Applied Science - Justice Studies, Bachelor of Applied Science
NAU Yuma
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 (Criminal 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.
Students pursuing a degree in Justice Studies with an emphasis in Criminal 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 Criminal Justice Administration will provide a pathway for moving into a leadership position or a specialty assignment.
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 (If you have been awarded an AAS degree from an accredited Arizona community college, NAU will accept up to 75 transfer units)
- 18 units of BAS 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 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 |
| Additional Admission Requirements | Required |
| Fieldwork Experience/Internship | Optional |
| Accelerated Undergraduate/Graduate Plan | Optional |
| Some online/blended coursework | Required |
| AZ Transfer Students complete AGEC-A | Recommended |
| Progression Plan Link | View Progression Plan |
| Emphasis Required | An emphasis is required for this major. |
Purpose Statement
The BAS 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.
Emphasis in Criminal Justice Administration
The emphasis in Criminal Justice Administration ensures students develop an in-depth knowledge of their areas of interest within the criminal justice system as well as an understanding of the current, critical issues impacting the criminal justice field. This emphasis also helps students use critical thinking to connect theoretical concepts with practical criminal justice situations; a necessary skill for practitioners to succeed in the criminal justice field.
Emphasis in Intelligence Studies
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. In addition, the courses within this emphasis expose students to a variety of contemporary topics in the intelligence field. Upon completion of this course of study, students will have the skills to transition into professional intelligence careers at the local, state or federal level.
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.
Justice Studies Program Learning Outcomes
Core Justice Studies Outcomes
- Effective Writing: Demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively, in writing, by identifying scholarly and credible research and using this information to present logical, written arguments in favor of or in opposition to specific policies.
- Critical Thinking: Thoroughly analyze evidence and research, and logically apply such information when forming arguments and drawing conclusions.
- Application of Theory to Practice: Demonstrate the ability interpret applicable theories and use such theories to address practical issues.
- Ethics: Describe the ethical issues impacting the criminal justice or intelligence fields, and offer logical, well-supported 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: Demonstrate an understanding of the current issues impacting the criminal justice or intelligence field, critically analyze such issues in consideration of the current social and political issues, and propose evidence-based solutions to address such issues.
- Job Opportunities: Demonstrate an understanding of the job opportunities and necessary qualifications for employment in a specific area within the criminal justice or intelligence field, and assess your readiness to pursue employment in at least one area of the field.
- Demonstrate a thorough understanding of an area within the criminal justice field, as well as ability to provide a detailed summary of the current issues impacting this area of criminal justice field.
- Identify and critically analyze intelligence so it can be used to address issues related to crime and/or public or private sector security.
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:
- An associate degree, either completed or in progress, at a regionally accredited institution and the associate degree must be completed prior to the awarding of the BAS degree.
Liberal Studies Requirement
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- 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.
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- Students who have completed the Arizona General Education Curriculum (AGEC) from an Arizona public or tribal community college, the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC), or California State University General Education (CSUGE) from a California public community college are considered to have satisfied NAU’s Liberal Studies Distribution Blocks and Foundation requirements as well as the US Ethnic and Global Diversity requirements.
Transfer Block
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- Students may transfer up to 64 units in an associate degree transfer block. If you have been awarded an AAS degree from an accredited Arizona community college, NAU will accept up to 75 transfer units.
Major Requirements
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This Applied Science Specialization, associated with completing an Associate Degree at a Community College, requires 45 units distributed as follows:
- BAS Requirements: 18 units
- Communication Block: 3 units
- Public Administration and Management Block: 3 units
- Values, Ethics, and Policy Block: 3 units
- Technical, Quantitative, Qaulitative, and Science Block: 3 units
- Electives: 6 units
- Justice Studies Specialization Requirements: 6 units
- Emphasis Requirement - Select one: 21 units
- Criminal Justice Administration
- Intelligence Studies
Take the following 45 units: - BAS Requirements: 18 units
- BAS 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 (300-400 level) courses.
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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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You may use the same course to satisfy both a liberal studies and a BAS Requirement.
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Criminal Justice Studies Specialization (6 units)
- Emphasis Requirement - Select one (21 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.
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This program is available as an Accelerated Undergraduate/Graduate Plan wherein a student may start a master's degree while simultaneously completing their bachelor's degree.