Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences in Criminal Justice Administration
Our two-year, bachelor’s completion degree program in criminal justice administration develops your knowledge, insight and skills to be more effective leaders in your jobs — and communities. This prepares you for career changes, job promotions or graduate school.
Designed for working professionals who already have experience in criminal justice and want to advance their careers, the criminal justice BAAS degree program awards 12 to 33 academic credits for previous professional training in the field, including some military training.
We integrate professional practice with academic research to provide a unique, applied perspective on the criminal justice system. The coursework is available in face-to-face, online, hybrid and accelerated formats for flexibility in earning your bachelor’s degree. You can also specialize in crime analysis with a professional certificate.
What is Criminal Justice?
A bachelor’s degree in criminal justice administration can lead to higher salaries and job promotions for program graduates. It can also provide a direct pathway to graduate school programs, such as Tarleton’s Master’s in Criminal Justice, and career advancement.
Guided by our Advisory Board of criminal justice professionals, we respond to the changing criminal justice system to help meet our students’ academic and professional needs, as well as the needs of your communities.
What Can You Do With Your Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice Administration?
Our criminal justice administration majors graduate with practical knowledge and leadership skills. A criminal justice administration BAAS degree can open up opportunities for career advancement, as well as new job opportunities in a variety of fields, including jobs and careers with law enforcement, the judicial system and law, social services, education and business.
Our graduates are prepared for mid-level jobs in criminal justice administration, such as:
- Law Enforcement Officer
- Correctional Officer
- Security Consultant
- Parole Officer
- Probation Officer
- FBI Agent
- Private Investigator
Estimated Completion
120 credit hours (2-4 years)
*Minimum 30 hours must be done at Tarleton
Application Process
Cost
Locations Available
1Admission to some outreach locations, excluding select programs in Fort Worth, requires a minimum of 24 transferable credit hours, a 2.0 GPA and that a student be TSI complete.
College
School
Many of our graduates choose to earn an advanced degree in law school or graduate studies. The Department of Criminal Justice also offers a Master of Criminal Justice degree and Ph.D. in Criminal Justice for a seamless and direct pathway to a successful, long-term career in criminal justice. Some of our graduates earn a Master of Public Administration degree, also available at Tarleton.
Careers in Criminal Justice Administration
Criminal justice BAAS graduates are highly motivated: 98% of them are employed or planning to attend graduate school.
How Much Do Criminal Justice Administration Graduates Make?
The majority of criminal justice BAAS graduates earn $60,000 or more, with several earning over $100,000.
Why Major in Criminal Justice?
Our small class sizes create an intimate, student-focused learning environment that fosters critical thinking, creativity and technological expertise.
Our curriculum allows you to get involved with academic research that can be applied to real-world issues. Work with faculty and community partners in evaluating and solving problems that impact our local communities. You may also have opportunities to present research with faculty at regional and national conferences.
Study abroad provides first-hand exposure to a variety of criminal justice systems and the issues within them. This experience offers greater knowledge of criminal justice in America by comparison. Most recently, criminal justice administration majors have traveled to Scotland and Prague. You can also study away by traveling within the United States to destinations such as San Francisco and Atlanta.
Program scholarships are available through the Office of Scholarships. Simply fill out the university’s general scholarship application to be considered. The criminal justice school also accepts Texas Peace Officer Tuition Exemption.
What Classes Will You Take as a Criminal Justice Major?
Designed in collaboration with criminal justice field experts, our broad curriculum encompasses a variety of components within the criminal justice system, including law enforcement, homeland security, criminal law and crime analysis. Explore topics in criminal justice supervision and management, community corrections, criminal justice statistics, criminal investigation, forensic science, homeland security, serial killers and more.
View all required classes for the criminal justice administration bachelor’s degree.
Accreditations
How Do You Get Started on Your Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice Administration?
Take the next step toward earning your bachelor’s degree in criminal justice administration. We have the resources to help you get started.
Coursework Highlight
| Class | Number | Class Name |
|---|---|---|
| GEOG | 3312 | Economic Geography |
| BCIS | 3333 | C# Programming |
| GEOG | 3352 | Introduction to Crime Mapping |
| BCIS | 4301 | Database Theory and Practice |
| GEOG | 4450 | Advanced Geographic Information Systems |
| GEOG | 4451 | Applied Remote Sensing |
Accreditations
Credit for Prior Learning (CPL)
- Workforce Hours: The B.A.A.S Criminal Justice will take WECM hours in CJA courses or related in emergency response /management degree
- Certifications: TCOLE Training Hour, This degree is very flexible and allows for any type of military training to be used as well.
- Military Service: Your military experience and training are documented on your joint services transcript (JST) in Busness Related MOS and Training will apply for credit.
- Flexible Learning Options: We offer online and hybrid formats on our Stephenville, Waco and Ft Worth campuses to accommodate your busy schedule.
- Reduced Time to Completion: By leveraging your existing knowledge and skills, you will be able to complete your degree faster and at a lower cost.
- Experienced Faculty: Our instructors are industry professionals who understand the value of real-world experience and can help you connect your learning to your career goals.
- Scholarships: Discover our Career Enrichment Scholarship for a steady, affordable education. The Fixed-Price Degree Scholarship keeps costs constant, covering the difference to ensure your cost will be, at most, $200 per credit hour for five years after you start your degree. Secure your education with confidence.
School of Criminology
School of Criminal Justice, Criminology and Strategic Studies offers five undergraduate and graduate degree programs, as well as a variety of complementary minors, through the departments of Public Administration and Criminal Justice.
With small class sizes, we are student-focused to help you succeed. You will encounter faculty with extensive academic experience, as well as professional experience, such as district, county and federal judges, police chiefs and other law enforcement professionals. Our areas of expertise include comparative criminal justice, crime analysis, criminal law, cybersecurity, family violence, human trafficking, juvenile justice and racial profiling.
Student and professional organizations offer additional educational opportunities, professional development and networking. For example, you can join:
- Tarleton Criminal Justice Society
- Alpha Phi Sigma
- Pre-Law Association
- and more!
Our dedicated research institutes set us apart from other schools and colleges of criminal justice with specialized work that is addressing changing challenges and issues in the criminal justice system.
- Institute for Criminal Justice Leadership and Public Policy
- Institute for Homeland Security, Cybercrime
- Institute for Predictive and Analytical Policing Science
- Institute for Violence Against Women and Human Trafficking
