The State of Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Degree Programs in the United States: Institutional, Departmental, and Curricula Features

Abstract

Bachelor’s degrees in criminal justice (BCJ) now constitute one of the ten most awarded undergraduate degrees in this country, yet little attention has been paid recently to the institutional, departmental, or curricular aspects of these programs. This study used primary and secondary data collected from the population (N = 670) of US colleges and universities offering BCJ degrees during the 2015–2016 academic year to describe and assess the state of these programs. Results indicated BCJ programs are typically found at relatively small, residential, non-selective, private, sectarian, master’s-level institutions located in urban areas; the programs are housed in smaller departments labeled “criminal justice” located in academic units other than colleges/schools of arts & science; and BCJ curricula vary in total, required, and elective hours for the major, required courses in the major, and do not offer concentrations. Observations about the current state of BCJ programs are made as are recommendations for future research.

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