B.S. Criminal Justice and Criminology Overview
Designed for individuals who plan to finish a bachelor’s degree, King’s online Criminal Justice and Criminology program can help you build the skills you need to enter management positions in law enforcement, crime prevention, human services, and more.
Our online criminal justice and criminology degree features a comprehensive curriculum designed to help you gain a deeper understanding of the United States criminal justice system. Key topics of study include:
- Criminal law
- Theories of criminology
- Juvenile justice
- Policing
- Criminal procedure
Upon completion of the program, students will make connections between theory, research, and policy, focus on change and growth within our current justice system, and develop proficiency in in-demand skill areas, such as writing, critical thinking, research, and analysis.
Our criminal justice and criminology program is proudly offered 100 percent online. All courses are the same as those on campus, ensuring that you’ll never sacrifice quality for convenience. Because you’ll study in a flexible format, you’ll be able fit your degree around your life, and immediately apply your education to your current job. Major coursework can be completed in 16 months.
The B.S. in Criminal Justice Degree is Designed for…
- Students who want an integrated course of study that includes criminal justice, criminology, and liberal arts courses
- Working adults with some college credit who are seeking to finish their degrees
- Those who want to study criminal justice to pursue advancement in law enforcement and human services
Courses and Requirements
Our online criminal justice and criminology degree requires 48 semester hours (12 courses) of major coursework. To graduate from King University, students must complete a total of 124 semester hours, which includes a mixture of major courses, general education courses, and additional courses which may come from credit transfers or electives. A student who has completed a state-approved law enforcement academy or training program may be awarded up to 12 semester hours of general elective credit.
To graduate from King University with a baccalaureate degree, all students must have earned 30 semester hours of common experience and general education courses. These courses include Foundations of Christian Thought and Practice, Citizenship, English Composition, Human Creative Products, Quantitative Literacy, Science, and additional credit hours from general education courses.
Students must earn a total of 34 semester hours of general electives.
| Course # | Title | Description | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| CRJU 1500 | Introduction to Criminal Justice | Introduction to Criminal Justice (CRJU 1500) is a required course in the criminal justice program. It is recommended that students take CRJU 1500 prior to entering the program. If a student intending to major in criminal justice has not completed this course prior to matriculation or prior to entering the criminal justice major, he/she is required to pass the course within the first two semesters of enrollment in the major. King offers the course online in “Quest” format (five learning modules spread over the entire 15-week semester), so the course can be taken while enrolled in the three specified criminal justice courses for the major, during a semester. | 4 |
| Course # | Title | Description | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| CRJU 2610 | Criminal Procedure | This course is designed to survey the foundations of our criminal course system as defined in the U.S. Constitution, and by federal, and state laws. Topics will include due process and procedure of criminal courts. Special emphasis will be placed on the safeguards provided to citizens in the U.S. Constitution. Prerequisite: CRJU 1500 | 4 |
| CRJU 2620 | Criminal Law | Criminal Law examines state and federal crimes of the United States. This course provides an historical overview of the philosophy and foundations of criminal law and examines elements of crime, purposes and functions of law, and the limits of law. It also covers topics such as defenses to prosecution. Prerequisite: CRJU 1500 | 4 |
| CRJU 2800 | Serial and Mass Murders | This course explores current research and case studies of serial killers and mass murders. Topics of discussion will include profiling, behavioral case studies, typologies, the history of these phenomena, and our culture’s fascination with this behavior. | 4 |
| CRJU 3000 | Juvenile Justice | This course will provide an overview of the beginnings and philosophy of the juvenile justice system in the United States. There will be a focus on theories of delinquency, special interventions for juveniles, status offenses, drug crime, and gangs. Important court cases and the constitutional rights of juveniles will also be discussed. Prerequisite: CRJU 1500 | 4 |
| CRJU 3100 | American Systems of Corrections | American Systems of Corrections is an overview of the history and development of the punishment system in the United States. Discussion will include the genesis of our current system and how other countries shaped its formation. There will also be an emphasis on the goals and types of punishments, alternatives to incarcerations, and capital punishment. Christianity’s influence on our historical penitentiaries and our modern correctional facilities will also be a focus. Prerequisite: CRJU 1500 | 4 |
| CRJU 3110 | American Policing | American Policing will provide a broad survey of the history and progression of law enforcement in America beginning with its early relationship to British law enforcement. The focus will be on understanding law enforcement as a type of social control. We will also analyze the use of policy in shaping law enforcement practices and techniques as well as the special problems associated with this type of employment such as stress. Prerequisite: CRJU 1500 | 4 |
| CRJU 3330 | Research Methods in Criminal Justice | Research Methods in Criminal Justice will include an examination of qualitative and quantitative methods of social science research with an emphasis on criminal justice theory and policy. Various research strategies including sample surveys, observation, experiments, and evaluation are discussed. Prerequisite: CRJU 1500 | 4 |
| CRJU 3440 | Applied Research Methods | This course will focus on the use of statistical methods in the analysis and interpretation of research in the field of criminal justice. Topics of discussion will include how research and statistics are used to better understand criminology, human behavior, and criminal justice policy. Prerequisite: CRJU 1500 | 4 |
| CRJU 3600 | Theories of Criminology | Theories of Criminology will include focused discussions on the analysis of the major criminological, sociological, and psychological theories that seek to explain why people commit crimes and how people become victims of crimes. Prerequisite: CRJU 1500 | 4 |
| CRJU 4200 | Ethics and Justice | This course includes discussion of the different ethical issues faced by criminal justice professionals such as prosecutorial and judicial misconduct, corrections issues, and law enforcement deviance. The examination of different ethical dilemmas and scenarios will be used. Prerequisite: CRJU 1500 | 4 |
| CRJU 4550 | Criminal Justice Policy | This course discusses current issues in criminal justice policy and criminology research. This course will deal with new research and policy implications in a wide range of areas. Topics will include research methodological issues, police operations, correctional treatment programs, court and legal issues, gun control, corrections, and drug issues. Prerequisite: CRJU 1500 | 4 |
| CRJU 4600 | Alternatives to Justice: Restorative Justice | This course focuses on alternatives to the traditional ways crime is addressed by the criminal justice system and how they can be implemented in our current system. Students will examine ways they can be agents of cultural transformation in the lives of the citizens they interact with throughout the course of their careers. Discussion will focus on alternatives to our current justice system. Prerequisite: CRJU 1500 | 4 |
To view the full Academic Catalog, CLICK HERE.
Admission Requirements
Students applying for the online criminal justice and criminology bachelor’s degree program must meet the following requirements:
- Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.2 on a 4.0 scale
- Students with less than a 2.2 high school GPA may be considered and accepted on a conditional basis provided they are able to demonstrate their plans to succeed in the program.
General Admission Requirements
General requirements for admission to King University include graduation from an accredited or recognized high school, GED, or secondary institution with a minimum of 16 academic units, distributed as follows:
- Four units of English
- Two units of algebra (Algebra I and II)
- One unit of geometry
- Two units of foreign language
- Two units from history and social studies
- One unit of natural science
- Four units of other academic electives
Students educated at home should follow the same procedures as any other candidate for the freshman class.
Students should present a high school transcript and documentation, or its equivalent.
How to Apply
Students applying for the online criminal justice and criminology program must submit the following materials:
- A completed online application
- An official transcript request form. A scanned copy may be emailed to your Enrollment Counselor.
Have questions about this program or the admissions process? Request information and get connected to one of our knowledgeable enrollment counselors.
Career Outcomes
Graduates of King University’s online criminal justice and criminology program can choose to pursue careers in:
- Law enforcement and security
- Criminal investigations and crime prevention
- Child and family advocacy
- Corrections, probation, and parole
- Court administration
- Law or graduate school
Studying online prepares you for a successful future. Discover a learning format that offers:
- Flexibility and Convenience
- Personalized Academics
- Equal Excellence
- Opportunity for Self-Insight