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School of Criminology and Criminal Justice
School of Criminology and Criminal Justice

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Bachelor of Science in Criminology and Criminal Justice

Degree Requirements

The Bachelor of Science in Criminology and Criminal Justice (BSCCJ) degree requires the completion of 125 credit hours with an overall grade point average (GPA) of 2.0. The first 45 hours of course work is defined as the Preprogram Curriculum. Criminology and criminal Justice course work is offered on both the Omaha and Lincoln campuses of the University of Nebraska. The BSCCJ degree can be earned in its entirety on the Lincoln campus; however, the degree is conferred by the University of Nebraska at Omaha. All of the school policies and requirements applicable to students seeking the BSCCJ degree are the same on both campuses.

Preprogram Curriculum. Students who declare Criminology and Criminal Justice as their major must complete all of the 45 hour Preprogram Curriculum with an overall GPA of 2.5 and no grade lower than "C-" in their criminology and criminal justice courses. These courses include:

ENGL1150 or ENGL1154, and ENGL1160 or ENGL1164 (6 hours)
MATH1310 Intermediate Algebra or higher (3 hours)
CRCJ1010 Survey of Criminal Justice (3 hours)
CRCJ2030 Police and Society, CRCJ2110 Survey of Criminal Courts, or CRCJ2210 Survey of Corrections - (6 hours - must complete 2 of the 3 courses)
CRCJ2510 Criminal Justice Research Methods (3 hours)
General Education Requirements (24 hours - Social Sciences, Humanities, Natural Sciences)

Students seeking entrance into the Upper-division Criminology and Criminal Justice Program must submit an application to the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice. Students may apply with fewer than 45 hours if they are enrolled for the remaining hours during the semester in which they make application. In such cases, students may be granted admission contingent upon completion of the hours with a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 and no grade lower than a "C-" in their criminology and criminal justice courses.

Students wishing to transfer from another institution or department within the University of Nebraska must have a 2.5 cumulative grade point average. Students wishing to transfer are encouraged to contact the Academic Advisor for the School for more details on the transfer policy or consult the current undergraduate catalog.

The policies set out above are intended to apply to all students who seek admission to the Upper-division Criminology and Criminal Justice Program. For good cause shown, the School Director has the discretion to make exceptions to the admission policy.

Students are required to fulfill program requirements in effect during the academic year they are admitted to the Criminology and Criminal Justice Program.

General Education Requirements

Students starting to UNO Prior to Fall 2011

Students starting at UNO in Fall 2011 or later

Program Information

Cultural Diversity Requirement:

  • For students starting at UNO prior to Fall 2011:
    • Each student must complete 6 credit hours of cultural diversity courses - one course must have a U.S. racial or Hispanic minority group focus (listed as specific). CJUS3380 Minorities and Criminal Justice, meets 3 hours of this requirement. The remaining 3 hours can be satisfied with another 3 hour course in minority studies, women’s studies, or course work with an international or foreign focus. CJUS3390 Women, Crime and Justice, CJUS4760 Terrorism, and CJUS4710 Comparative Criminal Justice Systems: England, meets 3 hours of this requirement.  Please refer to the UNO Undergraduate Catalog for an approved list of Cultural Diversity courses.
  • For students starting at UNO Fall 2011 or later: http://gened.unomaha.edu/approvedcourses.php

Students must achieve a grade of "C-" or better in each criminology and criminal justice course used as part of the 39-hour requirement (except for CJUS3970 CJ Internship, which is graded satisfactory/unsatisfactory where "credit" is given).

A minimum of 30 of the last 36 hours must be earned by the student in residence in the College of Public Affairs and Community Service at either the Omaha or Lincoln campus.

At least 21 hours of criminology and criminal justice must be taken at the University of Nebraska, at either the Omaha or Lincoln campus.

A minimum of 33 credit hours must be earned in upper division (3000/4000) courses. At least 21 of these upper division hours must be taken in CRCJ 3000/4000 courses.

A maximum of 25 credit hours from non-traditional or non-classroom courses (correspondence, independent study, internet mediated) may be applied toward the BSCCJ degree.

No more than 12 credit hours of independent study courses may be applied toward the BSCCJ degree. Of these, no more than 6 hours can be from UNO and no more than 6 hours can be from another institution.

A maximum of 24 hours may be taken pass/no pass and none of the 39 hours required for the criminology and criminal justice major may be taken pass/no pass (excluding CJUS3970 CJ Internship graded satisfactory/unsatisfactory).

For More Information

For answers to individual questions, please contact one of the Academic Advisors in the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice at (402) 554.2610.