BS in Criminal Justice
Seek Justice for All Individuals
The Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice combines aspects of public and business administration with the context and practice of justice. Our approach will give you foundational knowledge with an eye toward application.
CityU offers upper- and lower-division courses online, and some courses on-site to accommodate your schedule and financial aid requirements. Faculty in this program are active practitioners who bring their professional expertise to the classroom.
In the BS in Criminal Justice program, you can choose a focus in Justice Administration. You will build upon previous coursework in the core courses and advance your technical knowledge and skills in policy and operations as they pertain to justice administration in a public sector setting.
Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission Basic Training graduates are eligible to have 36 lower-division credits awarded with the potential to waive an additional 5 upper-division credits for completion of their basic training. If you have military experience, you may be eligible to earn credit toward this criminal justice degree.
CityU was designated a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education by the National Security Agency and Department of Homeland Security.
Learning Outcomes
Throughout the Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice program, you’ll learn:
- Topics and problems related to the discipline of criminology
- The essential process in the role of justice
- Classical and modern models of ethics and decision-making analysis
- Criminal justice as a system of interlinked issues and decisions faced by a diverse network of individuals, groups, and agencies
- A range of procedural criminal law topics
Required Credits (180 Credits)
For full course descriptions please refer to the current catalog.
Lower-Division Requirements (90 Credits)
Students must meet General Education requirements listed below. This is typically completed within the 90 required lower-division credits. For this program, Quantitative/Symbolic Reasoning is met through the course MATH 107 Mathematical Reasoning and its Applications or higher.
General Education
- College Composition I** and II (CCII) (10 Credits)
- Quantitative/Symbolic Reasoning (CM/QSR) (5 Credits)
- Humanities (HU) (10 Credits)
- Social Sciences (SS) (15 Credits)
- Natural Sciences (NS) (15 Credits)
**If College Composition I is waived through transfer or articulation, students must take an additional 5 quarter credits from a humanities discipline.
Preparatory Courses (30 Credits)
These preparatory courses may be applied towards CityU's General Education and Lower-Division credit requirements.
- SSC 202 Introduction to Criminal Justice Systems (HU or SS) (5)
- SSC 204 Criminal Procedural Law (HU or SS) (5)
- PSY 240 Critical Thinking and Writing Skills in Social Sciences (HU) (5)
- HUM 210 Justice and Ethics (HU or SS) (5)
- HUM 215 History of Punishment and Prisons (HU) (5)
- CJ 211 Criminal Investigation (NS or SS) (5)
Criminal Justice Core (50 Credits)
- CJ 318 Fundamentals of Criminology (HU or SS) (5)
- CJ 330 Management and Leadership (HU or SS) (5)
- CJ 333 Planning and Policy Analysis (SS) (5)
- CJ 341 Contemporary Justice Administration Issues (5)
- CJ 350 Globalization and Crime (HU or SS) (5)
- CJ 360 Cybercrime, Technology, and Social Change (5)
- CJ 361 Cyber and Surveillance Law and Government (SS or HU) (5)
- CJ 365 Applied Criminology and Crime Prevention (SS) (5)
- CJ 403 Enterprise Risk Management (5)
- CJ 410 Risk Assessment and Prevention (NS or SS) (5)
- COM 461 Communicating Crisis, Emergency and Social Change (HU or SS) (5)
Upper-Division Electives (or) Specialized Study Emphasis (25 Credits)
Capstone (5 Credits)
- CJ 465 Bureaupathology (5)
If you’re interested in seeking justice for all individuals involved when a crime is committed, consider a career in criminal justice. This would be a highly demanding yet rewarding profession.
The Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice program will prepare you for a variety of management and leadership roles, including:
- Corrections and juvenile justice
- Law enforcement
- Inspector general investigation
- Forensic psychologist
- Paralegal
- Crime scene investigator
- Police officer
- Probation officer
Networking Opportunities
At CityU, you’ll have the opportunity to expand your professional network by connecting with faculty working in your field, students from around the globe, and alumni employed at Seattle’s top companies. Plus, you’ll be part of a supportive community that’s dedicated to helping you reach your career goals.
Tuition Cost
Learn more about tuition and fees for our undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs.
Financial Aid Opportunities
At CityU, we are committed to helping students achieve their academic goals no matter their economic situations. Our financial aid counselors are here to find the resources you need to pay for your education, including grants, loans, work study, and scholarships. Learn more about financial aid opportunities at CityU, or contact our Financial Aid Team at 800.426.5596, 206.239.4540, or finaid@cityu.edu.
Military Tuition Benefits
As a Yellow Ribbon school, CityU is proud to serve those who have served in the military. We offer military tuition discounts for active-duty servicemembers and their spouses and accept military benefits such as the Post 9/11 GI Bill® and Tuition Assistance. Learn more about military tuition benefits, VA benefits, and military partnership programs designed to help you reach your military and career goals.
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WHY CHOOSE CITYU?
Founded in 1973, City University of Seattle offers over 60 on-site and online programs designed for busy working adults like you. When you enroll at CityU, you will have the support of a community of faculty, staff, students, and alumni who are dedicated to helping you finish your degree and reach your goals.
