Criminologist taking photos of a crime scene

Online Bachelor's Degree BS in Criminal Justice Criminology

Play a Vital Role in Community Safety with the Criminology Degree Online

Dive deep into the science and psychology behind criminal behavior with Southern New Hampshire University's Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice with a concentration in Criminology. By earning this specialized criminology degree online at SNHU, you'll gain a comprehensive understanding of the social and behavioral sciences behind crime and criminal behavior. You'll thoroughly examine the psychosocial theories and identify the causal factors associated with the inception, continuity and subscription to a criminal lifestyle. Your studies will set you up for a number of career opportunities in law enforcement, social work and security.

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Get Credit for Law Enforcement Training

If you have completed a basic police, corrections, or probation & parole academy training, you may receive up to 12 credits toward your Criminal Justice degree at SNHU.

See Yourself Succeed in Criminal Justice

The concentration in criminology will give you a broad overview of the social and behavioral sciences behind criminal conduct. Over the course of your bachelor’s studies, our faculty will offer their real-world expertise as you survey the psychosocial theories of the criminal mind and examine the causal factors of deviant behavior.

This unique criminology degree online program gives you a foundation in essential criminal justice principles with courses such as Ethics and the Criminal Justice Leader, Criminal Psychology, and Sociology of Crime and Violence.

As a private, nonprofit university, SNHU has one mission – to help you see yourself succeed. The benefits of earning your bachelor’s in criminal justice at SNHU include:

Affordability. Take advantage of some of the most affordable tuition rates in the nation
Convenience. Attend class when it’s convenient for you – online education means 24/7 access
Efficiency and flexibility. Complete your undergraduate degree at your own pace, over six 8-week terms per year
Expert instruction. Learn from instructors with relevant, real-world experience
Networking. Tap into our nationwide network of alumni for internship and career opportunities
Simple application process. Just fill out an online undergraduate application, and we’ll retrieve U.S. transcripts from your previous institutions and automatically complete an official credit evaluation. Plus, there’s no application fee
Student support. Count on the ongoing support of dedicated academic and career advisors specialized in your area of study
Transfer-friendly enrollment. Transfer up to 90 credits toward an undergraduate degree

Career Outlook

By earning your criminology degree online at SNHU, you'll be well positioned for professional career tracks like juvenile justice, human services, child and family services, parole and probation officers, and security. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that demand for social and community service managers will grow 16% through 2026.*

Curriculum

Our unique online criminal justice degree curriculum is taught by knowledgeable faculty members with years of real-world, hands-on experience.

Courses To Prepare You For Your Career

SNHU's bachelor's in criminology program includes:

General education
Degree-specific courses

General Education Program

Our programs are designed to equip you with the skills and insights you need to move forward. In recent years, employers have stressed the need for graduates with higher order skills - the skills that go beyond technical knowledge - such as:

Writing
Communication
Analysis
Problem solving

All bachelor's students are required to take general education classes. Through foundation, exploration and integration courses, students learn to think critically, creatively and collaboratively, giving you the edge employers are looking for.

View Full Curriculum in the Catalog

BS in Criminal Justice - Criminology

Courses May Include

POL 210 American Politics

This course offers a broad introduction to the structure and function of the American political system at the national level, including the roles played by the president, Congress, the courts, the bureaucracy, political parties, interest groups and the mass media in the policy- making and electoral processes. This course places special emphasis on how the efforts of the framers of the Constitution to solve what they saw as the political problems of their day continue to shape American national politics in ours.

PSY 108 Introduction to Psychology

This course provides students an introduction to the scientific study of behavior and mental processes. Students prepare for more advanced concepts in upper-level Psychology courses by learning the basics of how to evaluate research and exploring various areas of specialization within the discipline.

SOC 112 Introduction to Sociology

Is one's identity individually or socially constructed? Are all stereotypes invalid or can there be value in generalizations? Is globalization widening the gaps or homogenizing the world? In this course, students will grapple with these essential questions in examining the world through the lens of a sociologist. Sociology offers an empirically-based methodology for critically evaluating society-from issues of individual agency to the roots of global institutions. Culture, norm stratification, systems, structure, social institutions, social change, the organization of social behavior and its relationship to society and social conditions are emphasized. Students will challenge their own preconceived notions and evaluate these constructs in terms of their relevancy to contemporary issues and problems.

CJ 112 Introduction to Criminal Justice

In this introduction to the criminal justice program learners will begin to understand the major components within various professions at the state, local and federal levels and how they are interconnected. Communication skills, career prospects, and an overview of the core components of the United States government will be reviewed to provide learners with a holistic view of sworn and civilian roles within the criminal justice system.

CJ 205 Policing in the United States

Learners will explore the historical evolution of policing to better understand its current structure and function within criminal justice. The value of positive community relationships and partnerships will be covered, as well as how sworn and civilian positions work together to maintain public safety. Various types of communication such as internal reports and documentation will be practiced.

CJ 207 The United States Judicial System

Learners will examine the structure and function of the United States court system through the lens of both sworn and civilian professionals. Learners will focus on the different levels of the federal court system, roles and responsibilities of criminal justice professionals and allied organizations, and common processes and procedures in the United States judicial system.

CJ 210 The United States Correctional System

Learners will examine the function of corrections in the United States criminal justice system to develop an understanding of the structure, function, and relationships with allied professions. Systemic issues impacting incarceration, ideologies of punishment that influence sentencing, and the role of public policy in corrections will be analyzed.

CJ 305 Technology in Criminal Justice

Learners will analyze how technology is leveraged by criminal justice professionals and used as a tool to commit crime. Legal aspects of using technology in the field as well as positive and negative impacts technology has had on the criminal justice field will be discussed.

CJ 485 Problem Solving for Criminal Justice Professionals

Knowledge of criminal justice theory and practice will be applied to develop creative, evidence-informed solutions to identified professional problems. Learners will evaluate potential solutions for feasibility before presenting recommendations to various audiences.

CJ 303 Psychopaths, Sociopaths and Serial Killers

This course is an examination of two antisocial personality disorders and the behavioral traits shared by both. The course will help the student understand the commonalities as well as the unique differences. It will culminate in a thorough examination of infamous serial killers and the disorders attributed to them.

PSY 215 Abnormal Psychology

This course offers students an opportunity to better understand human behavior. It also studies the similarities and differences between normal and abnormal reactions to environmental stimuli.

PSY 310 Criminal Psychology

This course will provide the student with insights about crime from a psychological perspective. Specifically, the course will focus on how a criminal offender is influenced by multiple systems within the psychosocial environment. This course examines and evaluates the role of psychological factors in understanding the motives behind antisocial acts. Throughout the course, students will acquire knowledge and practice in the application of psychological methods to understanding criminal behavior.

SOC 324 Sociology of Crime and Violence

The course examines the nature, causes, and consequences of crime and violence to a society. Applying a legal and sociological perspective, the course examines: 1) the structure of the law and the criminal justice system; 2) the nature and causation of criminal behavior; and 3) the various types of crime and criminality.

Total Credits: 120

Program Outcomes

Tuition & Fees

Tuition rates for SNHU's online degree programs are among the lowest in the nation. We offer financial aid packages to those who qualify, plus a 30% tuition discount for U.S. service members, both full and part time, and the spouses of those on active duty.

Online Undergraduate Programs	Per Course*	Per Credit Hour*
Degree/Certificates	$960	$320
Degree/Certificates (U.S. service members, both full and part time, and the spouses of those on active duty)	$675	$225

*Tuition Rates are subject to change and are reviewed annually.

Additional Costs
No Application Fee, $150 Graduation Fee, Course Materials ($ varies by course)

University Accreditation

Southern New Hampshire University is a private, nonprofit institution accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges as well as several other accrediting bodies.

*Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, on the Internet, at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/social-and-community-service-managers.htm (viewed online November 3, 2017). Cited projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual job growth.