In today's security-conscious society, the need for trained criminal justice professionals continues to grow. In fact, the U.S. Department of Labor predicts that employment of police officers and law enforcement officers, for example, will grow as fast as the average for all occupations through 2014. Yet competition for high-level positions will remain keen. Candidates with a college degree in criminal justice, relevant professional experience, or both should have the best opportunities.
The AIU Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice (BSCJ) is designed to help students acquire a deeper understanding of criminal and juvenile justice processes, criminology, law enforcement, the courts system and corrections. The primary goal of this program is to prepare students to become qualified criminal justice professionals.
The BSCJ degree program offers several career-relevant concentrations for students who wish to focus their education on a particular area of interest. The concentration in General Criminal Justice is for students who would like a more comprehensive look at the criminal justice field.
Career Opportunities
AIU Houston BSCJ with a concentration in Law Enforcement can help prepare students interested in developing and advancing such interesting, in-demand career opportunities as:
- Police Officer
- DEA Agent
- State Insurance Fraud Investigator
- Homeland Security Agent
- and many others
Challenging, Relevant Coursework
The BSCJ with a concentration in Law Enforcement features industry-relevant coursework taught by faculty members with real-world experience in the field. Key topics addressed in this degree program include the elements of a criminal investigation, relationship between drug use and crime, criminal justice administration, and probation and parole system.
Learning from Experience
The BSCJ with a concentration in Law Enforcement features industry-relevant coursework taught by faculty members with real-world experience in the criminal justice industry. Learning from experienced instructors, you can absorb career-relevant knowledge that can immediately be applied in real-world professional situations. Instructors will cover material including:
- The elements of investigation, including crime scenes, witnesses and evidence, investigative techniques, evidence documentation, interrogation and arrest.
- Issues involving police ethics, police culture, and the public image of police agencies in the media.
- The history and theories of crime prevention and preventative methods employed by police agencies and much more.
Applying Your Knowledge in the Real World
As you progress towards the successful of this Bachelor's program, you should be able to develop career-marketable skills, including how to:
- Demonstrate appropriate knowledge, skills and abilities necessary for a vital career in criminal justice and related professions.
- Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of law enforcement principles, including police organization, discretion, subculture and legal constraints.
- Demonstrate knowledge of corrections and parole, including incarceration, community-based corrections and treatment of offenders, as well as alternatives to traditional parole.
Concentration courses for this program include:
- Community Oriented Policing
- Administration of Criminal Justice
- Criminal Investigation
- Crime Mapping and Analysis
