Delivery
Online
Criminal Justice, B.A. – Online
Program Overview
Earn Your Criminal Justice Degree Online
Prepare for careers in law enforcement, corrections, courts, social services, policy analysis and criminal justice research with UNC Charlotte’s fully online Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice.
The online B.A. in Criminal Justice (CJUS) provides students with a comprehensive understanding of crime, criminal behavior and the systems designed to prevent, investigate and respond to crime. Through the study of criminology, criminal justice organizations and crime analytics, students develop the knowledge and critical thinking skills needed to address complex public safety and justice challenges.
Designed to be accessible and flexible for students and working professionals, this program is delivered 100% online. It provides the same rigorous curriculum and faculty expertise as the on-campus degree while allowing students to complete coursework from anywhere.
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Why Earn an Online Criminal Justice Degree at UNC Charlotte?
UNC Charlotte's online B.A. in Criminal Justice combines academic excellence with the flexibility today's learners need.
Flexible Online Learning
Complete your coursework entirely online, making it easier to balance school with work, family responsibilities or military service.
Learn from Experienced Faculty
Study with faculty members who are actively engaged in criminal justice and criminology research and who bring real-world insights into the virtual classroom.
Data-Driven Career Preparation
In addition to studying criminal behavior and justice systems, students complete crime analytics coursework that prepares them to use data and evidence-based approaches to inform decision-making.
Same Degree, Same Quality
The online program features the same curriculum, learning outcomes and academic standards as UNC Charlotte’s campus-based Criminal Justice degree.
A Leader in Criminal Justice Education
UNC Charlotte is one of North Carolina’s leading producers of Criminal Justice and Safety Studies graduates, providing students with a respected credential recognized by employers across the region and beyond.
What You’ll Learn
Students in the Criminal Justice major examine both the causes of crime and society’s response to criminal behavior.
Coursework explores:
- Criminological theories explaining crime and delinquency
- Law enforcement systems and practices
- Courts and the judicial process
- Corrections and rehabilitation
- Criminal justice policy
- Crime prevention strategies
- Research methods and analysis
- Crime analytics and data-driven decision-making
- Relationships among criminal justice agencies
Through this interdisciplinary approach, students gain a deeper understanding of how criminal justice institutions operate and how policies impact the administration of justice.
Criminal Justice and Criminology are two interrelated areas of study with a rich interdisciplinary academic tradition.
Criminology is the study of the etiology and nature of crime and delinquency, and theoretical explanations conceived to explain these behaviors.
Criminal Justice is the study of agencies’ responses to criminal and delinquent behavior, the relationship among these agencies, and policies that impact the process through which justice is administered.
Admissions & Requirements
Students admitted to the online Criminal Justice major qualify for distance education fees for fully online classes and are considered distance education (DE) students.
Prospective students who have fewer than 24 transferable credit hours should apply for the on-campus program and can submit a change of major request after earning a total of 24 transferable credit hours.
In order to be awarded the bachelor’s degree, students must complete a total of 120 credit hours with 40 credit hours in the major.
Majors
Before declaring the Criminal Justice major, students must complete Foundations of Criminal Justice (CJUS 1100 or 1511) with a grade of C or better within two attempts (grades of D, F, or W count as attempts) and have a GPA of at least 2.0.
Please note: Students are required to have both a 2.0 overall GPA and at least a 2.0 GPA in CJUS courses only.
Once these conditions are met, you can fill out the Criminal Justice Major Declaration Form. It is the student’s responsibility to monitor their transcript or DegreeWorks regularly, as no notifications will be sent regarding the status of the major. Please check these documents to confirm when the major appears.
Requirements for Completion
To complete the Criminal Justice major, students must complete 40 hours of Criminal Justice coursework. This includes the required core courses:
- CJUS 1511
- CJUS 1200
- CJUS 2340
- CJUS 2370
- STAT 1222 or 1221 or 1220
- Plus
- one course in CJUS Crime Analytics
- one Engagement Across Perspectives course
- and 21 hours of CJUS electives
Students must have an overall GPA of 2.0 in the major courses and overall, and earn 120 credit hours.
CJUS 1511 is a prerequisite for all required and elective coursework EXCEPT for CJUS 1200, STAT 1220, 1221, 1222 and SPAN 3221.
Students must take and pass CJUS 1511, 2340, 2370 and Statistics with a grade of C or better. Also, students may only attempt CJUS 1511 and 2340 no more than 2 times, including all withdrawals and grade replacements of D or F. Students will be restricted from enrolling in these CJUS classes a 3rd time.
Career Opportunities
Graduates are prepared for a variety of careers across the criminal justice, public service and research sectors.
Potential career paths include:
- Law Enforcement Officer
- Detective or Criminal Investigator
- Probation or Parole Officer
- Corrections Officer or Administrator
- Victim Advocate
- Substance Abuse Counselor Support Roles
- Mental Health Support Services
- Crime Analyst
- Intelligence Analyst
- Research Associate
- Policy Analyst
- Public Safety Specialist
- Government and Nonprofit Program Coordinator
The program also provides a strong academic foundation for students interested in pursuing graduate study in criminal justice, criminology, public administration, law or related fields.
This program may be a good fit if ..
.. you are interested in:
- Understanding why crime occurs
- Studying criminal behavior and delinquency
- Exploring criminal justice policies and practices
- Examining how law enforcement, courts and corrections work together
- Using data and analytics to solve public safety challenges
- Building a career in criminal justice, social services, government or research