Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice

Join the Next Generation of Criminal Justice Leaders

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Want to hear more about the Online BS in Criminal Justice at East Carolina University®?

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Advance Your Criminal Justice Career

Criminal justice is a large and varied field with many opportunities and layers. Some roles require bachelor’s degrees or additional education for advancement. Whether your aim is to promote in rank or newly enter the criminal justice profession, you’ll find that the online Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from East Carolina University can help you achieve your goals while becoming a well-rounded, impactful leader.

As a social sciences degree, the bachelor’s in criminal justice at ECU helps working professionals develop useful skills to better understand the entire criminal justice system. You’ll hear from faculty, guest speakers, and fellow students about their experiences in different areas of the system — prosecution, law enforcement, defense, judicial, and more.

Experienced faculty who’ve done their own impactful work within the system and in their communities teach all our courses, meaning you’ll have the opportunity to learn skills that have been proven in the field. You’ll study a vast array of important topics related to modern criminal justice, including juvenile justice, gender-based violence, crime mapping and community corrections.

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Earn Your Criminal Justice Degree Online at ECU

Criminal justice is an expansive, dynamic field. As a student in our online BS in Criminal Justice program, you’ll be immersed in the foundations of the industry as well as key emerging topics. You’ll have options and the flexibility to choose courses that interest you. Examples of past courses include:

  • Crime analysis
  • Ethics in criminal justice
  • Transnational and global crime
  • Hate crimes
  • Race, gender and special populations in criminal justice
  • Terrorism
  • Comparative criminal justice

Career Options With a BS in Criminal Justice From ECU

Everyone knows that a criminal justice degree offers a clear pathway to a career in law enforcement — but that’s not the only way. Here are some other potential careers you can pursue with a criminal justice degree.*

Criminal Intelligence Analyst

Average Annual Salary: $77,345

Criminal Investigator

Average Annual Salary: $66,976

Police Officer

Average Annual Salary: $60,505

Criminologist

Average Annual Salary: $57,192

Paralegal

Average Annual Salary: $52,947

Crime Scene Investigator

Average Annual Salary: $52,245

Juvenile Court Counselor

First-Year Salary: $45,422

Probation Officer

First-Year Salary: $44,099

Ecu Criminal Justice Tyler Devoid
"If it weren’t for my degree from ECU, I probably wouldn’t have been able to work for the Secret Service. My degree has helped me achieve my dream of being an officer and has opened the doors for me to so many opportunities I wouldn’t have otherwise."
‐ – Tyler DeVoid, BS in Criminal Justice, 2020

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Earn Your Degree Online

Our new online modality offers students across the country access to our community-focused, career-centered criminal justice degree. Our flexible and accessible online learning platform allows you to earn your degree from wherever you want, whenever you want.

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Exceptional Online Education

ECU is proud to offer incredible online experiences for students, and we’ve been recognized for it—Newsweek ranked ECU in the top 10 of America’s Top Online Colleges in 2023.

Why Choose ECU?

Ecu Criminal Justice Princeton Review

In 2022, The Princeton Review ranked us among the Top 387 Colleges and the best college in the Southeastern region.

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We are accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).

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We rank among the top 25% for all schools in the U.S. in the U.S. News & World Report Social Mobility Index.

About ECU

ECU is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACSCOC) and was the first university in North Carolina to offer online degrees. We’ve continued to enhance the online experience ever since. As an established institution in North Carolina, we pride ourselves on offering a student-first, community-centric experience that empowers graduates to complete their online degrees from a reputable institution thatemployers recognize.

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*General labor market and salary data are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Salary and employment outcomes vary by geographic area, previous work experience, education, and opportunities for employment. ECU does not guarantee employment placement, salary level, or career advancement. Additional training and experience may be necessary for leadership positions.