Understand Crime Through a Psychology-Informed Lens
The online B.A. Criminology prepares you to understand crime, victimization, and the justice system through a multidisciplinary, psychology-informed approach. You’ll examine why crime occurs, how victimization affects individuals and communities, and how research can help prevent crime and improve the justice system.
What sets The Chicago School’s criminology program apart is its strong connection to psychology. Along with studying criminal justice systems and practices, you’ll explore the human behavior, mental health influences, and social and environmental factors that can contribute to crime and victimization. This broader perspective can help you better understand the people and circumstances behind criminal behavior, not just how the justice system responds to it.
You can tailor your education to your interests and future goals through several academic pathways:
- Criminology Generalist Track: Explore a wider range of criminal justice and psychology electives based on your interests, from criminal investigations and profiling to abnormal psychology. The Generalist Track offers the greatest flexibility in your elective choices.
- Forensic Psychology Specialization: Focus your studies on forensic psychology while beginning master’s-level coursework that can apply toward an M.A. Applied Forensic Psychology or M.A. Forensic Psychology: Professional Counselor Licensure.
- Public Health Specialization: Build focused preparation in public health while earning undergraduate credits that can apply toward a Master of Public Health.
- Clinical Mental Health Counseling Pathway: Follow an early-acceptance pathway that prepares you to transition into the M.A. Clinical Mental Health Counseling program.
Depending on the pathway you choose, eligible coursework completed during your bachelor’s degree can help reduce the time and cost of graduate study.
Christopher Zaleski, J.D.
Admissions Requirements
- Completed application and $50 application fee
- Applicants must provide proof of the qualifying conferral—high school graduation (or the equivalent) or proof of an earned associate degree.
- A GPA of 2.3 or above is required for admission.
- For those who have a GPA lower than 2.3, applicants may submit the following materials for additional consideration:
- Curriculum vitae or resume
- One letter of recommendation
- A college essay
Send materials to:
Admissions Operations
c/o The Chicago School
400 S. Jefferson St., Suite 2500
Chicago, IL 60607
For electronic delivery, send to [email protected].
Licensure
For information on whether a program at The Chicago School meets or does not meet licensure eligibility requirements for the state in which you wish to be licensed, please visit our licensure disclosures page.
Capstone
The capstone course for undergraduate criminology students will focus on incorporating problems and issues in the field of Criminology with research on how to solve those concerns. Through a review of current criminological literature and creation of a research question on a topic of interest, students will integrate and apply learning from their undergraduate courses into a comprehensive presentation to an intended audience of co-workers and leaders of a criminal justice agency to persuade the adoption of a technology-based solution. The capstone project is intended to have students demonstrate skills in research, critical thinking, and communication.
Sample Courses
The B.A. Criminology curriculum is based on Academic Quality Standards established by the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences (ACJS), with coursework spanning areas such as criminological theory, law enforcement, corrections, law adjudication, and research and analytic methods. Explore a few sample courses below:
Criminological Theories
This course encompasses the advanced study and critical evaluation of theories related to the cause of crime. These include theories rooted in biology, psychology, economics, and sociological perspectives.
Criminal Law
This course provides a comprehensive introduction to the principles of criminal law. Students will explore the fundamental elements of crime, including actus reus (guilty act), mens rea (guilty mind), causation, and concurrence. Key areas of substantive criminal law will be examined, such as homicide, assault, theft, sexual offenses, inchoate crimes (attempt, conspiracy), and defenses to criminal liability (insanity, self-defense, duress). In addition, the course will cover key constitutional protections afforded to criminal defendants, including the Fourth Amendment (search and seizure), the Fifth Amendment (self-incrimination, due process), and the Sixth Amendment (right to counsel).
Restorative Justice and Practices
Restorative justice is a global social movement with applications ranging from K-12, higher education, business, communities, and criminal justice. This course introduces the philosophy and practices of restorative justice, explaining how and why it works to facilitate healing and reconciliation through a psychological lens. This course is designed for students who wish to enhance their communication and interpersonal skills in conflict resolution, promoting social justice, and contributing to a more equitable society.
Criminal Investigations
This course is intended to introduce the student to the investigative process and how this process works in the real world as opposed to the way it is portrayed in the media. It will examine investigative theory, the collection and preservation of crime scene evidence, sources of information, concepts of interviewing and interrogation, the use of forensic sciences and trial preparation.
Criminal Profiling
Examines theories of crime causation with respect to crimes committed by the most violent offenders in society, an analysis of the research done, and the process of inferring distinctive personality characteristics of offenders. Examines multiple offender types, including serial killers, property crime offenders, sex offenders, and school shooters.
Online Student Experience
Study online with the flexibility to fit your education into your life. You’ll access coursework and assignments online while staying connected with faculty and fellow students throughout your program. Along the way, you can participate in discussions, ask questions, and engage with course material in an online learning environment built to keep you connected no matter where you are.
Mental Health Academy
The College of Undergraduate Studies has partnered with Red Rocks Community College and Mile High Behavioral Healthcare to offer students an accelerated pathway to becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor. Check out this guide for more information on the Mental Health Academy at Red Rocks Community College.
Articulation Agreements
Through The Chicago School’s articulation agreement with the M.A. Clinical Mental Health Counseling program, qualified B.A. Criminology students can begin master’s-level coursework while completing their bachelor’s degree. Eligible credits can then apply toward the graduate program, giving you a head start and potentially reducing the time and cost of earning your master’s degree. Learn more about the M.A. Clinical Mental Health Counseling Early Acceptance Agreement.
Career Pathways
The criminology degree online program will help you develop the skills and knowledge needed for the following jobs:
- Police or sheriff’s officer
- Detective
- Probation or parole officer
- Corporate security specialist
- Corrections officer
- Victim advocate
- Crime scene investigator (CSI)
- Crime analyst
- Federal law enforcement officer (i.e., DEA, FBI, ATF, DHS)
- CIA agent
- Reentry case manager
- Pretrial or diversion case manager
- Legal administrative specialist
- Substance abuse counselor
- Community corrections case manager
Career Outcomes
The Chicago School prepares you to make an impact in a variety of high-demand careers. Below, you will find possible career options and salaries associated with this degree.
Data is pulled by a third-party tool called Lightcast, which includes data from sources including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the U.S. Census Bureau, online job postings, and other government databases. The information below represents a regional and national career outlook related to this degree program*. The Chicago School is dedicated to assisting you in achieving your career goals.
*Many degree programs are intended to fulfill licensure requirements in specific states. The data shown here may not represent the state where you currently reside. For more information on how this program is applicable to the requirements of your state, please speak with your admissions representative.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics annual data update
Financing Your Education
The Chicago School is dedicated to keeping our professional degree programs accessible to anyone regardless of financial status. In addition to the scholarships that may be available, our Financial Aid Department will provide you with information to determine what financial arrangements are right for you.
