Accelerated Online Bachelor’s in Criminology and Criminal Justice, BA

Essential Skills & Insights

Coursework in this online bachelor’s in criminology and criminal justice program provides the knowledge and skills to understand crime, enforce law, and influence policy. You’ll explore the foundations of justice systems while gaining the analytical, ethical, and communication skills to succeed in a variety of criminal justice careers.

• Foundations of Criminology: Study crime trends, theories of criminal behavior, and the role of social structures in shaping justice outcomes.
• Law Enforcement Practices: Learn modern policing strategies, investigative methods, and community engagement approaches.
• Courts & Corrections: Explore the structure and functions of courts, corrections systems, and rehabilitation programs.
• Ethics & Legal Systems: Develop a strong ethical framework for decision-making in justice-related professions.
• Research & Critical Thinking: Strengthen your ability to analyze complex data, evaluate criminal justice policies, and propose solutions.

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AI-Powered Learning, Real-World Impact

Our accelerated online programs integrate opportunities to engage with Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a powerful tool for learning and career preparation. Students apply AI in ways that build authentic skills and mirror how businesses are leveraging it across industries. We emphasize ethical and responsible use, ensuring that students develop the judgment to apply AI appropriately. This approach helps graduates enter the workforce with both technical knowledge and a clear understanding of AI’s role in their discipline.

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Careers in Criminology & Criminal Justice

Criminal justice professionals play a vital role in protecting communities, shaping policy, and ensuring fairness within the justice system. A bachelor’s degree in criminology and criminal justice prepares graduates for a wide range of public service and policy careers.

• Police Officer or Detective — Median salary: $69,160
  Enforce laws, investigate crimes, and work to maintain public safety in communities.
• Probation or Correctional Officer — Median salary: $60,250
  Monitor and support individuals in correctional systems while ensuring compliance with rehabilitation and public safety programs.
• Criminologist or Policy Analyst — Median salary: $74,000
  Analyze crime patterns, evaluate justice policies, and recommend reforms that support community safety and equity.

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Career Connections Through Community Partnerships

Lindenwood University Accelerated Online program offers strong continued networks with criminal justice professionals and Police Academy Partnership with 95% employment upon graduation. The Lindenwood University St. Louis criminology and criminal justice degree program has an active Criminal Justice Student Association and has a Partnership with St. Louis County and Municipal Police Academy.

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Admissions Requirements

For admission to your Accelerated Online Bachelor’s degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice program, you will need to complete your online application and submit the following documents:

1. Step 1: Complete the Online Application
   Visit my.lindenwood.edu/register and submit your undergraduate application
2. Step 2: Submit Official Transcripts
   Request your official high school transcripts to be sent directly to Lindenwood Online at the email or mail address below.
   
   If you have completed any college coursework, request official transcripts from those institutions as well.
   
   Request your official transcript to be sent directly to Lindenwood University Accelerated Online via one of the methods below:
   • Electronically to: [email protected]
   • By Mail to:
     Office of Admissions
     Lindenwood University Accelerated Online
     8205 S Priest Dr #11480
     Tempe, AZ 85284
   • By Fax to: 480-393-1826
3. Step 3: Complete SmarterMeasure
   The SmarterMeasure Learning Readiness assessment measures student readiness and learning preferences and helps us identify how we can best support you during your program of study. The assessment has three sections: Technical Competency, Technical Knowledge, and Learning Styles. Students who receive a score below 60% on the Technical Competency content are required to take the SmarterMeasure Technology for Success (ORN001) orientation.

Curriculum Overview

Lindenwood University’s accelerated online Bachelor’s in Criminology and Criminal Justice (C&CJ) provides a comprehensive curriculum that explores the complexities of crime, justice systems, and the social impact of public policy. You will gain insight on criminological theories, criminal law, law enforcement practices, and more. Courses are taught by faculty with practical and professional experience within the criminal justice system. With our BA C&CJ degree you will be prepared for a multitude of careers in the legal field, public administration, law enforcement (local, state and federal), and the court and correction system.

Major Coursework – 27 Credit Hours

Code	Title	Credits
CCJ 11000	Criminal Justice Systems	3
CCJ 20000	Criminology	3
CCJ 30000	Policing in America	3
CCJ 30100	Criminal Law and Procedure	3
CCJ 30500	Corrections	3
CCJ 32000	Race, Crime, and Punishment	3
CCJ 33300	Research Methods for Criminology and Criminal Justice	3
CCJ 44000	Senior Seminar in Criminal Justice	3
MTH 14100	Basic Statistics	3

Criminal Justice Systems

This course offers a survey of various institutions by which the criminal justice system is administered including the police, the legal profession, the courts, and penal institutions as well as an examination of the problems which the criminal justice system faces and an evaluation of the adequacy of the existing system.

Criminology

This course is designed to introduce students to the field of criminology, the scientific study of crime and related theories. Exploration of the development of criminal law, how crime is defined, trends and patterns of crime, and who is most likely to be a victim of crime will be covered. This course is designed as an overview analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of current theories of crime and causation from perspective based on empirical research.

Policing in America

This course is an analysis of the contemporary role of the police relative to such areas as the police subculture and community relations, police accountability and civil liability, police stress, and unique problem situations and groups encountered by the police. Prerequisite: CCJ 11000; CCJ 20000.

Criminal Law and Procedure

The goals of the course are to extend the basic concepts learned in the prerequisite courses, introduce more in-depth analysis of criminal law and our criminal justice system, strengthen the students’ understanding of the law and enhance the students’ ability to think critically and analytically. Moreover, the course will provide a platform to demonstrate practical applications of criminal law and procedure. This course will prepare the student to achieve higher levels of learning in their degree curriculum and serve as a solid foundation of knowledge for future work experience. Prerequisite: CCJ 11000; CCJ 20000.

Corrections

This course is a contemporary analysis of the operation of and problems encountered by jails and prisons as well as the study of probation, parole, community service and restitution, electronic monitoring, and other innovative community correctional programs. Prerequisite: CCJ 11000; CCJ 20000.

Race, Crime, and Punishment

A comparative study of racial differences in offending patterns, which will focus on the over-representation of minorities in the criminal justice system. Possible causes, current research, government policies, initiatives, and laws will be explored and evaluated. This will be an interactive, discussion-focused special topics course, which will appeal to criminal justice majors but also to anyone working in fields that interface with offenders like social work, psychology, sociology and political science. Prerequisite: CCJ 11000; CCJ 20000.

Research Methods for Criminology and Criminal Justice

This course is designed to introduce students to research methods in criminology and criminal justice. Topics addressed throughout the semester include, but are not limited to types of scientific inquiry in criminology and criminal justice, Research design and issues, Sampling, Application, and Analysis. Upon completion of this course, students will have the tools to accurately assess scholarly research in criminology and criminal justice, as well as the knowledge to pursue individual research projects utilizing appropriate methodologies and tools. Prerequisite: CCJ 11000; CCJ 20000.

Senior Seminar in Criminal Justice

This is a capstone course dedicated to the analysis of major issues in criminal justice. Emphasis will be placed on the various components of the criminal justice system and encourage students to critically examine the justice system, as it exists in American society today. Additionally, students will explore how criminological theories are applied to practice and public policy. Criminal justice practitioners will be invited as guest lecturers to provide students with relevant information on trends within their respective fields, and students will be able to assimilate knowledge from previous coursework in a meaningful way in order to prepare for graduation and employment. Prerequisite: Senior standing.

Basic Statistics

This course is an introduction to the theory and applications of statistics, including probability, descriptive statistics, random variables, expected values, distribution functions, and hypothesis testing. Prerequisite: MTH 11000 with C or better; or passing the placement test.

Elective Coursework – 24 Credit Hours

Code	Title	Credits
CCJ 31100	The Juvenile Justice System	3
CCJ 31500	Victimology	3
CCJ 32200	Social Deviance	3
CCJ 32600	Drugs and Society	3
CCJ 33100	Criminal Investigation	3
CCJ 33500	Cyber Crime	3
CCJ 33800	Criminal Minds	3
CCJ 35005	Women, Crime, and the Law	3

The Juvenile Justice System

This course is an examination of the origin, philosophy, and objectives of the juvenile justice system. Emphasis will be placed on the decision making process of police, court, and probation officials relative to the apprehension, processing, and treatment of juveniles. Supreme Court decisions in the juvenile field also will be addressed. Prerequisite: CCJ 11000; CCJ 20000.

Victimology

This course is designed to familiarize students with victimology, a sub-discipline of criminology concerned with the scientific study of victims in contemporary society. Topics covered include but are not limited to: the development and evolution of the victim movement in the United States, theories of victimization, empirical examination of pertinent issues, understanding differential rates of victimization based on individual characteristics, the impact of institutions such as the media and criminal justice system, and critical analysis of social policies designed to address the plight of victims. Detailed consideration of specific victim populations and types of victimization will be emphasized in turn throughout the semester. Upon successfully completing this course, students will have not only an in-depth understanding of victimology and relevant research, but also gain the skills to think critically about victimization as it relates to the criminal justice system and bridge the gap between theory and practice. Prerequisite: CCJ 11000; CCJ 20000.

Social Deviance

This course is a consideration of a variety of norm violations, as manifested in thought and appearance as well as behavior. Explanations of deviance and the responses to it are also examined. Prerequisite: CCJ 11000, PSY 10000, or SOC 10200; junior standing.

Drugs and Society

This course is a focus on the social forces that surround and contribute to the definition of drugs and alcohol use and abuse. The various legal and other responses to drug use and abuse are also considered. Prerequisite: CCJ 20000, PSY 10000, or SOC 10200.

Criminal Investigation

This course provides students with an in-depth examination of the various aspects associated with conducting a criminal investigation. Course topics include historical, legal, scientific, and practical application of investigating various major crimes. Students will also participate in practical exercises reflective of the various types of activities with a criminal investigation. Prerequisite: CCJ 11000; CCJ 20000.

Cyber Crime

This course provides students with an in-depth examination of the various aspects associated with conducting a criminal investigation. Course topics include historical, legal, scientific, and practical application of investigating various major crimes. Students will also participate in practical exercises reflective of the various types of activities with a criminal investigation. Prerequisite: CCJ 11000; CCJ 20000.

Criminal Minds

This course is an introduction into the criminal mind and aspects of criminal psychology that are useful to criminal justice practitioners. Students will learn about historical trends in the study of the criminal mind, contemporary theories, and research regarding psychopathy, children who kill, serial killing, and interventions with offenders, among other topics. Students will examine the applied use of psychology in criminal justice. Prerequisite: Junior standing.

Women, Crime, and the Law

This course will examine the basic study of the female offender, women and girls in the criminal justice system, and the roles of women working in the criminal justice system. The course will introduce students to gender and ethnic diversity issues within the justice system, along with the strengths of oppressed people, especially women of color. A wide range of issues are covered, including the rate of early childhood sexual abuse, victimization among female inmates, and obstacles for women working within the justice system. Prerequisite: CCJ 20000, PSY 10000, or SOC 10200; junior standing.

Program Length Options

Lindenwood University’s (LU) accelerated online programs offer you choice and flexibility to support your education journey. Time to complete a bachelor’s degree can vary based on course load, transfer credits, and individual pacing. You will tailor a course schedule that keeps you in the driver’s seat.

• Traditional Timeline: A bachelor’s degree with 120 credit hours can typically be completed in four years when taking a full-time course load.
• Transfer Credit: LU allows 90 transfer credits toward a bachelor’s degree and you can complete your degree in as few as 30 credits.
• Accelerated Courses: LU accelerated online programs offer 10 5-week terms per year. By enrolling in two courses per term, you can potentially begin and complete your bachelor’s degree in two years.
• Frequent Start Dates: LU offers multiple start dates throughout the year so you can begin your studies when you are ready allowing you to graduate sooner.
• Personalized Degree Plan: LU academic advisors will work with you to tailor your degree plan to support your education goals while balancing your personal and professional responsibilities.