Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice
A successful criminal justice career requires a broad knowledge base for the major elements of police work, criminal law and procedure, risk analysis and response, and investigative processes and procedure. The Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice (BSCJ) program at Los Angeles Pacific University equips students with professional knowledge and practical skills in criminal justice while integrating a Christian worldview.
Students who major in criminal justice learn about the field from both an academic and professional perspective, addressing topics from a theoretical as well as a practitioner viewpoint. With the opportunity to specialize in their field, students are able to pursue personal or specific career interests by choosing to include a concentration.
Careers in the field of criminal justice and law enforcement include the areas of criminology, law enforcement, courts, and corrections. For many occupations within the field, a four-year undergraduate degree is considered to be entry level. Occupations in this rapidly growing field include probation officers and correctional treatment specialists; detective or criminal investigators; forensic science technicians; patrol officers; and paralegals.
Graduates will also be equipped to continue their studies in graduate programs in criminal justice, criminology, law, public administration, or related fields.
Program Learning Outcomes (PLO) for the B.S. Degree in Criminal Justice
Graduates of the Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice program will be able to:
- PLO 1: Demonstrate the ability to integrate biblical concepts and principles with discipline-specific topics and domains.
- PLO 2: Develop professional competencies in criminal justice, including an understanding of the various components of the field.
- PLO 3: Demonstrate effective written communication skills.
- PLO 4: Utilize appropriate research concepts and processes in the analysis of criminal justice issues, practices, and trends.
- PLO 5: Demonstrate critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills.
- PLO 6: Apply principles of Christian ethics in response to ethical dilemmas and issues within the field of criminal justice.
- PLO 7: Demonstrate effective oral communication skills.
The Los Angeles Pacific University Core comprises the General Education requirements and the LAPU Distinctives. Students are encouraged to complete the Core before beginning their major requirements. General Education requirements may be met by transfer work. The LAPU Distinctives are required for all undergraduate degrees at LAPU.
| Requirement | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Requirements | 25 | |
| LAPU Distinctives | 9 | |
| Total Credits | 34 | |
General Education
| Requirement | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| English Communication | ||
| COMM 105 | Public Communication | 3 |
| ENGL 105 | Introduction to Academic Research and Writing | 3 |
| Arts | ||
| ARTS 110 | Introduction to Art | 3 |
| Humanities | ||
| ENGL 115 | Introduction to Literature | 3 |
| or PHIL 205 | Introduction to Philosophy | |
| or PHIL 210 | Introduction to Ethics | |
| Quantitative Reasoning | ||
| STAT 280 | Applied Statistics | 3 |
| Behavioral Sciences | ||
| ECON 203 | Principles of Microeconomics | 3 |
| or PSYC 105 | Introduction to Psychology | |
| Social Sciences | ||
| HIST 202 | World Civilizations | 3 |
| or HIST 204 | U.S. History from 1865 | |
| or HIST 420 | United States History and the Constitution | |
| Physical and Biological Sciences | ||
| BIOL 105 | General Biology/Lab | 4 |
| or BIOL 230 | Anatomy and Physiology I/Lab | |
| or CHEM 115 | Chemistry for Health Sciences/Lab | |
| or NSCI 150 | Introduction to Astronomy/Lab | |
| Total Credits | 25 | |
LAPU Distinctives
| Requirement | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIBL 100 | Introduction to Biblical Literature: Exodus/Deuteronomy | 3 |
| BIBL 230 | Introduction to Biblical Literature: Luke/Acts | 3 |
| ISTU 101 | Success in the University 1 | 3 |
| Total Credits | 9 | |
- 1
Must be taken at LAPU.
To earn the Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice, students must complete the following degree components:
| Requirement | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core 1 | 31 | |
| Program Requisites | 12 | |
| Major Requirements | 45 | |
| Electives | 32 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
- 1
34 credits total; 3 credits are counted below in Program Requisites.
In order to earn the Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice, students must complete the following required courses while achieving a minimum cumulative grade-point average (GPA) of 2.0 in their major courses:
| Requirement | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core | ||
| Core Requirement 1 | 31 | |
| Program Requisites | ||
| CRJU 105 | Introduction to Criminal Justice | 3 |
| CRJU 280 | Crime and Criminology | 3 |
| CRJU 290 | The Police Function | 3 |
| STAT 280 | Applied Statistics | 3 |
| Major Requirements | ||
| CRJU 300 | Criminal Justice Research Methodology | 3 |
| CRJU 320 | Criminal Law, Substantive | 3 |
| CRJU 330 | Crime and Delinquency | 3 |
| CRJU 340 | Critical Issues in Criminal Justice | 3 |
| CRJU 350 | Criminal Justice Ethics | 3 |
| CRJU 370 | The Adjudication Function | 3 |
| CRJU 380 | Professional Writing | 3 |
| CRJU 390 | Criminal Investigation | 3 |
| CRJU 410 | Corrections | 3 |
| CRJU 420 | Terrorism and Homeland Security | 3 |
| CRJU 430 | Principles of Public Administration | 3 |
| CRJU 440 | Constitutional Law | 3 |
| CRJU 450 | Forensics | 3 |
| CRJU 460 | Risk Analysis and Security | 3 |
| CRJU 490 | Criminal Justice Capstone/Senior Project | 3 |
| Electives | ||
| Electives Requirement 2 | 32 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
- 1
3 credits of the 34-credit Core are fulfilled within the Program Requisites.
- 2
Students may choose from any course in the catalog. If students wish to complete a concentration, they may complete a maximum of two concentrations.
Students may also earn up to 30 credits of electives via Prior Learning Assessment (PLA).