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Criminal Justice
Program Details
- Next Start Date
- May 1
- Est. Program Length
- 4 years
- Cost Per Credit
- $500
- Credit Hours
- 128
- Transfer Credits Accepted
- 90
- Accreditation
- WSCUC
Program Overview
Justice and its advocates play an important role in making society a better place. Jessup’s online criminal justice bachelor’s degree will equip you with the critical skills needed to serve your local community as a law enforcement professional. Each course is taught with an emphasis on Christian values by former law enforcement professionals, who incorporate their experience and their faith to build a curriculum that is rich in servant leadership.
Our online B.S. in criminal justice provides you with a solid foundation in the principles crucial to local, state and federal agencies and nonprofit organizations. The program explores the three branches of U.S. government, as well as how criminal law policies are created and implemented and their related impact on society. In addition, the online degree examines areas such as:
- Political theory and philosophy, including the writings by classic and modern thinkers that influence the development of modern political thought, structures and society
- How the field of corrections plays a role in the criminal justice system, including institutional operations and treatment and rehabilitation
- How the government responds to political violence, such as assassinations, genocide and terrorism
- The biblical and ethical principles that provide the basis for understanding Christian policymaking
- The roles that police play in American society, the conflicts they have to confront and the their tactics
The fully online program provides an introduction to criminal justice and law, political theory and philosophy and political processes.It additionally includes a public policy applied learning course that you will complete during your senior year in which you will acquire real-world experience. A capstone course requires you to complete a project that will contribute to the criminal justice field.
ALREADY AN ACTIVE-DUTY FIRST RESPONDER?
- Effective March 1, 2021, active-duty law enforcement personnel may receive 16 units of credit (1 semester) for graduation from a recognized law enforcement academy.
- All active-duty first responders will receive a 10% discount on their tuition.
- Financial aid is available.
Courses and Requirements
Our online B.S. in criminal justice includes a total of 128 credit hours. The 16 criminal justice courses explore topics such as criminal law, forensics, criminology and political theory. In addition, you must also choose one concentration or nine credits hours of electives.
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Central to each student’s course of study are the Foundational Studies, a core of classes that position students as leaders in their world. Jessup seeks to develop the whole person by developing skills in communication, quantitative reasoning, and critical thinking and by exposing students to a broad cross‐section of knowledge in the sciences, social sciences, and humanities.
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The following courses are part of the requirement for this major and are recommended to fulfill general education requirements or must be taken as part of a student’s major elective choices.
Major Courses
Course Number Course Title Credits PSYC 100 Intro to Psychology 3 HIST 291 American History 3 Core Courses
Course Number Course Title Credits CJUS 11 Intro to Criminal Justice 3 PPOL 111 American Government 3 CJUS 231 Laws of Arrest, Search, and Seizure 3 CJUS 300 Criminology 3 CJUS 301 Crime Prevention Strategies 3 PPOL 304 Ethics in Public Policy 3 CJUS 311 Crime Scene Investigation 3 CJUS 320 Police and Society 3 PPOL 324 State and Local Government 3 PPOL 361 Constitution and Civil Rights 3 CJUS 420 Procedural Justice and Implicit Bias 3 CJUS 440 Violence and Terrorism 3 CJUS 475 Criminal Justice Internship 3 CJUS 492 Research Project 3 PPOL 498 Senior Seminar: Leadership and Service 3 *CJUS475: Criminal Justice internships are available to California residents only. Internships are not required to fulfill program requirements. For out-of-state students, Research Project (CJUS492) will be substituted for CJUS475.
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General Concentration (12 units): Choose 12 units of electives from any of the concentrations.
Psychology Concentration: Choose 12 units of electives from the following.
Course Number Course Title Credits PSYC 102 Psychology and Christian Thought 3 PSYC 203 Social Psychology 3 PSYC 351 Abnormal Psychology 3 PSYC 332 Multicultural Issues in Psychology 3 PSYC 352 Psychology of Addiction 3 PSYC 430 Community Psychology 3 Political Science Concentration: Choose 12 units of electives from the following.
Course Number Course Title Credits PPOL 201 Political Theory & Philosophy 3 PPOL 221 Political Process 3 CJUS 230 Intro to Criminal Law 3 PPOL 253 Public Administration I 3 PPOL 328 American Presidency 3 PPOL 353 Public Administration II 3 PPOL 363 Law and Social Policy 3 PPOL 491 Political Research and Policy Analysis 3
Admissions
Submit your application. Be sure to include a copy of your undergrad transcript confirming at least a 2.0 GPA, if you have one. Otherwise, submit a copy of your high school transcript and ACT or SAT scores. You will also need to submit a copy of the university form.
| Item | Credits | Cost/Credit Hour | Totals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition | 128 | $500 | $64,000 |
| Maximum Transfer Credits | 90 | $500 | $(45,000) |
| Total with transfer credits: † | $19,000 | ||
The tuition reflects the minimum time to completion. Time to completion varies by student, depending on individual progress and credits transferred, if applicable. For a personalized estimate of your time to completion, call an enrollment advisor at (844) 224-5483 or request more information.
* Tuition and fees are subject to change. Books and materials are not included and may cost up to an additional $5,500.
† Maximum transfer credit total includes reduction in technology fee as related to reduced number of courses over time.
Financial Aid
Online students receive the same financial aid options as those attending classes on campus. Students receive a dedicated financial aid officer who will guide them through all of their available financial aid options. There are several grants, scholarships and loans available, and undergrad students are eligible for up to $12,500 per year in federal student loans.
Learn more about financial aid options.
Scholarships
Undergrads also can receive up to $2,000 per year with the Church Partnership Grant, which is reserved for candidates who attend supporting churches. Additionally, California residents who are high school seniors or transferring from a community college may apply for the Cal Grant. The grant does not need to be repaid and is funded by the state of California.
Find out more about the grants and scholarships available.
Prospective students who are transferring can complete their degree in two years with a full workload and 60 units transferred. A maximum of 90 credits may be transferred per university policy, and credits may come from other regionally accredited institutions.
Students who have completed police officer academy training can transfer up to 12 credits to count toward general education or comparable Criminal Justice core courses. For POST-certified non-transferable credits, Jessup will accept one credit per every three credits completed. If the student has less than 12 credits of general education left to transfer in, credits will be applied to the core courses in the following order:
- PPOL 469: Violence and Terrorism
- PPOL 368: Forensics
- PPOL 364: Police and Society
- PPOL 366: Corrections
- PPOL 260: Intro to Criminal Justice
- PPOL 362: Criminology
Learn more about transferring your credits.
Jessup proudly participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program to fully support our nation’s veterans. Veterans with 100-percent eligibility will have all of their tuition costs and most fees completely covered. Additionally, up to $2,500 per year may be awarded to those who qualify for the U.S. Army Women’s Foundation Legacy Scholarship.
Learn more about Jessup’s military friendliness.
Jessup is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC), the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA), and is a member of the Association for Biblical Higher Education.
Career Outcomes
Why Choose Jessup?
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Expert Faculty
Learn from practitioners who have extensive experience in their field.
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Real-World Experience
Hands-on curriculum that offers opportunities for mentorships and job positions
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Diverse Knowledge
Versatile coursework that can be applied to a variety of careers post-graduation.