Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice
The Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice (BSCJ) program is the study of crime and the administration of criminal justice systems and their effect on society. The curriculum is designed to provide practical knowledge of criminal justice systems and operations with an emphasis on the criminal courts, investigative principles, ethical principles, criminal law, victims of crime, and community relations. It provides the opportunity to continue studies in areas including organized crime, white collar crime, drug and alcohol abuse, social and forensic psychology, and terrorism and terrorism response, among others. This directed self-study program facilitates understanding the causes of crime, the means to prevent and investigate crime, and the ways to be an effective leader in the field of criminal justice.
Program Partnership with the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute (CCRI)
Learners at California Southern University can benefit from an enhanced curriculum that couples the classroom experience with experiential learning opportunity. Due to a strategic partnership with the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute (CCIRI), learners will be able to collaborate with 27 partner institutions, and 600 subject matter experts examining actual cold cases. Learners will be able to assist families and law enforcement in the search for justice, coupling their industry-relevant education with practical knowledge. Learners are provided with a robust practitioner base in the faculty, as well as access to subject matter experts and networking opportunities for professional development in the field. The CCIRI is a non-profit organization housed in Atlanta, Georgia.
Program Learning Outcomes
- Describe fundamental concepts, principles, theories, and terminology in criminal justice’s core content domains.
- Utilize appropriate analytic methods to conduct or analyze criminal justice research.
- Analyze criminal justice practice, policy, or research with respect to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
- Analyze current issues in the field using criminal justice and criminology theories.
- Address criminal justice problems and changing factual situations using ethical perspectives and judgements.
Degree Requirements
| DEGREE REQUIREMENTS |
CREDITS |
| General Education Courses |
36 |
| Core Courses |
33 |
| Elective Courses |
51 |
| TOTAL CREDITS REQUIRED FOR COMPLETION |
120 |
Bridge Program
Learners enrolled in the Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice at CalSouthern University will have the option to enter the Bridge Program for the Master of Science in Law Enforcement Executive Leadership (MSLEEL), which will allow them to substitute up to two graduate courses for up to two undergraduate courses.
To qualify, a learner must have:
- A CGPA of 3.0 or higher prior to entering their final quarter
- Completed at least 75% of the undergraduate program before the start of the graduate level courses
Learner progress will be monitored to ensure that the learner maintains the aforementioned qualifications to continue on within the Bridge Program. Learners interested in the Bridge Program or the Master of Science in Law Enforcement Executive Leadership (MSLEEL) should contact an advisor to determine undergraduate program eligibility.
Required Courses
General Education Courses (36 Credits Required)
The bachelor’s degree requires the successful completion of 36 General Education credits, which can be met entirely or in part by transfer from other institutions. If the applicant does not have the entire 36 GE credits to transfer, then the University will recommend GE courses to be taken to add breadth and to satisfy the 36 GE credits required. The General Education courses available for the bachelor’s degree are grouped into sub-disciplines: University Success, English, Humanities, Mathematics, Natural Sciences, and Social Sciences. For reference, within this catalog, course listings and the required credits by sub-discipline can be found in the Undergraduate General Education section and course descriptions can be found in the Course Descriptions section.
Core Courses (33 Credits Required)
Elective Courses (51 Credits Required)
The elective credits needed to meet the total 120 semester credits required for the BSCJ degree can be taken from any undergraduate level courses (including any LGL courses not already part of the BSCJ Core) in the University as long as all prerequisites are met, thus giving the learner a broader educational opportunity.
This program is not designed to meet the educational requirements for a specific professional license or certification required for employment in an occupation. As such, CalSouthern has made no determination regarding prerequisites for licensure or certification in any state or jurisdiction.
While California Southern University, as a member of the AIU System, is part of a Title IV eligible institution offering Title IV eligible programs, CalSouthern has elected and designated this program as not participating in Title IV federal financial aid programs. This means students enrolling in this program may not use Federal Student Aid to help pay for this program. Instead, it offers a variety of zero interest payment options for students.