Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice (BSCJ) with a concentration in Law/Courts

In today's security-conscious society, the need for trained criminal justice professional continues to grow. In fact, the U.S. Department of Labor predicts that employment of police officers and detectives, for example, will grow as fast as the average for all occupations through 2014. Yet competition for high-level positions will remain keen. Candidates with a college degree in police science, relevant professional experience, or both should have the best opportunities.

The AIU Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice is designed to help students acquire knowledge and abilities in criminal justice and juvenile justice processes, criminology, law enforcement, law adjudication and corrections. The primary goal of this program is to prepare students to become qualified criminal justice professionals.

The BSCJ degree program offers several career-relevant concentrations for students who wish to focus their education on a particular area of interest. The concentration in Law/Courts allows students to explore the functioning of our nation's courts systems.

Career Opportunities

The BSCJ with a concentration in Law/Courts can help prepare students interested in developing and advancing a career as a:

State's Attorney's Investigator
Pre-Trial Services Officer
Bailiff
Victim-Witness Advocate
Bail Bondsman

* Additional education and/or experience may be required for some positions.

Challenging, Relevant Coursework

The BSCJ with a concentration in Law/Courts features industry-relevant coursework taught by faculty members with real-world experience in the field. Key topics addressed in this degree program include an overview of the American judicial system, the role of the courts in determining social policy, rules of law and evidence, and an introduction to constitutional law.

Students who successfully complete the program should be able to:

Demonstrate appropriate knowledge, skills and abilities necessary for a vital career in criminal justice and related professions.
Demonstrate foundational knowledge of criminology, including the causes of crime, typologies, offenders and victims.
Demonstrate appropriate knowledge of the criminal justice and juvenile justice processes.
Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of law enforcement principles, including police organization, discretion, subculture and legal constraints.
Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of law adjudication, including criminal law, prosecution, defense, court procedures and legal decision-making processes.
Demonstrate knowledge of corrections and parole, including incarceration, community-based corrections and treatment of offenders, as well as alternatives to traditional parole.