Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice
Online, USA
BSc
DURATION
120 hours
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time, Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
STUDY FORMAT
Distance Learning
* rolling admissions
Key Summary
About: EKU offers an online Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and Master's options in Justice, Policy & Leadership, Public Administration. Curriculum covers criminal justice ethics, rehabilitation, crime, juvenile justice, and policing. Features: 8-week terms, six start dates per year, reduced tuition for active duty service members, DOCJT credit, advisors, online tutoring, and career services.
Career Outcomes: You’ll gain leadership and analytical skills for careers in law enforcement, corrections, probation, and social services. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 5% growth for police and detectives and 3% growth for probation officers and correctional treatment specialists (2018–2028). Typical roles: Police, Probation, Social Services, Correctional Officers.
Eastern Kentucky University is a recognized leader in criminal justice programming and offers some of the finest degree options in the nation devoted to the criminal justice system. A criminal justice degree best positions you to take on leadership roles in the field, serve your community, and help to ensure equality under the law. Whether you want to start a new career or advance in your current one, EKU’s online criminal justice degree programs can help you reach your goals.
Choose from multiple program options:
- Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice
- Master’s Degree in Justice, Policy, and Leadership
- Master’s Degree in Public Administration
What sets our program apart?
EKU provides a balanced degree program that promotes respect, tolerance, and sensitivity, leading to a deep, practical understanding of justice problems. EKU’s curriculum blends academic and professional preparation through course topics such as criminal justice ethics, rehabilitation strategies, perspectives on crime and delinquency, the juvenile justice system, policing strategies, and crime patterns.
- Accelerated 8-week terms
- Courses begin 6 times per year
- Generous credit transfer policy
- Reduced tuition for active duty service members
- No campus visits required
- 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
- Free online tutoring and career services assistance
- Study anytime, from anywhere
- A dynamic, supportive learning environment
Core Courses --- 15
- CRJ 101 --- Introduction to Criminal Justice --- 3
- CRJ 313 --- Criminal Justice Ethics --- 3
- CRJ 331 --- Perspectives on Crime and Delinquency --- 3
- CRJ 388 --- Criminal Justice Research --- 3
- CRJ 400 --- Applied Criminal Justice Analysis --- 3
Criminal Justice Electives --- 27
Together with your advisor, select at least one course from each of the three areas: (12 hours must be upper-division).
Corrections
- CRJ 204 --- Foundations of Corrections --- 3
- CRJ 302 --- Living and Working in Prison --- 3
- CRJ 303 --- The Offender in the Community --- 3
- CRJ 360 --- Rehabilitation Strategies for Adult and Juvenile Offenders --- 3
Law and Juvenile Justice
- PLS 216 --- Criminal Law --- 3
- PLS 316 --- Criminal Evidence --- 3
- PLS 416 --- Criminal Procedure --- 3
- CRJ 311 --- Judicial Processes --- 3
- CRJ 312 --- Law and Society --- 3
- CRJ 314 --- Juvenile Justice System --- 3
Policing
- PLS 103 --- Police, Order, Maintenance, and Crime --- 3
- PLS 401 --- Multi-Culturalism and Policing --- 3
- PLS 420 --- Surveillance and Society --- 3
Supporting Course Requirements --- 9
Together with your advisor, select courses from up to two of the following areas:
- African-American Studies --- 3
- Appalachian Studies --- 3
- Environmental Sustainability and Stewardship --- 3
- Homeland Security --- 3
- Political Science --- 3
- Psychology --- 3
- Social Justice Studies --- 3
- Sociology --- 3
- Women and Gender Studies --- 3
Free Electives --- 32
EKU General Education Requirements* --- 37
Total Hours --- 120
Find Your Scholarship
A scholarship is a financial award given to students to help pay for their education that does not need to be paid back. Scholarships are awarded by schools, universities, and other organizations, and are based on a variety of criteria, such as academic achievement, financial need, or professional experience. The money can be used to cover tuition, books, housing, food, and other educational expenses. Please note that institutional scholarships, including merit awards, may not be stacked with other scholarships or tuition waivers and require the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Merit Scholarships for In-State First-Time Freshmen
Merit scholarships make EKU even more affordable for first-time students.* EKU recognizes the hard work and dedication needed to achieve at a high level. Get rewarded for your high school accomplishments with merit scholarships. If you meet the following criteria, merit scholarships will automatically be applied to your account. No application needed!
Merit Scholarships for Out-of-State First-Time Freshmen
High-achieving students can get rewarded for their work and receive additional scholarships to make EKU even more affordable. If you meet the following criteria, merit scholarships may be applied to your account automatically without the need for an application!
Additional EKU Scholarships for First-Time Freshmen
Kentucky residents who are Pell Grant-eligible may receive this scholarship, which will cover up to 100 percent of tuition and fees for first-year students who have a 3.0 high school GPA. This scholarship is intended to act as “gap funding” for any first-time freshman who has exhausted all avenues of federal, state, and institutional scholarship and grant assistance, and still has a remaining balance for tuition and required fees. This scholarship is for on-campus students only. This cannot be awarded in addition to a Merit Tier scholarship.
Eligibility Requirements: On-campus, Pell Grant-eligible, Kentucky resident, first-time freshman with a 3.0 high school GPA
EKU Scholarships for On-Campus, In-State Transfer Students*
Eastern Kentucky University values the education and experience students from other schools bring to their EKU experience. On-campus students who transfer to EKU with 24 earned college credits are eligible for the following scholarships. If you meet the following criteria, transfer scholarships will automatically be applied to your account. No application needed!
Foundation Scholarships
EKU has made a difference in thousands of lives. Donors who have experienced the life-changing effect an EKU education can have now want to make a difference in your life. Thanks to their generosity, there are hundreds of scholarships available for EKU students.
Eligibility criteria range from GPA to county of residence to degree program and more. Simply fill out the foundation scholarship application, and you’ll learn which scholarships you may be eligible for.
Outside Scholarships
These scholarships are awarded by an organization other than the government or university. They are available from several groups, organizations, and entities nationwide. Third-party scholarships can be general in nature or very specialized and tied to the type of work you would be doing after graduation.
If you receive an outside scholarship, you must notify Big E Central so the award can be properly reported as part of your total aid package. Failure to report awards can result in the award not being accepted or a portion of the funds having to be repaid due to overpayment.
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
Police & Detectives
- Median Annual Salary: $63,380 per year / $30 per hour
- Number of Jobs: 808,700
- Typical Entry-Level Education: High School Diploma (Varies by agency & department- bachelor’s degrees are increasingly being required)
Probation Officers & Correctional Treatment Specialists
- Median Annual Salary: $53,020 per year / $25 per hour
- Number of Jobs: 91,600
- Typical Entry-Level Education: Bachelor’s Degree
Social & Human Services Assistants
- Median Annual Salary: $33,750 per year / $16 per hour
- Number of Jobs: 413,700
- Typical Entry-Level Education: High School Diploma
Correctional Officers & Bailiffs
- Median Annual Salary: $44,400 per year / $21 per hour
- Number of Jobs: 453,900
- Typical Entry-Level Education: High School Diploma
- Low-cost textbooks through EKU BookSmart
- No application fee
- Reduced tuition for active-duty military members and their spouses
- Fast-track opportunities for students with 80 or more credit hours
- Dynamic, supportive learning environment
- Fitness & wellness management program provides students with knowledge & skills needed to successfully certify through ACSM, ACE, NSCA, AFAA, & other professional groups
- Dedicated faculty advisors who work with pre-professional health students on the ins and outs of applying to professional programs of choice
- Pre-professional curricula emphasize inclusion of prerequisite courses, foundational content & additional courses to prepare students for graduate/professional programs
- Diverse faculty are actively involved in the profession & have real-life expertise
