Columbia College Bachelor's in Criminal Justice Administration
Prepare to help protect and secure people and property with a Bachelor's in Criminal Justice Administration degree from Columbia College.
Residential classes
May
01
next start date
16
week semester
5
year locked-in tuition
Online & night classes
May
01
next start date
8
week sessions
$375
undergraduate tuition
Available program formats: Online: BA.CJAD, BS.CJAD In class: BA.CJAD, BS.CJAD
Prepare for a criminal justice career at Columbia College
Public safety is an important consideration for every community. Balancing the nuances of law, ethics and morality with the complexities of the justice system requires a solid foundation in policing, cultural diversity, crime investigation, judicial process, corrections, law, agency management and more.
At Columbia College, you will develop a comprehensive understanding of criminal justice and the vital role it plays in society. You will also explore key topics in greater depth—including cybercrime, crisis intervention, private security, juvenile justice and constitutional criminal procedures. The program supports your specific career goals while integrating a broader understanding of criminal justice, law and other relevant fields.
Some possible paths include:
- Law enforcement officer
- Corrections officer
- Probation and parole officer
- Juvenile officer
- Investigator
- Paralegal
- Security manager
- Attorney
Prepare for a variety of careers in the criminal-justice field
The Criminal Justice curriculum at Columbia College provides students with the opportunity to acquire knowledge of the roles of policing, courts, laws, and corrections as they contribute to social order. Students will learn how to integrate knowledge and practice in criminal justice, as they develop their ability to achieve the professional goals of criminal justice.
Furthermore, the curriculum provides students with an opportunity to develop the individual and group skills necessary to meet various role expectations. Graduates leave with an appreciation for the complexity and dilemmas associated with the criminal justice profession.
Through both classroom and out of class experiences, this program prepares graduates for work in law enforcement, security, investigation, juvenile services, or corrections. You will be well versed in the procedures and processes used in day-to-day field work, as well as skills like communications, and critical thinking that are crucial for long-term success. The program also provides an excellent foundation for graduate study and law school.
Law enforcement and corrections professionals can transfer work training toward their degree requirements.
Opportunities to study:
- Policing
- Corrections
- Ethics
- Investigation
- Juvenile justice
- Management of criminal justice agencies
- Criminal law and procedure
Columbia College Global offers traditional classroom instruction for many courses at nationwide locations. Students at nationwide locations are expected to engage with multiple learning methods, including online and virtual while completing their degree. Columbia College offers on-campus programs with traditional classroom instruction at the Residential Campus in Columbia, Missouri.
Barry Langford
"[Students will] know how to write and express themselves verbally. They’ll know how to think critically about issues. They’ll be aware of what’s going on currently in the field."
Read about BarryView more faculty profiles
Find your path
Submit this form to get information about applying to Columbia College.
Questions about admissions? Call the main line.
Main line: (573) 875-8700
Want to know more about our programs? Contact the department.
Department phone: 573-875-7484
Office: STC 207
Email: HASS@CCIS.edu
Your degree starts here Take these courses
Available program formats
- Core requirements 48 credit hours
- Total degree requirements 120 credit hours
Some courses you may take
Analysis of punishment in our criminal justice system, with focus on why we punish, and how we punish, all examined within the context of correctional philosophies. History and development of corrections, including relevant theories, practices, systems analysis and treatment modalities. Prerequisite: CJAD 101 and ENGL 133W.
Emphasis on sociological theories concerning the nature, sources, control, and prevention of crime. Topics include current trends in U.S. crime rates; media coverage of crimes; patterns of victimization; characteristics of property crimes, violent crimes, drug crimes, corporate crimes, political crimes and vice. Critical examination of current law enforcement and correctional policies and practices. Prerequisite: junior standing.
Examination of the American juvenile justice system from the perspective of law enforcement, the courts and corrections. Prerequisites: CJAD 101 and Junior standing.
An introduction to the research processes used by political science and public administration. The scope of political science and public administration research and the methods used to address political and policy questions are studied. Cross-listed as POSC 395. Prerequisite: three previous courses in political science or public administration.
- Core requirements 60 credit hours
- Total degree requirements 120 credit hours
Some courses you may take
Examines the basic concepts and elements of substantive criminal law, which defines such crimes as murder, rape, assault, larceny, burglary and robbery. Analysis of inchoate crimes involving attempt, solicitation, and conspiracy. Analysis of general principles of criminal liability, punishment, and the legal limitations of such liability based on self-defense, necessity, entrapment, diminished capacity and insanity. Prerequisites: ENGL 133W and sophomore standing; or enrollment in a certificate program.
Survey of the current crisis intervention literature and introduction to the theories, principles, concepts and techniques of crisis intervention. Upon completion, students should be able to predict who may need crisis intervention services, and demonstrate the provision of first-order crisis intervention. Prerequisite: PSYC 101.
Examination of current issues and social problems relating to the administration of justice in a culturally diverse society. Special focus of the course will be on the changing ethnicity of communities and related changes in social and institutional public policy. Also discussed is cross-cultural communication, implementing cultural awareness training, multicultural representation in law enforcement and criminal justice interaction with various racial and ethnic groups. Strongly recommended as prerequisite for CJAD 345, Ethics and Morality in Criminal Justice. Prerequisites: CJAD 101, ENGL 133W and sophomore standing. Course meets multicultural graduation requirement.
Cybercrime is an interdisciplinary survey of high-technology crime from criminal justice and computer science perspectives from the characterization and theory of cybercrime to the acquisition and preservation of evidence. Cross-listed with CISS 367. Prerequisites/Corequisites: One of CJAD 101,CISS 201,CISS 202,or HSEC 250.