BA in Criminal Justice (Bachelor’s Completion Program)

APU’s criminal justice major prepares students to engage with and improve our federal, state, and local criminal justice systems.

51 units

Azusa Pacific’s bachelor’s completion program in criminal justice is designed for transfer students who have at least 15 units and are interested in completing a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice at the Inland Empire, Murrieta, or San Diego regional campus. Students gain hands-on field experience as they learn about the criminal justice system, preparing them 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, students must complete the required program units and General Education units, for a minimum total of 120 units.

No more than 10 percent of the criminal justice major credits may be completed through knowledge-based examinations (e.g., CLEP). All credit earned through examination must be clearly documented on the student’s official transcript by specific course designations and numbers, including the source of the credit. Awarding blanket credit for criminal justice courses in a “block” is not allowed (e.g., “12 hours criminal justice credit”).

Requirements

A minimum 2.0 grade-point average is required in all major courses, and students must pass all required courses with a C or higher. Students must earn at least 50% of major course credits at Azusa Pacific University to graduate with a degree in criminal justice. No more than 50% of required criminal justice courses can be lower-division.

No more than 10 percent of the criminal justice major credits may be completed through knowledge-based examinations (e.g., CLEP). All credit earned through examination will be clearly documented on the student’s official transcript by specific course designations and numbers, including the source of the credit. Awarding blanket credit for criminal justice courses in a “block” is not allowed (e.g., “12 hours criminal justice credit”).

Core Courses
PRMA 130Introduction to Statistics 13
PRCJ 110Intro to Criminal Justice 23
PRCJ 220Police and Society3
PRCJ 240Introduction to Corrections: Jails and Prisons3
PRCJ 250Juvenile Justice3
PRCJ 280The American Court System3
PRCJ 310Criminological Theories3
PRCJ 340Victimology3
PRCJ 350Race, Ethnicity, and Crime3
PRWR 262Writing 2: Criminal Justice Research Methods 33
PRCJ 362Writing 3: Criminal Justice Research Design 43
PRCJ 494Senior Capstone in Criminal Justice 53
Elective Courses15
PRCJ 200
Criminal Justice, Civic Engagement, and Social Responsibility 6
PRCJ 251
Criminal Law
or PRPO 250
 Introduction to Criminal Law
PRCJ 255
The Criminalization of Youth
PRCJ 351
Criminal Procedure
or PRPO 350
 Constitutional Law: Fundamental Freedoms
PRCJ 355
Gender and Crime
PRCJ 395
Sex Crimes
PRCJ 450
Forensic Psychology for Criminal Justice Professionals
PRCJ 460
Criminal Justice Internship 5
PRCJ 495
Special Topics in Criminal Justice
PRPO 250
Introduction to Criminal Law
PRPO 350
Constitutional Law: Fundamental Freedoms
PRPO 380
Studies of Terrorism
PRSW 410
Family Violence
Total Units51
1

Meets the General Education Quantitative Literacy requirement.

2

Meets the General Education Social Sciences requirement.

3

Meets the General Education Writing 2 requirement.

4

Meets the General Education Writing 3 requirement.

5

Meets the General Education Integrative and Applied Learning requirement.

6

Meets the General Education Civic Knowledge and Engagement requirement.

Program Learning Outcomes

Students who successfully complete this program shall be able to:
  1. Demonstrate comprehension of traditional and contemporary criminology theories.
    2.
  2. Critique how major components of the criminal justice system respond to crime, criminals, and victims from theoretical and practical perspectives.
    3.
  3. Employ data and methods of social science research to respond to contemporary criminal justice issues.
    4.
  4. Illustrate ways in which race and ethnicity are linked to differential justice within criminal justice systems.
    5.
  5. Students will be able to apply relevant Christian principles to the delivery of justice within the Criminal Justice system.