• Associate in Arts degree (AA) with emphasis in Criminal Justice
• Associate of Applied Science degree (AAS) in Criminal Justice

Bismarck State College offers many online courses in the Criminal Justice curriculum, such as Introduction to Criminal Justice, Introduction to Security, Criminal Law, and Introduction to Corrections. Other courses needed for the Associate in Arts degree, such as Fundamentals of Public Speaking and Introduction to Psychology, are also offered online.

Students who successfully complete the suggested criminal justice curriculum at BSC receive an Associate in Arts degree. They are then prepared for transfer into a four-year bachelor's degree program.

Students can choose one or more major concentration areas within criminal justice: law enforcement, corrections, or security. These options provide a broad professional background for students entering these career fields. A working knowledge of the various systems is provided by the criminal justice courses. In addition, students who enroll in various general education courses will develop a broader knowledge base and strengthen their communication and critical thinking skills.

For more information on criminal justice studies at BSC, contact Joe Ellefson, assistant professor of criminal justice at 701-224-5436 or email: Joe.Ellefson@bsc.nodak.edu.

Requirements:

• Satisfy all admissions requirements
• Earn a minimum of 60 semester hours of credit to include the following general education (GE) requirements:  (Classes listed are those offered online.  For a complete list of classes that fulfill these requirements, visit the BSC Catalog.)
  
  

• Communication - 9 semester hours from the following (ENGL 110 and COMM 110 are required):

• ENGL 110: College Composition I (3 semester hours)
  *Placement scores required. 
• COMM 110: Fundamentals of Public Speaking (3 semester hours)
• ENGL 120: College Composition II (3 semester hours)
  *Prerequisite: ENGL 110
• ENGL 125: Intro to Professional Writing (3 semester hours)
  *Prerequisite: ENGL 110

• Arts and Humanities - 9 semester hours with no more than 3 hours of Fine Arts Activities:

• HIST 243: Special Topics (3 semester hours)
• PHIL 210: Ethics (3 semester hours)

• Social and Behavioral Sciences - 9 semester hours

• PSYC 111: Intro to Psychology (3 semester hours)
• SOC 110: Intro to Sociology (3 semester hours)
• SOC 115: Social Problems (3 semester hours)
  *Prerequisite: SOC 110
  

• Math, Science, and Technology - 9 semester hours with at least 4 hours of lab science and 3 hours of mathematics.

• CSCI 101: Intro to Computers (3 semester hours)
• BIO111: Concepts of Biology (3 semester hours)
• BIO 1111: Concepts of Biology lab (1 semester hour)
  *Students must enroll in both lecture and lab unless approval is granted by department chair
• MATH 103: College Algebra (4 semester hours)
  *Assessment scores required.
• MATH 146: Applied Calculus I (3 semester hours) *Prerequisite: Math 102 or 103, Math 103 strongly recommended.
• MATH 210: Elementary Statistics (3 semester hours)
  *Prerequisite: Math 102 or equivalent.

• Enrichment - 2 semester hours

• PSYC 105: Relationships and Self-esteem (2 semester hours)

• Earn at least 24 semester hours of institutional credit from Bismarck State College
• Achieve a minimum of 2.00 grade point average (C average) in at least 60 semester hours, including a 2.00 grade point average (C average) in all credits from Bismarck State College.
• Clear all college obligations.
• File an Application for Graduation in the Registrar's Office at the beginning of the semester/term in which the student expects to complete requirements for graduation.

The balance of your 60 credits necessary for graduation can be chosen from the General Education classes offered online, specifically those in your area of concentration (Criminal Justice).

The Criminal Justice program leading to an Associate of Applied Science degree is comprised of professional and general education courses and is designed to provide the student with a broad exposure to criminal justice theory and process.

Although the A.A.S. degree is not primarily designed for transfer, many graduates may continue their education at a four-year college or university.  Students considering transfer should research the requirements of a baccalaureate degree programs during their first year at Bismarck State College in order to maximize transfer credits.

For more information on Criminal Justice studies at BSC, contact Joe Ellefson, assistant professor of criminal justice at 701-224-5436 or email: Joe.Ellefson@bsc.nodak.edu.

Requirements:

• Satisfy all admissions requirements
• Earn a minimum of 60 semester hours of credit to include the following general education (GE) requirements:  (Classes listed are those offered online.  For a complete list of classes that fulfill these requirements, visit the BSC Catalog.)
  
  

• Communication - 6 semester hours from the following (ENGL 110 is required):

• ENGL 110: College Composition I (3 semester hours)
  *Placement scores required. 
• COMM 110: Fundamentals of Public Speaking (3 semester hours)
• ENGL 120: College Composition II (3 semester hours)
  *Prerequisite: ENGL 110
• ENGL 125: Intro to Professional Writing (3 semester hours)
  *Prerequisite: ENGL 110

• Arts and Humanities/Social and Behavioral Sciences  - 3 semester hours:

• Math, Science, and Technology - 6 semester hours.

Program Requirements:

• CJ201: Introduction to Criminal Justice (3 semester hours)
• CJ220: Criminal Law (3 semester hours)
• CJ232: Administration of Justice (3 semester hours)
• CJ235: Field Experience and Internship (3 semester hours)
• SOC 110: Introduction to Sociology (3 semester hours) OR SOC 115:Social Problems (3 semester hours)
• SOC 252: Criminology (3 semester hours)
• PHIL 210: Ethics (3 semester hours)

Electives

• Students choose from any 12 semester hours of electives

Law Enforcement Option

• CJ 210: Introduction to Policing (3 semester hours)
• CJ223: Police Administration (3 semester hours)
• CJ226: Criminal Investigation (3 semester hours)
• CJ231: Criminal Evidence and Procedure (3 semester hours)

Community Support Option

• CJ253:Juvenile Delinquency (3 semester hours)
• CJ 254:Juvenile Justice System (3 semester hours)
• CJ270:Introduction to Corrections (3 semester hours)
• CJ271:Community Based Corrections (3 semester hours)

• Earn at least 24 semester hours of institutional credit from Bismarck State College
• Achieve a minimum of 2.00 grade point average (C average) in at least 60 semester hours, including a 2.00 grade point average (C average) in all credits from Bismarck State College.
• Clear all college obligations.
• File an Application for Graduation in the Registrar's Office at the beginning of the semester/term in which the student expects to complete requirements for graduation.