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Criminal Justice

Bachelor of Science in Corrections & Juvenile Justice Studies

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120 Credit Hours

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Up To 90 Hours

Transfer Credit
Cost per Hour

$421

Per Credit Hour
EKU Online > Online Criminal Justice Degrees & Certificates > Bachelor of Science in Corrections & Juvenile Justice Studies

One of the Few Degrees in the Nation Devoted to Adult Services and Juvenile Justice

As larger prison populations strain state budgets, the criminal justice system is shifting focus from containment to rehabilitation. These changes bring a variety of rewarding career opportunities in corrections and juvenile justice. While the demand for highly-qualified individuals to manage and supervise the nation’s prison population remains high, there is an increasing need for professionals focused on offender rehabilitation and treatment programs.

Eastern Kentucky University is a recognized leader in criminal justice programming and provides one of the few degrees in the nation devoted to adult corrections and juvenile justice. Whether you are starting a new career or want to advance in your current one, EKU’s online corrections and juvenile justice programs could be the first step to reaching your goals.

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Benefits
Minors & Certificates
Careers

Benefits of EKU Online

EKU’s online bachelor’s degree in corrections and juvenile justice studies focuses on offender rehabilitation and community-based programs. Students are prepared to make a meaningful impact in offender treatment and prison administration. EKU’s real-world approach provides a practical education and opens the door to a variety of rewarding career opportunities.

  • Accelerated 8-week terms
  • No campus visits required
  • Free online tutoring and career services assistance
  • No application fee
  • Free textbooks through EKU BookSmart
  • Courses begin 6 times per year
  • Generous credit transfer policy
  • Reduced tuition for active duty service members and their spouses
  • Law enforcement officers that have completed Kentucky’s DOCJT training can receive 9 hours of college credit
  • Personal advisors stay with you from application to graduation
  • Study anytime, from anywhere
  • Dynamic, supportive learning environment

Minors & Certificates

Select from a wide range of minors, allowing you to explore interests or make use of prior credits. Suggested minors for Corrections program include:

  • Criminal Justice
  • Psychology
  • Social Intelligence & Leadership

You can also choose from numerous undergraduate certificates in specialty areas that complement and enhance your major as you work toward your degree. Suggested certificates for Corrections include:

  • Dispute Resolution
  • Youth Services
  • Correctional Intervention Strategies

View the full list of certificates available for completion as you earn your degree

Corrections and Juvenile Justice Studies Careers

Careers in corrections and juvenile justice are challenging and rewarding. A degree in corrections and juvenile justice studies can help you start or advance your career in the field of criminal justice.

The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics* (BLS) estimates that the number of individuals employed as probation officers and correctional treatment specialists will see an increase through 2028. Positions for correctional officers and other job opportunities in the criminal and juvenile justice fields are also expected to rise. The majority of these positions are housed in state and local governments within the department of corrections in prisons, youth correctional facilities and community agencies.

Job opportunities include:

  • Correctional officer
  • Corrections administrator
  • Detention officer
  • Probation officer
  • Parole officer
  • Treatment specialist
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Curriculum

Focusing on rehabilitation and evidence-based practices, EKU blends academic and professional preparation through course topics such as rehabilitation strategies for adults and juvenile offenders, community corrections, the juvenile justice system, criminal justice, ethics, and perspectives on crime and delinquency.

Criminal Justice Faculty

Degree Requirements

A total of 120 credits are required to graduate, including 42 upper-division credits.

View the corrections and juvenile justice studies program degree requirements:

Please review the admissions requirements before applying for this or any program. If you have questions about the program or are planning to register for classes, please speak to the program advisor.

Transfer Credits

Students may transfer up to 90 hours of credit from accredited institutions. Please note that a minimum of 30 credit hours in this degree program must be completed at Eastern Kentucky University.

Previously earned credits must be reviewed upon admittance to EKU for appropriate articulation. Learn more about transferring to EKU.

Sample Courses

For a full list of course descriptions please see section 7 of the University undergraduate catalog.

COR 311 – Juvenile Justice System (3)
Examines the evolution of the juvenile justice system, police response to delinquency, and juvenile court’s roles in protecting the public and serving children.

COR 360 – Rehabilitation Strategies for Adult and Juvenile Offenders (3)
Debates the rehabilitative goal of corrections and juvenile justice. Examines contemporary strategies and their effectiveness in controlling/changing offender behavior.

CRJ 313 – Criminal Justice Ethics (3)
Examines the moral, legal and normative obligations of the state and criminal justice professionals. Surveys the philosophies and theories of ethics and deviance.

COR 303 – Offenders in the Community (3)
This course will examine formal correctional options that are used to manage and treat offenders in the community. Students will explore the impact that offenders have on the communities to which they return and the effects that the neighborhood context and correctional policies can have on offender reintegration. The course will examine strategies for managing special offender populations in the community.

Enrollment

Jordan Tayce

Jordan Tayce

Enrollment Advisor

Call or email Enrollment Advisor Jordan Tayce for information about the EKU Online Corrections & Juvenile Justice Studies Program.

Contact Info:
859-622-7964
Jordan.Tayce@eku.edu

Schedule An Appointment

Application Deadlines

Term Application Deadline Classes Begin
Fall A July 5 August
Fall B August 31 October
Spring A November 30 January
Spring B January 31 March
Summer A April 5 May
Summer B  May 31 June

Additional Contact Information

Admissions: 859-622-2106
Academic Testing: 859-622-1281
Big E Central (Financial Aid & Student Account Services): 859-622-2361
Military & Veterans Affairs Office: 859-622-2345

Student Success

“

When you talk about a criminal justice program, almost immediately EKU is at the top of the list. And that’s nationwide. The professors and my classmates are so supportive. You feel like you’re set up for success from day one.

Dominique BlessinEKU Online Criminal Justice Student
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Online Military Students

EKU Online offers veterans and active duty military students an unparalleled online learning experience that provides accessibility, convenience and flexibility.

Special Tuition for Active Duty* Military
Eastern Kentucky University offers reduced tuition expenses to $250 per credit hour for undergraduate and $325 per credit hour for graduate courses to all service members currently serving on active duty.

*Active duty is defined as on federal orders for 180 days or more.

“I’d like to thank the EKU College of Justice & Safety for the opportunity to complete my degree online. It’s very user-friendly, and everyone has bent over backwards to make this happen.”

– 1LT Heath Bergmann, EKU Online Graduate

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Heath Bergmann
 
  • “It’s been a great experience. I gained the knowledge and tools to be successful in my career, got two promotions (including my current position) and made lifelong friends.” – Rocky Lykins
  • “The faculty at EKU really have made the material come alive. I feel involved with EKU even though I have never stepped foot on the campus.” —Catherine Pearson, Corrections and Juvenile Justice Studies
  • “What I have found in almost every course is a professor who is willing to help a student succeed” – Jim Johns
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