Online and Distance Degrees > Degree Programs > BA in Criminology and Criminal Justice

Bachelor of Arts (BA) in
Criminology and Criminal Justice

Online

Program Overview

Take the first step toward a fulfilling career in criminal justice with a bachelor’s degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice from The University of Alabama. Complete your degree online and broaden your career possibilities while balancing your work and other responsibilities.

Program Format
Online
Credit Hours
120
Tuition Per Hour
$385

Build a Career That Can Make a Real Difference

Deepen your understanding of the legal system with an emphasis on the research and theory that are critical to investigating and preventing criminal behavior. Courses are delivered in a flexible online format and are taught by the same faculty who teach on UA’s campus.

Classes like Judicial Process, Law and Society, Terrorism and Human Trafficking will enhance your writing and communication skills while helping you grasp the structure of the judicial system. Armed with this degree, you can pursue careers in fields such as law enforcement, private or corporate security, corrections, legal and investigative services, or compliance and intelligence analysis.

Application Priority DeadlineJuly 2 for fall admission, November 5 for spring admission, and April 5 for summer admission
Are test scores required?ACT and SAT scores are not required through the Fall 2024 entry term

Curriculum

The BA in Criminology and Criminal Justice program consists of 120 credit hours. Students complete 36 credit hours within the major and are required earn a C- or higher in all CJ courses.

Required Courses

CJ 102 Principles of Criminology & Criminal Justice
CJ 380 Research Methods
CJ 300 Survey of Criminal Theories
CJ 381 Statistics

Elective Courses

Students must complete 15 credit hours of CJ electives
Students must complete 6 credit hours of 400-level CJ coursework

General Education and Core Curriculum Requirements

6 hours of freshman composition (satisfied by EN 101 and EN 102)
6 hours of upper-level writing-designated coursework
6-8 hours of computer designated coursework or two semesters of one foreign language
3 hours of math (MATH 110 Finite Mathematics or higher)
- *note: MATH 110 or higher is a pre-requisite to CJ 381 Statistics
12 hours of history, social and behavioral sciences (3 hours of history and 9 hours of other HI and SB courses)
12 hours of humanities and fine arts (3 hours of fine arts, 3 hours of literature and 6 hours of other fine arts, literature or humanities courses. Each student must complete a 6-credit-hour sequence in either literature or history.)
8 hours of natural sciences (including two hours of accompanying labs)

Students will also be required to complete a minor. A list of available minors can be found here.

Admission

Admission to the BA in Criminology and Criminal Justice degree program requires a completed admissions application and transcripts to be submitted from all colleges previously attended. Transfer students considering admission should review UA’s transfer information and policies.

Applicants must meet one of the following admission requirements:

If you have earned more than 24 college-level credit hours at the time of your application to the University, you will need to meet the transfer student admission requirement of a minimum 2.0 overall college GPA.
If you have earned less than 24 college-level credit hours at the time of your application to the University, you will need to meet both the 2.0 overall college GPA required for transfer students, as well as Admission Requirements for Freshmen Students. If high school graduation was more than four years ago, ACT/SAT scores are not required.

Find more information and learn about restrictions related to this degree program that may exist regarding licensure in the state in which you reside.