Bachelor's of Science in Criminal Justice
The goal of the criminal justice program is to provide students with the appropriate educational background to support potential careers in the criminal justice system. The four salient features of the criminal justice program are: (1) it is system-oriented rather than agency-oriented; (2) it is a highly interdisciplinary program of study; (3) it is appropriate for pre-service as well as in-service students; and (4) it has a strong commitment to consideration of the moral and ethical issues in criminal justice.
In order to complete a Bachelor's of Science in Criminal Justice at Shippensburg University, students are required to complete 45 credit hours of criminal justice courses (15 classes), 60 credit hours of general education courses (typically 20 classes), and 15 credit hours of interdisciplinary courses (typically 5 classes). The criminal justice program comprises a lower and upper division curriculum. Courses with numerical designations below the 300 level (e.g., CRJ221) are lower division courses and are appropriate for freshmen and sophomore students. Courses above the 300 level are upper division courses and are appropriate for juniors and seniors. Students should complete the CRJ core courses before enrolling in upper division elective courses. However, this requirement can be waived under special circumstances. Students are required to achieve a grade of "C" or above in all CRJ courses.
New, first-time students beginning during the Fall 2018 semester or later:
- CRJ Major Planning Sheet for Students Beginning Fall 2018 - Present
- Undergraduate General Education Requirements
Students who began prior to the Fall 2018 semester:
All Criminal Justice majors are assigned a professor within the department who serves as their academic advisor. Their academic advisor is the key person students should speak with regarding questions about class scheduling and/or career planning. Prospective students are encouraged to contact the Chair of the Department of Criminal Justice for information and advising. The Chair will be pleased to discuss the program with interested students.
Your degree can open many doors! Upon graduation students could opt to continue their education by obtaining a graduate degree or can enter one of many potential career fields. A degree in Criminal Justice can put you on the path to enter a broad range of careers, both inside or outside the criminal justice system. For a sample of potential careers accessible with a criminal justice degree, click here.
Due to the high demand of CRJ courses, they often fill very quickly. If a class is closed that you need to take, you can sign up for the course wait list. Students will be added to classes where space permits.