Criminal Justice

Criminal Justice
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Athens State University offers a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice for students seeking to enter or advance in the field of criminal justice. A Criminal Justice degree is also excellent preparation for those choosing to pursue a graduate degree or attend law school.

Criminal Justice Degree Overview

Currently, there are more than 2 million individuals employed in the U.S. law enforcement and the U.S. Department of Labor expects positions in criminal justice to grow at a rate equal to or faster than average over the next decade.

Many of these positions require highly specialized professionals with knowledge, training and experience to perform successfully across many roles. At Athens State, we’ve ensured our graduates have developed the important technical, analytical and communication skills needed to succeed in any role.

To push your knowledge further, students pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice have the option to specialize in Juvenile Justice Studies as well as earn a certificate in Child Advocacy. What’s more, students can minor in:

  • Criminal Justice
  • Forensics and Investigation
  • Homeland Security and Administration
  • Forensic Psychology
  • Cyber Criminology/Computer Forensics

Whether you’re interested in law enforcement, law or corrections, the criminal justice degree provides students with an interdisciplinary knowledge of criminal, constitutional, and correctional law processes, investigation and evidence collection, policies, and management practices within criminal justice agencies and organizations.

Typical courses include:

  • Law enforcement, 
  • Criminology, 
  • Criminal law, 
  • Justice process, 
  • Corrections, and juvenile delinquency
  • Government, 
  • Ethics
  • and public administration to prepare students for supervisory positions.