Criminal Justice
Bachelor of
Arts in
Criminal Justice
Criminal justice is the study of crime and criminal legal systems and their impact on individuals and society. The criminal justice system encompasses policies, laws, institutions, and personnel from the time of an offense through the court and correctional systems and community reentry, as well as victim support and advocacy.
Two overarching themes of Georgian Court’s criminal justice degree are the rights of victims and offenders, and that criminal conduct must be addressed fairly and justly.
Our B.A. in Criminal Justice is a multidisciplinary social science program immersed in the liberal arts that prepares you for a variety of careers. Primary learning outcomes help you develop the ability to think analytically and critically about social systems and to act with exceptional integrity, sensitivity, and professionalism.
You can also minor in criminal justice.
Juris Doctorate
Why Study Criminal Justice at GCU?
- The criminal justice program assists students in developing strong oral and written communication and critical analysis skills, active listening strategies, and the ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds.
- Our accomplished faculty have diverse backgrounds in areas including comparative and rehabilitative justice, corrections, law and human rights, anthropology, and mental health to provide a well-rounded educational experience.
- Students gain real-world experience through an internship to assist in career placement post-graduation. We prepare our students for careers, not jobs, and emphasize long-term career goals as a life focus.
- GCU offers three concentrations within its criminal justice program—cyber crime, global justice and society, and law enforcement and corrections—for students who wish to focus on courses specific to their career or academic interests.
- Courses such as Race, Ethnicity, and Criminal Justice, Victimology, and Political Crimes and Terrorism are especially popular with students because they address current issues with regard to social justice, equity, and contemporary topics in the field.
What Students Might Be Interested in Criminal Justice?
A criminal justice degree may be a good fit if you’re motivated to discover more about the criminal justice system, global justice, and social systems and wish to make a difference in addressing social justice and human rights issues. Ethical leadership skills and a strong moral compass are integral to this field, as well as a desire to serve the public and those in need.
What Can I do with a Criminal Justice Degree?
Due to its multidisciplinary nature and solid foundation in the liberal arts, GCU’s criminal justice degree prepares you for a wide range of jobs within many different fields. These include careers in social service, such as victim advocacy casework, corrections, and community reentry; law enforcement, including policing and investigation; civil service and nonprofit organizations; judiciary and law; business; teaching; research; international agencies; and more. You’ll also be prepared for graduate studies in criminal justice and related areas. A sample of careers and median annual salaries from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics are below. Note: Jobs that may require a double major, minor, and/or an advanced degree and additional certifications and licensures are marked with an asterisk.
- Corrections officer - $49,610
- Paralegal* - $59,200
- Private investigator - $52,120
- Substance abuse social workers* - $51,240
- Legal support workers - $62,340
- FBI agent - $68,760
- Police officer - $69,160
- Prison warden - $89,450
- Detective - $86,280
- Lawyer* - $135,740
B.A. in Criminal Justice Program Information
You’ll need to successfully complete at least 120 credits, including General Education requirements. A minimum of 45 core credits in criminal justice, including courses in related areas, is required. Students also have an opportunity to complete a 3-credit internship to count towards their degree requirements.
Curriculum – B.A. in Criminal Justice
To earn this degree, students must successfully complete at least 120 credits, including General Education requirements and the major requirements below.
Major Sequence
A minimum of 45 core credits, plus courses in related areas, is required for the Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice. It is strongly recommended that students take MA103 Introduction to Statistical Thinking to satisfy the General Education Quantitative Analysis requirement.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Requirements | ||
| CJ111 | The Criminal Justice System | 3.0 |
| CJ167 | Race, Ethnicity & Criminal Justice | 3.0 |
| or AN112 | Cultural Anthropology | |
| CJ/SO200 | Theories of Crime | 3.0 |
| CJ210 | Introduction to Law Enforcement | 3.0 |
| or CJ212 | Introduction to Corrections | |
| CJ213 | Criminal Law & Practice | 3.0 |
| CJ320 | Special Populations in the CJ System 2 | 3.0 |
| CJ325 | Gender & Crime | 3.0 |
| CJ331 | Research Methods in Criminal Justice | 3.0 |
| CJ351 | Comparative Criminal Justice Systems | 3.0 |
| CJ435 | Ethical Issues in Criminal Justice | 3.0 |
| SO101 | Principles of Sociology | 3.0 |
| SO201/CJ202 | Social and Crime Statistics | 3.0 |
| 3 CJ electives. PS320 and PS321 may be used as CJ electives | 9.0 | |
| General Education Course 1 | ||
| World Language 1 | 3.0 | |
| Total Credits | 48.0 | |
- 1
World Language is required; Spanish is strongly recommended. Another language may be substituted with the approval of the student’s advisor.
- 2
CJ majors are expected to take CJ320. However, PS320 can be used to satisfy the CJ320 requirement. PS320 cannot be counted as a substitute for CJ320 and as a CJ Elective.
Concentrations in Criminal Justice
Criminal Justice majors who would like to focus on courses specific to their career or academic interests may elect to do a concentration in one of three areas: Cyber Crime, Global Justice and Society, or Law Enforcement and Corrections. Students wanting to add a concentration take courses as listed in the groups below or other concentration courses not listed that are offered on a rotating basis as designated by the department chair each semester. Three of the courses in the concentration may count toward the electives required for the major. Concentrations are an elective part of their major. Students may request to take alternate courses (e.g., in other departments) relevant to the concentration upon department chair and advisor approval.
Cyber Crime
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select one of the following: | 3.0-4.0 | |
CS105 | Computer Literacy | |
CS111 | Foundations Of Computer Science | |
CS123 | Computer Programming I | |
| Select two of the following: | 6.0 | |
CJ301 | Cyber Security & GIS | |
CJ302 | Cyber Crime | |
CJ355 | Political Crimes & Terrorism | |
CJ398 | Selected Topics in Criminal Justice (when approved for cyber crime) | |
| Select two of the following: | 6.0 | |
AC171 | Principles of Financial Accounting | |
IS320 | Management Information Systems | |
IS422 | Enterprise Cybersecurity | |
| Total Credits | 15.0-16.0 | |
Global Justice & Society
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select four of the following: | 12.0 | |
CJ/PO313 | Constitutional Law | |
CJ353 | Victimology | |
CJ/PO355 | Political Crimes & Terrorism | |
CJ365 | International Human Rights Law | |
CJ375 | Global Justice & Law | |
CJ398 | Selected Topics in Criminal Justice (dependent on semester, and when designated as concentration course by dept. chair) | |
CJ410 | Independent Research in Criminal Justice (dependent on research topic; dept. chair approval required) | |
SO304 | Globalization & Sustainability | |
PO211 | American National Government | |
PO233 | Modern Political Thought | |
SW253 | Human Rights & Social Justice | |
| Total Credits | 12.0 | |
Law Enforcement & Corrections
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select four of the following: | 12.0 | |
CJ167 | Race, Ethnicity & Criminal Justice (if also taking AN112 as a core CJ requirement) | |
CJ210 | Introduction to Law Enforcement (if also taking CJ212 as a core CJ requirement) | |
CJ231 | Juvenile Justice | |
CJ301 | Cyber Security & GIS | |
CJ302 | Cyber Crime | |
CJ343 | Criminal Investigation | |
CJ353 | Victimology | |
CJ398 | Selected Topics in Criminal Justice (dependent on semester, and when designated as concentration course by dept. chair) | |
CJ401 | Sex Crimes | |
CJ410 | Independent Research in Criminal Justice (dependent on research topic; dept. chair approval required) | |
IH335 | Integrative Stress Management & Health | |
PO211 | American National Government | |
PO221 | State & Local Government in America | |
PS320 | Forensic Psychology | |
PS321 | Criminal Profiling | |
| Total Credits | 12.0 | |
For more information on program requirements, consult the Undergraduate Catalog.
Criminal Justice Faculty
Anna K. King, Ph.D.
Professor of Crime & Justice Studies
School of Arts, Sciences, and Education
Jeffries Hall (111)
aking@georgian.edu
732-987-2487
Melanie Clark Mogavero, Ph.D.
Associate Professor: Department of Crime and Justice Studies
School of Arts, Sciences, and Education
Jeffries Hall Room 127A
mmogavero@georgian.edu
732-987-2389
Cynthia C. Ninivaggi, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
School of Arts, Sciences, and Education
Jeffries Hall (116)
cninivaggi@georgian.edu
732-987-2365
Related Programs
If you’re interested in our criminal justice program, here are other programs at GCU you might be interested in exploring:
Criminal Justice Course Rotation
| COURSE ID# | TITLE | FALL | SPRING |
|---|---|---|---|
| AN112 | Cultural Anthropology | 2025 | 2026 |
| CJ111 | The Criminal Justice System | 2025 | 2026 |
| CJ167 | Race, Ethnicity, and the CJS | 2025 | 2026 |
| CJ200 | Theories of Crime | 2025 | 2026 |
| CJ212 | Introduction to Corrections | 2025 | |
| CJ213 | Criminal Law & Practice | 2026 | |
| CJ320 | Special Populations in the CJ System | 2025 | |
| CJ325 | Gender & Crime | 2026 | |
| CJ331 | Research Methods in Criminal Justice | 2025 | |
| CJ351 | Comparative Criminal Justice Systems | 2026 | |
| CJ355 | Political Crimes & Terrorism | 2025 | |
| CJ398 | Special Topics: Radicalization & Rabbit Holes | 2025 | |
| CJ435 | Ethical Issues in Criminal Justice | 2025 | |
| SO101 | Principles of Sociology | 2025 | 2026 |
| CJ202 | Social & Crime Statistics | 2026 |
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