ECU Online: Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Flight Path Program

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Bring Your Criminal Justice Career Into Focus

Criminal justice professionals don’t just work—they serve. At East Carolina University®, we prepare you to advance your career and your impact with a flexible online Bachelor of Science (BS) in Criminal Justice, a Flight Path Program that fits into your life.

We’re dedicated to helping you finish your degree with hands-on learning opportunities that tackle key issues such as injustice in the criminal justice system. You’ll gain the skills today’s employers need to cultivate a safer and stronger society for everyone, all while making a leap in your own career.

Are you ready to complete your online bachelor’s degree in criminal justice? It’s time to experience ECU Online: Flight Path Programs.

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What You’ll Learn

The ECU Online: BS in Criminal Justice Flight Path Program is designed to give you a real-world skill set that leads to employment. During your time in the program, you’ll engage with key topics such as:

  • Applying evidence-based research into practice
  • Crime and criminality
  • Correctional systems
  • Principles of criminal law
  • Race, gender, and special populations in the criminal justice system
  • Issues and problems in criminal justice

Is Criminal Justice a Good Major?

When you earn an online BS in Criminal Justice from ECU, you’ll be prepared to pursue any of a wide range of professional opportunities. These roles span law enforcement, intelligence, corrections, and the legal system, meaning you can decide how you want to apply your degree to meet your professional goals.

The job outlook for these professions is promising. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects there will be around 85,600 job openings in legal occupations and around 419,300 openings in protective service roles each year through 2033. During that same time, about 63,000 job openings are expected to be available each year for police officers and detectives, and about 7,400 job openings for probation officers and correctional treatment specialists.

While some criminal justice positions don’t require a bachelor’s degree, a criminal justice degree may yield a higher salary in those roles. For example, police departments—including those in North Carolina cities—sometimes offer incentive pay or stipends for candidates with a higher education degree, such as a bachelor’s. A degree can also open the door to more specialized roles and promotions within an agency, such as the rank of Sergeant, leading to higher salaries.

Career Outcomes With a Criminal Justice Degree

A BS in Criminal Justice can prepare you for various career outcomes and advancement opportunities. Our graduates go on to work in positions such as:*

Intelligence Analyst

Median Annual Salary: $82,573

Criminal Investigator

Median Annual Salary: $71,828

Police Officer

Median Annual Salary: $63,633

Criminologist

Median Annual Salary: $56,345

Paralegal

Median Annual Salary: $56,284

Crime Scene Investigator

Median Annual Salary: $56,193

Juvenile Court Counselor

Median Annual Salary: $42,555

Probation Officer

Median Annual Salary: $55,534

Curriculum & Courses

Criminal justice is a widely applicable and important major that requires strong communication and people skills, which we foster in our curriculum. The Flight Path BS degree requires 120 total credit hours.

Keep in mind that as a degree completion program, we accept transfer credits, which may significantly reduce your required hours to graduate. The required criminal justice courses include the following:

General education requirements - 40 credit hours

For information about courses that carry general education credit, view the General Education Program section.

Required Core Criminal Justice Courses - 18 credit hours

CRIM 1000 - Introduction to Criminal Justice
CRIM 2004 - Crime and Criminality
CRIM 3700 - Special Populations in the Criminal Justice System
CRIM 3800 - Research Methods in Criminal Justice
CRIM 3900 - Introductory Statistics for Criminal Justice
CRIM 4500 - Issues and Problems in Criminal Justice*

Criminology Courses - 6 credit hours

CRIM 3003 - Drugs and Crime
CRIM 3400 - Introduction to Victimology
CRIM 3525 - Media and Crime
CRIM 3605 - White-Collar Crime
CRIM 4005 - Organized Crime
CRIM 4615 - Terrorism and Criminal Justice
CRIM 4620 - Transnational and Global Crime
CRIM 4625 - Crime and Health

Justice System Courses - 6 credit hours

CRIM 2009 - Corrections in the United States
CRIM 2012 - Police and Society
CRIM 3007 - Criminal Investigation
CRIM 3112 - Advanced Seminar in Law Enforcement
CRIM 3200 - Juvenile Justice System
CRIM 3503 - Courts and Judicial Process
CRIM 3620 - Homeland Security
CRIM 4006 - Community Corrections

Writing Intensive Course - 3 credit hours

CRIM 3501 - Criminal Procedure
CRIM 3502 - Legal Aspects of Corrections
CRIM 4300 - Criminal Justice Organizational Roles and Leadership

Criminal Justice Courses (above 2999) – 18 credit hours

Choose from the below courses or Criminology, Justice System, or Writing courses:

Crime analysis

CRIM 3150 - Introduction to Crime Analysis
CRIM 4150 - Introduction to Crime Mapping
CRIM 4250 - Applied Crime Analysis

Diversity

CRIM 4602 - Gender-Based Violence
CRIM 4605 - Hate Crime

Forensic science

CRIM 3020 - Introduction to Forensic Science
CRIM 3022 - Crime Scene Investigation
CRIM 3023 - Forensic Impressions and Markings

General criminal justice electives

CRIM 3006 - Security Systems
CRIM 3101 - Conflict Management
CRIM 3102 - Interviewing in Criminal Justice
CRIM 3500 - Principles of Criminal Law
CRIM 4000 - Comparative Criminal Justice
CRIM 4004 - Criminal Justice History
CRIM 4330 - Field Education and Seminar I
CRIM 4450 - Accountability and Ethics in Criminal Justice
CRIM 4600 - Special Topics in Criminal Justice
CRIM 4660 - Field Education and Seminar II
CRIM 4990 - Field Education and Seminar III

Minor and/or general electives to complete graduation requirements – 29 credit hours

If a student decides to select a minor to satisfy this requirement and the minor does not require a total of 29 semester hours, the student will be required to complete the minor and additional general electives. If a student decides not to select a minor to satisfy this requirement, the student will be required to complete 29 semester hours of general electives.
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"Our mission is to educate the next generation of criminal justice leaders. We look at the roles our students are pursuing, then give them the tools they need to be successful in the workforce."
‐ Dr Heidi S. Bonner, Criminal Justice and Criminology Department Chair

Tuition and Financial Aid

$398 per credit hour plus fees*

*$477 per credit hour plus fees for out-of-state students; tuition subject to change

Active-duty military tuition rate with waiver is $250 per credit hour plus applicable fees.

Availability is limited each term

120 CREDIT HOURS*

*Transfer credits may reduce number of hours.

ECU Online: Flight Path Programs tuition for in-state students is just $398 per credit hour plus fees. For out-of-state students, the tuition is $477 per credit hour plus fees. Active-duty military service members are eligible to receive a waiver that brings the tuition balance down to $250 per credit hour for select programs, with a maximum benefit of $4,500 per year.* With transfer credits and financial aid, your bachelor’s degree is within reach.

*Military tuition assistance does not cover books, technology fees, or other course-related fees.

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EXPERIENCED FACULTY

Expert faculty with proven experience in the field pass on real-world knowledge that can be immediately applied in your career.

CREATE YOUR OWN PATH

Our highly customizable curriculum allows you to choose classes that pique your interest and align with your career goals.

TRANSFER-FRIENDLY

You can transfer credits from coursework you’ve already completed and fast-track your path to a criminal justice degree.

BEYOND ACADEMICS

Our focus on individualized attention, student support, and career services ensures that you leave not only with academic proficiency but the tools for advancement.

TOP RANKED

ECU was ranked in the top 10 of America’s Top Online Colleges 2023 by Newsweek, meaning that you’ll graduate with a degree respected by employers nationwide.

COMMUNITY CONNECTION

ECU is more than a university—it’s a community. Even as an online student, you’ll benefit from a powerful network of peers and faculty who truly care about your success.

The next class start date is approaching. Don’t wait to apply!

Electives and Internships to Focus Your Learning

The BS in Criminal Justice includes a broad range of electives so you can tailor your educational journey to your field of interest. Plus, you’ll have the option to engage in an internship or field experience of your choosing to earn credit and expand your resume.

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Admissions

Online undergraduate students are required to have a minimum of 24 hours of transferable credits for admission. Students are evaluated under the transfer applicant criteria below:

  • A minimum of 24 hours of transferable college-level coursework (complete or in progress).
    • Only courses with a grade of “C-” or higher from regionally accredited institutions are eligible to transfer and can be used to gain admission.
    • Students under the age of 21 will also be expected to meet NC High School Minimum Course Requirements and are required to submit a final high school transcript.
  • A minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA for all college-level coursework attempted.

Undergraduate Students Application Materials

  • A completed online application .
  • All official transcripts from each college, technical institute, or university attended, if applicable. Send transcripts to:

    Office of Undergraduate Admissions
    Mail Stop 517
    East Carolina University
    Greenville, NC 27858-435

    We also accept electronic transcripts from most transcript services. Please request to have them sent directly to transfer@ecu.edu .

Residency Determination

The Residency Determination Service (RDS) has been established by the North Carolina State Legislature as the centralized service for determining residency for students. If you are a student applying for admission and claiming in-state residency for tuition purposes, you must visit NCresidency.org NCresidency.org to verify your residency.

If you’ve already completed the residency verification process and obtained your Residency Certification Number (RCN), you can enter your RCN when filling out our application. If you do not already have your RCN, you may submit your application and then come back and enter your RCN once you have it.

For more information, visit the Office of the Registrar’s Residency page , or contact RDS at 1-844-319-3640 or rdsinfo@ncresidency.org .

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many credits are generally required to complete an ECU Online: Flight Path Program?

For most programs, 120 total credit hours are required to graduate. This includes transfer credits and credits you earn at ECU.

Can I transfer credits from other institutions to online Flight Path Program?

Yes. 24 transferable credits are required to apply.

Are ECU Online: Flight Path Programs accredited?

Yes. East Carolina University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral degrees. Learn more about accreditation .

What financial aid resources are available for students enrolled in ECU Online: Flight Path Programs?

ECU online program tuition for in-state students starts at just $398 per credit hour plus fees. For out-of-state students, the tuition starts at $477 per credit hour plus fees. Active-duty military service members are eligible to receive a waiver that brings the tuition balance down to $250/credit hour for select programs, with a maximum benefit of $4,500 per year. Military tuition assistance does not cover books, technology fees, or other course-related fees. The military rate of $250 per credit hour is only applicable to the BS in Criminal Justice and BS in Security Studies programs. Please note that tuition is subject to change. Learn more about financial aid opportunities .

About ECU Online: Flight Path Programs

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 that employers recognize.

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*General labor market and salary data are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and Payscale. 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.