Bachelor's Degree of Criminal Justice Online
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Online: Criminal Degree Map
Explore the courses you'll need to complete your degree
Criminal Justice by the Numbers
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$53k
Correctional Officers and Bailiffs
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the mean annual salary for a correctional officer or bailiff is $53,290.
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$74k
Police Officers and Detectives
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the mean annual salary for a police officer or detective is $74,910.
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$61k
Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the mean annual salary for a probation officer or correctional treatment specialist is $61,800.
The online criminal justice degree requires a minimum of 120 credit hours to complete, including the general education requirements and at least 39 senior division hours. Minor required unless noted.
48 hour major – No minor required
Required Courses – 27 hours:
- CJ100 Introduction to Criminal Justice (3)
- CJ240 Principles of Law Enforcement (3)
- CJ250 Corrections (3)
- CJ321 Criminal Law (3)
- CJ370 Juvenile Justice (3)
- CJ425 Planning and Research in Criminal Justice (3)
- CJ499 Senior Seminar (3)
- SO305 Convergences of Crime (3)
- SO360 Criminology (3)
Electives - 21 hours, to include 3 hours of experiential learning:
- CJ303 Correctional Institutions (3)
- CJ330 Criminal Investigations (3)
- CJ350 Criminalistics (3)
- CJ365 Community-Based Corrections (3)
- CJ375 Victimology (3)
- CJ400 Crisis Management (3)
- CJ410 Police Administration (3)
- CJ422 Criminal Procedures (3)
- CJ435 Special Topics (3)
- CJ440 Offender Rehabilitation (3)
- CJ471 Directed Research (3)*
- CJ480 Travel Study (1-6)
- CJ491 Internship in Criminal Justice (3)*
- CJ495 Law Enforcement Professional Practice (18)**
- CJ505 Social Inequalities (3)
- CJ510 Comparative Criminal Justice Systems (3)
- CJ519 Restorative Justice (3)
- CJ520 Law and Social Control (3)
- CJ522 Critical Analysis of Gangs in America (3)
- CJ525 Crime and Criminal Justice Policy (3)
- CJ540 Professional Standards (3)
- CJ541 The Death Penalty in America (3)
- SO444 Deviant Social Behavior (3)
- UI300 Drugs and Behavior (3)
- UI309 Crime and Human Behavior (3)
- CJ471 Directed Research (3)*
- CJ491 Internship (3)*
- CJ480 Travel Study (1-6)
- CJ495 Law Enforcement Professional Practice (18)**
- Any university course earned through PLA (Prior Learning Assessment)
*No more than 3 credits of Directed Research (CJ471) and no more than 6 credits of Internship (CJ491) may be counted toward degree.
**Students who demonstrate successful completion of a state-certified law enforcement academy at a Missouri Basic Law Enforcement Training Center and pass the Missouri Peace Officer License Exam (MPOLE); an out of state, federal, or military Basic Police School and Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) exam; or, equivalent will earn 18 credits in CJ 495 toward their Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice.
Some requirements may be fulfilled by coursework in a major program.
- Social and Behavioral Sciences – 6 hours
- Constitution Requirement – 3 hours
- Written Communication – 6 hours
- Oral Communication – 3 hours
- Natural Sciences – 7 hours (from two disciplines, one to include a lab)
- Mathematics – 3 hours
- Humanities & Fine Arts – 9 hours (from at least two disciplines)
- Additional requirements – 5 hours (to include UI100 for native students)
- Civics examination
Fall
- Full Term: Aug. - Dec. (3 hours)
- Full Term: Aug. - Dec. (3 hours)
- Full Term: Aug. - Dec. (3 hours)
- 1st 8 Week: Aug. - Oct. (3 hours)
- 2nd 8 Week: Oct. - Dec. (3 hours)
- Total: 15 hours
Spring
- Wintersession: Dec. - Jan. (3 hours)
- Full Term: Jan. - May. (3 hours)
- Full Term: Jan. - May. (3 hours)
- 1st 8 Week: Jan. - Mar. (3 hours)
- 2nd 8 Week: Mar. - May. (3 hours)
- Total: 15 hours
Summer
- 1st 4 Week: June (3 hours)
- 8 Week: June-July (3 hours)
- 2nd 4 Week: July (3 hours)
- Total: 9 hours
Our course descriptions can be found on the Courses Page. This page lists all courses including criminal justice courses with their details to help you plan your studies.
The Criminal Justice Department offers courses on a two-year rotating schedule. To see when each course is available (spring, fall, first 8 weeks, second 8 weeks, or online), please check the Criminal Justice Course Rotation. This will help you plan when to take your classes.
What will it cost?
Experiential Learning
100% of our Social Work, Criminal Justice, and Sociology students graduate with real-world experience. They don’t just learn theories—they apply them, making a real impact before they even earn their degree.
Criminal Justice Master’s Degree
Southeast offers a Criminal Justice master’s degree and dual credit for current students. You can get both undergraduate and graduate credit for some 500+ level courses, meaning you can graduate your Master's program sooner.
Associate Professor of the Department of Criminal Justice, Social Work and Sociology
"My teaching philosophy encourages mentorship and application of material through the use of real-life scenarios. I believe these two elements are essential for student growth. "
Dr. Kristen N. Sobba, Ph.D.
Get Funding for Your Education
Missouri’s opened the door to a more educated workforce. We want to help you walk through it. If you’re an adult learner and a Missouri resident returning to college, learn about the Fast Track Workforce Incentive Grant. It’s a statewide financial aid program that can be used to pursue a certificate, degree or industry-recognized credential in a high need area in Missouri. This major is eligible for the Fast Track grant.
Missouri National Guard Criminal Justice
Your path to a serious career starts here. MONG provides real support for students committed to criminal justice. We bridge academic training with hands-on experience, offering educational benefits that turn your goals into reality. Earn while you learn.
Earn Your Degree on Your Schedule.
Do more than dream about the future. Take the first steps to make it all happen.
Getting the Job
Your education is just one piece to launching an extraordinary career. Once you’ve mastered the material, you still have to find the job you want, make the right connections, sell your knowledge and experience—and if all this is giving you anxiety, don’t panic. SEMO’s Career Services office is here to help you with the next step. They’ll provide the expertise and support you need, so you’re landing your dream job in no time.
96% of College of Humanities and Social Sciences graduates are employed or enrolled in grad school within a year.
Our alumni work and study at
College of Humanities and Social Sciences
This degree is housed within the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. The College prepares students for lifelong careers. We boast programs that train students in problem-solving, critical thinking, communication, organization, and adaptability. Skills employers value, so we prepare you for basically any career field.
Law Enforcement Academy, 2017, B.A. in Communication Studies, 2018
"I'm thrilled to finally be entering the line of work that I care so deeply about. I think the part that excites me most is getting to interact with different aspects of the community and educating people on what police officers do. "
Jennifer Rubin
Online Learning at Southeast
When it comes to your success, we do whatever it takes. Online learning at Southeast takes the same reputable college courses taught by Southeast faculty and makes them available anytime, anywhere.
Additional Resources
Navigating the World of Justice
Your Success, Our Priority
Got questions? Our faculty are here to help! Whether you're trying to pick the right major, need career advice, or want to understand more about our programs, we're just an email or call away. No question is too big or small – we're your personal roadmap to success.
Cape Girardeau, MO 63701