2013-2014

Interdisciplinary Studies - Criminal Justice, Bachelor of Arts

Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice

College of Social and Behavioral Sciences

This flexible bachelor's degree offers you an opportunity to design a plan of studies, in consultation with an advisor, to meet your individual educational needs. You may choose this degree if you plan to enter an occupation that requires a broad general education, if you are seeking career advancement or personal intellectual enrichment, or if you are considering a preprofessional plan.

This plan will not be available to new students after Summer 2014

  • To receive a bachelor's degree at Northern Arizona University, you must complete at least 120 units of credit that minimally includes a major, the liberal studies requirements, and university requirements as listed below.

    • All of Northern Arizona University's diversity, liberal studies, junior-level writing, and capstone requirements.
    • All requirements for your specific academic plan(s).
    • At least 30 units of upper-division courses, which may include transfer work.
    • At least 30 units of coursework taken through Northern Arizona University, of which at least 18 must be upper-division courses (300-level or above). This requirement is not met by credit-by-exam, retro-credits, transfer coursework, etc.
    • A cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 on all work attempted at Northern Arizona University.

    The full policy can be viewed here.

In addition to University Requirements:

  • At least 61 - 64 units of major requirements including a specialization (21 units); either a concentration, minor, or certificate (15 - 18 units); and interdisciplinary studies requirements which include a language proficiency requirement (25 units)
  • Elective courses, if needed, to reach an overall total of at least 120 units

Students may be able to use some courses to meet more than one requirement. Contact your advisor for details.

Minimum Units for Completion 120
Major GPA C
Highest Mathematics Required MAT 114
Emphasis, Minor, or Certificate Required Required
Foreign Language Required
Fieldwork Experience/Internship Optional
Progression Plan Link Not Available

Liberal Studies Requirement
    • Contact the department of your specialization for information about liberal studies courses that are specific to your major.
    • You may use courses with prefixes in your specialization area to fulfill liberal studies, but you may not use the same course(s) to satisfy your specialization requirements and your liberal studies requirements.
    • You may not use the specific courses in your concentration to satisfy liberal studies requirements.
    • If you do use some courses to meet more than one requirement, you must still meet the total of at least 120 units to graduate. Contact your Interdisciplinary Studies advisor for details.
Major Requirements

  • Take the following 61 - 64 units with a Grade of "C" or better:

    Criminal Justice Specialization (21 units)

    Please note that you may only transfer community college courses into this Specialization that are designated in the Arizona Higher Education Course Equivalency Guide as either Direct Course Equivalencies or as Departmental Elective Credit. To transfer courses from institutions outside Arizona or from Arizona colleges or universities that don't have formal articulation agreements with Northern Arizona University, you must obtain the department chair's approval.

    Also note that you must complete at least 12 of the 21 units through Northern Arizona University's Criminal Justice program.

    Concentration, Minor, or Certificate Requirements (15-18 units)

    • Concentration (15 units)

      Take at least 15 units that include a minimum of 3 units in each of the following blocks:
      • Ethical Reasoning
      • Creative Inquiry
      • Scientific Reasoning
      • Changing Worlds
      • Cultural Perspectives.
      Courses used to satisfy this requirement may not have been used to satisfy any other requirement for this degree.

      At least 9 units must be taken at Northern Arizona University and at least 6 units of the 9 units must be upper-division (300- or 400-level).

    • Minor (18 units)

      You may also fulfill this requirement by completing a minor outside your specialization field, instead of either a concentration or certificate.

      The minor, which will require at least 18 units, must be completed according to the requirements listed in your catalog of graduation. Refer to specific academic areas within this catalog for information about the coursework requirements for specific minors you may be interested in.

      Not all minors are available statewide or online.

    • Certificate (15 units)

      You may also fulfill this requirement by completing a certificate outside your specialization field, instead of either a concentration or a minor.

      The certificate, which will require at least 15 units, must be completed according to the requirements listed in your catalog of graduation. Refer to specific academic areas within this catalog for information about the coursework requirements for specific certificate(s) you may be interested in.

      Not all certificates are available statewide or online.

Interdisciplinary Studies Requirements

  • Computer Literacy (3 units)
    This coursework must help you to understand, in general, the technical components of computers and information systems, how to solve problems using information systems technology, word processing, spreadsheet use, database management, graphic information software, website development, graphic design and use of statistical analysis software. Course(s) must have been taken within 10 years of admission to Northern Arizona University subject to advisor approval. 

  • Communication Courses (6 units)
    You must choose 6 units in the following two categories. At least 3 units of the 6 units must be upper-division.
    • Performance-based courses, select one from the following (3 units):
    • Theory-based courses, select one from the following (3 units):

  • Please note that you cannot use CLEP or locally prepared exams to satisfy this requirement. Transfer credit used to satisfy this requirement must be approved by the program director.

  • Language Requirement (16 units)
    You must demonstrate proficiency in a language other than English that is equivalent to four terms of university coursework in the same language. You may satisfy this requirement by taking language courses or by testing out of all or part of it by taking CLEP, or other exams.

General Electives

  • Additional coursework is required if, after you have met the previously described requirements, you have not yet completed a total of 120 units of credit.

    You may take these remaining courses from any of the academic areas, using these courses to pursue your specific interests and goals. You may also use prerequisites or transfer credits as electives if they weren't used to meet major, minor, or liberal studies requirements.

    We encourage you to consult with your advisor to select the courses that will be most advantageous to you.

Additional Information

  • Be aware that some courses may have prerequisites that you must also successfully complete. For prerequisite information, click on the course or see your advisor.