Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice

Jumpstart or advance your career in law enforcement, corrections and more.

Build a strong understanding of criminology and explore the social, gender and psychological aspects of criminal behavior.

Gain skills in corrections and policing, criminal justice statistics, victimology, juvenile justice, nonverbal communication and more.

Shawnee State's Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice will give you the field experience, career-ready skills and hands-on learning you need to either start your career — or take it to a new level.

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Criminal Justice BA

A bachelor’s degree in criminal justice can lead to rewarding careers in law enforcement and corrections.

View degree requirements in catalog

Shawnee State's Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice degree is also offered fully online through Online Campus.

View Online Degree option

Program News

SSU graduate receiving diploma at commencement ceremony

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Shawnee State University (SSU) ranked among the best colleges in the nation by U.S. News & World Report for the sixth year in a row.

Shawnee State University inaugurates eighth President Eric Andrew Braun

In a celebration held on campus in the Vern Riffe Center for the Arts, President Braun was sworn in by university Board of Trustees Chairperson Scott Evans.

Shawnee State University’s C.H. Lute School of Business receives IACBE Accreditation

The C.H. Lute School of Business at Shawnee State University has received accreditation by the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE), school officials announced.

Freshman Joshua Cummins found relief through SSU’s Free Tuition Program

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Shawnee State University announced it will begin enrolling students into a new Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree program this fall. Classes start August 21, 2023!

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Shawnee State University has been ranked among the top game design programs in the nation, ranking in the Top 15 on the Top 50 Game Design Undergraduate list published by The Princeton Review.

What can I do with this degree?

Criminal Justice Career Examples

Get Started

This degree is coordinated by Dr. Scott Douthat, Professor and Coordinator of Criminal Justice.

For more information please contact Dr. Douthat at (740) 351–3620 or sdouthat@shawnee.edu.

Police Officer

Police officers are responsible for protecting lives and property, enforcing law and order in communities, and investigating crimes.

Correctional Officer

Correctional officers enforce rules and maintain routines at jails, prisons or other correctional facilities.

Probation Officer

Probation officers supervise offenders who have not yet been sentenced for crimes or offenders who have been sentenced to probation or given suspended sentences. The probation officer ensures that the terms of probation are enforced.

Law School Entry

Prospective lawyers must first earn bachelor's degrees related to law or criminal justice before applying to law school. Areas of specialization in law include business law, criminal law, constitutional law, family law and human rights.

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