How many credits for a criminal justice bachelors degree

  1. University of Maryland Global Campus
  2. Online Degrees
  3. Bachelor’s Degrees
  4. Criminal Justice

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These requirements are for students who enroll in the 2022–2023 academic year. For prior year requirements, visit our catalog archive.

Bachelor’s Degree Requirements

In addition to the specific course requirements outlined on each bachelor’s degree webpage, UMGC maintains certain requirements for all bachelor’s degrees.

Get to Know the System

Study the police, courts, and corrections within the American criminal justice system.

Investigate Policies

Utilize ethical reasoning, analytical skills, and professional knowledge to investigate policies.

Present Findings

Articulate the importance of research in the social sciences.

Analyze Policies

Evaluate criminal justice public policies using analytical competencies.

Apply Principles

Apply the principles of criminal bodies of law—substantive, procedural, and evidentiary.

Demonstrate Your Skills

Design a security plan for a public service event in the community.

Get to Know the System

Study the police, courts, and corrections within the American criminal justice system.

Investigate Policies

Utilize ethical reasoning, analytical skills, and professional knowledge to investigate policies.

Present Findings

Articulate the importance of research in the social sciences.

Analyze Policies

Evaluate criminal justice public policies using analytical competencies.

Apply Principles

Apply the principles of criminal bodies of law—substantive, procedural, and evidentiary.

Demonstrate Your Skills

Design a security plan for a public service event in the community.

Admission to the Major

  • GPA: 2.0
  • Admission Policies: Students will be assigned a pre-criminal justice major (Pre-CRJ) designation until they have completed a minimum of 30 college or university credits with a minimum of 2.0 GPA. The credits must include ENG 101, CRJ 104, and CRJ 270.

Minor Information

  • 21 Criminal Justice credits
  • Includes CRJ 104, 130, 270, 301, and 432, and six upper-division credits in criminal justice.

Notes

  1. A student may elect to graduate under any one of the following catalogs: the year of admission, the year of graduation, or the year of the latest change of major. The catalog used cannot be more than 10 years old at the time of graduation. Requirements for graduation may vary depending on the catalog one uses. If you have questions, consult your advisor.
  2. All criminal justice majors must take a total of at least 42 credits in upper-division courses, including 27 credits in upper-division criminal justice courses.
  3. Criminal justice majors are required to complete a total of 45 credits in criminal justice. (Of this total, 27 hours must be in upper-division courses.)
  4. Only four physical education activity classes can be applied toward graduation.
  5. Every student must complete a three-credit multicultural course and a three-credit international course. Courses satisfying other requirements may simultaneously satisfy the multicultural and international requirements, except one course cannot satisfy both the multicultural and the international requirements.

About

The Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice is intended to provide students with a critical understanding of the nature and causes of crime and delinquency, the origins and meaning of law and social control (with emphasis on criminal law), the nature of the criminal justice system and the processing of cases through that system, and proposals for reducing crime and delinquency. The program is designed to broadly educate students, to prepare students for careers in various criminal justice settings, and to pursue graduate education.

Accreditation

For information regarding accreditation at UNLV, please head over to Academic Program Accreditations.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completing an undergraduate program in Criminal Justice, a student will:

  • Have demonstrated an awareness of the history and nature of the major components of the criminal justice system: police, courts, and corrections.
  • Be familiar with the basis of the law and the legal system, as well as decision-making in the criminal justice process, the social and political context of the legal system, important constitutional issues, and how criminal law differs from other forms of law.
  • Have demonstrated knowledge of the overall problem of crime in the United States, in terms of being familiar with different types of crimes committed in society, as well as possessing knowledge of the distribution of these crimes.
  • Understand issues related to crime prevention and the rehabilitation of offenders.
  • Be familiar with various methods of social science research including survey research, field research, experimental research, and evaluation research, and demonstrate awareness of the linkage between theory and research.
  • Have basic knowledge of statistical procedures commonly used in the social sciences, in particular, those involved with descriptive research and hypothesis testing.
  • Be able to conduct a research project from beginning to end, including how to locate existing sources of relevant information, operationalize concepts of interest, collect data, interpret findings, and present information in a professional manner.
  • Be cognizant of various ethical concerns relevant to the study of criminal justice issues, and the distribution of justice in society.

Career Possibilities

Requirements

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Documents/Downloads

Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice

  • Plans of Study
    Syllabi

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Contacts

The Department of Criminal Justice provides undergraduate and graduate degree programs designed to give students comprehensive understanding of the nature and causes of crime, criminal justice processes, criminal justice organizations and agency practices, and the law and legal system.

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The Greenspun College of Urban Affairs is committed to creating contemporary solutions for resilient communities. Its academic programs focus on effective public policymaking, creating support structures to meet behavioral and mental health challenges, ensuring cities are safe and prepared to meet emergency situations, effective and ethical journalism, and interpersonal and public communication strategies.

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What is the best degree for criminal justice?

Here are some options you may have:.
Corrections major. As corrections majors, students study prison life and prepare for roles in prison and jail facilities. ... .
Criminology major. ... .
Forensic science major. ... .
Police science major. ... .
Pre-law and legal major. ... .
Criminal justice major. ... .
Sociology major. ... .
Criminal psychology major..

How long does it take to get a bachelor's degree?

Most take a full course load of around 15 credits per semester, averaging two semesters each academic year. Many colleges require 120 credits for graduation (though that minimum may vary depending on the institution), so full-time students can expect to complete their bachelor's degree within four or five years.

Does UNLV have criminal justice major?

Criminal Justice Major- Bachelor of Arts (BA) Degree worksheets and 4/5 year plan for the major are available at https://www.unlv.edu/degree/ba-criminal-justice.

What college has the best criminal justice program in Texas?

Texas Christian University is known for having the best criminal justice programs in Texas. Both Bachelor and Master's degree programs offer students the required skills needed for most criminal justice career paths.