Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice
Join the respected Criminal Justice program at North Carolina A&T State University — America's largest public HBCU. This program trains and prepares the next generation of criminal justice professionals for a diverse and interdisciplinary workforce, providing students with knowledge of criminal justice processes, security, law enforcement, and the nature and causes of crime. Graduates will be ready to meet emerging and enduring challenges confronting criminal justice, particularly in the areas of forensic science/crime scene investigation, criminal investigation, data analytics and cybersecurity (through collaborative programs with the College of Engineering and CREO, the Center of Excellence in Cybersecurity, Research, Education, and Outreach). Project-based learning modules provide opportunities for students to gain valuable job skills while attending virtual forensic and computer labs.
Students have the opportunity to concentrate in Forensic Science – Crime Scene Investigation and earn a certificate. This concentration focuses on crime scene investigation apart from forensic science laboratory analysis. The crime scene investigator is oriented to field operations and the collection of evidence for laboratory evaluation. This requires an understanding of professional ethics, competency in safety protocols and laboratory procedures, knowledge of criminal law and the legal process, effective written and verbal communication skills, and competency in the collection and preservation of evidence.
What is Criminal Justice?
Criminal justice is generally considered the job of federal, state and local governments, because they hold the power to arrest, convict, jail and fine people. These authorities employ an array of investigators, technicians and staff to bring criminals to justice. Many private-sector workers are also employed in occupations directly related to fighting crime, such as security guards, private detectives and criminal justice teachers. Now, with the increasing threat of cybercrime, there is a growing need for professionals who can protect our nation’s critical infrastructure and thwart both traditional and computer-related crimes. Cybercrime fighters and digital forensics investigators work to protect governments, companies and individuals from hacking, identity theft, digital terrorism, fraud, malware and other modern threats. Bringing perpetrators to justice often requires cutting-edge digital and technological methods of investigation.
Program Snapshot
- Credits required: 120
- Time to completion: 8 terms (if full time)
- Tuition: Distance Learning Tuition and Fees
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Potential Careers
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Job Outlook
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data projects solid growth for a number of jobs related to criminal justice. Employment for police and detectives is expected to grow 7% from 2020 to 2030. These occupations are projected to add about 51,700 new jobs during this time period, with about 67,100 openings each year on average over the decade.
Employment of forensic science technicians/crime scene investigators is projected to grow 16% from 2020 to 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations. About 2,500 openings for forensic science technicians are expected each year on average over the decade.
Number of police and detective jobs (2020): 795,000
Number of forensic science technician jobs (2020): 17,200
Salary
Median pay, police and detectives (2020): $67,290 per year / $32.35 per hour
Median pay, forensic science technicians (2020): $60,590 per year / $29.13 per hour
According to ZipRecruiter, the average annual pay for a Computer Crime Investigator in the United States is $56,676 a year, though this can vary widely by job, region and experience.
Employers of Our Graduates
Graduates of the program have been hired by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Secret Service, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the N.C. State Bureau of Investigation, the N.C. Department of Public Safety, the U.S. Army, Teach for America, the Federal Bureau of Prisons, and many city and county law enforcement departments.
Admission Requirements
Admission requires a 2.5 GPA requirement. Otherwise, admission is based on the university's standard requirements for new or transfer students.
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Application Deadlines
SPRING ADMISSION
Domestic (New Freshmen & Transfer): Dec. 15
FALL ADMISSION: DOMESTIC NEW FRESHMEN
Early Action I (scholarship consideration): Oct. 15 (Decisions released on Dec. 1.)Early Action II: Dec. 15 (Decisions released on Feb. 1.)
Regular: June 1
FALL ADMISSION: DOMESTIC NEW TRANSFER
Early Action (scholarship consideration): May 15Regular: July 15
Funding Your Education
North Carolina A&T believes that any student who wishes to pursue their educational goals should be able to do so. As part of that commitment, our Financial Aid and Scholarships office will work with you on the financial assistance you need to attend. Financial aid includes scholarships, grants, loans and work-study.
Scholarships are also available for our students to work in the Cybersecurity Forensic Hub for Women by the EC-Council, training to remove stalkerware from mobile devices.
Program Requirements
The program requires completion of 120 credit hours. Included in the required hours are 36 hours of criminal justice courses and 12 hours in a cognate area. Criminal Justice majors are required to successfully complete an internship requirement in their senior year. A minimum grade of “C” must be attained in the major and required core courses.
To earn the Certificate in Forensic Science – Crime Scene Investigation, students must complete a minimum of 47 semester hours of courses in the forensic science curriculum and attain a minimum grade of “C” in the major and required core courses.
Explore the curriculum guide.
Contact Information
For program-related questions:
Dr. Carla D. Coates
Department Chair
Department of Criminal Justice
Email
336-285-2046
For assistance with the admissions process:
Office of Admissions
Email
800-443-8964
For online learning support and inquiries:
Extended Campus
Email
336-334-7810 or 888-498-6752 (Toll-Free)