Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice
Prepare for careers in law enforcement, corrections, juvenile justice, and social justice advocacy. Combines criminological theory with practical fieldwork and leadership development.
Degree
Bachelor's Degree
Duration
4 years
Format
100% Online
Language
English
Credits
120 credit hours
Next Intake
Fall 2026, Spring 2027
Application Deadline
Rolling admissions
Tuition
$3,342 per semester (in-state) / $11,712 per semester (out-of-state)
Financial Aid
Federal and state financial aid, institutional scholarships, veteran benefits. Law enforcement agency tuition assistance coordination.
Program Overview
The Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice at Albany State University prepares you to understand, analyze, and lead within the criminal justice system — not just work in it. This is not a vocational law enforcement program. It is an academic degree that combines criminological theory, legal analysis, research methodology, and ethical reasoning to produce professionals who can think critically about the causes and consequences of crime and design effective responses.
The program covers all three pillars of the criminal justice system — law enforcement, courts, and corrections — from both theoretical and practical perspectives. You'll study why crime occurs (using sociological, psychological, and economic frameworks), how the justice system responds (through policing, prosecution, adjudication, and sentencing), and what happens after (corrections, rehabilitation, and re-entry). This comprehensive foundation means you're prepared for careers across the entire system, not limited to a single role.
Delivered entirely online through ASU Global, the program serves working adults who want to advance their careers in criminal justice without leaving their current positions. Many students are active-duty law enforcement officers, correctional officers, military police, or court administrators who need a bachelor's degree to qualify for promotion or federal employment. Others are career changers coming from social work, military service, or community organizing who want to enter the criminal justice field with a strong academic foundation.
Why This Program Stands Out
Who This Program Is For
This program serves active law enforcement officers and correctional officers seeking the bachelor's degree required for promotion to supervisory ranks. It serves military veterans and transitioning service members whose security clearance and discipline translate directly to federal law enforcement careers — but who need the academic credential. It serves aspiring FBI, DEA, ATF, or US Marshals agents who need a four-year degree to qualify for federal hiring. And it serves people passionate about social justice who want to understand the criminal justice system deeply enough to reform it from the inside.
$3,342
Per semester (GA)
Georgia resident tuition. Pell Grants, HOPE, law enforcement tuition assistance, and veteran benefits accepted.
120
Credit hours
42 general education + 36 criminal justice major + 42 elective credits. Up to 90 credits transferable.
100%
Online
Fully asynchronous delivery through ASU Global. Designed for working officers and professionals.
Rolling
Admissions
Apply for Fall, Spring, or Summer. No rigid deadlines. Veterans and law enforcement receive expedited processing.
120+
Internship hours
Optional but strongly encouraged. Partnerships with local, state, and federal agencies.
MSCJ
Graduate pipeline
Direct entry to ASU's Master of Science in Criminal Justice. GRE waived at 3.0+ GPA.
What Sets This Program Apart
Gateway to federal law enforcement
Meets the four-year degree requirement for FBI, DEA, ATF, US Marshals, Secret Service, and all federal law enforcement agencies. Several ASU graduates serve in federal positions across the Southeast.
Internship partnerships
Formal partnerships with Albany PD, Dougherty County Sheriff, Georgia Department of Corrections, and the Federal Bureau of Prisons provide supervised field experience that frequently leads to employment offers.
Social justice foundation
This is not just a law enforcement training program. You learn to analyze, question, and improve the criminal justice system — including its historical inequities and ongoing reform challenges.
Research methods training
Unusual for an undergraduate CJ program, this degree includes formal research methodology — preparing you for evidence-based practice and competitive graduate school applications.
Direct MSCJ pipeline
Graduates qualify for ASU's Master of Science in Criminal Justice. GRE waived at 3.0+ GPA. Four concentrations in the MSCJ allow further specialization in law enforcement, corrections, forensic science, or public administration.
Academy & military credit accepted
Law enforcement academy training and military experience are evaluated for college credit on a case-by-case basis. Georgia POST-certified officers and military veterans often enter with significant credit toward degree completion.
What You Will Learn
Criminological Analysis
Legal & Constitutional Knowledge
Professional Practice
Skills You Will Gain
Interested in Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice?
Meet the admissions team from ASU Albany at Coins For College Education Fair 2026. Ask questions, get answers, and start your application.