The justice system affects people at the most difficult moments of their lives. Working fairly and effectively in this field means looking beyond laws and procedures to the communities, histories and human experiences behind them.

California Lutheran University’s Bachelor of Science in Criminology and Justice Studies looks at justice from every side of the system. You’ll study how policing, courts and corrections actually function, and how individual and cultural differences shape the way people experience them. You’ll also study the causes of crime, victim advocacy and how people successfully reenter society after incarceration.

Part of Cal Lutheran’s Bachelor’s Degree for Professionals, this degree completion program is built for learners who have some previous college credit. You’ll learn in small classes with faculty who get to know you, value the experience you bring and support you as you finish what you started.

At Cal Lutheran, we pride ourselves on providing personal attention to each of our students. Our classes are intentionally kept small so that you can connect with your instructors and peers. You’ll also have access to a personal academic counselor who will guide and support you every step of the way.

What You’ll Learn in the Criminology and Justice Studies Degree

The program pairs criminological theory with the realities of how justice works in practice. By graduation you’ll have:

  • A clear grasp of the major theories and concepts in criminology and justice studies
  • The research methods to analyze justice issues and reach conclusions you can defend
  • The ability to apply what you learn to real situations, from local communities to global systems
  • An understanding of how individual and cultural differences shape people’s experience of the justice system
  • The critical thinking to engage in hard questions about fairness, accountability and what justice should look like

See the courses you’ll take as a criminology and justice studies student.

Who Is This Program For?

Our students are mostly working adults balancing school with family and a full-time job. Some already work in law enforcement, the courts or corrections.

Others work in social services roles, bringing experience that overlaps with the field in different ways. And some come to the field through personal experience, community advocacy or a search for work that feels like it matters, even if their current job has nothing to do with justice or criminology.

To apply, you need a high school diploma or GED certificate and at least 24 credits of college credit from an accredited institution. Visit our admissions page for more on what you need.

Criminology and Justice Studies Curriculum

This is a 100% online degree. Students complete a minimum of 124 credits to graduate. At least 45 of those credits will be from criminology and justice studies major courses. The rest can come from general education courses or credits you transfer in.

All courses are 3 credits unless otherwise noted

Foundation Courses (18 credits)

Research Writing for Professionals

Advanced Research Writing for Professionals

Essentials of Statistics

Introduction to Criminology

Introduction to Justice Studies

Criminology and Justice Studies Research Methods

Global Systems of Justice for Victims and Offenders Course (3 credits)

Global Justice Systems

Justice and Advocacy for Victims and Ex-Offenders Course (6 credits)

Victim Assistance and Advocacy

Assistance and Advocacy for Ex-Offenders

Systems of Justice for Victims and Offenders Electives (9 credits)

Choose 3 courses

Contemporary Policing

Law and Criminal Courts

Corrections in the 21st Century

Forensic Psychology

Victimology

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice for Victims and Offenders Electives (6 credits)

Choose 2 courses

Gender, Crime and Justice

Race, Ethnicity, Crime and Justice

Diversity, Crime and Justice

Criminology and Justice Studies Capstone (3 credits)

Senior Seminar in Criminology and Justice Studies

Career Outcomes With a BS in Criminology and Justice Studies

Research demonstrates the benefits of re-entry, rehabilitation and supporting the people who move through the system, but the justice system can be slow to adapt these as policy. That’s why we need well-educated, degree-holding professionals who can make progress across enforcement and the courts as well as advocacy and social services. Common roles include:

  • Probation officer
  • Parole officer
  • Victim advocate
  • Community outreach and advocacy roles
  • Re-entry specialist
  • Corrections officer
  • Police officer
  • Social services caseworker

The degree is also a strong foundation for law school or graduate study. Whichever direction graduates take, they leave understanding justice only works when it holds people accountable while still treating them as people.

Attend a Class Before You Apply

Get a closer look at what it’s like to be a Cal Lutheran student by sitting in on a live online class. For more information and to reserve your spot, contact an enrollment specialist at 805-521-9856 or complete our form.

Frequently Asked Questions

A degree completion program is a bachelor’s degree built for people who already have some college credit. Instead of starting over, you transfer in the courses you’ve already earned and build your degree plan from there.

For the Bachelor of Science in Criminology and Justice Studies, every incoming student brings at least 24 credits from a previous accredited associate or undergraduate program, and many bring more credits.

The difference from a traditional bachelor’s degree is mostly who it’s for and how it’s run — not the quality of the education. A general program is built around full-time students who are usually new to college. Cal Lutheran’s degree program is built around working adults who have some college behind them and a full life around them.

We know our students have to balance their degree around jobs, families and everything else, so the program runs fully online with the option to join a weekly live session in the evening.

Student support services are built for adult learners coming back to school too: academic advisors know your situation and personalized career counseling when you need it.

For someone who started a degree years ago and always meant to finish, a completion program is the most direct way back.

Learn more about what it’s like to return to school after some time away >>

They’re related, but they ask different questions.

  • Criminal justice tends to focus on the system itself: how policing, advocacy, the courts and corrections operates together.
  • Criminology looks at the bigger picture: why crime happens, how it affects victims and offenders, and how factors like race, gender and inequality shape people’s experience of the system.

This program is built on the criminology side, but includes the foundations of criminal justice. You study how the system works, but also why it works the way it does and what could make it more fair. That’s useful whether you want to work within the system or alongside it in advocacy and support.

Yes, and students already working in the field tell us this often. The coursework connects to real situations, so what you study applies to the cases and communities you’re already working with. Students regularly bring their own experience into class discussions, and faculty build the conversation around it. If you work in justice or social services now, you’ll likely see the material show up in your job right away.

You are welcome to apply if you have:

  • Graduated from high school or possess a GED certificate
  • Completed 24 credits of transferable college credit
  • Earned a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.25

Visit our admissions page for more information, including an application checklist.

On average, Cal Lutheran students finish their bachelor’s degree in about two years when taking two courses per term.

Your personal timeline depends on a few things: how many credits you transfer in, how many of those count toward this specific degree and how many courses you take each term.

The best way to find out is to talk with an enrollment specialist. They can review your previous coursework and tell you which credits transfer and how they apply to this degree. Call 805-521-9856 or complete our form to request a call.

Yes, from several sources. Students can apply for federal aid such as Pell Grants and Direct Loans, and other awards can bring the cost down further.

If you transferred from a California community college, you may qualify for a Cal Grant, and graduates of a PACE program at a partner community college can receive a $100 per credit tuition reduction through PACE Promise. Many employers also offer tuition assistance, and as a Yellow Ribbon school, Cal Lutheran supports students using veterans benefits.

Our tuition and financial aid page has more information on funding options.

Here Are Your Next Steps

Request Information

To learn more about the Bachelor’s Degree for Professionals offered by the Cal Lutheran School for Professional and Continuing Studies and download a brochure, please fill out the form. You can also get in touch with an enrollment specialist directly by calling us at 805-521-9856.

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