BS in Criminal Justice

Official Program Name:

Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice

School Offering Program:

Capella University

Degree Level:

Bachelor's

Program Prerequisites:

Students considering applying to the Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice program should be interested in studying private, local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies and processes. Applicants to Capella University who are under 24 years of age must have completed at least two years of college or have active military status; some programs may have additional admissions requirements.

Program Description:

Capella University's Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice program examines the U.S. criminal justice system, juvenile justice system, and corrections system; the history of violence in the U.S.; and ethical issues facing the criminal justice system. Students enrolled in the program can study law enforcement administration, security operations and management, public safety theory, methods of public safety statistical research and applied public safety research, and the responsibilities and limitations of law enforcement within the community. Coursework introduces students to emergency management organizations, disaster response and recovery practices, threats to homeland security, fear management, and crisis communications. Students will have the opportunity to learn criminal law and procedure, crime scene investigation procedures, and techniques for investigating white collar and organized crimes; understand the relationship between private, local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies; and examine ethical issues in criminal justice, race and the criminal justice system,.

Learning Format:

Online

Total Credits Required:

180 credits

Financial Aid Available:

Students enrolled in Capella University have several opportunities to reduce their tuition costs, including employer reimbursement programs, veterans benefit programs, tuition discounts through corporate alliances, U.S. Armed Forces education benefits, and credit transfers. Federal and non-federal loans and grants are available to qualifying students.

Required Courses for a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice:

Degree program and course requirements are subject to change. Contact Capella University to confirm the most accurate information before enrolling in a program.

Core Courses

• PS 3004: Communication Strategies for the Public Safety Professional (6 credits)
• PS 3100: Introduction to Criminal Justice (4 credits)
• PS 3200: Introduction to Emergency Management (4 credits)
• PS 3300: Principles of Security Management (4 credits)
• PS 3400: Introduction to Homeland Security (4 credits)
• PS 3500: Applied Public Safety Theory (4 credits)
• PS 3600: Principles of Public Safety Investigation (4 credits)
• PS 3700: Justice, Crime, and Ethics (4 credits)
• PS 3800: Applied Public Safety Research Methods (4 credits)
• PS 3900: History of Violence in the U.S. Society (4 credits)
• PS 3950: Introductory Public Safety Statistical Research (6 credits)

Specialization Courses

• PS 4105: White Collar and Organized Crime Investigations (4 credits)
• PS 4110: Corrections, Probation, and Parole (4 credits)
• PS 4115: Juvenile Justice Practice (4 credits)
• PS 4120: Police-Community Relations (4 credits)
• PS 4125: Policing in the U.S. Society (4 credits)
• PS 4135: Race, Crime, and Criminal Justice (4 credits)
• PS 4140: Criminal Law and the Legal Process (4 credits)
• PS 4145: Criminal Law (4 quarter credits)
• PS 4150: History of Drug Control (4 credits)
• PS 4155: Police Administration (4 credits)
• PS 4160: Criminal Procedure and Evidence (4 credits)
• Elective courses (37 credits)
• PS: 4990: Public Safety Capstone Project (6 credits)

General Education Courses

Students choose 45 credits with a minimum of 6 credits from each category, as well as 21 elective credits.

• Choose a minimum of 6 communication credits:
  • ENG 1000: English Composition (6 credits)
  • ENG 2000: Research Writing (6 credits)
  • ENG 3300: Business and Technical Writing (6 credits)
  • SPC 1000: Public Speaking (3 credits)
  • SPC 2000: Intercultural Communication (6 credits)
  • SPC 2050: Visual Design in Communications (3 credits)
  • SPC 3700: Conflict Resolution (6 credits)
  • SPC 4100: Media and Culture (3 credits)
• Choose a minimum of 6 humanities credits:
  • ART 2000: Art History Survey (6 credits)
  • HUM 1000: Introduction to the Humanities (6 credits)
  • HUM 1050: World Religions (3 credits)
  • HUM 3300: Global Multiculturalism and World Religions (6 credits)
  • LIT 2001: Introduction to Literature: Short Stories (3 credits)
  • LIT 2100: Women's Literature (3 credits)
  • PHI 1000: Introduction to Philosophy (6 credits)
  • PHI 2000: Ethics (6 credits)
  • PHI 2050: Human Nature and Ethics (3 credits)
  • PHI 2100: Introduction to Logic (6 credits)
  • PHI 3200: Ethics in Health Care (6 credits)
• Choose a minimum of 6 natural science and mathematics credits:
  • BIO 1000: Human Biology (6 credits)
  • BIO 1050: Biology and Society (3 credits)
  • BIO 2000: Environmental Health (6 credits)
  • CHM 1000: Chemistry for Changing Times (6 credits)
  • CHM 1050: Chemistry and the Environment (3 credits)
  • PHY 1000: Introduction to Astronomy (6 credits)
  • MAT 1050: College Algebra (6 credits)
  • MAT 1051: Pre-Calculus (6 credits)
  • MAT 2001: Statistical Reasoning (6 credits)
  • MAT 2051: Discrete Mathematics (6 credits)
• MAT 2050: Statistical Literacy (3 credits)
• Choose a minimum of 6 social science credits:
  • ECO 1050: Microeconomics (6 credits)
  • ECO 1051: Macroeconomics (6 credits)
  • HIS 1000: Immigrants in the American City (3 credits)
  • HIS 3200: History of Health Care in America (3 credits)
  • PSYC 1000: Introduction to Psychology (6 credits)
  • POL: 1000 The Politics of American Government (6 credits)
  • POL: 2000 Globalization (6 credits)
  • SOC: 1000 Introduction to Human Society (6 credits)
  • SOC: 2000 Cultural Diversity (6 credits)
  • SOC: 3400 Social Deviance (6 credits)
• General Education Electives (21 credits)

Post Graduation Opportunities

Furthering Your Education:

Some graduates of the Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice program at Capella University may choose to continue their education with a criminal justice-related degree. Graduates who pursue a master's degree can choose an area of specialization in order to prepare for more challenging career opportunities in their chosen field of criminal justice and law enforcement. Depending on their professional goals, students may consider master's programs such as.

• Master of Science in Criminal Justice
• Master of Science in Criminal Justice Administration
• Master of Science in Homeland Security
• Master of Science in Juvenile Justice

Potential Career Paths:

Upon successful completion of the Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice program, graduates should have the skills and training needed to seek entry-level positions in private, local, state, or federal law enforcement agencies. Examples of positions graduates could pursue include, but are not limited to:

• Police officer
• Probation officer
• Security manager
• Public safety officer
• Drug enforcement agent