The online B.S. in Criminal Justice will help you grow your career in law enforcement. You’ll develop a working knowledge of criminology, corrections, probation, parole, constitutional law, and advocacy.
Credit Hours: 120 | Transfer: Up to 90 Credits | Tuition Cost
What is Criminal Justice?
Criminal justice is a large field focused on maintaining lawful behavior throughout communities, which involves many different roles and job types. This program is designed to prepare individuals for entry or advancement in a wide variety of fields related to criminal justice, including roles such as: law enforcement officer, police detective, corrections officer, probation and parole officer, juvenile detective, school resource officer, military police, government facility security officer, crime victim advocate, child protection investigator, juvenile diversion specialist, and crime analyst.
Why study Criminal Justice at UNH College of Professional Studies?
The B.S. in Criminal Justice will help you grow your career in law enforcement or related fields. You’ll develop a working knowledge of criminology, the criminal justice system, corrections, probation, parole, constitutional law, and advocacy. You will also study the foundations of ethical decision making within the criminal justice system, which can help to prepare you to become a well-rounded professional in this field.
For current criminal justice professionals who are looking to complete their degree, an online B.S. in Criminal Justice will open the door for career advancement, as well as opportunities for other employment options upon retirement. This program is also an excellent refresher for seasoned professionals and can provide a steppingstone to graduate programs such as a Master’s in Public Administration or law school.
For those looking to enter the criminal justice field for the first time, this program will provide you with an essential foundation and boost your employment potential at law enforcement and government agencies. It also provides excellent preparation for those looking to attend a police or correctional academy.
Potential Career Areas
- Child Protection
- Corrections Officers
- Court Advocates
- Detectives and Criminal Investigators
- Emergency Management Directors
- First-Line Supervisors
- Juvenile Probation
- Military Police
- Police Administration
- Police Identification and Records Officers
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers
- Probation and Parole Officers
- School Resource Officer
- Security Guards
- Transit and Railroad Police
Course Highlights
- The Criminal Justice System
- Crime Prevention and Control
- Crime Victim Rights and Remedies
- Corrections, Probation and Parole
- Ethical Decision Making in the Criminal Justice System
- Research Methods in the Behavioral Sciences
- Statistics
- Law and Society
…and more!
Why UNH CPS?
- Regionally accredited by the New England Commission on Higher Education, Inc. (NECHE).
- Available fully online with select on-campus courses.
- Affordable tuition.
- Nationally ranked online programs.
- About 89% of our students are transfer students. Making the most of your transfer credits is our specialty.
- Career advising is available to all students and alumni. We also extend this service to those considering their college options.
- Faculty who are subject matter experts and share their real-world expertise, helping you apply what you learn to your personal goals and career.
- We’re experts at assessing credit toward your undergraduate degree – not only from previous college coursework, but also for other college-level knowledge demonstrated outside the traditional classroom.
Students pursuing an associate degree at their local community college are encouraged to explore our Transfer Pathway! This resource lists the courses your associate degree should contain at your community college, as well as the remaining courses you’ll need to take at UNH College of Professional Studies to complete your bachelor’s degree!
View Your Transfer Pathway
- Completion of our free, online application for admission
- High school diploma, completion of a high school education in a homeschool setting under state law, or demonstrate high school equivalency.
- Successful completion of one of the following exams will be required for demonstrating high school equivalency: the GED, HiSET, or TASC
Curriculum & Requirements
This degree plan is a sample and does not reflect the impact of transfer credit or current course offerings. UNH CPS Online undergraduate students should develop individual academic plans with their academic advisor during their first year at UNH.
Sample Course Sequence
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| CRIM 410 | Introduction to Criminology | 4 |
| CRIM 555 | The Criminal Justice System | 4 |
| ENG 420 | The Writing Process | 4 |
| General Education Course | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| COM 460 | Interpersonal Communication and Group Dynamics | 4 |
| CRIT 501 | Introduction to Critical Inquiry | 4 |
| MTH 402 or MTH 504 or MTH 510 | Math for Our World or Statistics or Pre-Calculus | 4 |
| POL 554 | Law and Society | 4 |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| COM 480 | Visual Communication | 4 |
| CRIM 600 | Crime Prevention and Control | 4 |
| MTH 504 | Statistics | 4 |
| General Education Course | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| CRIM 645 | Crime Victim Rights and Remedies | 4 |
| CRIM 680 | Corrections, Probation and Parole | 4 |
| Criminal Justice Elective | 4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| CRIT 602 | Advanced Critical Analysis and Strategic Thinking | 4 |
| IDIS 560 | Research Methods in the Behavioral Sciences | 4 |
| Uppler Level Criminal Justice Elective | 4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| CRIM 707 | Constitutional Law | 4 |
| General Education Course | 4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| CRIM 725 | Ethical Decision Making in the Criminal Justice System | 4 |
| IDIS 601 | Interdisciplinary Seminar | 4 |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| CRIM 797 or CRIM 795 | Integrative Capstone: Project in Criminal Justice or Integrative Capstone: Internship in Criminal Justice | 4 |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 8 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
Degree Requirements
General Education Program Requirements
A minimum grade of D- is required in all General Education coursework. Students are allowed a maximum of two course overlaps. Overlaps can be used between Major, Minor and General Education requirements with only 8 credits overlapped between the Major and Minor.
All General Education requirements, including CRIT 602 Advanced Critical Analysis and Strategic Thinking and IDIS 601 Interdisciplinary Seminar, must be taken prior to the capstone.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENG 420 | The Writing Process | 4 |
| COM 460 | Interpersonal Communication and Group Dynamics | 4 |
| COM 480 | Visual Communication | 4 |
| CRIT 501 | Introduction to Critical Inquiry | 4 |
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
MTH 402 | Math for Our World | |
MTH 504 | Statistics | |
MTH 510 | Pre-Calculus | |
| Knowledge of Human Behavior & Social Systems | 4 | |
| Knowledge of the Physical & Natural World | 4 | |
| Knowledge of Human Thought & Expression | 4 | |
| CRIT 602 | Advanced Critical Analysis and Strategic Thinking | 4 |
| IDIS 601 | Interdisciplinary Seminar | 4 |
| Total Credits | 40 | |
Writing Program Requirements
All bachelor's degree candidates are required to complete four writing intensive courses as part of the University Writing Program Requirements as follows:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
ENG 420 | The Writing Process | |
One Writing Intensive course in the Major | ||
One Writing Intensive course at the 600-level or above | ||
One Additional Writing Intensive Course | ||
Writing Intensive courses are identified with the label "Writing Intensive Course" in the "Attributes" section of the course description and/or a W following the course number.
Major Requirements
Prior to capstone enrollment, students are expected to complete the majority of their required major courses along with CRIT 602 Advanced Critical Analysis and Strategic Thinking and IDIS 601 Interdisciplinary Seminar. Students should consult with their advisor regarding specific major courses that may be completed with their capstone. Academic Advisor approval is required for registration to be processed.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Major in Criminal Justice | ||
| Foundation courses | ||
| CRIM 410 | Introduction to Criminology | 4 |
| CRIM 555 | The Criminal Justice System | 4 |
| MTH 504 | Statistics | 4 |
| POL 554 | Law and Society | 4 |
| Intermediate Courses | ||
| CRIM 600 | Crime Prevention and Control | 4 |
| CRIM 645 | Crime Victim Rights and Remedies | 4 |
| IDIS 560 | Research Methods in the Behavioral Sciences | 4 |
| Criminal Justice Elective | ||
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
BEHS 445 | Homeland Security and Emergency Management | |
or BEHS 675 | Terrorism: Domestic and International | |
or CMPL 525 | Foundations of Cybersecurity | |
or CRIM 425 | Juvenile Justice | |
or DAT 510 | Introduction to Data Analytics | |
or HMSV 424 | Human Services and the Helping Process | |
or HRM 580 | Change Management | |
or HRM 635 | Managing Conflict | |
or MGMT 608 | Fostering Inclusion and Diversity in the Workplace | |
or POL 450 | American Government and Politics | |
or PSY 530 | Social Psychology | |
or PSY 602 | Theories of Personality | |
or PSY 603 | Crisis Intervention | |
or PSY 646 | Psychology of Occupational Stress | |
or PSY 654 | Counseling Theories | |
or PSY 685 | Principles of Psychopathology | |
or SOCI 601 | Society and the Individual | |
or SOCI 675 | Child Abuse and Neglect | |
or SOSC 445 | Race & Diversity in the U.S. | |
or SOSC 680 | Stress and the Family | |
or SOSC 710 | Social Stratification and Inequality | |
| Advanced Courses | ||
| CRIM 680 | Corrections, Probation and Parole | 4 |
| CRIM 707 | Constitutional Law | 4 |
| CRIM 725 | Ethical Decision Making in the Criminal Justice System | 4 |
| Upper Level Criminal Justice Elective | ||
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
BEHS 675 | Terrorism: Domestic and International | |
or HRM 635 | Managing Conflict | |
or MGMT 608 | Fostering Inclusion and Diversity in the Workplace | |
or PSY 602 | Theories of Personality | |
or PSY 603 | Crisis Intervention | |
or PSY 646 | Psychology of Occupational Stress | |
or PSY 654 | Counseling Theories | |
or PSY 685 | Principles of Psychopathology | |
or SOCI 601 | Society and the Individual | |
or SOCI 675 | Child Abuse and Neglect | |
or SOSC 680 | Stress and the Family | |
or SOSC 710 | Social Stratification and Inequality | |
| Integrative Capstone | ||
| CRIM 795 | Integrative Capstone: Internship in Criminal Justice | 4 |
| or CRIM 797 | Integrative Capstone: Project in Criminal Justice | |
| Total Credits | 52 | |
Electives
Open electives are courses students will need to take in addition to their general education and major requirements in order to satisfy the remaining credit totals for their programs. Open electives are defined as any credit course offered by the College not already included in the student's general education, major, option or minor. Students will need 120 credits total to graduate with a bachelor's degree from the Online Division of the College of Professional Studies.
- Possess a broad and interdisciplinary understanding of the psychosocial, cultural, ethical, and political dimensions of criminal justice in contemporary society.
- Demonstrate an ability to understand and apply ethical thinking and behavior as it relates to their work environment.
- Use research methodology and interpret information as it applies to criminal justice.
- Demonstrate a working knowledge of criminology, criminal justice, law enforcement, corrections, probation/parole, US and NH constitutional law, and advocacy.
Your Prior and Current Learning Counts
Many of our students can demonstrate college-level knowledge gained from military, workplace and volunteer-based training, and experiences. We are experts at helping students demonstrate learning and earning academic credit.
Opportunities for Airmen
The AU-ABC partnership between Air University and the UNH College of Professional Studies allows you to apply your CCAF Associate in Applied Science toward this online bachelor's degree. All CCAF degrees are transferable into this program.
Career Outcomes
Talk with your advisor to discuss how your program, experience, and goals align.