Degree Programs
Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice
The bachelor’s degree four-year plan involves 120 semester hours of core and elective criminal justice and criminology courses that are generally taught in a traditional face to face setting.
BS Criminal Justice Degree Requirements
Accelerated Criminal Justice, BS/ Criminal Justice, MS Program
The Criminal Justice, BS/Criminal Justice, MS accelerated program is designed to allow students interested in graduate school to begin taking graduate level courses as part of their undergraduate coursework. Students can double-count up to 12 semester hours (s.h.) of graduate level course work toward both their BSCJ and the MSCJ. Students accepted into the BS:MS Accelerated program will have the option to waive JUST 4990: Field Education and Seminar. Students interested in the program should contact Dr. Michele Stacey (staceym@ecu.edu), Graduate Program Director to discuss their eligibility and the application process.
Minor in Criminal Justice
The minor in Criminal Justice offers students a glimpse into the academic discipline. It may provide students knowledge about the justice system to balance their major. For example, psychology majors and social work majors would benefit greatly since they both address people who engage in deviant and sometimes criminal behavior. Students that may be curious and wish to learn more about the Criminal Justice system may find a minor in Criminal Justice appealing.
Minor in Criminal Law and Legal Process
The criminal law and legal process minor focuses on criminal law, criminal procedure, the judiciary and court process, and critical reasoning. The minor is a natural complement to the criminal justice major, particularly for those students preparing for law school, but would also benefit students in related fields such as history, philosophy, political science, and sociology.
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Minor in Forensic Science
The department’s minor in forensic science focuses on criminal investigation and crime scene applications. Students work with crime scene scenarios in the field and in the lab to learn the methods for examining criminal evidence such as fingerprints, blood stains, hairs/fibers, firearms/ballistics, tool marks, footprint/tire impressions, and much more. Our crime scene lab is equipped with many of the investigative tools used in modern law enforcement.
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Minor in Criminology
The Criminology Minor is intended for students interested in advancing their knowledge of crime and offending behavior. The minor is a natural complement to the criminal justice major but would also benefit students in related fields such as anthropology, political science, psychology, and sociology.
Forensic Science Crime Laboratory Career Pathway
The Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology, in collaboration with the Department of Chemistry, has prepared a four-year degree plan for students interested in future forensic science laboratory career opportunities. The Minor in Forensic Science helps prepares students for a career in crime scene investigation or forensic impressions and markings. The BS in Criminal Justice/BA in Chemistry/Minor in Forensic Science degree plan prepares students for laboratory careers like drug chemist, clandestine laboratory responder, and toxicologist. You can view the 4-year degree plan here. Additional degrees in Biology or Physics can prepare you for careers as a DNA analyst, forensics ballistics expert, or bloodstain pattern analyst and a graduate degree is required for more advanced positions. For further information, the NC State Crime Lab site has useful information on various educational requirements for crime laboratory careers.
International Study
We give students a chance to experience the world first-hand and in the classroom. Through courses in global terrorism, international crime, and comparative criminal justice, our students learn about crime and criminal justice around the world. Our international study abroad program lets students experience diverse cultures, visit exotic ports of call, and learn about crime and criminal justice in a foreign country. Each program is led by a departmental faculty member who provides course instruction during study abroad. Next, our foreign exchange program provides criminal justice study options for students from partner universities in places like the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia. They come to ECU for semester-long criminal justice study and we encourage our students to do likewise.
For more information, please visit the office of Global Affairs