Offering Campuses
Argosy University, Atlanta; Argosy University, Chicago; Argosy University, Dallas*; Argosy University, Denver*; Argosy University, Hawai’i; Argosy University, Inland Empire*; Argosy University Los Angeles; Argosy University, Nashville*; Argosy University, Northern Virginia; Argosy University, Orange County; Argosy University, Phoenix; Argosy University, Salt Lake City*; Argosy University, San Diego*; Argosy University, San Francisco Bay Area*; Argosy University, Sarasota*; Argosy University, Schaumburg†; Argosy University, Seattle†; Argosy University, Tampa; Argosy University, Twin Cities
Notes:
Campuses with an asterisk ( * ) are currently not accepting new students effective July 2, 2018. If you are interested in an Argosy University program of study at another location or online, please call (855) 758-5664.
† Argosy University, Seattle and Argosy University, Schaumburg are no longer accepting new students in this program.
Program Overview
The Bachelor of Science (BS) in Criminal Justice degree program is a practitioner-oriented program that is designed to prepare students to be successful professionals in the fields of law enforcement, corrections, probation and parole, and security. The curriculum is designed to provide students with critical thinking, communication, research, and professional skills that contribute to career development.
Students enrolled in the BS in Criminal Justice degree program can choose one of seven concentration areas. The primary goal of the concentrations is to help students acquire more in-depth knowledge of specific entry-level areas within the field of criminal justice. Optional concentrations are as follows:
- Corrections
- Forensic Psychology
- Homeland Security
- Management
- Police
- Security Management
- Substance Abuse
Program Learning Outcomes
The BS in Criminal Justice degree program is designed to develop the following knowledge, skills, and abilities:
Program Outcome 1a: Oral Communication
Prepare and deliver oral presentations employing criminal justice concepts and data, with consideration of the relationship between the topic, audience and situation, using appropriate technology.
Program Outcome 1b: Written Communication
Prepare written documents employing criminal justice concepts and data that adhere to conventions of grammar, mechanics, genre and rhetoric, with consideration of the relationship between the topic, audience and situation.
Program Outcome 2: Interpersonal Effectiveness
Describe and employ the communication tenets and skills that develop and sustain effective interpersonal and organizational relationships
Program Outcome 3: Information Literacy
Gather, evaluate, and ethically use information from a variety of relevant technological and library resources to enhance operational performance, aid in strategic planning, predict crime trends and promote personal safety.
Program Outcome 4a: Ethical Awareness
Describe and apply the ethical and legal parameters surrounding policies, procedures and operational techniques for the investigation, detection, apprehension, adjudication and rehabilitation or punishment of criminal offenders.
Program Outcome 4b: Diversity
Assess the strengths and weaknesses of a diverse society (including matters of race, ethnicity, gender, religion, culture, economic status and lifestyle) in the maintenance of social order.
Program Outcome 5: Theoretical Foundations
Describe and evaluate the multiple historical foundations and contemporary theories regarding the causes of crime, systems of social control, law enforcement, judicial processes and correction.
Program Outcome 6: Research and Analysis
Gather, analyze and interpret statistical data associated with criminal activity, law enforcement, the judicial process and corrections.
Program Outcome 7: Problem Solving
Develop a conclusion, opinion or course of action based on exploration and analysis of information, issues, ideas and events to solve problems related to the management of public safety and maintenance of social control.
Admission Requirements
- Applicants must provide proof of high school graduation or GED documented by one of the following:
- Official or unofficial high school transcript (except in Georgia and Tennessee)
- High School diploma (except in Georgia and Tennessee)
- State issued high school equivalency (home school) (except California)
- Official General Educational Development (GED) document
- Official Test Assessing Secondary Completion (TASC) document
- Official High School Equivalency Test (HiSET) document
- Official college transcript from a regionally accredited institution or nationally accredited institution approved by the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences that shows proof of high school graduation or an appropriately certified foreign institution that shows proof of high school graduation
-OR-
- Official college transcript from a completed associate’s degree from a regionally accredited institution or nationally accredited institution approved by the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences
- A minimum score on an Argosy University pre-approved English language proficiency test is required for all applicants whose native language is not English or who have not graduated from an institution at which English is the language of instruction as specified in Section Five, Admission Policies, English Language Proficiency Policy .
Other Admission Requirements
All applications for admission must be submitted to the Admissions Department. An admissions representative will help interested applicants complete the following required documentation:
- Completed Application for Admission Form
Graduation Requirements
- Completion of 120 credit hours as follows
- 42 credit hours general education curriculum requirements1
- 33 credit hours criminal justice core course requirements
- 12 credit hours criminal justice electives or concentration requirements
- 33 credit hours open elective requirements2
- Completion of a minimum of 42 credit hours of upper division courses
- An Argosy University GPA of 2.0 or higher
- Satisfactory completion of general education curriculum requirements with a grade of “D-” or better
- Satisfactory completion of criminal justice core requirements with a grade of “C-” or better
- Satisfactory completion of criminal justice electives or concentration requirements with a grade of “C-” or better
- Satisfactory completion of open elective course requirements with a grade of “D-” or better
- A minimum of 30 credit hours completed at Argosy University
- A completed Petition to Graduate submitted to campus administration
Notes
1 General education requirements at Argosy University, Sarasota and Argosy University, Tampa are 45 credit hours. To satisfy these requirements, students choose an additional general education elective. Open electives requirements are ten courses or 30 credit hours. The total credit hours required to complete the program remains the same at 120 credit hours.
2 The open electives requirements are 30 credit hours at Argosy University, Sarasota and Argosy University, Tampa.
Program Requirements
Students enrolled in the BS in Criminal Justice degree program are required to successfully complete a minimum of 120 credit hours distributed as follows: general education curriculum requirements, 42 credit hours; criminal justice core requirements, 33 credit hours; criminal justice electives or concentration requirements, 12 credit hours; and open elective requirements, 33 credit hours.
