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Criminal Justice

Montgomery, AL
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Degree Overview

Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice

Vida Simonaitis receiving her diploma at the South University Criminal Justice graduation 2022
Vida Simonaitis at the Criminal Justice Graduation 2022

Gain insight into the criminal justice system with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice. South University’s Bachelor of Science in criminal justice program is designed to build a foundation of skills in this field of study, preparing you for entry-level positions. In South University’s criminal justice courses, topics include response by police, courts and corrections, crime and violence, ethical concerns, theoretical and applied criminal justice, causes of crime, and the process of adjudicating criminal cases. If you want to learn how to serve justice, a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice may be right for you*.

Please note: While you may be able to take some general education courses at this campus, all other courses, including specialized courses, will be taken online.

*South University does not promise or guarantee licensure, employment, or salary amounts.

 

Admission Requirements

General Undergraduate Admission Requirements

Note: Not all Online Program offerings are available to residents of all U.S. states. Please contact an admissions representative for further information.

To be admitted to any of the undergraduate programs at South University, the prospective student must provide proof of high school graduation as recognized by the state of residence on the date the degree was earned, or the equivalent in which a diploma was earned, with a minimum CGPA of 1.5 on a 4.0 scale within 14 calendar days of the start date (refer to Conditional Acceptance). Students providing a GED must meet the minimum required test score deemed as passing in each section as required at the time of testing.

South University accepts the International Baccalaureate Program diploma as meeting the requirement for high school graduation. Credentials earned outside the United States must be evaluated by a NACES or AICE-member credential evaluation service. Please speak with an admissions representative for more information.

Students with less than the minimum CGPA of 1.49 on a 4.0 scale may meet admissions requirements by submitting a minimum combined SAT (Evidence-Based Reading and Writing, and Math) score of 700 or 900 on the SAT requiring an essay portion, a combined ACT score of 18, or meet the criteria established for acceptance as a transfer student.

Students with a CGPA between 1.49 to 1.0 on a 4.0 scale may be admitted provisionally for two quarters. Failure to achieve a 1.5 CGPA in the first two quarters of attendance will result in dismissal. Students may appeal the dismissal by following the Procedures for Appealing Academic/Financial Aid Dismissal Policy.

Students with less than a 1.0 on a 4.0 scale do not meet the admissions requirements for South University.

Acceptable verification of high school graduation or the equivalent would include a high school transcript (official), or GED scores and state-authorized examination scores (ex. HiSET, TASC). In states that maintain a database that serves as an official registry of high school and GED graduates, an excerpt from the official database documenting the student's graduation or GED completion may be used.

Campuses in South Carolina must be provided with official high school transcripts or GED scores.

Please see the policy on GPA Calculation for Admission for additional information

Admission of Transfer Students

Note: Not all Online Program offerings are available to residents of all U.S. states. Please contact an admissions representative for further information.

To be eligible for admission, transfer students must complete the application procedures and satisfy the following criteria:

  1. Submit a completed application for admission.
  2. Have earned 24 or more credit hours, or the equivalent (e.g. 16 semester hours), with a cumulative GPA of 1.5 from an acceptable accredited collegiate institution.
  3. Submit official transcripts (including verifiable faxed transcripts) from all colleges and universities attended.
  4. Submit self-certification of high school graduation or GED completion.

For transfer of credit practices refer to the applicable section under the Academic Affairs section of this catalog.

To be admitted as a Transfer student into South University the prospective student must have earned 24 or more quarter credit hours or the equivalent (e.g. 16 semester hours), with a cumulative GPA of 1.5 from an acceptable accredited collegiate institution. Official transcripts from the collegiate institution(s) and must be received within 14 calendar days for Undergraduate programs of the start date (refer to Conditional Acceptance). The student will be exempted from taking the UVC1000 Strategies for Success course. Students will select another 4-quarter credit course in consultation with their Academic Advisor or Academic Counselor to fulfill the degree requirements.

Students with 24 or more quarter credits with a CGPA of between 1.49 to 1.0 may be admitted provisionally for two quarters. Failure to achieve a 1.5 GPA in the first two quarters of attendance will result in dismissal. Students may appeal the dismissal by following the Procedures for Appealing Academic/Financial Aid Dismissal Policy.

Students who are citizens of countries other than the United States should refer to the section entitled International Student Admissions Policy.

Students who are transferring from or to a school within the University of North Carolina or the North Carolina Community College System should be aware of the Comprehensive Articulation Agreement approved by both governing Boards on March 1, 1996 and revised in September of 2008. This agreement may be found in its entirety at the following website.

For additional admissions information please see the admissions section here.

Course Requirements

Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice: 180 Credits
Area I General Education Requirements: 64 Credits
Professional Development
Basic Communications
ENG1100 Composition I 4.0 Credit Hours
ENG1200 Composition II 4.0 Credit Hours

Choose one additional course from the list below:

Mathematics and Statistics
MAT1001 College Algebra I 4.0 Credit Hours
MAT2058 Statistics 4.0 Credit Hours

Choose one additional course from the list below:

MAT1005 College Algebra II 4.0 Credit Hours
MAT1500 College Mathematics 4.0 Credit Hours
Natural Sciences (choose two)
BIO1020 Biology I 4.0 Credit Hours
BIO1021 Biology II 4.0 Credit Hours
CHM1010 General Chemistry 4.0 Credit Hours
Arts and Humanities: Choose one 4.0 credit courses.
Social and Behavioral Sciences

Choose one additional course from the list below:

General Education Elective
Area II Foundation Requirements: 44 Credits
Elective Pool (eight courses or 32 credits)
Area III Major Requirements: 72 Credits
Program Electives (choose six): 24 Credits

Courses may be selected from this list to apply to Area II Foundation Requirements.

Capstone: 4 Credits
Note(s):

Acceptance into a South University Criminal Justice program or its completion does not imply or guarantee that a student will be able to obtain employment in law enforcement, corrections, probation/parole or related fields. The student should contact the national, state or local agency/institution in which the student intends to gain employment for specific requirements and the application process.

Outcomes

Upon completion of the program, students will be able to:

  • Utilize theoretical and applied criminal justice approaches to effectively solve a variety of field-based problems.

  • Recognize the causes of crime and delinquency.

  • Students will communicate accounting and financial proposals to common business operations through written and oral communication.

  • Utilize research methodology for scientific reasoning to the study of crime and justice.

Career Outlook

These are some of the career options* you can explore when you have earned your degree:

  • Parole Officer
  • Bailiff
  • Corrections Officer
  • Asset Protection Associate/Officer
  • Security Guard

*South University does not promise or guarantee licensure, employment, or salary amounts.

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Fill out the form and a representative will contact you today to better understand your academic goals plus answer any questions you may have.

Campuses offer flexible learning formats* including: on-campus, virtual instructions, and online courses.

*Programs, including all Clinical/Medical programs, have a required in-person, practicum, or externship. We cannot guarantee flexibility in these components of the program.

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