Degree Concentrations

Concentration Requirements

Students in the B.S. in Criminal Justice can pursue concentrations in two areas of their choice. This provides students  the opportunity to expand their general knowledge beyond the core aspects of the program. We offer concentrations in Forensic Science, Juvenile Justice, Homeland Security, and Generalist. All concentrations are 18 credit hours. 

Forensic Science Concentration

The Forensic Science concentration is a good fit for those students who desire to pursue a career in law enforcement, crime scene processing, or for those who wish to enroll in a post-baccalaureate degree program in Forensic Science, Forensic Chemistry, or another related area. This concentration houses the most applied Criminal Justice courses that the program offers.

Juvenile Justice Concentration

The Juvenile Justice concentration is a strong choice for those Criminal Justice students who desire to pursue a career working with victims of domestic violence, in social work, juvenile corrections, or for those who desire to go to law school. For those students who desire to go to law school, we recommend pairing the Juvenile Justice concentration with a Pre-Law minor, as both areas provide students with a substantive legal background.

Homeland Security Concentration

The Homeland Security concentration is a strong choice for those students who wish to pursue a career in law enforcement, or who seek a post-baccalaureate degree program in Terrorism Studies or Homeland Security. This concentration houses the courses with the most problem-solving requirements. In the majority of these courses, students will have to work collaboratively to find solutions to real-world, and hypothetical events, and implement proposals in which students must present their actions plans regarding the events in question.

Generalist Concentration

The Generalist Concentration is for those Criminal Justice majors who are unsure about which area to specialize in. This concentration allows for students to pick and choose which courses are of interest to them. Students may not include courses from the lower- or upper-division required core courses, and are not permitted to count any course twice. For example, if the student also chooses to complete a Juvenile Justice concentration, then the courses they choose for the Generalist Concentration must come from the Homeland Security and Forensic Science concentrations. If students elect to complete the Generalist concentration with an outside minor, then they may elect to enroll in courses from all three concentrations.