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US News and World Report Best Online Programs Bachelor's 2024

Criminal Justice, B.S.

Kickstart your career with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from IU Online. As a student in this accelerated, flexible program, you’ll take an interdisciplinary approach to exploring crime, criminals, and the criminal justice system. You’ll graduate with the skills and knowledge to succeed on the job or in law school.

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Course Delivery: 100% Online

Total Credits: 120

In-State Tuition Per Credit: $249.73

Out-of-State Tuition Per Credit: $365.31

Cost of attendance may vary by campus. View the total cost calculator

A woman speaking to a judge in a courtroom
Move up with a degree from IU Online

Get your B.S. in criminal justice

This accelerated online degree program combines legal studies, sociology, political science, psychology, forensic science, public administration, urban studies, and philosophy to deliver a comprehensive understanding of the legal system.

As an IU Online student, you’ll benefit from a career-focused program ranked in the top ten by U.S. News & World Report. You’ll graduate with an Indiana University degree respected by employers worldwide—and you can work on yours anytime and anywhere.

  • Classes start January, March, May, June, August, and October
  • Choose 8- or 16-week courses
  • Access coursework anywhere
  • Enjoy personalized student services

And the benefits start long before graduation. More than half of IU Online students advance in their careers before they complete their degree.

“Online worked for me—the flexibility to take classes around my schedule, the professor’s flexible office hours.”

Ivorie Stalling BS in Criminal Justice

Students admitted to IU Online receive a full range of personalized support services, including:

  • Onboarding
  • Advising
  • Success Coaching
  • Math and Writing Support
  • Career Services
  • Peer Mentorship
  • Tutoring

Your IU Online BS in Criminal Justice prepares you for such careers as:

  • Police officer
  • Corrections officer
  • Law enforcement teacher or trainer
  • FBI, CIA, or Secret Service agent
  • Immigration and customs enforcement agent
  • US Postal Inspector
  • Court clerk
  • Crime scene investigator
  • Private security officer
  • Compliance manager

To graduate with the BS in Criminal Justice, you must complete a total of 120 credit hours. A minimum of 36 credits must be taken at the 300 level or above, with at least 18 in the major. No course with a grade below a 2.0 (C) will be accepted in the major/concentration area.

Requirements are broken down as follows:

  • General education courses (30 credit hours)
  • Criminal justice core courses (27 credit hours)
  • Criminal justice elective courses (9 credit hours)
  • First-Year seminar (0-3 credit hours)
  • Ethics course (3 credit hours)
  • Information literacy course (3 credit hours)
  • Diversity course (3 credit hours)
  • Social work course (3 credit hours recommended)
  • General education courses and electives, as needed to reach 120 credit hours

To be accepted to this program, you must have:

  1. Admissions requirements vary.

NOTE: This program is authorized, exempt, or not subject to state regulatory compliance and may enroll students from all 50 states.

To apply to this program:

  • Complete application for admission
  • Submit high school transcript or equivalent (applicants with fewer than 12 credit hours)
  • International applicants may be asked for additional materials
  • Submit official transcripts to applynow@iue.edu or:

Office of Admissions
Indiana University East
Whitewater Hall, Room 151
2325 Chester Boulevard
Richmond, IN 47374-1289

You may be able to transfer an associate degree or up to 64 credit hours from a regionally accredited two-year college and up to 90 credit hours from a regionally accredited four-year college or university.

Core

Criminal Justice, BS courses: Core
Course Course Name Credits
CJUS-P 100 Introduction to Criminal Justice 3 Credits
CJUS-P 200 Theories of Crime and Deviance 3 Credits
CJUS-P 295 Criminal Justice Data, Methods and Research 3 Credits
CJUS-P 301 Police in Contemporary Society 3 Credits
CJUS-P 302 Courts and Criminal Justice 3 Credits
CJUS-P 303 Corrections and Criminal Justice 3 Credits
CJUS-P 370 Legal Aspects of Criminal Justice 3 Credits
CJUS-P 411 Criminal Justice Management 3 Credits
CJUS-P 470 Senior Seminar in Criminal Justice 3 Credits

Elective

Criminal Justice courses, BS: Elective
Course Course Name Credits
CJUS-P 210 Service Learning Experience in Criminal Justice 3 Credits
CJUS-P 300 Topics in Criminal Justice 3 Credits
CJUS-P 320 Foundations of Criminal Investigation 3 Credits
CJUS-P 330 Criminal Justice Ethics 3 Credits
CJUS-P 372 Evidence 3 Credits
CJUS-P 375 American Juvenile Justice System 3 Credits
CJUS-P 376 Procedural Criminal Law 3 Credits
CJUS-P 422 Crime in the Mass Media 3 Credits
CJUS-P 457 Seminar on White-Collar Crime 3 Credits
CJUS-P 458 Wrongful Conviction 3 Credits
CJUS-P 481 Field Experience in Criminal Justice 3 Credits
CJUS-P 493 Seminar in Criminal Justice 3 Credits
CJUS-P 496 Research Internship 3 Credits

Find course descriptions with our Search Schedule of Classes/Courses tool.

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