Applied Science - Justice Studies, Bachelor of Applied Science
Public Administration and Justice Studies
Online & Education Innovation &
Provost Office
The courses offered in the Justice Studies program are designed to provide students with a solid theoretical foundation from which they can address current issues facing the criminal justice field. The skills focused on in the different emphasis areas (Justice Administration or Intelligence Studies) have been purposefully selected to enable students to succeed as a criminal justice practitioner and leader, enhance employment and career opportunities, and for those in the Intelligence Studies emphasis, prepare students to work in the intelligence field.
Emphasis in Justice Administration:
Students pursuing a degree in Justice Studies with an emphasis in Justice Administration will be prepared to enter a career in the criminal justice field and pursue a variety of assignments. For those currently working in the criminal justice field, an emphasis in Justice Administration will provide a pathway for moving into a leadership position or a specialty assignment.
Emphasis in Intelligence Studies:
Students pursuing a degree in Justice Studies with an emphasis in Intelligence Studies will be prepared to enter a career in the criminal justice field and work in the intelligence and homeland security areas. For those currently working in the criminal justice field, an emphasis in Intelligence Studies will provide a pathway for moving into intelligence-led policing, leading intelligence groups or other intelligence-related assignments within the criminal justice field.
- Available Emphasis Areas:
- Intelligence Studies - Emphasis (ending Summer 2025)
- Criminal Justice Administration - Emphasis (ending Summer 2025)
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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:
- 64 units in an associate degree transfer block (students with an A.A.S from an Arizona community college may transfer up to 75 units)
- 18 units of B.A.S. Requirements
- 27 units of Justice Studies Specialization Requirements
- Up to 9 units of specialization prefix courses may be used to satisfy Liberal Studies requirements; these same courses may also be used to satisfy specialization requirements.
- Elective courses, if needed, to reach an overall total of at least 120 unit
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 |
Fieldwork Experience/Internship | Optional |
Some online/blended coursework | Required |
AZ Transfer Students complete AGEC-A | Recommended |
Progression Plan Link | View Progression Plan |
Purpose Statement
The Bachelor’s in Justice Studies provides online and distance-learning students with a professional, criminal justice-focused education that prepares students to ethically work and lead in the fields of criminal justice and intelligence studies.
To help students reach their education and career goals, all Justice Studies faculty members have advanced degrees and extensive experience in the criminal justice or intelligence fields, specializing in areas, such as, criminal justice investigations, police leadership, community policing, drug investigations, federal law enforcement, corrections, intelligence-led policing, military intelligence, cyber crime, and the law.
Students complete core courses in ethics, leadership, criminal justice, criminology, the justice system and effective writing. They then move on to tailoring their degree to their individual interests by selecting elective courses in criminal justice administration or intelligence studies.
The emphasis in criminal justice administration ensures students develop an in-depth knowledge of their areas of interest within the criminal justice system, such as juvenile justice, mentally ill offenders, employment law, forensics and crime control. This emphasis also helps students use critical thinking to connect theoretical concepts with practical criminal justice situations; a necessary skill for success in the criminal justice field.
The emphasis in intelligence studies focuses on preparing students to identify, analyze and disseminate intelligence information for the purpose of investigating all forms of criminal activity, including terrorism. To ensure students are prepared to work in the current environment, courses also expose students to a variety of contemporary topics in the intelligence field, such as the promotion of terrorist ideologies through social media, the psychology of terrorism and counterintelligence strategies.
In addition to working in the criminal justice field, many graduates choose to build upon their critical thinking, criminal justice and leadership courses by pursuing advanced degrees in criminal justice, leadership or the law.
Student Learning Outcomes
- Effective Writing: Demonstrate the ability to identify scholarly and credible research, and use this information to present logical, written arguments in favor of or in opposition to a position.
- Critical Thinking: Demonstrate the ability to assess scholarly theories and credible research, and to use this assessment to analyze practical criminal justice or intelligence issues.
- Understanding of the Criminal Justice System: Demonstrate an understanding of the criminal justice system.
- Understanding of Criminological Theories: Demonstrate an understanding of criminological theories.
- Ethics: Explain the current ethical issues impacting the criminal justice or intelligence field, and offer theory-based solutions for addressing such issues.
- Leadership: Demonstrate the ability to use leadership theories to address practical situations in the criminal justice or intelligence field.
- Current Issues Impacting the Criminal Justice or Intelligence Field: Demonstrate an understanding of the current issues impacting the criminal justice or intelligence field.
- Job Opportunities in the Criminal Justice or Intelligence Field: Demonstrate an understanding of the job opportunities and necessary qualifications for employment in the criminal justice or intelligence field.
- In-Depth Knowledge of a Specific Justice Field: Demonstrate an in-depth understanding of a specific field within the justice system (e.g., juvenile justice, mentally ill offenders, employment law, forensics)
Students pursuing an Emphasis in Intelligence Studies will be able to:
- Identify and Analyze Intelligence: Demonstrate an understanding of how intelligence is used to investigate criminal activity, including terrorism.
Additional Admission Requirements
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Individual program admission requirements over and above admission to NAU are required.
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To be admitted into the Bachelor of Applied Science in Justice Studies you must have:
Liberal Studies Requirement
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- Please note that you may use the same course to satisfy both a liberal studies and a BAS Requirement.
- Up to 9 units of major prefix courses may be used to satisfy Liberal Studies requirements; these same courses may also be used to satisfy major requirements.
- Students with a completed AGEC from Arizona Community Colleges will have met the 35 units of liberal studies requirements.
- Students with a completed IGETC from California Community Colleges will have met the 35 units of liberal studies requirements.
Associate Degree Transfer Block
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- 64 units in an associate's degree transfer block (If you have been awarded an AAS degree from an Arizona Community College, NAU will accept up to 75 transfer units.)
Major Requirements
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B.A.S. Requirements (18 units)
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This coursework is designed to help you acquire a general knowledge of management, organizational, and policy issues while advancing your professional communication, computer, and quantitative skills. Some departments may require that you take specific courses from the BAS requirements or may place other restrictions on the courses that the department requires. Please see departmental requirements for specific information. Other courses may be used to fulfill the BAS elective requirements. At least 15 units in the core must be upper-division (300- or 400-level) courses.
- Communication Block (3 units)
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Public Administration and Management Block (3 units)
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Values, Ethics, and Policy Block (3 units)
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Technical, Quantitative, Qualitative and Science Block (3 units)
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Please note you may use the same course to satisfy both a liberal studies and a B.A.S. Requirement.
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Criminal Justice Studies Specialization (27 units)
- Select one Emphasis in Criminal Justice Administration or Intelligence Studies (21 units)
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Criminal Justice Administration Emphasis (21 units):
Select three from the Criminal Justice Practice Courses (9 units)AND
Criminal Justice Practice (15 units)
Select two from Criminal Justice Theory courses (6 units)
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OR
Intelligence Studies Emphasis (21 units)Select four courses from the following (12 units):
General Electives
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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
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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.