Online Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice

Finish Your Degree at ECU

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 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 and inequity 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 monumental leap in your own career.

Are you ready to complete your degree? It’s time to experience ECU.

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What You’ll Learn

ECU’s online BS in Criminal Justice 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

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:*

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

Median Annual Salary: $52,245

Juvenile Court Counselor

First-Year Salary: $45,422

Probation Officer

First-Year Salary: $44,099

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 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:

Intro Courses (from general education requirements) – 9 credit hours

POLS 1010 - National Government
PSYC 1000 - Introductory Psychology
SOCI 2110 - Introduction to Sociology

Required Core Criminal Justice Courses - 18 credit hours

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

Justice System Courses - 6 credit hours

CRIM 2009 - Correctional Systems
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 Administration and Management

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

Elective Courses (above 2999) - 18 credit hours

(Eligible course lists to be provided)

Major Hours Required - 51

General Electives and/or Minor Hours Required – 29

*CRIM 4500 and 4990 is only offered to students in their graduating semester
Dr Bonner
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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

Per Credit Hour

$386 per credit hour plus fees*

*$463 plus fees for out-of-state students

Credit Hours

120 CREDIT HOURS*

*Transfer credits may reduce number of hours

Financial Aid Assistance Available

FINANCIAL AID ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE

ECU online program tuition for in-state students is just $386 per credit hour plus fees. For out-of-state students, the tuition is $463 per credit hour plus fees. With transfer credits and financial aid, your bachelor’s degree is within reach.

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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.

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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

TRANSFER-FRIENDLY

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

Beyond Academics

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

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

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!

Apply Now

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 .

Apply Now

Frequently Asked Questions

How many credits are generally required to complete an online bachelor’s degree at East Carolina University?

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 an online program at East Carolina University?

Yes. 24 transferable credits are required to apply.

Are online programs at East Carolina University 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 online programs at East Carolina University?

ECU online program tuition for in-state students starts at just $386 per credit hour plus fees. For out-of-state students, the tuition starts at $463 per credit hour plus fees. Learn more about financial aid opportunities .

About ECU Online

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 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.