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University of Nebraska–Lincoln

UNO School of Criminology and Criminal Justice

Lincoln Program

UNO COLLEGE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND COMMUNITY SERVICE

Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice

The School of Criminology and Criminal Justice is in the College of Public Affairs and Community Service and is administered through the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO). The Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice (BSCJ) can be completed entirely on either the Lincoln or Omaha campus but the degree is granted by UNO. School policies and requirements applicable to the BSCJ degree are the same on both campuses.

Pre-Criminal Justice Curriculum

Entering students who declare Criminal Justice as their major, must complete all of the 45 hour Pre-Criminal Justice Curriculum with an overall grade point average of 2.5 and a minimum grade of C- in their criminal justice courses.

The 45 hours of course work must include:

  • ENGL 101, 150, 151, 254, 258 (6 hours)
  • MATH 101 (3 hours)
  • CRIM 101 (3 hours)
  • CRIM 251 (3 hours)
  • CRIM 203, 211, 221 (6-9 hours)

The remaining 21-24 hours of course work will be selected from other general requirements.

Students seeking admission to the Upper Division Criminal Justice Program must apply to the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice. Applications for admission are available in the School office or from the forms tab of this website. Students will apply for upper division status during the semester in which they are completing their final pre-criminal justice requirements but admission is contingent upon completion of required courses with a GPA of 2.5 and a minimum grade of C- in their criminal justice courses.

Transfers to Criminal Justice

Students wishing to transfer from another institution or department within the University of Nebraska must have a 2.5 cumulative GPA. They must complete the Pre-Criminal Justice curriculum stipulated above, and apply for admission to the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice before being admitted to the Upper Division Criminal Justice Program. Students wishing to transfer are encouraged to contact the School for more details on the transfer policy.

Requirements for the Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice

  • English Composition (9 hours). Courses will be selected from the following: English 101, 150, 151, 254, 258 and 354. At least 3 credit hours must be in courses at the 200 level or above.
  • Social Sciences (12 hours). Courses will be selected from the departments of Anthropology, Economics, Educational Psychology (EDPS 451 or 463), Gerontology, Geography (except physical geography), History, Political Science, Public Administration, Psychology, Social Work, Sociology, and Family and Consumer Science (160, 270, 271, and 280). No more than 6 hours may be applied from any one department.
  • Humanities (12 hours). Courses will be selected from the departments of Art and Art History, Classics, English Literature, Foreign Languages, Journalism, Music, Philosophy, Religion, Communication Studies, Theater. Each student must complete at least 3 credit hours of oral communication selected from COMM 109, 209, 212 or 311. No more than 8 hours may be applied from any one department.
  • Natural Sciences and Mathematic (12 hours). Students must complete MATH 101 College Algebra (preparatory math courses, MATH 95C, will not apply toward the degree). Additional courses will be selected from the departments of Astronomy, Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Computer Science, Entomology, Physics, Geology, Math, Meteorology, Nutrition 131, and Physical Geography. Natural Science credit in Geography is limited to Physical Geography: GEOG 150 or 155. Each student must complete one laboratory course from one of the above listed disciplines.
  • Statistics (3 hours). Each student must complete one 3 credit hour course in basic statistics.
    • Only one of the following courses may apply to the degree: CRIM300 or EDPS459, is recommended, however, ECON215, STAT180 or SOCI206 will also fulfill this requirement. * Note: CRIM300 will not apply in the 39-hour major area.
  • Criminal Justice Requirements (39 hours). All candidates for the BSCJ degree must complete CRIM101 Survey of Criminal Justice, CRIM251 Research Methods and select 6 to 9 hours from CRIM203 Police and Society, CRIM211 Criminal Court System and CRIM221 Survey of Corrections. Completion of the Pre-Criminal Justice Curriculum is required prior to taking upper-division (300-400 level) criminal justice courses.
    • After admission to the Upper Division Criminal Justice Program, students must complete a minimum of 21 hours of upper division criminal justice courses including CRIM335 Criminology, and CRIM351 Criminal Procedure. The remaining credit hours in the major will be selected in consultation with the students advisor.
    • Criminal Justice Internships are coordinated by the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice. Six hours of internship (CRIM397) may apply in the 39-hour major, however, an internship is not required. Students must register for and complete CRIM499 Senior Assessment in the semester they plan to graduate.
    • Students must earn a minimum grade of C- in criminal justice courses used as part of the 39 hour major requirement.
    • Note: Credit toward the degree may be earned in only of the following: SOCI205 or CRIM251, SOCI209 or CRIM335, SOCI311 or CRIM337, and SOCI474 or CRIM413. Credit toward the degree is not allowed for both courses which are considered equivalent.
  • Concentration (18 hours). Students will select an area of concentration in consultation with their advisor. At least 12 credit hours must be completed in upper division courses (300/400 level).
  • Elective Requirements (20 hours). Students may select electives in consultation with their advisor. Elective courses may include a maximum of 6 hours nonrequired criminal justice courses.

The 125 credit hours required for the Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice must include:

  • Cultural Diversity. Each student must complete 6 hours of course work dealing with cultural diversity. A minimum of 3 hours must include U.S. racial or Hispanic minority groups to be selected from CRIM338, CURR330, ETHN100, 200, HIST357, HIST358, POLS238, PSYC310, PSYC425, SOCI217, 218 or 481. The remaining three hours can be satisfied with a course in minority studies, women's studies or course work with an international or foreign focus. These courses apply toward other appropriate group requirements. Cultural Diversity course listings are available in the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice.
  • A minimum of 45 credit hours must be earned in upper division (300/400 level courses). At least 21 of these of these upper division hours must be taken in the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice.

Restrictions

  • A minimum of 30 of the last 36 credit hours must be earned by the student in residence in the College of Public Affairs and Community Service, on either the Omaha or Lincoln campus. Summer reading courses are not considered in residence.
  • A minimum of 21 hours of criminal justice must be completed at the University of Nebraska, at either the Omaha or Lincoln campus.
  • A maximum of 25 credit hours of independent study from Extended Education may be applied toward the BSCJ degree.
  • A maximum of 12 credit hours of departmental independent study or internship courses may be applied toward the BSCJ degree. Of these, no more than 6 hours from one department and no more than 6 hours from another institution.
  • A maximum of 45 hours in criminal justice and 30 hours from any other department may be applied toward the BSCJ degree.
  • A maximum of 24 hours may be taken pass/no pass, and none of the 36 hours required for the criminal justice major may be taken pass/no pass (with the exception of CRIM397 Internship).
  • Credit for basic military training and law enforcement training is not applicable to the BSCJ degree.