Criminal Justice

Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice

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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 Criminal Justice

Make a Positive Impact in Your Community by Addressing Issues of Crime and Justice

The need for trained professionals to navigate America’s complex and ever-changing criminal justice system is on the rise. EKU’s online criminal justice degree provides students with the leadership skills and theoretical, ethical, and practical approaches needed to successfully serve and protect their communities. Graduates are prepared to take on key positions in law enforcement, courts, social service agencies and corrections, or to pursue law school or other graduate studies.

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Benefits
Minors & Certificates
Careers

Benefits of EKU Online

EKU provides a balanced degree program that promotes respect, tolerance and sensitivity, leading to a deep, practical understanding of justice problems.

  • Accelerated 8-week terms
  • No campus visits required
  • Free online tutoring and career services assistance
  • No application fee
  • Free textbooks through EKU BookSmart
  • Law enforcement officers that have completed Kentucky’s DOCJT training can receive 9 hours of college credit
  • Courses begin 6 times per year
  • Generous credit transfer policy
  • Reduced tuition for active duty service members and their spouses
  • 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 Criminal Justice include:

  • Police Studies
  • Psychology
  • Homeland Security

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 Criminal Justice include:

  • Correctional Intervention Strategies
  • Youth Services
  • Intelligence Studies

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

Criminal Justice Careers

EKU’s online criminal justice degree combines the professional skills of specialized areas of criminal justice with the analytical skills needed to help you enhance your qualifications and pursue more challenging responsibilities in criminal justice agencies and organizations.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment of police and detectives is projected to grow 5 percent from 2018 to 2028, and employment of probation officers and correctional treatment specialists is projected to grow 3 percent from 2018 to 2028.  

Job Opportunities Include:

  • Victims advocate
  • Crime analyst
  • Court administrator
  • Police officer
  • Border patrol agent
  • FBI agent
  • Case manager
  • Correctional officer
  • Counselor
  • Bailiff
  • Pretrial services officer
  • Parole officer
  • Adult probation officer
  • Juvenile probation officer 
Find your career

Curriculum

EKU’s online criminal justice curriculum prepares students to pursue a variety of rewarding career possibilities by fostering a deep and practical understanding of justice problems. EKU provides a range of courses in justice studies including courses in general criminal justice, policing, corrections, law, juvenile justice, and social justice designed to prepare students for employment in the fields of criminal justice, social services and social advocacy.

Degree Requirements

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

View the criminal justice 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.

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.

CRJ 331 – Perspectives on Crime and Delinquency (3)
Overview of criminological theoretical perspectives that attempt to explain crime.

CRJ 325  – White Collar Crime/Crimes of the Powerful (3)
A review and analysis of the upper world crimes of business and government committed in the course of legitimate occupations and financial activities.

CRJ 355 – Rural Crime and Justice (3)
Survey of rural crime and justice issues, crime trends, policing and control of rural crime with particular attention given to Kentucky and Appalachia.

Enrollment

Jordan Tayce

Jordan Tayce

Enrollment Advisor

Call or email Enrollment Advisor Jordan Tayce for information about the EKU Online Criminal Justice program.

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

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

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

Heath Bergmann
 
  • “From the moment I became an EKU student, I felt like part of the family. As an online student, that speaks volumes. Every professor has given me guidance and set me up for success.” – Dominque Blessin
  • “After the birth of our first child, I knew I needed to go back and finish what I started,” said McKenzie. “I was happy that I could pick up where I left off at EKU even though I lived in a different state.” – EKU Online student and mom
  • “I chose EKU because I am a unique student with unique needs, and EKU provides an avenue for students like me to succeed.” – EKU Online Psychology student Jason Tate
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