Criminal Justice, BA

The core courses of the Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice program will help you gain a broad understanding of the criminal justice field. 

• CJ 1001 - Introduction to Criminal Justice 
• CJ 2041 - Crime Theory and Causes 
• CJ 3250 - Violence in Society 
• CJ 4042 - Corrections 
• CJ 4043 - Law Enforcement 
• CJ 4044 - Courts and Judicial Process 
• CJ 4121 - Ethics in Criminal Justice 
• CJ 4960 - Criminal Justice Internship 
• CJ 3100 - Criminal Justice Research Methods orSOC 3070 - Social Research Methods 
• CJ 3150 - Statistics for Criminal Justice, CJ 3170 - Crime Prevention and Analysis, or SOC 3170 - Social Statistics  

CJ 4121: Ethics in Criminal Justice 
This course is designed to begin preparing students in identifying and critically examining ethical issues in the criminal justice system by applying ethical decision models. This course also provides students with the unique opportunity to analyze how they would resolve these issues according to their own values and beliefs while staying within the boundaries of the law and professional codes of ethics. 

CJ 2041: Crime Theory and Causes 
This course provides a general survey of the nature and causes of crime and efforts of the criminal justice system to predict, prevent, modify, and correct this behavior. The course involves a critical appraisal of various theories of crime causation, including an examination of biological, psychological, economic, and sociological perspectives that explain crime and deviance. 

CJ 4044: Courts and Judicial Process 
This course examines the basic functions, structure, and organization of the federal and state court systems, with special attention on the criminal court system. It also focuses on the influence of judicial behavior on the court process by examining judges’ policy preferences, legal considerations, group processes within courts, and courts’ political and social environments. 

The Forensic Science track option emphasizes key topics in the field, including evidence collection, processing, and analysis. Depending on the courses you select, you may delve into topics such as death investigations, interviewing techniques, and homicide investigations. Our goal is to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of the evidentiary steps involved in a criminal case. 

This option area requires 15 credits from any of the following courses: 

• CJ 1002 - CSI: Fact or Fantasy? 
• CJ 2030 - Introduction to Forensic Studies 
• CJ 2032 - Investigation of Injury and Death 
• CJ 3050 - Interview and Interrogation Techniques 
• CJ 3950 - Firearms in Society 
• CJ 4029 - Legal Aspects of Forensic Studies 
• CJ 4033 - Crime Scene and Crime Lab 
• CJ 4034 - Criminal Profiling 
• CJ 4050 - Advanced Interview and Interrogation Techniques 
• CJ 4175 - Homicide Investigation  

Gain a comprehensive understanding of the legal system in the Law track option. By selecting from four courses in the list below, you'll gain valuable insights into crucial aspects of the courts and judicial system.

Depending on the courses you select, you'll delve into topics such as constitutional rights, the relationship between law and social policy, the integration of evidence in legal procedures, or a detailed examination of the trial and sentencing process. This specialized focus area will enable you to enhance your fundamental knowledge of the legal system.

Students may select from four (4) courses in the list below (12 credits) to complete this option area: 

• CJ 3050 - Interview and Interrogation Techniques 
• CJ 3160 - White-Collar Crime 
• CJ 3420 - Pleas, Trials, and Sentences 
• CJ 3520 - Juvenile Justice Administration 
• CJ 3620 - Introduction to Cyber Policy Issues for Criminal Justice Professionals 
• CJ 3950 - Firearms in Society 
• CJ 4029 - Legal Aspects of Forensic Studies 
• CJ 4050 - Advanced Interview and Interrogation Techniques 
• CJ 4180 - Comparative Study of Criminal Justice Systems 
• CJ 4410 - Criminal Law and Constitutional Procedure 
• CJ 4430 - Law and Society 
• CJ 4440 - Courts and Social Policy 
• PSC 4470 - Constitutional Law 
• PSC 4480 - Civil Rights and Liberties  

Expand your knowledge of policing and law enforcement in the Law Enforcement track option. You'll have the opportunity to learn about the evolution of policing, police organization and leadership, and the current challenges facing law enforcement today. 

Depending on the courses you choose, you may also gain insight into topics such as police-community relations, investigations, interviewing techniques, and emerging threats like cybercrime and national security.

Students may select from any of the following four (4) courses (12 credits) to complete this option area: 

• CJ 2051 - National Security 
• CJ 2052 - Introduction to Cybercrime, Cyberterrorism, and Cyberwar for Criminal Justice Professionals 
• CJ 3050 - Interview and Interrogation Techniques 
• CJ 3160 - White-Collar Crime 
• CJ 3170 - Crime Prevention and Analysis 
• CJ 3310 - Police in Contemporary Society  
• CJ 3320 - Police-Community Relations 
• CJ 3950 - Firearms in Society 
• CJ 4034 - Criminal Profiling 
• CJ 4050 - Advanced Interview and Interrogation Techniques 
• CJ 4175 - Homicide Investigation 
• CJ 4180 - Comparative Study of Criminal Justice Systems 
• CJ 4460 - Developing Criminal Justice Leadership  

Are you interested in learning about hacking, cyberwar, and the application of the Amendments to the cyber world? You do not need to have any technical expertise in computer science or coding to choose the Cybercrime track option. You’ll learn about contemporary challenges that face both the public and private sectors, including criminal justice and other government agencies. 

This option teaches students about the important terminology, legal, policy, and criminal justice agency needs with growing cyber threats and provides a foundation of understanding that you can use in a future career.

This option area requires the following four (4) courses (12 credits) to be completed: 

• CJ 2052 - Introduction to Cybercrime, Cyberterrorism, and Cyberwar for Criminal Justice Professionals 
• CJ 2300 - Introduction to Cybersecurity for Criminal Justice Professionals
• CJ 3620 - Introduction to Cyber Policy Issues for Criminal Justice Professionals 
• CJ 4340 - High Tech Crimes and Computer Forensics  

We know that affordability is an important factor, and that’s why we’re here to help you explore all of the options available to fund your education. Our enrollment navigators can help answer any of your questions about financial aid resources and make sure you’re able to pursue your goals. From financial aid and scholarships to transfer credits and corporate tuition assistance programs, we’ll work with you to find the best way to finance your UCCS Online degree. Complete the form on this page to be contacted by an Enrollment Navigator.

Financial aid is available for eligible students to use toward paying educational costs while enrolled in a UCCS Online program. To determine your eligibility and apply for financial aid, you’ll need to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). When you submit your FAFSA, you will be considered for three types of aid: grants, work-study, and student loans. To be considered for federal financial aid, you will need to apply early and annually.

• Scholarships | You may be eligible for scholarships at UCCS. We offer many scholarships and grants to students who are ready to earn their degrees and achieve success. Between both UCCS-offered and external scholarships, our students earned more than $10 million in scholarship awards last year alone.
   
• College Opportunity Fund (COF) | The College Opportunity Fund (COF) is a trust fund created by the Colorado Legislature that provides a tuition stipend to eligible undergraduate students. The stipend pays a portion of your total in-state tuition when you attend a participating college. All students must create a COF account directly through the College Opportunity Fund (COF) website.
   
• WICHE | The Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) has given many students from Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington and Wyoming the opportunity to study at UCCS. The Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) is an agreement through which 160+ participating public colleges and universities provide significant nonresident tuition savings for undergraduate programs, with eligible students pay no more than 150 percent of resident tuition rates.

UCCS Online is military-friendly and committed to providing service members and their families with a high-quality education that fits their distinct needs. As a UCCS Online student, you will have access to UCCS Veteran and Military Affairs, which connects veteran, active duty, reservist, National Guard, and dependent students with fundamental support, services, and resources to ensure academic and professional success. UCCS is a proud home campus to many veteran and military students.

Eligible veteran and military students may use veteran benefits, military tuition assistance, and/or financial aid to pay for their education. Military benefits with UCCS Online include:

• Waived application fee for active duty and veterans
• Military benefits approved program

Connect with our Enrollment Navigators to learn more about the benefits and financial assistance available to military and veteran students.

All students are automatically opted in to the TAAP program with the choice to opt out. The TAAP program provides all your course materials for one flat fee per credit hour. That means no more time spent searching for, ordering, and paying out of pocket for your own course materials.

Many companies offer tuition assistance benefits as part of their employee compensation program. Generally, these policies determine a set number of credit hours per year that the company will fund on behalf of the student/employee. Some policies place a cap on eligible tuition dollars and related expenses while others reimburse employees on a per-credit-hour basis. Get in touch with your organization's human resources department to learn more about your educational benefits.

Year-round applications are always welcome, as we use a rolling admissions process that provides you with flexibility. While we accept applications at any time, we recommend submitting your application by the preferred deadline for your desired start date. The application fee for first-year students is $50. 

• Fall Semester: August 1
• Spring Semester: November 1
• Summer Semester: May 1

Year-round applications are always welcome, as we use a rolling admissions process that provides you with flexibility. While we accept applications at any time, we recommend submitting your application by the preferred deadline for your desired start date. The application fee for first-year students is $50.

• Fall Semester: August 1
• Spring Semester: November 1
• Summer Semester: May 1

• Spring 2025 A - January 21, 2025
• Spring 2025 B - March 18, 2025
• Summer 2025 A - June 9, 2025
• Fall 2025 A - August 25, 2025
• Fall 2025 B - October 22, 2025
• Spring 2026 - January 20, 2026
• Summer 2026 - June 15, 2026
• Fall 2026 - August 24, 2026
• Spring 2027 - January 19, 2027

We’re here to help. We emphasize to all students that faculty members are here for them. As faculty seek to connect with you, feel free to use their flexible office hours or contact them if you need additional help.

A common barrier to success is time management, especially if you are working a full-time job. The online format offers more flexibility and the opportunity to develop better balance among your commitments, but having a plan for completing your studies each week can help you get on track to success early.

Online courses at the University of Colorado are taught by the same professors that teach in-person classes. This ensures that you are receiving the same education and learning experiences as on-campus students. The primary difference is with the delivery format. Your online courses will all be taught in Canvas, the Learning Management System (LMS). You will be responsible for logging in, accessing course content, and completing any requirements of the course.

The Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice is offered fully online, which means you will not be required to take courses at our campus and there are no on-campus components to this program.