Criminal Justice (Online)

Degree-Completion Program

Many criminal justice professionals with an associate degree find that they have enough experience to advance in their career but need additional education to qualify for promotions. The online Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences (BAAS) in Criminal Justice is designed for both working professionals and recent community college graduates who want to expand their career options and earning potential as well as enrich their personal lives through an affordable degree program. 
Many criminal justice professionals with an associate degree find that they have enough experience to advance in their career but need additional education to qualify for promotions. The online Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences (BAAS) in Criminal Justice is designed for both working professionals and recent community college graduates who want to expand their career options and earning potential as well as enrich their personal lives through an affordable degree program. 

Ready to get started?

BACHELOR OF APPLIED ARTS AND SCIENCES 

Course Length: 8 weeks
Program Duration: 2 years
Next Start: March 2025

Ready to get started?

BACHELOR OF APPLIED ARTS AND SCIENCES 

Course Length: 8 weeks
Program Duration: 2 years
Next Start: March 2025

Why Lees-McRae College?

Our online Criminal Justice program is designed for currently employed students who want a program that offers quality education and career preparation while also providing flexibility and convenience. Throughout the program, you will learn from Criminal Justice professionals who have experience working in police departments, in sheriff’s offices, and for the courts.

The Criminal Justice program is completed in just four semesters and qualified applicants might be eligible for a life experience credit based on employment position and/or duties and years of service.

Criminal Justice Online
Why do I need a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice
Why do I need a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice

While a bachelor’s degree isn’t required for all Criminal Justice professions, earning a four-year degree greatly improves your lifetime earning potential, your opportunities for leadership positions, and your ability to successfully perform your job. 

Some police departments, for example, offer bonuses or higher starting pay based on the applicant’s education level. Although most departments don’t require a four-year degree, police officers earn bachelor’s degrees at a higher rate than Americans in general, meaning that a bachelor’s degree might be necessary to be competitive.  

Whether you are seeking an entry-level position or want to advance your career in law enforcement, earning a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice can help you achieve your goals. 

While a bachelor’s degree isn’t required for all Criminal Justice professions, earning a four-year degree greatly improves your lifetime earning potential, your opportunities for leadership positions, and your ability to successfully perform your job. 

Some police departments, for example, offer bonuses or higher starting pay based on the applicant’s education level. Although most departments don’t require a four-year degree, police officers earn bachelor’s degrees at a higher rate than Americans in general, meaning that a bachelor’s degree might be necessary to be competitive.  

Whether you are seeking an entry-level position or want to advance your career in law enforcement, earning a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice can help you achieve your goals. 

What will I study? 
What will I study? 

Students will complete academic core requirements as well as advanced coursework in criminal justice that complements the vocational, technical, or professional area of the associate degree.

While pursuing your degree, you will take online classes on wide-ranging topics such as terrorism, drug addiction, white-collar crime, juvenile justice, and more.

Students will complete academic core requirements as well as advanced coursework in criminal justice that complements the vocational, technical, or professional area of the associate degree.

While pursuing your degree, you will take online classes on wide-ranging topics such as terrorism, drug addiction, white-collar crime, juvenile justice, and more.

Course Map

The degree program can be completed in eight sessions, or four semesters. Each session lasts eight weeks. One of the benefits of this program is that you can start with any session—you don’t need to wait until August. Regardless of when they enter the program, every student follows the same course schedule.

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    Year One

    Courses offered each session (all courses are 3 credit hours)

    Fall Session 1 (August–September)
    • Drug Addiction and Crime (CRI 354)
    • Environmental Biology (BIO 102)
    Fall Session 2 (October–November)
    • Juvenile Justice (CRI 302)
    • History of the Southern Appalachian Region (HIS 210)
    Spring Session 1 (January–February)
    • Social Problems (SOC 251)
    • Probation, Parole, and Community-Based Corrections (CRI 352)
    • Appreciation of Modern Performing Arts (THEA 206)
    Spring Session 2 (March–April)
    • Terrorism (CRI 463)
    • The Forgotten Victim (CRI 343)
  •  

    Year Two

    Courses offered each session (all courses are 3 credit hours)

    Fall Session 1 (August–September)
    • Criminal Law (CRI 450)
    • Science Applications (SCI 214)
    • Criminal Justice Internship (CRI 471) OR Criminal Justice Work Experience (CRI 472)*
    Fall Session 2 (October–November)
    • Statistics and Research Methods (CRI 362)
    • Global Justice Systems (CRI 461)
    • Criminal Justice Internship (CRI 471) OR Criminal Justice Work Experience (CRI 472)*
    Spring Session 1 (January–February)
    • Criminological Theory (CRI 332)
    • Senior Research Seminar (CRI 499)
    Spring Session 2 (March–April)
    • White Collar Crime (CRI 404)
    • Math and Science Concepts (SCI 241)

    *Courses can be taken in Fall Session 1 or Fall Session 2

"While I was attending Lees-McRae I was working full time, sometimes 40+ hours a week. This program makes a degree possible for people in my situation because otherwise, I don't know that I would've been able to get a bachelor's degree."

Lanna Evans ’21

Community College Partners

We set up our programs to make coming to Lees-McRae for a bachelor’s degree as straightforward as possible. For students who earned an associate degree at one of our partner colleges, getting here is even easier. Graduates from these colleges receive guaranteed admission to Lees-McRae, are eligible for tuition discounts, and are considered to have finished their general education requirements.

FIND YOUR COLLEGE

Didn’t attend a partner college? Set up a free transcript review to identify which college credits will carry over. Contact us at onlineadmissions@lmc.edu.   

Alpha Phi Sigma

Lees-McRae students may join Alpha Phi Sigma, the only Criminal Justice Honor Society accredited by the Association of College Honor Societies. Membership in Alpha Phi Sigma qualifies individuals for Superior Academic Achievement status when applying to federal jobs.

Learn more

Career Opportunities 

A Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences (BAAS) degree in Criminal Justice prepares you for leadership in the criminal justice system and the private sector. Graduates of the program work locally and at state and federal levels. 

With your degree, you will be eligible to work in the following fields: 

Law Enforcement
Police Department 
Sheriff’s Office 
State Highway Patrol 
DMV License & Theft 
Missing Persons 
Drug/Alcohol Enforcement

Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)
Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA)
State Alcohol Law Enforcement

Corrections
Adult/Juvenile Corrections
Victim Services
Probation and Parole
Investigation

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
State Bureau of Investigation (SBI)
Private Investigations

Homeland Security
Immigration and Customs
Transportation Security
Emergency Management
Prevention
Loss Prevention
Fraud Prevention
Private Security
Protection
Child/Adult Protective Services
Domestic Violence Advocates
Secret Service
Judiciary
Court Coordination
County Clerk Offices
Victim Advocacy
Forensics
Toxicology
Evidence Analysis
Crime Analysis

Contact

Eric_Watters_WEBSITE.jpg

Eric R. Watters
Program Coordinator

 

State Authorization
Lees-McRae College has been approved to participate in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA). Learn more

Elevate your Potential

Our admissions office is ready to guide you through the process.