Criminal Justice (BCJ)

Criminal Justice

The Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice (BCJ) is broad-based and designed to provide criminal justice (CJ) practitioners with a comprehensive understanding of the CJ system. This program enhances the knowledge of persons employed in law enforcement, corrections, the legal field, and private security. The curriculum also prepares individuals to attend graduate school, including law school. (Acceptance into any graduate school depends on that school’s admissions requirements and the qualifications of each applicant.)

The Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice (BCJ) program is unique in the following ways:

  • The broad-based curriculum approach emphasizes law enforcement, private security, corrections, and jurisprudence (pre-law);
  • The faculty has extensive experience in the fields of criminal justice;
  • The BCJ faculty is recognized by their peers as knowledgeable and effective instructors;
  • The BCJ full-time and adjunct faculty are currently teaching at various law enforcement academies and criminal justice agencies within Alabama;
  • All courses are presented from a moral and ethical viewpoint; and
  • The courses were selected in consultation with an advisory board comprised of criminal justice administrators and practitioners.

Program Highlights

  • Upper-level courses completed in one year (3 semesters).
  • Offered completely online or in a hybrid format (combination of on ground and online).
  • The degree consists of six modules, each lasting 8 weeks
  • Academic credit is granted for law enforcement and corrections minimum standards certification.

Degree Plan

Calendar

Entrance Requirements

The one year Bachelor of Criminal Justice curriculum is designed to accommodate the working adult who has completed the 66 semester hours of core curriculum listed below.

Subject/Subject Includes

 Hours

Christian Literacy

 12 hours
Four lower level courses in Bible (BI 1311; BI 1314; BI 2302 and one BI elective.) Students who transfer in core curriculum requirements for the BCJ program can substitute 12 hours in general education courses for this requirement. Students who take courses at Faulkner University to satisfy the core curriculum requirements for the BCJ program must take a Bible course within every 15 hours to satisfy the University’s Christian Literacy requirement.

Cultural Heritage Literacy

 3 hours
One course in humanities or history will satisfy this requirement.

Mathematical and Scientific Literacy

 9 hours
Mathematics Requirement (MH 1300 College Math or higher) – 3hrs
Natural or Physical Science Requirement – 3hrs
Mathematics or Natural or Physical Science – 3hrs

Information and Communication Literacy

 9 hours
Composition Requirement
EH 1301 English Composition I – 3hrs
EH 1302 English Composition II – 3hrs
Technology – Computer Applications (CA 1302) – 3hrs

Personal and Social Literacy

 12 hours
Social Sciences: Four courses in any social science area such as history, political science, economics, psychology, sociology, anthropology, library science, geography, etc.

Electives

 21 hours

Core Curriculum Total

 66 hours

Program Requirements

Module 1 (Every Fall)

  • BCJ 4301 Criminalistics – 3 Hours
  • BCJ 4304 CJ Ethics – 3 Hours
  • BCJ 3312 CJ & Web – 3 Hours

Module 2 (Every Fall)

  • BCJ 4307 Research Methods – 3 Hours
  • BCJ 2331 Criminal Law – 3 Hours
  • BCJ 3301 Criminology – 3 Hours

Module 3 (Every Spring)

  • BCJ 4306 Criminal Behavior Analysis – 3 Hours
  • BCJ 3310 Corrections – 3 Hours
  • BCJ 3308 Terrorism – 3 Hours

Module 4 (Every Spring)

  • BCJ 4303 Interview and Interrogation – 3 Hours
  • BCJ 3313 Cultural Diversity – 3 Hours
  • BCJ 3304 Juvenile Justice – 3 Hours

Module 5 (Every Summer)

  • BCJ 3305 Constitutional Law – 3 Hours
  • BCJ 3306 Private Security – 3 Hours
  • BCJ 3324 Crisis Management – 3 Hours

Module 6 (Every Summer)

  • BCJ 4305 Special Issues – 3 Hours
  • BCJ 3309 First Line Supervision – 3 Hours
  • BCJ 4302 Courts – 3 Hours

Total – 54 Hours

* Courses are offered in both a Hybrid (Classroom/Online) format or fully Online (eBCJ) format based on student enrollment at specific locations.

** Students are allowed to enter the program at the beginning of each module (January, March, April, June, August and October) – completing the rotation from the point of entry.

*** Classes are offered once per year.

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