What does it cost?

Learn more about the cost of an online bachelor’s degree, or use Georgia State’s Cost Calculator to get an idea of the investment required for your path of study. For information on how to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and to determine eligibility, visit the FAFSA tips page.

Georgia State is dedicated to providing affordable and accessible programs for all prospective students because we value the investment each student makes in their education. We understand that the path to a student’s future shouldn’t be blocked due to finances and we pride ourselves on offering financial assistance and scholarships that can support students through their education.

How long will it take?

A minimum of 120 credit hours must be completed. A full-time student may complete this program in four years.

All required classes to earn a degree can be completed online.

Application Deadlines View Admissions Requirements

Fall: February 15
Spring: May 15
Summer: September 15

Note: If the 15^th falls on a weekend, the application deadline will be extended to the first Monday of the following week.

For more details on application deadlines, visit the Undergraduate Admissions page.

Andrew Young School of Policy Studies

Online Criminal Justice Bachelor of Science Degree

Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology

Talk to an enrollment coach
404-413-4393
[email protected]

Contact the department
Mark Reed, Associate Professor and Undergraduate Coordinator
[email protected]
404-413-1034

Designed by award-winning faculty in criminal justice and criminology research, Georgia State’s online Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice degree will help you advance in your career.

The program offers two academic concentrations: Crime and Justice or Legal Studies. The Crime and Justice concentration provides a blend of traditional criminal justice curriculum and forward-thinking emphasis on digital criminology, while the Legal Studies concentration is designed for criminal justice majors desiring more intensive exposure to law, often in preparation for law school. Students may also elect to pursue a minor in Digital Criminology along with the bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.

Why the Online Criminal Justice Program at Georgia State Works

Fair and open dialogue: Our faculty have designed an online criminal justice program that stresses an integrated view of the criminal justice system, highlighting relationships among the many different institutions involved and the need for cooperation and humane practices across law enforcement, the courts, corrections and the juvenile justice system.
Theoretical framework combined with current events: You will study how our criminal justice system was designed and examine the parts of the system, including the roles of victims and offenders. Paired with an examination of the causes and consequences of traditional and digital crime, you will receive a comprehensive criminal justice education to prepare you for a career that is relevant to the critical issues facing justice agencies of today and tomorrow.
Your success matters: You will work with the undergraduate advisement center throughout your time at Georgia State to make sure you are enrolling in the correct courses. To support your need for a versatile education, Georgia State also allows you to complete your criminal justice bachelor’s degree in a part- or full-time capacity.
A well-rounded education: Because earning a criminal justice degree online at Georgia State also requires general education classes, you will find yourself speaking more clearly and effectively, thinking more analytically and critically evaluating the materials you read by the time you graduate.
Online learning for the busy student or working professional: Every class you need to earn a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice can be completed online.

Program Highlights

Earn a Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Degree Online at Georgia State and Become a Leader in Criminal Justice and Social Change

A bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Georgia State can help you advance your career and become a confident leader in criminal justice agencies of all sizes.

Internship Opportunities

Georgia State values the depth of experiential learning unique to internships, which is why all criminal justice majors are required to participate in an approved internship during their senior year. Internships provide students the opportunity to learn through interactive, real-world experience, preparing them for success in their career. Below are some quick facts about criminal justice internships.

During their internship, students will put their knowledge into practice through hands-on experience at a criminal justice agency.
There are over 350 participating agencies ranging from police, courts, law, corrections, juvenile justice, mental health, and more.
The criminal justice internship program consists of two courses: CRJU 4935 (Field Placement I) and CRJU 4940 (Field Placement II). There is also an optional 3-credit-hour comparative course.

Careers With a Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Degree

Career Fields

Criminal justice degree holders can pursue careers in a range of fields including social work, law enforcement and forensic science.

Earnings Potential

Salaries for careers in criminal justice can vary depending on several factors including geographic location and years of experience.

Georgia State’s online criminal justice bachelor’s degree has diverse course offerings that give students the skills and tools they need to pursue a range of careers in the criminal justice field.

Program Details

High School Seniors and Recent Graduates
If you’re a senior in high school or if you graduated from high school within the last two years, you’ll apply to begin your bachelor’s degree program using Georgia State’s Common Application.

Find out more about applying

International students
International applicants are those students who are in the U.S. on a non-immigrant visa (B-1, H-1, J-1, etc.), students who are living outside the U.S. and who will require an F-1 visa to study in the United States, students who are in the process of applying for Permanent Residency status but have not yet received the Permanent Residency card or students who have been educated outside the U.S.

Learn more about the application process

Transfer students
If you’re already in college but need a change, transferring to Georgia State can provide you with the opportunities you need to succeed — in school and after graduation.

View the details

All students should review the online CRJU internship page.

Students must declare their concentration, Crime and Justice or Legal Studies, when declaring Criminal Justice as their major.

This program features two predominant divisions with nine separate areas. The lower division provides the student with a sound liberal arts experience. This division includes courses in the humanities, mathematics and the natural sciences, the social sciences and selected elective courses that are particularly appropriate to the field of criminal justice. Courses taken in the lower division are at the freshman and sophomore levels. The upper division provides the student with a depth and breadth of knowledge related to criminal justice. Courses in the upper division are usually at the junior and senior levels.

The curriculum includes:

42 hours of undergraduate core curriculum courses (Areas A - E)
18 hours of criminal justice core courses (Area F)
12 hours of foundations of analysis courses (Area G)
Legal issues courses (Area H)
- Crime and Justice Concentration: 3 hours
- Legal Studies Concentration: 15 hours
Criminal justice issues courses (Area I)
- Crime an Justice Concentration: 15 hours
- Legal Studies Concentration: 3 hours
Capstone and internship courses (Area J)
- Crime and Justice Concentration: 6-9 hours
- Legal Studies Concentration: 6-9 hours
21 or 24 hours of electives
Total of 120 credit hours

For up-to-date curriculum requirements, please visit the catalog.

Affording Your Online Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Degree

Georgia State is dedicated to providing affordable and accessible programs for all prospective students because we value the investment each student makes in their education. We understand that the path to a student’s future shouldn’t be blocked due to finances and we pride ourselves on offering financial assistance and scholarships that can support students through their education.

The Criminal Justice Department offers several criminal justice scholarships, including the James L. Maddex, Jr Scholarship, the Judge Andrew A. Mickle Scholarship and the Chris Perrin Memorial Scholarship. Students enrolled at the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies are also eligible for the Andrew Young School Undergraduate Scholarship.

Learn more about the cost of an online bachelor’s degree, or use Georgia State’s Cost Calculator to get an idea of the investment required for your path of study. For information on how to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and to determine eligibility, visit the FAFSA tips page.

Corporate Assistance
Consult your employer about the availability of tuition reimbursement or tuition assistance programs.

Military Assistance
Active duty military, veterans and military families should visit Veterans Educational Benefits to take full advantage of available financial assistance and educational benefits. Download our guide to How to Start Your VA Benefits.

University System of Georgia Tuition Assistance Program (TAP)
The purpose of TAP is to foster the professional growth and development of eligible employees. For more information, see TAP Tuition Assistance.

Criminal Justice Degree Outcomes

The Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology emphasizes issues of crime and justice occurring in urban environments from a multicultural, interdisciplinary perspective to inform science, policy and practice. The department produces students who are critical and ethical thinkers, knowledgeable about the issues of crime and justice, and prepared for leadership positions in public and private criminal justice.