Criminal Justice, BA, BS

Program Description

The Associate of Arts (AA) degree is a general transfer degree and partners well with the first two years of most bachelor degree programs. Students pursuing the AA may select courses that satisfy both the AA degree requirements and lower division requirements for a bachelor’s degree at four-year institutions. The elective hours within the AA allow students to complete additional general education and lower division courses required for specific majors. The AA degree requires completion of 60 credit hours. Meeting with a JCCC counselor is strongly recommended for selection of appropriate courses. 

KU offers two-degree options for Criminal Justice a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Sciences. Both degrees are available online or at the Lawrence Campus and may be started in any term including summer.  A 12-hour concentration is required with both degrees, and students can select that concentration after enrolling at KU. 

Concentrations include:

• Crime and Intelligence Analysis
• Crime Scene Investigation
• Critical Criminology
• Global Crime
• Inclusive Criminal Justice Populations
• Law and Society
• Leadership and Ethics in Public Service

Admissions Requirements

The following admission requirement applies to both degree options:

• Applicants are assured admission with 24+ transferable credit hours with a GPA of 2.5. Only transfer grades of “C-” or higher will count towards KU degree requirements. All grades count in the transferable GPA used for admission decisions. Apply at KU Admissions by selecting the Transfer application and selecting Online or Lawrence Campus.

Graduation Requirements

• The minimum total hours for graduation is 120. A maximum of 75 hours may be transferred to KU from community colleges. Students should be aware that 45 junior/senior credit hours are required for completion of the bachelor’s degree; 30 of those hours must be at KU; and community college courses do not transfer as junior/senior hours.

KU Core 34 Requirements 

• Students transferring to KU, that complete the General Education requirements required for the Associate of Arts (AA), Associate of Fine Arts (AFA) or Associate of Science (AS) degree from JCCC will be considered to have satisfied KU’s Core 34 general education curriculum.
• Students who transfer to KU, without completing the General Education requirements required for the Associate of Arts (AA), Associate of Fine Arts (AFA) or Associate of Science (AS) degree will have courses evaluated on a course-by-course basis toward meeting KU requirements. To learn more about courses that satisfy KU Core 34 Requirements and KU CredTran.
• Visit the KU Core 34 General Education guide for JCCC equivalents.