Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice
DURATION
120 Hours
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time, Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline
EARLIEST START DATE
May 2025
TUITION FEES
USD 443 / per credit *
STUDY FORMAT
Distance Learning
* per credit hour
Introduction
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
Gallery
Admissions
Scholarships and Funding
Grants
Grants are a type of financial support that does not need to be repaid. Many grants are based on financial need alone, however, some grants also take academic performance, academic degree program, and/or residence status into consideration.
Grants are available at the federal and state level.
Private Loans
Private student loans are not funded or subsidized by the federal government; instead, they are funded by banks, credit unions, or other types of lenders.
The bank or lender – not the federal government – sets interest rates, loan limits, terms, and conditions of private student loans. Your ability to qualify for and borrow a private student loan may be based on numerous factors that can include your credit history, whether or not you choose to have a co-signer, your co-signer’s credit history, your choice of school, and your course of study. These loans do not offer the flexible repayment terms or borrower protections featured by federal student loans.
Employer Tuition Reimbursement
Employer tuition reimbursement includes a variety of employer-sponsored programs to help employees pay for college. In many cases, the funds received from these programs will be excluded from income and are tax-free.
Employee tuition reimbursement programs are typically governed by an employer’s human resources department. Employers may provide up to $5,250 per year in employer education assistance benefits for undergraduate or graduate courses.
Your employer may require you to attain a particular grade or to complete a program in order to obtain reimbursement. The employer may also require that you remain employed for a period of time after completing the course of study. Finally, your employer may require you to provide receipts or other substantiation of the educational expenses.
Military Benefits
For information on veteran and active duty military services and offerings, contact the EKU Office of Military and Veteran Affairs at 859.622.2345. EKU is repeatedly recognized by both Military Times and GI Jobs as a leader among Military Friendly® Schools and we look forward to helping you reach your goals.
Outside Scholarships
These scholarships are awarded by an organization other than the government or university. They are available from a number of groups, organizations, and entities nationwide. These 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 your financial aid office 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.
Departmental Scholarships
Departmental scholarships are awarded by specific EKU departments. The types, size, and criteria for these scholarships will vary by department.
If you receive a departmental scholarship, you must notify your financial aid office 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.
Foundation Scholarships
EKU is fortunate to have hundreds of generous individuals and organizations that have donated scholarship money for current EKU students from a variety of backgrounds, situations, and interests. These are referred to as EKU Foundation Scholarships. Due to the number of these scholarships and the varying criteria for them, EKU has developed a single Foundation Scholarship application.
After completing the application, you will be considered for any foundation scholarship for which you are eligible. Criteria for these scholarships vary and can include academics, major, interests, place of residence, and more.
Curriculum
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
Program Tuition Fee
Career Opportunities
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
English Language Requirements
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