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 inteigence-related assignments within the criminal justice field.
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 liberal 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 |
| 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 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. This BAS degree plan is intended for students who have completed an associate’s degree (or will have completed an associate’s degree by the time they are graduating with their BAS degree) and allows those students to transfer in courses from their associate’s degree program.
Coursework in the BAS in Justice Studies degree is designed to allow a student to acquire an in-depth knowledge of the criminal justice system, the current ethical issues impacting the field, the ability to apply criminal justice theory to practical issues impacting the field, as well as advancing a student’s professional communication, computer, and quantitative skills.
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. 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 area of interest within the criminal justice system, such as juvenile justice, mentally ill offenders, employment law, community policing, corrections, restorative justice and crime control. This emphasis also guides students to use critical thinking to analyze theoretical concepts for the purpose of solving practical criminal justice issues; a necessary skill for success in the criminal justice field. Upon completion of this course of study, students will have the skills to ethically work and lead within the criminal justice field at the local, state or federal level.
The emphasis in intelligence studies ensures students develop the ability to identify, collect, process, analyze and disseminate intelligence information for investigating all forms of criminal activity, including terrorism. The specialized Intelligence Studies courses are purposefully selected to expose students to a variety of contemporary topics in the intelligence field, such as intelligence-led policing, the intelligence process, the promotion of terrorist ideologies through social media, the psychology of terrorism, and counterintelligence strategies. Upon completion of this course of study, students will have the skills to transition into intelligence community professional careers at the local, state or federal level.
In addition to working in the criminal justice and intelligence fields, many graduates choose to build upon their critical thinking, criminal justice, intelligence, and leadership courses by pursuing advanced degrees in criminal justice, leadership, intelligence, or the law.
Student Learning Outcomes
Individual program admission requirements over and above admission to NAU are required.
To be admitted into the Bachelor of Applied Science in Justice Studies you must have:
B.A.S. Requirements (18 units)
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.
Please note you may use the same course to satisfy both a liberal studies and a B.A.S. Requirement.
Criminal Justice Studies Specialization
Complete the following 27 units with a Grade of "C" or better:
Criminal Justice Administration Emphasis (21 units):
Criminal Justice Practice (15 units)
OR
Intelligence Studies Emphasis (21 units)
Select four courses from the following (12 units):
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.
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.