exploration that takes place within the residence hall.

Preparation for College

Completing the requirements for high school graduation is necessary for admission to BGSU, but only finishing the minimum coursework will leave you unprepared for college. Consider taking four years of mathematics instead of the three that are required. Two, three or even four years of the same foreign language is excellent for preparation for college. You will also benefit from competency in computer use. Courses that provide exposure to or training in the visual and performing arts are excellent choices.

Admission to the Program

BGSU’s criminal justice degree program is one of the few selective entry programs in the country. Admission is highly competitive. Students who are admitted demonstrate high academic standards and strong initiatives.

Entering freshmen can be admitted with an ACT composite score of 24 or higher and high school GPA of 3.0 or above. Freshmen who do not meet this requirement may enroll as pre-criminal justice majors before being accepted into the program.

Current BGSU and transfer students are required to have an overall minimum GPA of 2.5 based on a minimum of 25 graded semester hours and completion of Introduction to Criminal Justice with a C or better.

Transfer students should file applications with a recent transcript the term prior to the one they wish to enter; admission to the University is required before admission to the program will be considered.

Applications for upperclass and transfer students are considered for each term. Applications may be obtained from the criminal justice program office, 223 Health Center, or online at http://www.bgsu.edu/departments/crju/CJmain.htm

While students meeting the requirements above will be admitted at any time, students should be aware that completion of the program may require two years and attendance at summer session(s) if admission is granted after the beginning of your junior year.
Students can graduate within four years~(8 semesters) if they are admitted to the program before the end of their freshman year AND make adequate arrangements to undertake the practicum~(field placement) during a regular academic term. Most students opt to do their internship over a summer, either between junior and senior years, or after they complete all their coursework. This option will result in program completion in nine semesters.

Core Courses

The following are core courses for Criminal Justice students:

American Government
General Psychology
Principles of Sociology
Introduction to Criminal Justice
Law Enforcement in American Society
Crime Prevention and Security
Drugs, Crime and Criminal Justice
Criminal Investigations
Victimology
Public Administration
Juvenile Justice Subsystems
Constitutional Law
Criminal Justice Research Methods
Criminal Courts
Abnormal Behavior
Criminology
Corrections
Internship
Senior Seminar in Criminal Justice
Practicum Seminar

For Further Information

Debralee Divers
Director
Admissions & Financial Aid
419-433-5560 ext. 2-0683
email: divers@bgsu.edu
Cheryl L. Chafee
Officer
Admissions & Financial Aid
419-433-5560 ext. 2-0683
email: cchafee@bgsu.edu
Timothy Jurkovac, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Sociology
419-433-5560 ext. 2-0661
email: tjohnj@bgsu.edu

Associate of Applied Science in Criminal Justice

Gain the essential understanding of government, the legal system, people and their cultures to be successful in administering and enforcing the laws of the land.

Career Opportunities

Criminal justice careers are available in numerous areas including: law enforcement, courts, probation, parole, juvenile and adult corrections, and case work, as well as the significant and growing need for qualified people in private sector security and investigation. Individuals who choose to follow any of the career paths within the criminal justice field must possess both education and commitment. As society becomes more sophisticated and complex, those who are responsible for administering and enforcing laws must be able to not only cope, but to succeed. A well rounded education based on the social behavioral sciences is a proven asset in obtaining that success in the criminal justice system.

Curriculum

The criminal justice degree program at BGSU Firelands has been developed to address the current needs of students entering the career chain and prepares them to grow with the increasing challenges of the profession. Emphasis is placed on superior academic attainment and effective verbal and written communication skills, with a core program concentration providing a thorough exposure to understanding government, law, people and their cultures.

This focus on the academic aspects of criminal justice allows for the student’s continued educational advancement with minimal duplication or repetitious coverage of material. Since the vast majority of agencies will provide the required indoctrination and technical training such as fingerprinting and photography, this type of instruction is not included in the program. Professional practitioners in the criminal justice field have assisted in the development of the curriculum, and will continue in that capacity to ensure that the most current material is included.

Special Features

The criminal justice degree program at BGSU Firelands is designed to allow students to easily transfer into the four-year program offered at BGSU Firelands and at Bowling Green State University. Students who complete the associate degree requirements will be slightly more than half way through the bachelor’s degree curriculum.

Students pursuing the associate of applied science in criminal justice degree program must complete a minimum of 62 credit hours.

Coursework includes:

Communications (6 hours minimum)

Varieties of Writing (3)
Speech Communication (3)

General Education (12 hours minimum)

Natural science elective (3/5)
Natural science elective (3/5)
Humanities elective (3)
General education elective (3)

Basic Courses (16 hours minimum)

Introduction to Statistics (3)
General Psychology (4)
American Government (3)
Principles of Sociology (3)
Introduction to Ethics (3)

Professional Core (9 hours minimum)

Introduction to Criminal Justice (3)
Law Enforcement in American Society (3)
Investigations: Theory & Practice (3)

Professional Electives (24 hours minimum)

Select eight courses from the following list or any course listed as a core elective by the College of Health and Human Services for the bachelor of science degree in criminal justice: CRJU 240; CRJU 395; IPC 306; POLS 303, 331; PSYC 311; PSYC 405; SOC 316, 340 or 441.

For Further Information

Debralee Divers
Director
Admissions & Financial Aid
419-433-5560 ext. 2-0683
email: divers@bgsu.edu
Cheryl L. Chafee
Officer
Admissions & Financial Aid
419-433-5560 ext. 2-0683
email: cchafee@bgsu.edu
Timothy Jurkovac, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Sociology
Huron, OH 44839
419-433-5560 ext. 2-0661
email: tjohnj@bgsu.edu

NOTE: Information in this guide is subject to change without notice. To learn more about the official program of study, please check the undergraduate catalog online: http://www.bgsu.edu/catalog - Updated 01/31/07

From heightened national security to concerns about corporate accountability, our changing world has created a high demand for well-trained law enforcement professionals.

The criminal justice degree program at JWU’s Providence Campus can prepare you for a wide variety of police work at the local, national and federal levels—including careers in court administration, private investigation, airport security and social services, or as a federal agent, police officer or border patrol agent, among others.

Through the program, you will:
Learn from professionals experienced in law, criminal justice and forensic science technology
Gain experience using police and other forensic science investigation equipment in our dedicated criminal justice lab
Work with a faculty advisor and career coach to develop a plan tailored to your career goals
Acquire the communication, logic, critical thinking and ethical reasoning skills essential for the understanding of criminal justice issues and for effective career progression
Develop an appreciation for diversity, citizenship, leadership, science and technology, qualitative and quantitative analysis, and social and business culture
Gain real-world experience in the field and build your resume through an externship in your field of interest
Customize your degree with an Arts & Sciences concentration or pursue a collection of criminal justice electives which target your interests and goals

Whether competing for your first job or working to advance your long-term career, you’ll find that employers are looking for candidates with a bachelor’s degree. Take the time to learn more about JWU and start pursuing your passion for criminal justice at our Providence Campus.

Course Listing