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Bachelor of Criminal Justice
Major code BC2209
(Available at OU Athens)

The upper-division Criminal Justice pro gram is designed for students who have previously completed an associate’s degree program in a technical area related to criminal justice, such as law enforcement, corrections technology, police administration, legal assisting, or human services. If you hold such a degree from a technical or community college, or from a regional campus of Ohio University, you
are eligible to apply to the Criminal Justice program and may earn a baccalaureate degree by completing a minimum of 80 additional hours of Ohio University work.

This program offers students with technical education background the opportunity to broaden their exposure to liberal higher education while acquiring the necessary specialization to qualify for careers in such fields as parole and probation, forensic science, adult and juvenile corrections, and police administration. Criminal justice students also may prepare for law school or for further study in graduate or profession al schools.

The flexible multi-disciplinary curriculum is composed of a broad range of courses from the social and behavioral sciences, humanities, natural sciences, and professional disciplines, all of which make a contribution to the complex field of criminal justice. You may individualize your program of study to a significant degree through elective courses.

To enter the Criminal Justice program, you must complete a separate degree application form in addition to the application to the University and submit a college transcript showing that you have completed an associate’s degree in an appropriate technical field. Applications are available from the University College office or any region al campus student services office. Upon admission, you will be assigned an academic advisor who will assist you in completing your approved program of study.

Bachelor of Criminal Justice students may earn departmental honors through University College. Students must have an accumulated g.p.a. within the top 20 percent of BCJ students to be eligible for departmental honors. An honors thesis is required. Guidelines and an application are available from the college office.

Degree requirements

Earn 192 credit hours, including at least 80 hours of Ohio University work.
Must complete at least 45 hours at the 300 level or above.
Complete the General Education Requirements (Tier I, II, III). Some courses taken to complete the associate’s degree may be equivalent to courses that fulfill these requirements.
Complete the BCJ core and no fewer than 9 courses from within the follow ing BCJ Major Requirement areas:

BCJ Core:
Three of the following courses: POLS 409, SOC 260, SOC 362, SOC 366.

BCJ Major Requirements:

	Area I: Basic skills. Three courses, one each from A, B, and C—(A) ENG 305J, 308J, PRCM 325J; (B) COMS 215, 304, POLS 488; (C) COMS 301, PSY 221, QBA 201, SOC 351, SW 350.
	Area II: Social and political systems. Two courses, one each from A and B—(A) AAS 254, HIST 315C, 315D, SOC 329, 470, 471; (B) POLS 301, 306, 404, 410, 477, SW 390, SOC 309, 364.
	Area III: Human behavior. Two courses, one each from A and B. Do not take both SOC 210 and PSY 336—(A) PSY 233, PSY 332, PSY 336 or SOC 210, SW 380, SOC 211; (B) PSY 337, SOC 261, 363.
	Area IV: Organization skills and management. Two courses, one each from A and B—(A) ACCT 101, HRM 320, MGT 202, POLS 210, 412; (B) BUSL 255, 356, HRM 425, MGT 340, POLS 414, PSY 261, SOC 430.
	At least 50 percent of the BCJ Major Requirements (Areas I, II, III, and IV) must be completed by using Ohio University coursework.

Recommended electives:
AAS 440; CS 120 or MIS 201; HIST 307; COMS 205, 306, 405, 410, 420, 422; POLS 320, 401, 402; PSY 273; SOC 367, 464, 467; SW 382.

You choose the remaining hours beyond the core and major requirements in consultation with an academic advisor on the basis of your educational goals and career interests. Internship and field experience programs may be arranged for qualified students without prior professional experience in criminal justice.

Courses taken to complete the associate’s degree can not additionally fulfill BCJ major requirements (Areas I, II, III, and IV) for the baccalaureate degree.