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Online Criminology Courses

Curriculum Details

  • 13 major courses
  • 39 credit hours in the major
  • 150-hour internship (optional)
  • 8-week terms

Through Benedictine University’s online criminology degree, you’ll gain the ability to think critically about the roots of crime while building social justice competencies, enabling you to become an agent of change in your community. While completing the criminology courses online, you’ll learn from a faculty of experienced researchers and practitioners who offer valuable perspectives and professional connections across the field.

Our criminology curriculum includes seven required courses and six electives in the major. In addition to the online courses in criminology, you can choose to complete a senior thesis or develop hands-on experience through a 150-hour internship. We can assist you in locating internship opportunities, and you may have the option to complete the internship at your current workplace.* If you have the requisite transfer credits, you can finish the major courses in 18 months.

Core Courses

Credits

Fundamental concepts in the scientific study of human society, culture and personality, with special study of the social organization of groups and institutions.

Social and psychological factors related to crime, theories of crime and delinquency, police and court systems and correctional institutions. Students may not earn credit in both CRIM 2321 and SOCL 3321.

An analysis of law, justice, rights, court procedures, and legislation. The development of various concepts of law and individual and group rights.

The nature of prejudice. Studies of ethnic relations in America and other societies. Cross-listed as CJUS 2205/SOCL 2205. Students may not earn credit in both CJUS 2205 and SOCL 2205.

Introduction to qualitative and quantitative research methodologies and nature of scientific inquiry in criminology.

This course provides and in-depth exploration of criminological theories examining the root causes of crime and criminality.

Prerequisite: CRIM 2321

Choose 1 Course

Credits

This internship provides experience in practice in a professional agency under the supervision of a trained practitioner.

Prerequisite: CJUS 4356/CRIM/SOCL/PSYC 3356, consent of internship director prior to the 10th week of the semester preceding the field placement internship and a GPA of 3.0 or greater. 3-6 semester credit hour/s. Course Repeatable. Maximum number of units allowed: 6. Department Consent Required.

Completion of an original research project under faculty supervision, involving either an original survey design, case study, qualitative study, content analysis, or experimental analysis
Prerequisite: CJUS/SOCL/PSYC 4351 and senior status. Students who are double majoring can earn credit in any two of the following courses: CRIM 4395, PSYC 4395, SOCL 4395. Repeatable for up to 6 credits for students double majoring in two of PSYC/SOCL/CJUS/CRIM. Engaged Learning. Course Repeatable. Maximum number of units allowed: 6. Department Consent Required.

Choose 1 Course

Credits

Studies how gender shapes experiences of victimization, participation in criminalized behavior, and interactions with the criminal legal system. Cross-listed as CJUS/CRIM/SOCL 3320. Students may not earn credit in both CRIM 3320 and SOCL 3320.

The effects of the social construction of race, crime and justice. An overview of race relations and social control agencies throughout time. Cross-listed as CJUS/CRIM 3212.

This courses examines theories and practices of justice that go beyond traditional notions (e.g., retributive justice). Students will analyze emerging notions of justice including transitional, restorative, racial, and transformative models.

Requirements for Earning Your Online Criminology Degree

Students must meet these requirements to graduate from the bachelor’s degree in criminology program:

  • A student must earn a minimum of 120 credit hours to be considered for graduation and must maintain a “C” average (2.0) for all Benedictine University coursework.
  • At least 30 credit hours must be completed at Benedictine University, and at least 12 credit hours of the minimum 30 credit hours at Benedictine must be at the 3000 level or above and in the major.
  • At least 54 of the 120 credit hours for graduation must be completed at a four-year regionally accredited college.

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Disclaimer

*Students can complete the internship at their current workplace. Depending on where students work and their assigned job roles, they might need to perform additional tasks outside of their daily responsibilities to fulfill the internship requirements.