Learn to Uphold the Law with Integrity and Excellence in Our Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Degree Program
You have a desire to protect your community, and our Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice degree can help prepare you with the knowledge and practical experience you need to succeed in your law enforcement career. Throughout our criminal justice bachelor’s degree program, you will learn from experienced law enforcement officers who are passionate about teaching you the skills you need to serve your community with integrity and excellence.
Our BS in Criminal Justice program provides you with opportunities to apply what you have learned through realistic simulations, internships with leading police departments, and special programs like Justice Project DNA testing. Partner with us and prepare for a career in criminal justice.
Award-Winning Campus
At Liberty, you’ll find an affordable, high-quality education that equips students like you for the real world. Our commitment to excellence helped us rank among Niche.com’s Top 3 college campuses in America. Earning your degree from a nonprofit university with state-of-the-art resources like ours can help set you apart from your peers.
Why Choose Liberty’s Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice?
Our criminal justice program is designed to prepare skilled professionals who are prepared to protect and serve in dynamic situations. Our professors have years of experience in law enforcement agencies and understand the nuances of criminological theory. With extensive experience in criminal justice and related fields, your professors are not only experts but ready to partner with you and see you succeed.
At Liberty, our mission is to Train Champions for Christ. Our courses are taught from a biblical worldview and our professors are dedicated to fostering critical thinking skills and new methods to help you turn your knowledge into wisdom. At Liberty, you can develop as a leader so you are better prepared to impact your community.
BS in Criminal Justice Degree Specializations
Our specializations provide unique insight into various areas of study within the field of criminal justice. Whether you want to pursue strategic intelligence, homeland security, or juvenile justice, our specializations are an exciting way to hone your skills within the field of criminal justice.
General
Our BS in Criminal Justice – General degree track prepares you with the investigative and procedural skills you need for a career in law enforcement while allowing you the freedom to choose electives that fit your interests and unique career goals.
Featured Courses
- CJUS 320 – Corrections
- CJUS 340 – Criminology
- CJUS 405 – Interview and Interrogation
- CJUS 420 – Criminal Investigations
Career Opportunities
- Criminologist
- Detective
- Federal Agent
- Police Officer
Download and review the BS in Criminal Justice general track Degree Completion Plan.
Advanced Investigative Studies
Our BS in Criminal Justice – Advanced Investigative Studies degree track can help you qualify for a position as an analyst, special agent, field investigator, or law enforcement officer with no prior field training!
Featured Courses
- CJUS 369 – Court and Expert Witness Testimony
- CJUS 405 – Interview and Interrogation
- CJUS 421 – Criminal Investigations II
- CJUS 423 – Criminal Investigations III
Career Opportunities
As a graduate of our BS in Criminal Justice, you
- Criminal investigator
- Local detective
- Military special agent
- National-level special agent
- State special agent
Download and review our BS in Criminal Justice – Advanced Investigative Studies’ Degree Completion Plan.
Our BS in Criminal Justice – Crime Scene Investigation degree track provides you with hands-on experience in gathering and processing evidence, managing and photographing crime scenes, and performing forensic computer and cyber analyses.
Featured Courses
- CJUS 361 – Crime Scene Photography
- CJUS 363 – Computer and Cyber Forensics
- CJUS 405 – Interview and Interrogation
- CJUS 420 – Criminal Investigations
Career Opportunities
- Computer Forensics Specialist
- Crime Scene Investigator
- Federal Agent
- Police Officer
Download and review our BS in Criminal Justice – Crime Scene Investigation’s Degree Completion Plan.
Homeland Security
Our BS in Criminal Justice – Homeland Security degree track provides you with the incident command and infrastructure protection training you need to help protect your community from natural disasters and terrorist attacks.
Featured Courses
- CJUS 381 – Incident Command System
- CJUS 382 – Critical Infrastructure Protection
- CJUS 383 – Behavioral Dimensions of Disaster
- GOVT 480 – Terrorism
Career Opportunities
- Emergency Management Specialist
- Homeland Security Analyst
- Security Specialist
- Transportation Security Officer
Review our bachelor’s of criminal justice in homeland security’s Degree Completion Plan.
Juvenile Justice
Our BS in Criminal Justice – Juvenile Justice degree track not only prepares you to serve in juvenile corrections but to understand the current response to juvenile delinquency and establish successful rehabilitation programs in your community.
Featured Courses
- CJUS 310 – Juvenile Justice
- CJUS 321 – Juvenile Corrections
- CJUS 323 – Delinquency and Crime Prevention
- CJUS 324 – Legal and Ethical Issues in Juvenile Justice
Career Opportunities
- Juvenile Justice Detention Officer
- Juvenile Rehabilitation Coordinator
- Probation Officer
- Youth Services Coordinator
Download and review our bachelor’s in juvenile justice’s Degree Completion Plan.
In our BS in Criminal Justice – Public Administration degree track, you will learn how public administration, the criminal justice system, and legal processes all intersect, preparing you to coordinate a law enforcement agency’s human and monetary resources in the most effective way.
Featured Courses
- CJUS 300 – Administration of Justice Organizations
- CJUS 400 – Criminal Law
- PADM 462 – Public Finance and Budgeting
- PADM 475 – Advanced Public Administration
Potential Careers
As a graduate of our BS in Criminal Justice, you may pursue a variety of careers, including:
- Corrections Facility Director
- Criminal Justice Policy Advocate
- Police Officer
- Special Agent
Download and review our bachelor’s of criminal justice in public administration’s Degree Completion Plan.
Strategic Intelligence Studies
In our BS in Criminal Justice – Strategic Intelligence Studies degree track you will learn how to analyze criminal patterns, gather intelligence and counter terrorism, preparing you to serve in a variety of law enforcement and homeland security agencies.
Featured Courses
- CJUS 420 – Criminal Investigations
- GOVT 380 – Introduction to Intelligence and National Security
- GOVT 381 – Intelligence Analysis
- GOVT 481 – Counter-Terrorism
Potential Careers
As a graduate of our BS in Criminal Justice, you may pursue a variety of careers, including:
- Department of Defense contractor
- Federal Agent
- Intelligence specialist
- Police Officer
Download and review our bachelor’s of criminal justice in strategic intelligence’s Degree Completion Plan.
Highlights of Our Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice Degree Program
- We were awarded an Illuminate Grant for Justice Project DNA testing equipment and training. This allows students under the supervision of professors from our Criminal Justice, School of Law, and Biology departments to research cold cases and assist criminal justice reform advocates in exonerating wrongly convicted individuals.
- Our bachelor’s in criminal justice degree produces graduates of distinction who have interned with agencies such as the FBI, U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Marshals, Metropolitan Police Department, and NCIS. Our graduates have gained employment with the U.S. Department of Defense, Transportation Security Administration (TSA), AECOM Defense Services Sector, and the Virginia State Police.
- You will be taught by professors recognized for their excellence in teaching and who have served with the FBI, the Virginia Beach Police Department, and other distinguished law enforcement agencies.
- Our program is rooted in the practical application of the theories you learn through simulations within the classroom and internships in the field.
Our Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Degree Information
- Residential
- 120 total credit hours
- You may transfer in up to 75% of the degree total.
- This bachelor’s degree program falls under our Helms School of Government.
- Review and download our bachelor’s in criminal justice Degree Completion Plan.
- Find more information about our bachelor’s degree in criminal justice program in our course catalog.
Admission Requirements for Undergraduate Degrees
Every application is reviewed by the admission committee on a case-by-case basis, meaning there are no set minimums for acceptance. However, all applicants must submit the following documents* for admission:
- Admission application
- Official high school transcripts
- Official college transcripts (if applicable)
- Results from the CLT, SAT, or ACT are not required for admission, but may be used in consideration for merit-based aid.
- Admission essay
*Note that additional documentation may be requested by the admission committee after your application has been received.
What Will You Learn in Our BS in Criminal Justice Degree Program?
In our BS in Criminal Justice degree, you will learn important legal and procedural concepts that are reinforced through hands-on experience. Our professors have worked at the highest levels of government including the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the White House, and are dedicated to preparing you with the knowledge and skills you need to protect your community in the field.
In our criminal justice courses, you will learn theoretical concepts underpinning law enforcement, such as judicial process, criminology, and ethics. You will have the opportunity to synthesize and apply what you have learned in classes like criminal investigation and interrogation. These courses offer real-world simulations supervised by current state troopers and FBI agents.
In our specializations, you will take unique classes that are tailored to your area of study that help fine-tune and foster skills and techniques that are pertinent to your specific degree program.
Download and review the BS in Criminal Justice Degree Completion Plan.
Featured Courses
CJUS 320 – Corrections
Here’s what you’ll learn:
- This course is designed to familiarize you with the criminal correctional system in the United States.
- You will review the history of corrections and procedural, statutory, and case law of American correction.
CJUS 340 – Criminology
Here’s what you’ll learn:
- This course is designed to familiarize you with the criminal correctional system in the United States.
- You will review the history of corrections and procedural, statutory, and case law of American correction.
CJUS 405 – Interview and Interrogation
- This class is an advanced exploration of the mechanics of interview and interrogation.
- Instruction will focus on behavior symptom analysis, interviewer characteristics, interview environment, interviewing protocol, factual analysis, and evaluation of the alibi using the Behavioral Analysis Interview and the Reid Nine Steps of Interrogation.
- You will be given an opportunity to apply the interrogation skills you learn in a realistic interview scenario at the end of the semester.
CJUS 420 – Criminal Investigations
Here’s what you’ll learn:
- This course will address the constitutional requirements for conducting criminal investigations, essential techniques for processing a crime scene, and the methodology behind collecting evidence via subpoenas and interviews.
- To apply concepts learned in this class, you will process a realistic crime scene simulation with guidance from professionals serving with the Virginia State Police, Bedford County Sherriff’s office, Campbell County Sherriff’s office, and the FBI Crime Lab.
Career Opportunities for Our BS in Criminal Justice Graduates
Some of the careers you can pursue as a graduate of our BS in Criminal Justice include:
- Crime Scene Investigator
- Criminologist
- Detective
- Federal Agent serving in the CIA, DEA, FBI, Secret Service, or U.S. Marshals
- Immigration and Customs Enforcement
- Parole officer
- Police officer
- Prosecutor’s office investigator
