Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice 

Earning a degree while working full-time or raising a family has never been more possible. Here’s why adult students are thriving and reaching their goals at SNU:

• Classes take place entirely online.
• Students focus on one class at a time to ensure true mastery and prevent overwhelm.
• You can earn up to 30 hours of college credit for what you already know.
• Earn up to 9 hours of college credit from field-specific credentials, certifications, or other professional development.
• Students study alongside other adults in similar stages of life.
• Instructors with vast amounts of industry experience guide students through courses.
• Textbooks are delivered directly to your door at the beginning of each class.
• A dedicated student success advisor guides students through the duration of your studies.

A police officer is a law enforcement officer with arrest powers. Their job is to serve and protect the community they serve. A police officer's service to the community comes in many different ways and looks different depending on the community, but they all have the same goal: to serve.

A degree in criminal justice opens the door to serving in any component of the criminal justice system. Law enforcement, courts, and corrections are the starting points, but criminal justice degrees are also valuable in the private sector and in primary and secondary education.

Every local, state, and federal agency hires people with criminal justice degrees. Just about every company, on some level, hires someone with a criminal justice degree.

The Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from SNU prepares graduates for various roles in law enforcement, corrections, and the legal system. Common career paths include becoming a police officer, probation officer, or correctional facility manager. Graduates are also equipped for roles in federal agencies such as the FBI, homeland security, or as criminal investigators. The program emphasizes criminal law, ethics, and public safety, providing the skills needed for leadership positions in criminal justice organizations.

For most agencies that require a criminal justice degree, the starting base salary is between $40,000-$60,000 a year, depending on the size of the agency. Most agencies also have signing bonuses and overtime pay. 

Here are several features that make SNU’s Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice program unique:

• Online Learning: The program is offered completely online. 
• Christian Ethical Focus: The curriculum integrates Christian principles, emphasizing ethics and moral leadership in criminal justice careers.
• Accelerated Time: Our 5-week classes allow our students to finish their degrees in 18 months.
• Comprehensive Curriculum: The program covers key areas such as criminal law, law enforcement, corrections, and public safety, preparing graduates for various roles in the criminal justice system.

We have great instructors who care about you and love the Lord. We are here to help and assist you. We have great services throughout the college and can assist with your needs as they arise. We communicate with our students personally. This program will consist of approximately 15 hours of work per week. 

The cost of this program varies based on the amount of credits you have prior to starting class. The credit is $475 per credit hour for 36 hours. (Total: $17,100)

Networking opportunities exist online, and while job placement is not currently offered, there are multiple opportunities for in-person networking at SNU career fairs, the annual Women in Leadership Symposium, and SNU's monthly Business and Leadership Network.

SNU is a school that values its students and is committed to them. We love every person for who and what they are, and we are here to serve them. There is no better feeling than attending a school where you are valued.

Credit hours: 3
Participants will explore their personal life philosophies in relation to public service and law enforcement. In addition, foundational and historical concepts of law enforcement will be learned and compared with contemporary concepts. Historical and developing trends in a global context will be discussed and contrasted by learners in this course.

Credit hours: 3
This course examines adult life experiences as a foundation for experiential learning. By reflecting on the concepts of adult development theories and an individual’s personal life experiences, the course will explore how those factors influence and help individuals to interpret life situations and circumstances in terms of relationships, personal decision-making and future applications. The purpose of this module is to give learners the opportunity to learn how to critically evaluate life-learning experiences. The evaluation of life learning experiences through critical reflection is foundational to the process of adult learning. As adult learners understand their life experiences objectively, they will be able to gain clarity about their past and be able to know how to apply their learning to present and future learning experiences.

Credit hours: 3
This course examines the intersection of mental health and the criminal justice system. Learners will explore the prevalence of mental health issues and the interactions with criminal justice practice. They will also examine the role of law enforcement professionals within American society, emphasizing history, public perceptions, administration, organizational culture, and ethics. This course includes exploration of on-the-job experiences that can affect the mental health of criminal justice personnel, victims, victim families, and perpetrators of crime. Included also is a survey of stress management techniques as well as consideration of the effects of trauma and compassion fatigue. Work on the Comprehensive Paper will begin in this course and continue through to program conclusion.

Credit hours: 3
This course reflects the mission statement and the goals of Southern Nazarene University. It is committed to fostering increased awareness of the Bible which is foundational to understanding Western culture and history. The three major western faiths – Judaism, Christianity, and Islam – are rooted within the Holy Scriptures. The course content and format are not designated to intimidate, indoctrinate, or to evangelize. The course is designed to set the Bible in its historical and literary context. The Biblical heritage will then provide you with rich resources to creatively understand your faith in the contemporary world.

Credit hours: 3
This course examines how cultural and individual human differences intersect with the criminal justice system. The course will explore the interaction of the criminal justice system with issues of race, gender, age, socio-economic status, sexual orientation, physical and mental disabilities, culture, religion, and other human differences. The focus will be on diversity, inclusion, equity and justice, and how human differences and diverse intersections of identities impact all people within the criminal justice system, including victims, offenders, and service providers and how the criminal justice system responds to and/or should respond to human differences, with an emphasis on providing cultural responsiveness and restorative hope and equity for social justice within the criminal justice systems and structures.

Credit hours: 3
An important component of law enforcement professional development is knowledge of the complex tenets of criminal law and the court system in this country. This course will delve into the historical and contextual aspects of criminal law, criminal procedures, and contemporary statutory codes. Learners will not only acquire knowledge, but will apply concepts in many areas such as legal procedures, judicial policymaking, legal expressions, due process, and court testimony. Roles of law enforcement, district attorneys, attorneys, court system operations, and other aspects of the criminal justice process will be.

Credit hours: 3
Discovery and application of key forensics and evidence collection and security concepts are at the core of this course. Learners will experience best practices in evidence detection, collection, preservation, documentation, recording, and integrity along with holistic crime scene processing techniques. The learner will be able to identify key forensic definitions, terminology, and best practices as it pertains to securing any supporting evidence of an investigation; and ensuring an accurate and thorough forensic process for criminal and/or civil charges. The learner will also learn the best practices in management and leverage of resources to aid in the security of evidence at a crime scene and throughout the investigative process. Learners will explore constitutional and pertinent legal guides when handling and investigating cases. The methodology and strategy used to facilitate this course will come by way of professional dialogue, content expert speakers, lectures, and field experience to participants who wish to purse a career (or desire to have working knowledge) in forensic science, and to provide criminal justice majors with an education that applies forensic science to the criminal investigation.

Credit hours: 3
Discovery and application of key skills and best practices for investigations, interrogations, and interviews is at the core of this course. Learners will experience foundational best practices for managing, accepting, initiating and closing cases. The learner will be able to identify key case management and investigative definitions, terminology, and best practices as it pertains to ethically interviewing, interrogating, and listening for key data to support cases; and ensuring an accurate and thorough investigative process for criminal and/or civil charges. The learner will also learn the best practice in management and leverage of resources to aid in the identification and security of witnesses and other parties to the investigation process. Learners will explore constitutional and pertinent legal guides when handling and investigating cases. The methodology and strategy used to facilitate this course will become by way of professional dialogue, content experts speakers, lectures, and labs to participants who wish to pursue a career (or desire to have a working knowledge) in forensic science, and to provide criminal justice majors with an education that applies forensic science to the criminal investigation.

Credit hours: 3
Writing clear, concise reports is one hallmark of any justice professional’s job. This course equips learners with the necessary skills to compose comprehensive reports that withstand review, court testimony, auditing, and supervisory scrutiny. Writing using inclusive language, justice terminology, and a variety of professional communications will be examined and implemented. Learners will practice concepts learned in a variety of simulated situations.

Credit hours: 3
This course introduces Criminal Justice and law enforcement professionals to the availability and potential uses of technology to access geographic, demographic, and other investigative information. Cybercrime, aerial image interpretation, predictive analytics, and other crime analysis topics, will be examined through a variety of methods using various intelligence-gathering and data preservation tools. Learners will have the opportunity to experience technological tools and collect and analyze the evidence obtained.

Credit hours: 3
Individual leadership styles, organizational communications and behaviors, restorative justice, servant leadership, and ethical leadership in global perspectives are basic tenets of this course and learners will be able to explain and apply tenet components. Learners will also be able to describe best practices, professional growth, and career development constructs and choose appropriate situations in which to exercise.

Credit hours: 3
This course encourages learners to reflect on learning, relationships, personal and professional growth, and goals. Human beings are not merely professional, biological, or psychological machines. What makes us human and distinguishes us from other creatures are our moral and spiritual qualities. This module focuses on character, personal transitions, and accomplishments. It focuses on reflection regarding personal values, commitments, and an insight into the meaning of life. As the Capstone course for the Criminal Justice degree, learners will present highlights of their Comprehensive Paper to colleagues, professor, and a panel of law enforcement professionals.