Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice (BSCJ) with a concentration in General Criminal Justice

In today's security-conscious society, the need for trained criminal justice professional continues to grow. In fact, the U.S. Department of Labor predicts that employment of police officers and detectives, for example, will grow as fast as the average for all occupations through 2014. Yet competition for high-level positions will remain keen. Candidates with a college degree in police science, relevant professional experience, or both should have the best opportunities.

The AIU Bachelor of Science s in Criminal Justice (BSCJ) is designed to help students acquire a deeper understanding of criminal justice and juvenile justice processes, criminology, law enforcement, the courts system and corrections. The primary goal of this program is to prepare students to become qualified criminal justice professionals.

The BSCJ degree program offers several career-relevant concentrations for students who wish to focus their education on a particular area of interest. The concentration in General Criminal Justice is for students who would like a more comprehensive look at the criminal justice field.

Career Opportunities

The BSCJ with a concentration in General Criminal Justice can help prepare students interested in developing and advancing a career* as a/an:

Police Officer
Private Detective
Director of Security
Probation or Parole Officer
Insurance Fraud Investigator

* Additional education and/or experience may be required for some positions.

Challenging, Relevant Coursework

The BSCJ with a concentration in General Criminal Justice features industry-relevant coursework taught by faculty members with real-world experience in the field. Key topics addressed in this degree program include the elements of a criminal investigation, relationship between drug use and crime, role of various criminal justice agencies, and probation and parole system.

Students who successfully complete the program should be able to:

Demonstrate appropriate knowledge, skills and abilities necessary for a vital career in criminal justice and related professions.
Demonstrate foundational knowledge of criminology, including the causes of crime, typologies, offenders and victims.
Demonstrate appropriate knowledge of the criminal justice and juvenile justice processes.
Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of law enforcement principles, including police organization, discretion, subculture and legal constraints.
Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of law adjudication, including criminal law, prosecution, defense, court procedures and legal decision-making processes.
Demonstrate knowledge of corrections and parole, including incarceration, community-based corrections and treatment of offenders, as well as alternatives to traditional parole.