SDSU’s Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Online Degree Completion Program is designed to encourage thoughtful exploration of the ways that criminal justice systems provide “justice,” or fail to do so. The program also focuses on criminal justice from a social justice perspective, allowing for the examination of policy issues as diverse as genocide, institutionalized racism, organized crime, and environmental destruction, in addition to traditional criminal justice issues. This degree appeals to students who are interested in working in the fields of law, law enforcement, probation and parole, corrections, or other social service agencies. This degree also prepares students for law school or graduate school in either criminal justice or a related field.
Students who satisfy all eligibility requirements can graduate by completing between 51 and 60 units within 22 months (ten eight-week modules with breaks). Admitted students will complete two courses in each of the ten eight-week modules.
Upon completion of the program, graduates will be awarded the same degree as on-campus students — the Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice. The diploma and transcript will not distinguish that the program was completed online.
All courses are offered via distance education (online classes). Please note: Some exams may require the student to make arrangements for a proctor to administer the exam remotely.
Min. Completion Time
Course FormatUPDATE: This program has been approved for financial aid.
Applications for Fall 2020
Application Dates: Oct. 1, 2019—May 30, 2020
Short Cycle - 1 (Fall 2020 - Summer 2021)
| Module | Courses | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | CJ 300: Crime, Law, & Justice PA 301: Concepts and Issues in Public Administration PA 340: Administrative Behavior PA 460: Administration and Policy Development |
8/24/20 – 10/16/20 (Fall 2020) |
| 2 | CJ 301: Law in Society CJ 303: Criminal Justice and Social Control CJ 540: Research Methods and Evaluation Elective: Any Humanities course or Humanities GE |
10/26/20 – 12/11/20 (Fall 2020) |
| 3 | CJ 302: Crime and Behavior PA 350: Contemporary Urban Issues RWS 280: Academic Reading and Writing Elective: One of these courses PA 450: Fiscal and Budgetary Policy |
1/4/21 – 2/26/21 (Spring 2021) |
| 4 | CJ 310: Law Enforcement CJ 420, 531, 572 (RWS 305w): Open elective CJ 330: Corrections PA 310: Management of Urban Governments |
3/8/21 – 4/30/21 (Spring 2021) |
| 5 | Elective: Chemistry 300 or Anthropology 360 PA 330: Public Personnel Administration CJ 497: Investigation and Reporting PA 501: Nonprofit Organizations and Government |
5/10/21 – 7/2/21 (Summer 2021) |
Short Cycle - 2 (Fall 2021 - Summer 2022)
| Module | Courses | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | CJ 300: Crime, Law, & Justice PA 301: Concepts and Issues in Public Administration PA 340: Administrative Behavior PA 460: Administration and Policy Development |
8/2/21 – 9/24/21 (Fall 2021) |
| 7 | CJ 301: Law in Society CJ 303: Criminal Justice and Social Control CJ 540: Research Methods and Evaluation Elective: Any Humanities course or Humanities GE |
10/4/21 – 11/26/21 (Fall 2021) |
| 8 | CJ 302: Crime and Behavior PA 350: Contemporary Urban Issues RWS 280: Academic Reading and Writing Elective: One of these courses PA 450: Fiscal and Budgetary Policy |
1/10/22 – 3/4/22 (Spring 2022) |
| 9 | CJ 310: Law Enforcement CJ 420, 531, 572 (RWS 305w): Open elective CJ 330: Corrections PA 310: Management of Urban Governments |
3/14/22 – 5/6/22 (Spring 2022) |
| 10 | Elective: Chemistry 300 or Anthropology 360 PA 330: Public Personnel Administration CJ 497: Investigation and Reporting PA 501: Nonprofit Organizations and Government |
5/16/22 – 7/8/22 (Spring 2022) |
Short Cycle - 3 (Fall 2022 - Summer 2023)
| Module | Courses | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | CJ 300: Crime, Law, & Justice PA 301: Concepts and Issues in Public Administration PA 340: Administrative Behavior PA 460: Administration and Policy Development |
8/8/22 – 9/29/22 (Fall 2022) |
| 2 | CJ 301: Law in Society CJ 303: Criminal Justice and Social Control CJ 540: Research Methods and Evaluation Elective: Any Humanities course or Humanities GE |
10/10/22 – 12/2/22 (Fall 2022) |
| 3 | CJ 302: Crime and Behavior PA 350: Contemporary Urban Issues RWS 280: Academic Reading and Writing Elective: One of these courses PA 450: Fiscal and Budgetary Policy |
1/2/23 – 2/24/23 (Spring 2023) |
| 4 | CJ 310: Law Enforcement CJ 420, 531, 572 (RWS 305w): Open elective CJ 330: Corrections PA 310: Management of Urban Governments |
3/6/23 – 4/28/23 (Spring 2023) |
| 5 | Elective: Chemistry 300 or Anthropology 360 PA 330: Public Personnel Administration CJ 497: Investigation and Reporting PA 501: Nonprofit Organizations and Government |
5/8/23 – 6/30/23 (Summer 2023) |
Short Cycle - 4 (Fall 2023 - Summer 2024)
| Module | Courses | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | CJ 300: Crime, Law, & Justice PA 301: Concepts and Issues in Public Administration PA 340: Administrative Behavior PA 460: Administration and Policy Development |
8/7/23 – 9/29/23 (Fall 2023) |
| 7 | CJ 301: Law in Society CJ 303: Criminal Justice and Social Control CJ 540: Research Methods and Evaluation Elective: Any Humanities course or Humanities GE |
10/9/23 – 12/2/23 (Fall 2023) |
| 8 | CJ 302: Crime and Behavior PA 350: Contemporary Urban Issues RWS 280: Academic Reading and Writing Elective: One of these courses PA 450: Fiscal and Budgetary Policy |
1/8/24 – 3/1/24 (Spring 2024) |
| 9 | CJ 310: Law Enforcement CJ 420, 531, 572 (RWS 305w): Open elective CJ 330: Corrections PA 310: Management of Urban Governments |
3/11/24 – 5/3/24 (Spring 2024) |
| 10 | Elective: Chemistry 300 or Anthropology 360 PA 330: Public Personnel Administration CJ 497: Investigation and Reporting PA 501: Nonprofit Organizations and Government |
5/13/24 – 7/5/24 (Spring 2024) |
Dates and courses subject to change.
Admission requirements for this program? *
- 60 or more units (90 or more quarters) completed
- 2.8+ GPA
- AS in Administration of Justice or related area
- Completion of lower division GE requirements, including completion of the GE requirements with a grade of C- or higher
- Completion of lower division preparation for the major requirements
- Completion of the American Institutions requirement
*The full transfer admissions requirements can be found here: https://admissions.sdsu.edu/transfers/apply
Labor Analysis
Criminal Justice and Corrections Industry — Nationwide
Job Postings
Last 12 months
128,661
Projected Growth
Over 10 years
+7%
Salary Range
Average
$55,000-$75,000
For more information, please email criminaljustice.ces@sdsu.edu or call (619) 594-0845.