Major code BS2210*

University College  
Chubb Hall 140
Athens, OH 45701
Phone: 740.593.1935
Fax: 740.593.0206
university.college@ohio.edu
www.ohio.edu/university-college/bachelor-criminal-justice

Julie Cohara, Director of Degree Programs/contact person
cohara@ohio.edu

Program Overview

The upper-division Criminal Justice major program is designed exclusively for students who have previously completed an associate degree program in a technical area related to criminal justice, such as law enforcement, corrections technology, police administration, legal assisting, or human services. If you hold such a degree from a technical or community college, or from a regional or e-learning campus of Ohio University, you are eligible to apply to the Criminal Justice major program and may earn a baccalaureate degree by completing a minimum of 32 additional hours of Ohio University work. Students who do not meet this admissions requirement, but are interested in pursuing a career in criminal justice are encouraged to instead pursue the Sociology—Criminology Major (B.A.)  or Specialized Studies Major (B.I.S.)  degrees. Students who are interested in law school may consider Sociology—Pre-Law Major (B.A.)  or Business Pre-Law Major (B.B.A.) . Also, a certificate in the Law, Justice & Culture Certificate Program  is available.

The multidisciplinary Criminal Justice curriculum comprises of a broad range of courses from the social and behavioral sciences, humanities, natural sciences, and professional disciplines; all of which make a contribution to the complex field of Criminal Justice. You may individualize your program of study through elective courses.

Online Degree Option: Criminal Justice bachelor’s program is also offered online. This flexible format allows you to pace your classes to fit your life and your career. Prior college credits often transfer, allowing you to finish your degree more quickly.

*This program was previously BC2209 which awarded the Bachelor of Criminal Justice degree. Pending Board of Trustees approval (anticipated June 2024), the new program code will be BS2210 and will award the Bachelor of Science degree effective the 2024-25 catalog year.

Admissions Information

Freshman/First-Year Admission

The Criminal Justice major requires a completed applied science or technical-based associate degree in a law enforcement related area (e.g., law enforcement technology). New students may enter OHIO as pre-C.J. (ND2210) majors and work toward the Law Enforcement Technology Major (A.A.S.)  and the bachelor’s program requirements simultaneously. Please note that this A.A.S. program is located online or on the Chillicothe, Southern, or Lancaster campuses.

Change of Program Policy

To enter the Criminal Justice program, an online application is required. Students can obtain the online application from University College, regional campus, or e-Learning Criminal Justice advisors.

Please note that students on regional campuses may need longer than two years and may need to register on more than one campus. The major is also available online through Ohio University’s eCampus at www.ohio.edu/online.

External Transfer Admission

To enter the Criminal Justice program, you must complete a separate online application in addition to the application to the University and submit a college transcript showing that you have completed an associate degree in an appropriate technical field. Students can obtain the online application from University College, regional campus, or e-campus Criminal Justice advisors. Upon admission, a student will be assigned a Criminal Justice advisor. A student must be admitted to the major at least one semester prior to graduation.

Opportunities Upon Graduation

The Criminal Justice program offers students with a technical education background the opportunity to broaden their exposure to a liberal arts curriculum while acquiring the necessary specialization to qualify for careers in such fields as parole and probation, adult and juvenile corrections, and police administration. Criminal Justice students might also prepare for law school or for further study in graduate or professional schools.

Requirements