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Online Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Degree – Focused

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NAU FOCUSED Bachelor's Degrees

NAU FOCUSED bachelor’s degrees are designed for working adults who want a more efficient, career-focused path to completion.

Fully accredited.
Career-focused.
Designed for working adults.

Earn a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice through a streamlined 30-course pathway built for adults who want to develop knowledge and skills connected to the criminal justice field.


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Why Choose a FOCUSED Criminal Justice Degree?

A more direct bachelor’s pathway built around criminal justice, professional relevance, and flexibility.

NAU’s FOCUSED degree structure is designed around efficiency rather than increased intensity. Its reduced-credit structure requires fewer total credits and courses rather than requiring students to complete a traditional 180-credit bachelor’s curriculum at a faster pace.

Fewer Courses

A streamlined 30-course structure designed to create a more efficient bachelor’s pathway.

Professional Field Focus Areas

Choose coursework connected to corrections, intelligence analysis, investigation, juvenile and victim justice, law enforcement administration, or private security and protection.

Adult Flexibility

Fully online coursework designed for students balancing school, work, family, and life.

Traditional vs. FOCUSED

A bachelor’s pathway redesigned around the needs of modern adult learners.

Traditional Bachelor’s Degree Modern FOCUSED Bachelor’s Degree
180 quarter credits 135 quarter credits
Approximately 40 courses 30 courses
More opportunity to customize your degree through elective coursework Career-specific curriculum with fewer open elective requirements
More room to explore interests and develop complementary skills Coursework concentrated around your major and selected focus area
Designed based on a traditional “four year” college experience Designed for working adult learners

Choose Your Criminal Justice Focus Area

Build your degree around the area of criminal justice that best fits your interests and professional goals. Explore the coursework in each focus area and examples of related career pathways.

Corrections

Explore correctional systems, case management, offender populations, legal requirements, and criminal justice administration.

Focus Area Courses

  • CJ3005 Gangs in America
  • CI3010 White Collar Crime
  • CJ3250 Case Management
  • CJ3440 Corrections Law
  • CJ4300 Drugs and Alcohol in Criminal Justice
  • CJ4600 Criminal Justice Administration

Explore Potential Career Pathways

Explore examples of occupations and career areas related to corrections and offender supervision.

Correctional Officer

Help maintain safety, security, and established procedures within correctional and detention facilities.


Explore this career → O*NET

Probation or Parole Officer

Work with individuals on probation or parole while monitoring progress, maintaining case information, and supporting rehabilitation plans.


Explore this career → O*NET

Correctional Case Management

Support offender case planning, documentation, supervision, rehabilitation, and coordination of services.


Explore related careers → O*NET

Correctional Administration

Support the policies, procedures, staff coordination, records, and operations of correctional environments.


Explore related careers → O*NET

Criminal Intelligence Analysis

Develop skills in intelligence analysis, critical thinking, research, information collection, and open-source intelligence.

Focus Area Courses

  • INT300 Fundamentals of Intelligence
  • INT305 Advanced Critical Thinking and Logic
  • CJ4700 Applied Research Methods
  • INT310 Fundamentals of Analysis
  • INT315 Open Source Research
  • INT476 Intelligence Collections

Explore Potential Career Pathways

Explore occupations and career areas involving intelligence collection, research, analysis, and criminal activity patterns.

Criminal Intelligence Analyst

Gather and analyze information from multiple sources to identify patterns, connections, risks, and criminal activity.


Explore this career → O*NET

Crime Analyst

Analyze crime and intelligence data to identify trends, patterns, relationships, and information useful to public safety organizations.


Explore this career → O*NET

Intelligence Research Support

Collect, validate, organize, and research information used to support intelligence assessments and analytical products.


Explore related careers → O*NET

Investigative Analysis Support

Use research and analytical methods to help investigators evaluate information, identify relationships, and develop investigative leads.


Explore related careers → O*NET

Criminal Investigation

Explore criminalistics, crime scene documentation, digital forensics, specialized investigations, and interviewing techniques.

Focus Area Courses

  • CJ3020 Serial Killers and the Law
  • CJ3155 Criminalistics
  • CJ3550 Crime Scene Photography
  • CJ4400 Investigation of Sex Crimes
  • CJ4430 Computer Forensic Investigations
  • INT410 Interrogation and Interviewing Techniques

Explore Potential Career Pathways

Explore occupations and career areas involving criminal investigations, evidence, crime scenes, and investigative services.

Criminal Investigation Support

Support investigations through research, interviews, records review, evidence documentation, and investigative reporting.


Explore related careers → O*NET

Crime Scene Investigation Support

Help document crime scenes and support the collection, preservation, processing, and analysis of evidence.


Explore related careers → O*NET

Digital Forensics Support

Support investigations involving computers, digital records, electronic evidence, and technology-related information.


Explore related careers → O*NET

Investigative Services

Gather, analyze, document, and report information involving individuals, organizations, incidents, or suspected unlawful activity.


Explore related careers → O*NET

Juvenile and Victim Justice

Study victim advocacy, juvenile justice, psychology and the law, community policing, and criminal justice administration.

Focus Area Courses

  • CJ3000 Victimology
  • CJ3300 Juvenile Justice and Delinquency
  • CJ4000 Psychology and the Law
  • CJ3750 Community-Oriented Policing
  • CJ4300 Drugs and Alcohol in Criminal Justice
  • CJ4600 Criminal Justice Administration

Explore Potential Career Pathways

Explore career areas involving juveniles, victims, community programs, and justice-system support.

Victim Advocacy

Help connect individuals and families with information, services, resources, and support following crime or other difficult circumstances.


Explore related careers → O*NET

Juvenile Justice Support

Work in programs or agencies supporting juveniles involved with courts, supervision, rehabilitation, or community-based services.


Explore related careers → O*NET

Community Outreach

Help connect communities with programs, services, public-safety resources, and organizations addressing local needs.


Explore related careers → O*NET

Justice Program Support

Support programs serving individuals, families, offenders, victims, or communities through coordination, documentation, and services.


Explore related careers → O*NET

Law Enforcement and Administration

Examine modern policing, community engagement, homeland security, criminal justice administration, and research-informed decision-making.

Focus Area Courses

  • CJ3005 Gangs in America
  • CJ3200 Police Issues and Practices
  • CJ3750 Community-Oriented Policing
  • CJ4500 Homeland Security and Terrorism
  • CJ4600 Criminal Justice Administration
  • CJ4700 Applied Research Methods

Explore Potential Career Pathways

Explore occupations and career areas related to policing, public safety, community engagement, and justice administration.

Law Enforcement

Serve communities through public safety, law enforcement, emergency response, patrol, investigation, and community relations.


Explore this career → O*NET

Public Safety Administration

Support or coordinate personnel, operations, procedures, records, and organizational activities within public-safety environments.


Explore related careers → O*NET

Criminal Justice Administration

Support the coordination, supervision, policies, records, personnel, and operations of criminal justice organizations.


Explore related careers → O*NET

Community Policing

Work with community members and organizations to support public safety, problem solving, prevention, and positive community relations.


Explore related careers → O*NET

Private Security and Protection

Explore loss prevention, threat assessment, building security, executive protection, and the relationship between private security and public safety.

Focus Area Courses

  • CJ3050 Loss Prevention
  • CJ3750 Community-Oriented Policing
  • CJ4500 Homeland Security and Terrorism
  • PRO398 Fundamentals of Threat Assessment
  • PRO422 Building Security
  • PRO494 Essentials of Executive Protection

Explore Potential Career Pathways

Explore occupations and career areas related to organizational security, loss prevention, protective services, and security operations.

Corporate Security

Help organizations protect employees, facilities, operations, assets, and other resources through physical-security programs and procedures.


Explore related careers → O*NET

Loss Prevention

Help protect organizational assets by monitoring risks, investigating losses, conducting audits, and supporting security procedures.


Explore this career → O*NET

Protective Services

Help protect people, property, facilities, or events through security procedures, monitoring, access control, and incident response.


Explore related careers → O*NET

Security Operations

Support the day-to-day systems, personnel, procedures, incident response, and physical-security activities used to protect organizations.


Explore related careers → O*NET

Career pathways are examples of occupations or occupational areas that may relate to program coursework. Career outcomes vary based on experience, location, employer requirements, and other factors. External career information is provided by O*NET OnLine, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.

Progress That Pays

Ready to Take the Next Step in Criminal Justice?

Earn a fully accredited Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice through a more efficient, career-focused pathway designed for working adults.


Request Information


Apply Now

Frequently Asked Questions About the BS Criminal Justice – FOCUSED

Learn more about NAU’s reduced-credit Criminal Justice bachelor’s degree and how the FOCUSED pathway is designed for adult learners.

Is the BS Criminal Justice – FOCUSED a bachelor’s degree?

Yes. The program awards a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from National American University. NAU is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Is the BS Criminal Justice – FOCUSED a three-year bachelor’s degree?

The BS Criminal Justice – FOCUSED is a 135-quarter-credit, 30-course bachelor’s degree pathway intended to allow a full-time student to complete the program in approximately three years. Actual completion time may vary based on course load, transfer credits, and other factors.

How is the BS Criminal Justice – FOCUSED different from NAU’s traditional bachelor’s degree structure?

NAU’s traditional bachelor’s structure generally requires 180 quarter credits and approximately 40 courses. The BS Criminal Justice – FOCUSED requires 135 quarter credits and 30 courses, with reduced open electives and greater emphasis on career-connected criminal justice focus areas. The FOCUSED model is designed to provide a faster, more efficient, and lower-cost pathway to bachelor’s degree completion.

Is the BS Criminal Justice – FOCUSED an accelerated degree?

The program is designed around efficiency rather than increased intensity. Its reduced-credit structure requires fewer total credits and courses rather than requiring students to complete a traditional 180-credit bachelor’s curriculum at a faster pace.

What focus areas are available in the BS Criminal Justice – FOCUSED program?

Students may choose from focus areas in Corrections, Criminal Intelligence Analysis, Criminal Investigation, Juvenile and Victim Justice, Law Enforcement and Administration, and Private Security and Protection.

What kinds of subjects can I study in the Criminal Justice FOCUSED program?

Depending on the focus area selected, coursework may include subjects such as criminal intelligence analysis, criminal investigation, corrections law, victimology, juvenile justice, community-oriented policing, homeland security, threat assessment, digital forensics, building security, and executive protection.

Is the BS Criminal Justice – FOCUSED online?

Yes. The BS Criminal Justice – FOCUSED is offered 100% online and is designed for adults balancing education with work, family, and other responsibilities.

Important Information

  • Some employers may evaluate this reduced-credit bachelor’s degree differently than a traditional 180-credit bachelor’s degree.
  • This program may not satisfy admission requirements for some graduate degree programs.
  • Students may change programs prior to completion but may not convert this degree to a traditional 180-credit bachelor’s degree after graduation.
  • Individual agencies regulate employment requirements for policing, courts, corrections, and other criminal justice professions. Additional requirements may apply, including academy training, background requirements, licensing, or other agency-specific qualifications.
  • This program is not available in all states.

Course Listing (135 Credits)

  • CJ1000 Introduction to Criminal Justice 4.5
  • CJ1500 Criminological Theory 4.5
  • CJ2100 Criminal Law 4.5
  • CJ2150 Professionalism and Ethics in Criminal Justice 4.5
  • CJ2280 Communication for the Criminal Justice Professional 4.5
  • CJ2300 U.S. Courts 4.5
  • CJ2400 U.S. Corrections 4.5
  • CJ3100 Criminal Investigation 4.5
  • CJ3400 Constitutional Law 4.5
  • CJ4900 Criminal Justice Capstone 4.5
CJ1000, CJ1500, CJ2100, CJ2150, CJ2280, CJ2300, CJ2400, CJ3000+, CJ3100, CJ3400, CJ4900, PRO500DC, PRO595DC, and PRO600DC: Professional Course, minimum "C" grade required.

Focus on Corrections
• CJ3005 Gangs in America
• CI3010 White Collar Crime
• CJ3250 Case Management
• CJ3440 Corrections Law
• CJ4300 Drugs and Alcohol in Criminal Justice
• CJ4600 Criminal Justice Administration

Focus on Criminal Intelligence Analysis
• INT300 Fundamentals of Intelligence
• INT305 Advanced Critical Thinking and Logic
• CJ4700 Applied Research Methods
• INT310 Fundamentals of Analysis
• INT315 Open Source Research
• INT476 Intelligence Collections

Focus on Criminal Investigation
• CJ3020 Serial Killers and the Law
• CJ3155 Criminalistics
• CJ3550 Crime Scene Photography
• CJ4400 Investigation of Sex Crimes
• CJ4430 Computer Forensic Investigations
• INT410 Interrogation and Interviewing Techniques

Focus on Juvenile and Victim Justice
• CJ3000 Victimology
• CJ3300 Juvenile Justice and Delinquency
• CJ4000 Psychology and the Law
• CJ3750 Community-Oriented Policing
• CJ4300 Drugs and Alcohol in Criminal Justice
• CJ4600 Criminal Justice Administration

Focus on Law Enforcement and Administration
• CJ3005 Gangs in America
• CJ3200 Police Issues and Practices
• CJ3750 Community-Oriented Policing
• CJ4500 Homeland Security and Terrorism
• CJ4600 Criminal Justice Administration
• CJ4700 Applied Research Methods

Focus on Private Security and Protection
• CJ3050 Loss Prevention
• CJ3750 Community-Oriented Policing
• CJ4500 Homeland Security and Terrorism
• PRO398 Fundamentals of Threat Assessment
• PRO422 Building Security
• PRO494 Essentials of Executive Protection

 

General Education Core (63)
(Available for block transfer)

General Education (31.5)

Communications (4.5)
EN1150 Composition I 4.5

Science (9)
Science Electives 9

Humanities (9)
HU2000 Critical Thinking and Problem Solving 4.5
Humanities Electives (4.5)

Behavioral/Social Science (9)
Behavioral/Social Science Elective 9

General Education (30) Course-by- Course Transfer

Communications (13.5)
EN1300 Composition II 4.5
EN2100 Speech 4.5 OR
EN2150 Interpersonal Professional 4.5 Communication
EN3070 Advanced Research and Writing 4.5

Mathematics (4.5)
MA2000 Quantitative Reasoning 4.5

General Education (12)
CS1202 Strategies for Professionals 4.5 OR
CS1204 Advanced Strategies for Professionals 4.5
CS1302 Consumer Mathematics 4.5
CS2086 Career Management Focused 4.5

Course availability is subject to minimum class size requirements.

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Important Information

  • Some employers may evaluate this reduced-credit bachelor’s degree differently than a traditional 180-credit bachelor’s degree.
  • This program may not satisfy admission requirements for some graduate degree programs.
  • Students may change programs prior to completion but may not convert this degree to a traditional 180-credit bachelor’s degree after graduation.
  • This program is not available in all states.


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National American University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission - hlcommission.org - 800-621-7440.

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