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  1. Home
  2. Academics
  3. Bachelor's Degrees
  4. Criminal Justice

Bachelor of Science Degree Requirements

Students receiving a baccalaureate degree in Criminal Justice should understand each of the three main components of the criminal justice system and their interrelationships, be able to evaluate both current and future crime control policy proposals and criminal justice research critically, and understand the complexity of the crime phenomenon and its relationship to individual, social, and cultural factors.

This major includes study in law enforcement, courts, and corrections individually and as components of a system, plus work in theories of crime causation and crime control policy. Students should expect reading, writing, and critical thinking skills to be rigorously applied and developed throughout the degree program.

The bachelor of arts degree in Criminal Justice provides a broadly based liberal arts background for the study of crime, justice, and the criminal justice system. The bachelor of science degree offers an opportunity for educational enrichment in fields not traditionally considered part of the liberal arts. Either degree is excellent preparation for a career in criminal justice, graduate or professional study, or informed citizenship.

For the B.S. degree in Criminal Justice, a minimum of 120 credits is required.

Scheduling Recommendation by Semester Standing given like (Sem: 1-2)

GENERAL EDUCATION: 45 credits
(10-13 of these 45 credits are included in the REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MAJOR)
(See description of General Education in this bulletin.)

FIRST-YEAR SEMINAR:
(Included in ELECTIVES or GENERAL EDUCATION course selection)

UNITED STATES CULTURES AND INTERNATIONAL CULTURES:
(Included in REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MAJOR)

WRITING ACROSS THE CURRICULUM:
(Included in REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MAJOR)

ELECTIVES: 32-36 credits

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MAJOR: 60 credits[1]
(This includes 10-13 credits of General Education courses: 0-3 credits of GH courses; 4 credits of GQ courses; 6 credits of GS courses.)

PRESCRIBED COURSES (37 credits)
CRIMJ 100(3), SOC 012 GS(3), SOC 119 GS;US(4), STAT 200 GQ(4) (Sem: 1-4)
CRIMJ 210(3), CRIMJ 220(3), CRIMJ 230(3), CRIMJ 290(2)(Sem: 3-6)
CRIMJ 441(3), CRIMJ 450W(3), CRIMJ 495(3) (Sem: 5-8)

ADDITIONAL COURSES (12 credits)
PHIL 103 GH(3) or CRIMJ 465(3) (Sem: 1-4)
CRIMJ 250W(3) or SOC 207(3)
Select 9 credits from any 400-level CRIMJ course that does not already fulfill another requirement in the major. (Sem: 5-8)

SUPPORTING COURSES AND RELATED AREAS (12 credits)
Select 12 credits, in consultation with the adviser, in one or two of the following skill enhancement areas: accounting, computers, composition and rhetoric, counseling, education, law and legal studies, foreign language, management, public speaking, research methods and statistics, science and engineering, biobehavioral health; or in the following topics: adolescence, deviant behavior, drugs, minorities (Sem: 3-6)

[1] A student enrolled in this major must receive a grade of C or better, as specified in Senate Policy 82-44.

Criminal Justice

  • Request Information about Criminal Justice
  • Bachelor of Arts Degree Requirements
  • Bachelor of Science Degree Requirements
  • Suggested Academic Plans
  • Associate Degree in Criminal Justice
  • Minor in Criminal Justice
  • Groups and Teams
  • Criminal Justice Faculty and Staff
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Out-of-Class Learning

Explore out-of-classroom academic experiences that complement in-class learning, including study abroad/study away programs, internships, undergraduate research, and community-based studies.

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See Also

  • Division of Education, Human Development, and Social Sciences
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Penn State Altoona

A full-service, four-year, residential campus located less than 45 miles from the research campus at University Park. Offering 21 four-year degrees and the first two years of over 275 Penn State majors.
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Give Visit Apply
  • This is Penn State Altoona
    • Welcome from the Chancellor
    • Penn State Altoona At a Glance
    • Mission, Vision, and Values
    • College Leadership
    • Our History
    • Campus Map
    • Current Weather Conditions
    • Livestream
  • Academics
    • Majors
    • Academic Calendar
    • Out-of-Class Learning
    • Eiche Library
    • Robert L. Smith Learning Resources Center
    • Registrar
    • Academic Advising
    • Honors Program
    • Campus Closures
  • Admissions
    • Visit Us
    • Information for First-Year Students
    • How to Apply
    • Accepted Students
    • Experience Altoona
    • Virtual Tour
  • Tuition & Financial Aid
    • Scholarships and Awards
    • Grants
    • Loans
    • Work-study
    • Financial Aid Basics
    • Tuition and Costs
    • Financial Aid Information
  • Student Success
    • Center for Student and Civic Engagement
    • Health and Wellness Center
    • Student Diversity and Inclusion Programming
    • International Student Services
    • Housing
    • Parking
    • Police and Safety
    • Career Services
    • Diversity at Penn State Altoona
  • Research & Engagement
    • Undergraduate Research and Creative Inquiry
    • Faculty Research Resources
    • Community-Based Studies
    • Internships
    • Study Abroad/Study Away
    • Internal Grants and Awards
  • Athletics
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    • Staff and Coaches Directory
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