Prepare to Influence Change with a Criminal Justice Degree

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If you already have 15 units of college credit and are considering going back to college, Azusa Pacific’s Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice degree completion program is designed for you. Available at APU’s Inland Empire, Murrieta, and San Diego regional campuses, this program allows you to gain hands-on field experience as you learn about the criminal justice system, preparing you to make a difference in the lives of others.

Azusa Pacific’s bachelor’s completion programs allow students who began a program of study at another higher education institution to finish their degree at APU. In order to graduate, these transfer students must complete the required program units and general education units, for a total of 120 units.

For more information about the bachelor’s completion program in criminal justice at the Inland Empire, Murrieta, or San Diego regional campuses, contact Aris Rodriguez at (909) 888-9977 or arodriguez@apu.edu.

Azusa Pacific also offers a traditional Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice at the Azusa campus.

The criminal justice degree has given me the ability to look at a situation as a whole—what it means to look at all possibilities, and how I can learn from my peers’ perspectives and opinions. Most importantly, it has taught me to take issues head on, to never shy away from problems.

Ashley Waller ’18

Why Study Criminal Justice?

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects job growth from now until 2022 in several occupations related to criminal justice, such as information security analysts, paralegals and legal assistants, private detectives and investigators, security guards and gaming surveillance officers, and criminal justice and law enforcement teachers. The BLS also projects several replacement positions available in law enforcement. This, coupled with the societal outcry for a fresh look at all aspects of the criminal justice system, makes this an exciting time to study criminal justice, and leaders are needed in all areas of this vital field.

APU’s criminal justice degree equips students to analyze methods of reducing crime; advance police practices; improve prison, jail, and parole policies; and make society safer. Completion of the program will enable students to:

• Demonstrate comprehension of the traditional and contemporary theories of crime causation and the nature of the major components of the criminal justice system: police, courts, and corrections.
• Employ critical-thinking skills as well as ethical and moral reasoning to solve problems related to criminal justice.
• Identify various methods of social science research including survey research, field research, experimental research, and evaluation research, and demonstrate awareness of the linkage between theory and research.
• Comprehend qualitative and quantitative social science research, including descriptive research and hypothesis testing.
• Identify ways in which discrimination, oppression, privilege, and social and economic disadvantage contribute to inequalities and injustices within criminal justice systems.
• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, and demonstrate basic knowledge of information technology as applied to criminal justice research and practice.

Get to know our criminal justice faculty.

Gain In-depth Learning Experiences

Students experience active learning in real-world contexts: touring local prisons; volunteering in the community with at-risk youth; interning with local police departments, courts, and law offices; and hearing from professionals in the field at different stages of their careers. Study away programs are also available.

Is This Program Right for You?

You’re a good fit for this program if you:

• Want to make a difference by creating laws, aiding at-risk youth, and protecting the rights of individuals.
• Are the type of person who asks hard questions, challenges practices, and looks to implement innovative solutions.
• Desire to critically analyze criticism of the criminal justice system.
• Are interested in creating programs to aid and address victims of crime, juvenile offenders, and the formerly incarcerated returning to our communities.