Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice

EARN YOUR DEGREE IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE

The Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice is a 124-credit program designed to prepare students interested in or currently working in public service, law enforcement, corrections, emergency services and community leadership positions. The contemporary criminal justice environment is continuously evolving in response to critical social needs and new approaches to policing, addressing criminal behavior, and community/government relations. The program provides a rigorous examination of the social, economic and cultural contexts of criminal justice today from all perspectives. Students will become more effective in their roles within criminal justice and related fields.

Students pursuing a bachelor's degree program in criminal justice must complete the following courses:

Required Courses

  • CRJS 1005 Introduction to Criminal Justice
  • CRJS 3005 Alternatives to Incarceration
  • CRJS 3009 Criminal Law and Procedure
  • CRJS 3065 Race, Crime, and Justice  or CRJS 4025 Police Community Relations
  • CRJS 3070 Criminology, Victimology and Restorative Justice
  • CRJS 4005 American Corrections
  • LEST 1005 Introduction to Law and the Legal System
  • PAFF 4132 Legal and Ethical Foundations of Public Service
  • SOCI 1005 Exploring Society: An Introduction to Sociology
  • SOSC 3025 Social Science Research Methods or SOSC 2010 Statistics for the Social Sciences or CRJS 3030 Criminal Investigation

Students will be asked to complete two additional advanced-level courses chosen from the list below in consultation with a faculty mentor (advisor).

Advanced-level Electives

  • CRJS 3015 Courts and the Administration of Justice
  • CRJS 3020 Law Enforcement Intelligence Analysis
  • CRJS 3045 Forensic Science
  • CRJS 3050 Juvenile Justice and Delinquency
  • CRJS 4010 Comparative Criminal Justice Systems
  • CRJS 4030 Women Crime and Criminology
  • INFT 3020 Cyber Crime and Computer Forensics
  • POLI 3115 The U.S. Constitution
  • SOCI 3040 Deviance and Social Control
  • SOCI 4030 Power and Privilege
Stack of law books

* Note that some prior learning may substitute for some required courses. Faculty review and approval is required before a substitution can be made.

Courses are offered online, through independent studies, or through a blended approach. Students will work with a faculty mentor to develop a degree plan that matches their goals and meets all program, SUNY General Education, and other academic requirements.

The curriculum is designed to provide students with foundational courses on which to build courses specific to their interests and needs. The program design is flexible enough to provide students the opportunity to bring in college-level learning obtained through work experience through our prior learning assessment process.

 

FAQs BS Criminal Justice at Empire State University

Criminal Justice FAQ (PDF 153kB)

For requirements and procedures for applying to the program, please see the information for Bachelor's Admissions.

If you would like more information about the criminal justice program, contact:

Department Chair
Deborah P. Amory, Ph.D.
(518) 587-2100 Ext. 2590
Academic Coordinators:
Criminal Justice - Dr. Brian J. Frederick, brian.frederick@sunyempire.edu
Public Affairs and Security Studies - Cathryn Thurston, cathryn.thurston@sunyempire.edu
Social Science - Nadine Fernandez, nadine.fernandez@sunyempire.edu
Administrative Asst. to the Dean
Liza Rieger
liza.rieger@sunyempire.edu
Hands in a circle

Prospective students should contact enroll@esc.edu.