Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Degree

Criminal Justice

The Post University Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Degree program provides a comprehensive curriculum that emphasizes creative thinking and writing skills while developing an understanding of the criminal justice system.

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Post University's Criminal Justice degree program will prepare you to take positions in local, state, and federal justice systems. You will take a variety of courses covering a diversity of relevant areas such as, forensic science, criminal procedure, criminal law, and ethics and discretion in criminal justice.

The Criminal Justice degree program provides an excellent education for those entering a criminal justice career and those who are seeking to advance their current careers within their department or agency.

You will study in highly interactive small classes within a supportive learning environment.

Accelerate your career with a Criminal Justice degree from Post University.

Our programs are offered in short 8-week accelerated courses enabling you to complete your undergraduate degree part-time in less than four years! Post offers six start dates per year so you may be admitted and begin your degree program without waiting.

Post University graduates pursue careers as:

  • Police, Detectives, and Special Agents
  • Private Investigators
  • Counselors
  • Corrections Officers
  • Guards
  • Human Service Workers
  • Probation and Parole Officers
  • Lawyers and Judges

Complete the "Request More Information" form found on this page to receive more detailed information on the program.

Accelerate your career by applying now!

B.S. in Criminal Justice Curriculum

Below are the required courses to complete the Bachelors of Science in Criminal Justice. This is a sample degree plan for online students. At Post University Online you can choose any number of courses to complete on your own schedule, and at your own time.

Recommended First Year Schedule (2 Courses per Module)
Courses
Credits
CSS101 Learning Across the Lifespan
3 crs.
CIS112 Introduction to Computing

CIS 112

Introduction to Computing 3 Credit

This course strives to meet the high level of computer literacy required of all students earning a degree from the university. Special emphasis is placed on the ethical use of computer technology for information analysis and communications. Computer units introduce the Internet, Windows, word processing, spreadsheets, and presentation software. Students who feel they have attained computer literacy and earn 70 percent on an exemption exam may substitute any other 3-credit course for this core requirement.

Prerequisite: Keyboarding proficiency is recommended.

3 crs.
ENG101 Composition

ENG 101

English Composition - 3 Credits

This course in expository writing is designed to develop students’ abilities to write effectively with clarity, logic, and coherence. Emphasis is placed on the composing process, organization, sentence and paragraph structure, and usage. At least one essay is based on library research.

3 crs.
PSS101 Navigating the Business Environment
3 crs.
MGT105 Principles of Management

MGT 105

Principles of Management - 3 Credits

This course is an introduction to the principles of management and their application in public and private, profit and non-profit organizations. The areas of employee motivation, group behavior, leadership, strategic planning, organizational design, and career opportunities represent a variety of subjects presented and discussed in the course. Emphasis is on the research and techniques available to assist in the development of requisite management skills.

3 crs.
ENG102 Composition and Literature

ENG 102

Composition and Literature - 3 Credits

This writing course emphasizes literary appreciation and criticism. Students are introduced to various literary genres: the short story, the poem, the novel, and the play.

Placement by examination. Laboratory and fee may be required. Prerequisite: ENG101.

3 crs.
MKT101 Principles of Marketing

MKT 101

Principles of Marketing - 3 Credits

This course examines the basic marketing principles practiced by modern organizations including product development, distribution, promotion, and pricing. It is the foundation course for upper-level marketing courses.

3 crs.
PSY101 Fundamentals of Psychology

PSY 101

Fundamentals of Psychology I - 3 Credits

This course examines the nature of psychology as a social and behavioral science. It surveys fundamental areas in behavior including research in psychology, the brain and behavior, learning, human development and socialization, intelligence, personality, health psychology, and social psychology.

3 crs.
ACC111 Financial Accounting

ACC 111

Financial Accounting - 3 Credits

This course is for the student to learn about accounting as an information development and communications function that supports economic decision-making. The course will help students perform financial analysis; derive information for personal or organizational decisions; and understand business, governmental, and other organizational entities.

3 crs.
ENG207 Speech Communications

ENG 207

Speech Communications - 3 Credits

This course examines fundamental principles of oral communication with emphasis on the logical development, documentation, and delivery of the basic types of speeches. Students will construct audience analyses and participate in the evaluative process of speeches.

Prerequisite: ENG101.

3 crs.
LAW101 Introduction to Law

LAW 101

Introduction to Law - 3 Credits

Students are introduced to the system of legal thought and practice. The course examines legal methods and terminology while providing an orientation to state and federal laws and court systems. Internet resources

and instructional technology are part of all topics, including a survey of subject specific areas in the law.

3 crs.
MAT120 College Algebra

MAT 120

College Algebra - 3 Credits

This course provides a review of the fundamentals of algebra: a study of function theory, specifically linear and quadratic functions; matrix operations; and linear programming. Emphasis is placed on problem-solving techniques with special attention given to business and other applications.

Prerequisite: MAT101 or placement examination.

3 crs.
 
Recommended Second Year Schedule (2 Courses per Module)
Courses
Credits
FIN301 Principles of Finance

FIN 301

Principles of Finance - 3 Credits

This course examines the role of finance in relation to other business operations and within the financial community. It covers the development and use of the basic tools for financial administration, financial analysis, planning and control, investment decisions, and management of sources of funds.

Prerequisites: ACC111; MGT105.

3 crs.
CRJ101 Introduction to Criminal Justice

CRJ 101

Introduction to Criminal Justice - 3 Credits

The student will be introduced to the American Criminal Justice System from the perspective of the criminal justice professional. The course examines the historical development and role of the police, prosecution, corrections, probation, parole, and rehabilitation.

3 crs.
ECO201 Macroeconomics

ECO 201

Macroeconomics - 3 Credits

This course examines the fundamental analytical structure of a macro economy and familiarizes students with the problems of employment, inflation, interest rates, and business cycles. Topics include the determination of income and output, the role of fiscal and monetary policy, and the interaction of an economy with the rest of the world within a global framework.

3 crs.
PHL101 Introduction to Philosophy

PHL 101

Introduction to Philosophy - 3 Credits

This course is designed to introduce the student to philosophical investigation. Part one includes the origin, nature, and value of philosophy. Part two is an analysis of the problems of human nature, our universe, and the existence of God. Part three includes an introduction to the areas of metaphysics, theory of knowledge, ethics, and political and social philosophy.

3 crs.
CRJ102 Introduction to Law Enforcement

CRJ 102

Introduction to Law Enforcement - 3 Credits

This course studies the role of police in society with attention to the history of law enforcement, the organization of police forces, centralized police power, community policing, and the recruitment and training of police officers.

3 crs.
SOC101 Introduction to Sociology

SOC 101

Principles of Sociology - 3 Credits

This course is an introduction to the basic concepts in Sociology and an analysis of culture, socialization, stratification, social organization, class, social interaction, social change, and conflict.

3 crs.
CRJ301 Criminal Law

CRJ 301

Criminal Law - 3 Credits

The course examines substantive and procedural criminal law including the common law and statutory offenses. Law of evidence, burden of proof, the jury system, and pre-trial dispositions are also studied.

Prerequisite: CRJ101 or LAW 101.

3 crs.
HIS101 World Civilizations I

HIS 101

World Civilization I - 3 Credits

This course provides a survey of significant developments relating to the rise of early Mediterranean, European, and Asiatic societies. Economic, political, and religious themes are stressed from the foundations of civilization to the eve of the Western Enlightenment.

3 crs.
CRJ302 Criminal Procedure

CRJ 302

Criminal Procedure - 3 Credits

This course is a survey and analysis of the due process rights of individuals in the criminal process. Emphasis is on the impact of the Bill of Rights on the practices of police, prosecutors and judges and the remedies available for the violation of those rights.

Prerequisite: CRJ301.

3 crs.
HIS102 World Civilizations II

HIS 102

World Civilization II - 3 Credits

This course is a companion to HIS101, surveying the development of civilization from the Western Enlightenment to contemporary times. Emphasis is placed on the emergence of ideological movements; regional, economic, and political patterns; and technological innovations that fostered periods of war and peace.

3 crs.
ECO202 Microeconomics

ECO 202

Microeconomics - 3 Credits

This course familiarizes students with the decision-making processes of individual economic units such as households, firms, and industries, and their interrelationships. Topics include the nature and framework of the forces of supply and demand, household behavior, and consumer choice; the behavior of the firm under different industrial structures, resource allocation, and income distribution; and international trade and comparative advantage.

3 crs.
BIO150 Nutrition

BIO 150

Nutrition - 3 Credits

This course presents a scientific study of the basic principles of nutrition. Nutrient requirements, diet, biochemistry, diseases, and socio-economic concepts are stressed. Special emphasis is placed on changes throughout the human life cycle.

3 crs.
 
Recommended Third Year Schedule (2 Courses per Module)
Courses
Credits
CRJ332 White Collar Crime

CRJ 332

White-Collar Crime - 3 Credits

This course provides an analysis of crimes committed by persons in a position of trust, including embezzlement, fraud, false advertising, price fixing, black market activities, and governmental corruption. Crimes against one’s employer and crimes committed by corporate executives for their corporation are studied.

Prerequisite: CRJ101.

3 crs.
ENG304 Film: The Reel Experience

ENG 304

Film: The Reel Experience - 3 Credits

This course deals with the elements of film including the script, filming techniques, direction, acting, editing, art and set design, costume and makeup, and historical development. Examples from various genres are viewed for analysis.

Cross listed with COM304. Prerequisite: ENG207

3 crs.
CRJ309 Police Administration and Management

CRJ 309

Police Administration and Management - 3 Credits

The student is introduced to the basics of administering and managing law enforcement professionals. The focus is on particular issues faced in managing police officers–federal, state, or local. The course addresses relations with non-governmental community leaders. Budgeting and planning are also covered.

Prerequisite: CRJ102.

3 crs.
ART101 Art history I

ART 101

Art History I - 3 Credits

This course provides an introduction to the history of the visual arts from prehistory to the early Renaissance. Major works in architecture, sculpture, painting, and graphic arts are covered in chronological order.

3 crs.
CRJ201 Juvenile Justice

CRJ 201

Juvenile Justice - 3 Credits

The student is introduced to the juvenile justice process. While the focus is on the criminal court system’s handling of the juvenile offender, additional areas of study include the forces that contribute to juvenile delinquency, as well as prevention rehabilitation.

Prerequisite: CRJ101

3 crs.
ART102 Art History II

ART 102

Art History II - 3 Credits

This course provides an introduction to the history of the visual arts from the Renaissance to the Twentieth-Century.

It presents a chronological coverage of architecture, sculpture, painting, and graphic arts, stressing the characteristics

that identify periods and styles.

3 crs.
CRJ355 Research Methods in Criminal Justice

CRJ 355

Research Methods in Criminal Justice - 3 Credits

This course will review the basic techniques of research methodology, especially as applied to the field of criminal justice. Major topics will include the purposes of research, types of research design, data collection techniques, and the ethics of research.

Prerequisite: CRJ101.

3 crs.
ENG311 Creative Writing

ENG 311

Creative Writing - 3 Credits

This course provides extensive imaginative writing of description, dialogue, poetry, and narrative. The course is designed for students who write readily but need direction and consultation.

3 crs.
COM375 Public Relations

COM 375

Public Relations - 3 Credits

This course focuses on the role of managed communications in public relations. It includes definitions and concepts, history, potential careers, and research methods.

3 crs.
COM/ENG301 Mass Media & Society

COM 301

Mass Media and Society - 3 Credits

This course analyzes newspapers, magazines, television, radio, the Internet, and film to evaluate their complex and diverse power for shaping patterns of society.

3 crs.
MGT405 Organizational Behavior

MGT 405

Organizational Behavior - 3 Credits

This is a study of individual and small group behavior in organizations and the interpretation of this behavior in the context of the managerial environment. The nature of such concepts as influence, power and control, attitudes, communication, conflict, and interpersonal relations is explored to provide understanding of the dynamics of group behavior.

Prerequisite: MGT105.

3 crs.
 
Recommended Fourth Year Schedule (2 Courses per Module)
Courses
Credits
LAW306 e-Commerce: The Legal Context

LAW 306

E-commerce: The Legal Context - 3 Credits

This is a trailblazing course on e-commerce and the legal issues this activity has created. Among the topics covered are an overview of e-commerce; jurisdiction; copyrights; trademarks; privacy; obscenity; defamation; online contracts; and Internet taxation.

3 crs.
CRJ401 Ethics and Discretion in Criminal Justice

CRJ 401

Ethics and Discretion in Criminal Justice - 3 Credits

The student is asked to consider the ethical issues involved in a criminal justice career. The concepts of integrity, honesty, and trustworthiness are examined as they bear upon the criminal justice professional’s relationship to his or her colleagues, superiors, and community.

Prerequisite: CRJ101.

3 crs.
LAW325 e-Government: The New Legal Environment

LAW 325

e-Government: The New Legal Environment of Business - 3 Credits

This is a web-supported course that examines the developing concept of e-government. Students become familiar with the methods used by state and federal government to regulate business by means of government websites. Assessment is based on a student generated portfolio.

Cross listed with BUS325.

3 crs.
CRJ404 Theoretical Criminology

CRJ 404

Theoretical Criminology - 3 Credits

This course will review the wide range of theoretical explanations for criminal behavior. Emphasis will be placed on contemporary, biological, psychological, sociological, economic, and integrated theories of behavior.

Prerequisite: CRJ101 or permission of the instructor.

3 crs.
CRJ405 Advanced Seminar in Criminal Justice

CRJ 405

Advanced Seminar in Criminal Justice - 3 Credits

This is a capstone course that draws together the principles learned in previous CRJ courses. The seminar topic is at the discretion of the program director.

Prerequisite: Senior standing and permission of the Program Director.

3 crs.

This is a sample degree plan for online students. The university reserves the right to change or update the curriculum at any time. The university will notify students of any changes officially through the university website.