Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice
Program overview
Criminal justice is a broad, interdisciplinary, and evolving field that extends well beyond traditional roles in law enforcement and corrections. Careers span public, private, and nonprofit sectors and include work in policing, courts, corrections, victim advocacy, policy analysis, intelligence, research, community-based organizations, reentry and rehabilitation services, nonprofit and advocacy organizations, corporate security, compliance, and public service leadership.
The University of Kansas offers both a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice and a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice through the School of Professional Studies. These programs are designed for students who want a comprehensive understanding of how criminal justice agencies, institutions, and community partners function individually and collectively within the justice system.
Students can tailor the program to align with their professional goals through a required 12-credit concentration. Concentration options include Law and Society, Leadership and Ethics in Public Service, Crime Scene Investigation, Crime Analysis and Intelligence, Inclusive Populations, Global Crime, and Critical Criminology. Across concentrations, coursework emphasizes critical thinking, ethical decision-making, data-informed analysis, communication, and applied problem-solving—skills that are valued across criminal justice, nonprofit, governmental, and private-sector organizations.
Graduates are well prepared for immediate employment or for graduate and professional study in criminal justice, law, public administration, police-integrated social services, or related fields.
Program formats
The Criminal Justice program is offered in two formats to meet the needs of a diverse student population. Students may enroll in a traditional, in-person program on the Lawrence campus or complete the degree through a fully asynchronous online format, designed to support working adults and transfer students completing their degree. Both formats deliver the same high-quality curriculum and learning outcomes, and all are taught by professors of the practice.
Career Outlook
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice are well positioned for careers in roles as police officers, detectives, victim advocates, re-entry specialists, crime and intelligence analysts, federal agents, community coordinators, private investigators, probation/intensive supervision officers, criminal prosecutors or defense attorneys, juvenile officers, evidence technicians, security specialists, victim witness coordinators, crime prevention specialists, dispatchers, and more.
The career outlook in the field of criminal justice remains robust, offering a diverse range of opportunities for individuals passionate about preventing crime, upholding law and order, and supporting victims, witnesses, and justice-impacted individuals.
With a growing emphasis on crime prevention, rehabilitation, community policing, evidence-based decision-making and response, roles in the criminal justice field will continue to be in high demand.
Jobs held by professionals with an educational background in criminal justice include:
Potential Careers
Law enforcement officers
Corrections officers
Intelligence analysts
Crime scene investigator (CSI)
Criminal prosecutor or defense attorney
Federal agent
Victim advocacy and support
Program snapshot
A snapshot of overall growth and jobs availability in the field of criminal justice*
Degree Statistics
Top employers include FBI, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Elevance Health, Deloitte, Citigroup, Amazon.
Top skills listed in job postings: management, communications, leadership, planning, and operations.
*Source: Lightcast. The career information provided is not specific to the KU programs. There is no guarantee of obtaining these positions or income levels.
Helpful Information
Learn more about the Criminal Justice program
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