Overview
Earn Your Degree and Make a Difference in the Criminal Justice Field
100 percent online degree-completion program allows you to work full-time while studying
Working within the criminal justice system is about more than punching a clock. For most, it is following a passion for righting wrongs and answering a call to compassionate servant leadership. It means being dedicated to investing in improving society and helping the “least of these.”
You’re also burdened by the current brokenness of the criminal justice system. You want to work in a profession where you can effect change, help others and make the world a better place. With a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, you’ll have the opportunity to work towards effective solutions for positive change, helping to repair and rebuild the system from the inside out.
At Trevecca, we know that your job is crucial—both to you and to the community you serve. But we also realize that completing your college degree is important, too. That’s why the Bachelor of Science in criminal justice program is ideal for those who are currently working within the criminal justice field.
You can complete your bachelor’s degree while working full-time in the job you love. We’ve designed the Bachelor of Science in criminal justice as a degree-completion program targeted to employed professionals just like you.
This degree is 100 percent online, designed to fit into your busy schedule and can be completed in three semesters. Our goal is to help students become effective servant leaders and promote rank either by transfer to another agency or within their current employment agencies within the law enforcement, corrections or criminal justice-oriented settings.
“We’re dealing with a broken world and a broken criminal justice system, and we want to focus on healing and reform in this program,” Craig Bishop, Program Director Criminal Justice Program, School of Graduate and Continuing Studies, said. “Within the professions of criminal justice, we are dealing with individuals who are broken and hurting. We need more empathy and compassion within the system, professionals who allow the Lord to use their gifts and talents to minister in others’ lives, whether it’s a victim or an offender. It’s just a tremendous ministry opportunity.”
Earning your criminal justice degree means you’ll become a more accomplished law enforcement professional, equipped to bring healing and reform through compassionate servant leadership where it’s so desperately needed.
Objectives
Graduates with a Bachelor of Science in criminal justice will advance in their understanding of the theories, models and practices applied within each profession of the criminal justice system.
Students will be assessed on their performance of assignments related to:
- Administration of justice, including correctional processes, criminological theory, law adjudication, law enforcement and juvenile justice
- Critical thinking and reasoning skills
- Professionalism including legal conduct and behavior, integrity, ethics, interpersonal relationships, problem solving, communications, diversity, fairness and equality
- Research and analytical methods
Faculty
News
Core Classes
Biblical Perspectives and the Christian Life
BML 3150
In this course, students will explore and articulate the foundational themes of the Bible. The course is designed to foster a Christian worldview from a Wesleyan perspective. The course encourages the integration of faith, learning, and living.
Course Hours: 3
Law Enforcement and Society
CJD 2600
Introduction to research, theory and applications of the causes and consequences of police behavior. Community policing, problem-solving methods, police discretion, police misconduct, police crime prevention strategies, policing, and restorative justice. Also covers political controls on authority and jurisdiction, professionalization of the police, and the relationship between the police organization and the individual. Analysis of public hostility toward police and current community relations projects, human relations, training and education of law enforcement officers; responsibilities of police administrators, including various organizational functions within agencies, causes of tension and conflict, dissent and disorder, positive and negative factors in the control of minority group hostilities; minority recruitment in law enforcement.
Course Hours: 3
Theories of Crime and Deviance
CJD 3300
Brief historical overview of criminological theory up to the 1950s. Deviance, labeling, social control, routine activities, rational choice, life course, opportunity and self-control theories of crime. Recent research in criminalistic subcultures, criminal persistence and desistance in criminal behavior and the debate on the age-crime curve and the arguments regarding career criminals and criminal careers.
Course Hours: 3
Juvenile Delinquency and Law Enforcement
CJD 3310
Juvenile delinquency in relation to the general problem of crime, analysis of factors underlying juvenile delinquency, treatment and prevention, its onset, prediction and desistance. Organization and social responsibility of law enforcement.
Course Hours: 3
Correctional Systems
CJD 3410
Introduction to the research and policy issues for community-based and institutional correctional programs, assessment and screening tools, management of convicted offenders and institutional overcrowding. Research on prediction of recidivism, matching of treatment programs to offenders, management of correctional institutions and programs.
Course Hours: 3
Criminal Law: The Defense Side
CJD 3420
Procedure of the criminal courts from the defense viewpoint. ABA standards for defense attorneys, the handling of a case by the defense from arrest to appeal and ethical problems posed for defense attorneys. Attention given to defense by appointment and plea bargaining.
Course Hours: 3
Criminal Justice System and Criminal Courts
CJD 3430
Introduction to research and theory in prosecution, plea-bargaining, sentencing principles and guidelines, and sentencing policies in practice. Mandatory minimum sentencing, “three strikes” laws, race, gender and class disparities, general and specific deterrent effect of sentencing, restitution and restorative justice, diversion and sentencing to treatment.
Course Hours: 3
Values and Ethics in Criminal Justice
CJD 4200
A study of ethical issues facing the criminal justice system. Problems confronting police, the courts and the juvenile and correctional systems are addressed. Moral issues and integrity building modules. Survey of major schools of ethics theory; sources of ethical and philosophical foundations for criminal justice functions; common quandaries confronting officers, supervisors and executives in criminal justice.
Course Hours: 3
Criminal Investigations and Contemporary Issues
CJD 4210
General investigative responsibilities and techniques, including administration, preparation, investigative jurisdiction and responsibility and the importance of substantive report writing. Development of Constitutional and procedural controls of the administration of criminal justice. Constitutional limits on law enforcement agencies, including the laws of arrest, search and seizure, admissions and confessions and eavesdropping; on pre-trial and trial procedures, on past conviction processes. Emphasis on current U.S. Supreme Court decisions. Also deals with planning, research and development in law enforcement.
Course Hours: 3
Applied Data Analysis in Criminal Justice
CJD 4500
Overview of scientific research methods in criminal justice with emphasis on computer technology to conduct research and interpretation and analysis of various statistical data of your community, zone and/or precinct.
Course Hours: 3
Fundamentals of Emergency Management
CJD 4510
An introduction to the construct and practice of homeland security and domestic preparedness. Preparedness and management of local, state and national emergencies, disasters and threats will be discussed. Content will include emergency preparedness, first responders, personnel management and incident management.
Course Hours: 3
Terrorism
CJD 4520
This course focuses on understanding terrorism. Content covers the historical, political, economic, global environment and context of threat. Both international and domestic threats are covered along with protocols for reducing or eliminating those threats. Terrorist groups, militant organizations and individual crime are studied.
Course Hours: 3
Program Details
Total Credit Hours
36
Program Length
18 months
Mode
100 percent online
Locations/Modes
Online
We understand life is busy and you may not have time to attend class on campus. You can earn your degree with us while focusing on one class at a time, any time—24/7. Through Trevecca Online, classes are taught digitally through our learning management system, Blackboard. Additionally, books and materials are delivered to your front door. And when we say the degree is entirely online, we mean it. Our program is structured so that you never have to step foot on campus—not even once!
With our online degree-completion programs, you can expect the same level of quality and rigor that Trevecca has provided students since 1901. Our online students also benefit from a cohort model, where students begin and complete their degree alongside a group of other online classmates working toward similar goals.
Outcomes/Careers
Completing a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice will position graduates for a greater chance of promotion in rank in the jobs they may already hold. By advancing their education, students will also be better qualified to work within other agencies.
As current events continually demand new and changing responses from the criminal justice system, Trevecca is committed to producing highly skilled law enforcement and corrections professionals to fill crucial roles ensuring America’s safety and security.
Students with a Bachelor of Science in criminal justice are trained and equipped to work as a:
- Municipal law enforcement officer
- County deputy sheriff
- State police officer
- Federal law enforcement agent
- Court security officer
- Probation officer (juvenile or adult)
- Parole officer (juvenile or adult)
- Correctional officer (juvenile detention or adult detention)
Financial Aid & Costs
How much will it cost?
| Tuition | Credit Hours | Program Length | Tuition Costs |
|---|---|---|---|
| $395/credit hour | 36 | 18 months | $14,220 |
*$50 fee assessed per course. Books are not included.
How am I going to pay for it?
- Federal loans and grants are available to all eligible students who complete a FAFSA
- Employer tuition reimbursement opportunities
- Monthly payments through Trevecca make fulfilling tuition requirements more manageable
- Military benefits such as Yellow Ribbon and GI Bills are accepted by Trevecca University
How do I qualify?
- Fill out your FAFSA. Based on your income, you will know how much federal financial aid you are eligible to receive.
- Talk to your employer about tuition reimbursement opportunities
- For military benefits, contact the Academic Records Office at 1.615.248.1268
Admissions
Emphasizing a holistic educational perspective, a Christian worldview, a value of liberal arts, and a respect for integrity and ethics, this program is for the adult learner who has completed some undergraduate coursework or holds an associate’s degree.
Students with certification of having completed basic law enforcement or correctional officer academies are eligible to submit for review and potential acceptance toward transfer credits or life experience credits.
Getting Started
- Complete the online application (it's free!).
Need help applying? Read the step-by-step instructions here! - Fill out the FAFSA to be considered for financial aid
- Request official transcripts from your previous institution
Admissions Requirements
- Completion of at least 40 credit hours from an accredited institution
- 2.0 cumulative GPA for all prior coursework
- Some proficiency with computer technology and reliable access to technology throughout the program
- Provide photocopy of government-issued identification (e.g., driver's license, state ID, military ID, passport). This requirement ensures that Trevecca complies with the U.S. Department of Education expectations for student verification. (This is only required for students enrolled in an online program.)
Not sure if you meet the admissions requirements? We’re here to help! Fill out the form to be connected with an enrollment counselor who will walk with you every step of the way during the admissions process.
FAQs
How many academic credit hours are permitted to transfer?
I haven’t completed any undergraduate level coursework yet but am interested in this degree. What are my options?
Do you use textbooks or e-books?
I’m already busy managing a full-time job and other commitments. How will I find time to complete coursework and study?
I don’t have time to drive to Trevecca’s campus. Can I earn the degree online?
Will I receive the same experience online as those who attend class in person?
I haven’t been a student in years—what if I fall behind or struggle to keep up with classes?
What is the difference between the traditional undergraduate Bachelor of Science in criminal justice studies degree and the Bachelor of Science in criminal justice degree-completion program?
What are the technology requirements for this program?
Overview
Earn Your Degree and Make a Difference in the Criminal Justice Field
100 percent online degree-completion program allows you to work full-time while studying
Working within the criminal justice system is about more than punching a clock. For most, it is following a passion for righting wrongs and answering a call to compassionate servant leadership. It means being dedicated to investing in improving society and helping the “least of these.”
You’re also burdened by the current brokenness of the criminal justice system. You want to work in a profession where you can effect change, help others and make the world a better place. With a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, you’ll have the opportunity to work towards effective solutions for positive change, helping to repair and rebuild the system from the inside out.
At Trevecca, we know that your job is crucial—both to you and to the community you serve. But we also realize that completing your college degree is important, too. That’s why the Bachelor of Science in criminal justice program is ideal for those who are currently working within the criminal justice field.
You can complete your bachelor’s degree while working full-time in the job you love. We’ve designed the Bachelor of Science in criminal justice as a degree-completion program targeted to employed professionals just like you.
This degree is 100 percent online, designed to fit into your busy schedule and can be completed in three semesters. Our goal is to help students become effective servant leaders and promote rank either by transfer to another agency or within their current employment agencies within the law enforcement, corrections or criminal justice-oriented settings.
“We’re dealing with a broken world and a broken criminal justice system, and we want to focus on healing and reform in this program,” Craig Bishop, Program Director Criminal Justice Program, School of Graduate and Continuing Studies, said. “Within the professions of criminal justice, we are dealing with individuals who are broken and hurting. We need more empathy and compassion within the system, professionals who allow the Lord to use their gifts and talents to minister in others’ lives, whether it’s a victim or an offender. It’s just a tremendous ministry opportunity.”
Earning your criminal justice degree means you’ll become a more accomplished law enforcement professional, equipped to bring healing and reform through compassionate servant leadership where it’s so desperately needed.
Objectives
Graduates with a Bachelor of Science in criminal justice will advance in their understanding of the theories, models and practices applied within each profession of the criminal justice system.
Students will be assessed on their performance of assignments related to:
- Administration of justice, including correctional processes, criminological theory, law adjudication, law enforcement and juvenile justice
- Critical thinking and reasoning skills
- Professionalism including legal conduct and behavior, integrity, ethics, interpersonal relationships, problem solving, communications, diversity, fairness and equality
- Research and analytical methods
