Criminal Justice Bachelor of Science Degree

If you’re a senior in high school or if you graduated from high school within the last two years, you’ll apply to begin your bachelor’s degree program using Georgia State’s Common Application. Find out more about applying.

International students: International applicants are those students who are in the U.S. on a non-immigrant visa (B-1, H-1, J-1, etc.); students who are living outside the U.S. and who will require an F-1 visa to study in the United States; students who are in the process of applying for Permanent Residency status, but have not yet received the Permanent Residency card; or students who have been educated outside of the U.S. Learn more about the application process.

Transfer students: If you’re already in college but need a change, transferring to Georgia State can provide you with the opportunities you need to succeed — in school and after graduation. View the details.

This program features two predominant divisions with nine separate areas. The lower division provides the student with a sound liberal arts experience. This division includes courses in the humanities, mathematics and the natural sciences, the social sciences and selected elective courses that are particularly appropriate to the field of criminal justice. Courses taken in the lower division are at the freshman and sophomore levels. The upper division provides the student with a depth and breadth of knowledge related to criminal justice. Courses in the upper division are usually at the junior and senior levels.

The curriculum includes:

• 42 hours of undergraduate core curriculum courses (Areas A – E)
• 18 hours of criminal justice core courses (Area F)
• 12 hours of foundations of analysis courses (Area G)
• Legal issues courses (Area H)
  • Crime an Justice Concentration: 3 hours
  • Legal Studies Concentration: 15 hours
• Criminal justice issues courses (Area I)
  • Crime an Justice Concentration: 15 hours
  • Legal Studies Concentration: 3 hours
• Capstone and internship courses (Area J)
  • Crime an Justice Concentration: 6-9 hours
  • Legal Studies Concentration: 6-9 hours
• 21 or 24 hours of electives
• Total of 120 credit hours

The Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology emphasizes issues of crime and justice occurring in urban environments from a multicultural, interdisciplinary perspective to inform science, policy and practice.  The department produces students who are critical and ethical thinkers, knowledgeable about the issues of crime and justice, and prepared for leadership positions in public and private criminal justice.