Beginning fall 2025, this Interdisciplinary Studies - Justice Studies 90-30 degree will be offered as the Criminal Justice Administration 90-30 degree.
This degree provides a criminal justice foundation and then allows for a specialization in criminal justice administration or intelligence studies. By learning from the top practitioners in the field, you will gain first-hand knowledge of popular criminal justice areas, such as juvenile justice, the court system, criminal justice leadership, ethics, forensics, intelligence studies, corrections, terrorism and legal issues for justice administrators.
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 general studies requirements, and university requirements as listed below.
The full policy can be viewed here.
In addition to University Requirements:
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 |
| Foreign Language | Optional |
| 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 |
Purpose Statement
The Interdisciplinary Studies, 90-30 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. The 90-30 degree plan is ideal for students who have completed a number of credit hours at the community college or university level, and are looking to finish their degree in a relatively short amount of time. The program's accelerated course format, as well as course offerings throughout the calendar year, allows students to achieve this goal.
To help students reach their education and career goals, all Justice Studies faculty 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
The coursework 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 coursework 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.
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
This major requires 54 - 55 units distributed as follows:
All coursework in the Specialization Areas must be upper-division and from Northern Arizona University. Substitutions and use of credit from other institutions are not allowed in the Specialization.
Multi-use of coursework is not permitted within the Major Requirements. Major Requirements include Specialization, Communication, Computer Literacy, Language and Science.
Criminal Justice Administration Coursework (21 units)
Communication Requirements (6 units)
Select 3 units from each the following two categories (6 units)
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.
Foreign Language or Science Requirement Option (18 - 19 units)
Foreign Language Requirement Option (19 units)
AND
Science Requirement Option (18 units)
AND
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.
Students enrolled at the Online campus for both undergraduate and graduate programs are eligible to complete the Bachelors in Interdisciplinary Studies - Justice Studies 90-30 and start a Master of Organizational Leadership - Leadership in Criminal Justice Emphasis at NAU.
A total of 6 units will be shared between both plans:
Students accepted into the Accelerated Program should complete the following requirements:
Major Requirements
This major requires 54 - 55 units distributed as follows:
All coursework in the Specialization Areas must be upper-division and from Northern Arizona University. Substitutions and use of credit from other institutions are not allowed in the Specialization.
Multi-use of coursework is not permitted within the Major Requirements. Major Requirements include Specialization, Communication, Computer Literacy, Language and Science.
Take the following 54 - 55 units with a Grade of 'C' or better in each course:
Interdisciplinary Studies Requirements
Communication Requirements (6 units)
Select 3 units from each the following two categories (6 units)
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.
Foreign Language or Science Requirement Option (18 - 19 units)
Foreign Language Requirement Option (19 units)
AND
Science Requirement Option (18 units)
AND
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 General Studies Requirements.
We encourage you to consult with your advisor to select the courses that will be most advantageous to you.
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.
Some courses may have prerequisites. For prerequisite information, click on the course or see your advisor.