Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice, BA

The program is designed to provide students with a broad understanding of crime and society's control mechanisms, as well as to prepare them for professional careers in criminal justice and related agencies. As a multidisciplinary field of study, criminal justice incorporates the substance and perspectives across the social sciences. The core requirements of the program expose students to all components (police, courts, corrections) of the criminal justice system where they will learn how these components interact with each other and the community to create the justice system experienced in the U.S. A wide variety of elective courses allow students to tailor the degree program to meet their interests. The department emphasizes experiential learning through both undergraduate research with faculty members and a strong internship program with over 100 community partners. Internship opportunities are available with public and private organizations across Central Florida.

Degree Requirements

• Students who change degree programs and select this major must adopt the most current catalog.
• Students should complete the General Education Program before transferring within the Florida College System or State University System.
• The courses designated in the General Education Program section below may be taken at a Florida College System institution, and should usually be completed in the first 60 hours.
• Students must earn a grade of "C" (2.0) or better in each core course.
• Students must earn a minimum 2.0 overall GPA in courses used towards the restricted electives.

Online Criminal Justice, BA/BS

Criminal Justice (B.A. or B.S.) may be completed fully online, although not all elective options or program prerequisites may be offered online. Newly admitted students choosing to complete this program exclusively via UCF online classes may enroll with a reduction in campus-based fees.

Degree Requirements

Core Requirements: Advanced Level
• Complete all of the following
  • See "Common Prerequisites" in the Transfer and Transitions Services section for more information. Prerequisite for CCJ 4746 is CCJ 4701
  • Complete the following:
    • CJE3001 - Careers in Criminal Justice (3)
    • CCJ3024 - Criminal Justice System (3)
    • CCJ3014 - Crime in America (3)
    • CCJ4678 - Race, Ethnicity, Equity, and (In)justice (3)
    • CCJ4701 - Research Methods in Criminal Justice (3)
    • CCJ4746 - Data Analysis for Criminal Justice (3)
    • CJE4014 - Police and Society (3)
    • CJL3510 - Prosecution and Adjudication (3)
    • CJC3010 - Corrections and Penology (3)
    • CCJ4054 - Capstone: Criminal Justice Ethics (3)

Restricted Electives

• Complete all of the following
  • Criminal Justice Upper Level Electives
  • Earn at least 21 credits from the following types of courses: 21 hours of upper division criminal justice course work. Seniors can satisfy up to six hours of this requirement with internship and up to six hours with directed independent study; however, the combination of these non-class options shall not exceed nine hours. Program standards must be met to be eligible for either internship or independent study credit.
  • Supporting Electives
  • Earn at least 9 credits from the following types of courses: 9 additional semester hours of supporting courses to be selected from an approved list provided by the department. These courses may vary from student to student depending upon individual needs or objectives. The supporting course requirements may also be met by using 9 hours from a completed minor in another program approved by the department. Students are responsible for the requirements of a second major or minor limiting overlapping credit hours between two or more programs.

Grand Total Credits: 60

Common Program Prerequisites (CPP)

• None

Core Requirements: Basic Level

• None

Electives

• None

Foreign Language Requirements

• Two years of one foreign language in high school, or one year of one foreign language in college (or equivalent proficiency exam) prior to graduation.

Admissions

Graduation

• Students pursuing the B.A. degree must demonstrate proficiency in a foreign language equivalent to one year at college level. Proficiency equivalent to two semesters of college instruction in a foreign language or in American Sign Language (ASL). Standardized examinations for foreign languages may be used. The foreign language credits may be used toward the 9 hour supporting course requirement. ASL proficiency is met by successful completion of ASL 2140 and ASL 2150 or an appropriate score on the ASL proficiency exam. Contact the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders (https://healthprofessions.ucf.edu/csd/) regarding the ASL proficiency examination.

Additional Requirements

• None

Required Minors

• None

Departmental Exit Requirements

• Students must take a minimum of 36 hours of upper-division CJ credit from the UCF Department of Criminal Justice to obtain the UCF degree in Criminal Justice.

University Minimum Exit Requirements

• A 2.0 UCF GPA
• 48 semester hours of upper division credit completed
• 60 semester hours earned after CLEP awarded
• 30 of the last 39 hours of course work must be completed in residency at UCF.
• A maximum of 45 hours of extension, correspondence, CLEP, Credit by Exam, and Armed Forces credits permitted.
• Complete the General Education Program, the Gordon Rule, and nine hours of Summer credit.

Total Undergraduate Credit Hours Required: 120

Additional Information

Honors In Major

• Interested students should consult with a faculty advisor.

Related Programs

• Public Administration (B.A. or B.S.)
• Political Science, Prelaw Track (B.A.)

Certificates

• Crime Analysis and Crime Mapping Certificate
• Criminal Profiling Certificate
• Crime Scene Investigation Certificate
• Victim Advocacy Certificate
• Criminal Justice Management and Leadership Certificate

Related Minors

• Intelligence and National Security Minor
• Public Administration Minor
• Psychology Minor
• Emergency Management and Homeland Security Minor

Advising Notes

• Grades below a "C" (2.0) are not accepted in the core.

Transfer Notes

• Grades below a "C" (2.0) are not accepted in the core.
• Lower division courses do not substitute for upper division courses.
• Courses transferred from private and out-of-state schools must be evaluated for equivalency credit. The student must provide all supporting information.

Acceptable Substitutes for Transfer Courses

• None

Program Academic Learning Compacts

• Program Academic Learning Compacts (student learning outcomes) for undergraduate programs are located at: http://www.oeas.ucf.edu/alc/academic_learning_compacts.htm

Plan of Study

Freshman Year - Fall (12 Credit Hours)

• ENC 1101 Composition I
• GEP Math Credit Hours: 3
• GEP Social Credit Hours: 3
• GEP Historical Credit Hours: 3

Freshman Year - Spring (15 Credit Hours)

• ENC 1102 Composition II
• GEP Math Credit Hours: 3
• GEP Science Credit Hours: 3
• GEP Cultural Credit Hours: 3
• GEP Social Credit Hours: 3

Sophomore Year - Fall (16 Credit Hours)

• GEP Communication Credit Hours: 3
• GEP Historical Credit Hours: 3
• GEP Science Credit Hours: 3
• Free Elective Credit Hours: 3
• CJE 3001 Careers in Criminal Justice

Sophomore Year - Spring (12 Credit Hours)

• Free Elective Credit Hours: 3
• CCJ 3014 Crime in America
• CCJ 3024 Criminal Justice System
• Supporting Elective Credit Hours: 3

Sophomore Year - Summer (6 Credit Hours)

• Core Course (CJE 4014, CJL 3510, CJC 3010) Credit Hours: 3
• Free Elective Credit Hours: 3

Junior Year - Fall (16 Credit Hours)

• Core Course (CJE 4014, CJL 3510, CJC 3010)
• CCJ 4026 Race, Ethnicity, Equity and (In)justice
• CCJ 4701 Research Methods in Criminal Justice
• Supporting Elective Credit Hours: 3
• CJ Restricted Elective Credit Hours: 3

Junior Year - Spring (13 Credit Hours)

• Supporting Elective Credit Hours: 3
• Core Course (CJE 4014, CJL 3510, CJC 3010)
• CCJ 4746 Data Analysis for Criminal Justice
• CJ Restricted Elective Credit Hours: 3

Junior Year - Summer (6 Credit Hours)

• CCJ 4054 Capstone: Criminal Justice Ethics
• Free Elective Credit Hours: 3

Senior Year - Fall (12 Credit Hours)

• CJ Restricted Elective Credit Hours: 3
• CJ Restricted Elective Credit Hours: 3
• Free Elective Credit Hours: 3
• Free Elective Credit Hours: 3

Senior Year - Spring (12 Credit Hours)

1 If necessary

• Free Elective Credit Hours: 3 1
• Free Elective Credit Hours: 3 1
• CJ Restricted Elective Credit Hours: 3
• CJ Restricted Elective or Criminal Justice Internship. The department strongly encourages the internship experience. Credit Hours: 3