*Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice

120 Semester Units/1940.5-2000.5 Clock Hours

(*) Not available to Arizona residents.

The Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice is designed to prepare students for successful entry into management and leaderships roles in fields including, not only law enforcement, courts, and corrections, but also private sector employment such as private investigations, security, and victim advocacy agencies. This 36 month comprehensive program is designed to develop leadership and interpersonal skills with an emphasis in managerial and administrative subject matter to prepare graduates for positions of responsibility and leadership in criminal justice and related professions.

Graduates can expect to experience a robust, broad-based general education component alongside exposure to important topics in this high-demand career. The curriculum further enhances critical thinking, communication, writing, and computer skills throughout the program in addition to providing training in criminology, court systems, criminal evidence, forensics, crime analysis, and computer technology in law enforcement. Graduates of the program are expected to have successfully developed the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities to be effective in addressing the myriad of challenges facing the modern criminal justice professional in this high demand field.

The objectives of the BS in Criminal Justice include:

• Summarization of the criminal justice system and societal responses to crime

• Discussion and debate of current criminal justice system issues, procedures, and strategies

• Development and application of management and leadership skills

• Growth and application of managing information skills and promoting interagency cooperation in preventing tragedies

• Foster development of team building and student collaboration skills

• Introduction to and examination of the history, structure, current trends, and future of the criminal justice system

• Comparing and contrasting the structures, governance systems, and inter-relations of public agencies

• Exploration of fundamental criminological and social theories

• Review of current and historical law enforcement practices and procedures

• Investigation of criminal law, including municipal, state, and federal judicial components

• Enhancement and application critical thinking and analytical skills

• Increase and enhancement of intellectual knowledge and personal growth

• Development, application, and enhancement of information technology skills

• Enhancement and application of critical thinking and analytical skills

• Fostering tolerance and understanding in diversity and issues of global concern

• Increase effectiveness in communication and interpersonal relations

• Continuous fostering of student ability to become well-rounded citizens as persons, professionals, and community members through provision of a broad-based array of general education courses

Post 9-11, has seen massive amounts of governmental restructuring to ensure the future safety, security, and well being of U.S. citizens and the world at large. This has opened a vast array of new and expanding positions in the field and made criminal justice one of the fastest growing careers in the nation according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics. The BS in Criminal Justice degree program prepares students for executive level positions in the criminal justice system, with special emphasis on law enforcement. Many departments currently require BS degrees to be considered for career growth, advancement, and promotional opportunities. Graduates can look forward to rewarding careers in public safety, law enforcement, corrections, courts, emergency service, as well as intelligence, investigative, and security positions in the private sector.

See the following matrix for program course listing: