College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice

The Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice is the largest and fastest-growing major in the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences (CAHSS). In addition, we are currently the only major in the College offering baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral degree programs. The baccalaureate and master’s programs are also offered online to support working and post-traditional students.

Students earning criminal justice degrees will be trained and prepared for careers in law enforcement, academia, government and military service, research, and the private sector (e.g., cybercrime, digital forensics, private investigation, legal counsel). The Department of Criminal justice has established relationships with other institutions and individuals engaged in research, which provide students opportunities to collaborate with subject matter experts, contribute to ongoing research, develop marketable skills, and secure internships and employment in students’ fields of interest.

Major Requirements

The Criminal Justice (CRJS) Major requires completion of a minimum of 120 credit hours including credits in criminal justice core courses (34 hours, including a successful completion of an internship), criminal justice electives (15 hours), free electives (15 hours), general education courses (32 hours), and other departmental course requirements (24 hours). Each student must maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA in the major and other required courses.

Minor Requirements

The CRJS Minor requires completion of 18 credit hours in criminal justice comprised of CRJS 100, CRJS 210, CRJS 220, and CRJS 230 (12 credits) as well as two CRJS elective courses (6 credits). A student must have completed a minimum of 24 hours of academic credits before declaring a minor, have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0, and may not have more than two minors.

Forensic Science Certificate Requirements

The Bachelor of Science with the Certificate in Forensic Science – Crime Scene Investigation (CSI), requires completion of a minimum of 120 credit hours, including CSI courses (24 credits), criminal justice core courses, including successful completion of an internship (34 credits), criminal justice electives (9 hours), free electives (3 hours), general education courses (33 hours), and departmental course requirements (17 hours). Non-criminal justice majors may also pursue the Certificate.