Fundamentals of Criminal Justice
Undergraduate Certificate Online Program
The undergraduate certificate program in the Fundamentals of Criminal Justice is designed to expose students to the fundamental facts and workings of the criminal justice system. Students will be introduced to procedures in the legal system, learn the required steps in criminal investigations, and receive an overview of general judicial principles. Students will acquire knowledge that is readily applicable to their professional interests in the field of law and criminology.
Designed For You
The California Coast University online Undergraduate Certificate in the Fundamentals of Criminal Justice program was designed for complete flexibility for the student. All courses are self-paced and completed 100% online.
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Low tuition with interest-free payment plans as low as $150/month.
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Flexible programs designed to fit into your busy schedule. Self-paced study with no group projects, set meeting times, or exam dates.
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The program is not structured in semesters, quarters, or terms. It is designed to allow students to begin their online studies at any time of the year.
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CCU offers a tuition discount for Active Duty Military, Veterans, Law Enforcement, Firefighters, Government Employees, and CCU Graduates.
We also offer a 10% discount for Corporate Partner employees. For more information on how to become a Corporate Partner, see our Corporate Partnership Information Page.
*Employment verification is required. Offer good for students who enrolled after April 2018 and were offered discount at time of enrollment. Offer is not retroactive for students already enrolled. Discount and/or prices subject to change and/or cancellation at any time without notice. This offer cannot be combined with any other discount(s).
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Upon successful completion of the program, students will be able to:
- Develop a general understanding of the criminal justice system.
- Review the fundamentals of criminal investigation.
- Examine the procedural aspects of the criminal justice system.
- Explore the processes and procedures related to forensic science.
- Examine key concepts and theories related to program content - utilizing critical thinking and academic writing skills.
- Examine program content in relation to ethical reasoning, social responsibility, global citizenship, civic engagement.
- Assess the value for life-long learning.
I chose CCU because the program came highly recommended by a colleague.The flexibility and overall ease of the application process was also a plus.
Explore The Program
The Undergraduate Certificate in the Fundamentals of Criminal Justice degree program consists of 4 total courses.
The required courses are comprised of:
4 Core Courses
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There are 12 total semester units in this program.
The online Undergraduate Certificate in the Fundamentals of Criminal Justice degree program is comprised of the following 4 courses. Click on course title to expand and read more.
| ID | Course Name | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
| BCJ 100 | Introduction to Criminal Justice | 3 | |
| BCJ 230 | Criminal Investigation | 3 | |
| BCJ 240 | Procedures in the Justice System | 3 | |
| BCJ 351 | Forensic Science | 3 | |
Prerequisites to Admission:
The applicant should meet the following prerequisites in order to be admitted to the program: An applicant must be at least 18 years of age and have successfully obtained a high school diploma, GED, or its equivalent.
FAQ About Coursework
Required units may be satisfied in the following ways:
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California Coast University has developed comprehensive Study Guides, for each course, that are designed to coordinate and sequence the learning materials within the required textbook. The following points will help to illustrate how the Study Guides are designed:
- Study Guides are based on specific college level textbooks, which may be obtained from local bookstores, the publisher, or the University's Rental Library.
- Each Study Guide is organized with a complete syllabus, along with instructional materials to guide the student chapter by chapter through the corresponding textbook.
- Each Study Guide contains an overview and summary of all textbook chapters, along with a listing of important keywords (with definitions), and self-tests (with answers) on key points.
- Study Guides include 4 unit exams equally spaced throughout the instructional materials, one writing assignment per unit, and the final examination.
- Examinations are designed to test the student on the information contained within the preceding chapters.
- All tests have no time limit and may be completed as open book tests.
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Transcripts of previously completed academic work are evaluated and credit may be transferred to meet existing coursework requirements. The following guidelines are utilized when accepting transfer credit for a certificate program:
- The University will accept transfer credit from applicable courses completed at colleges or universities accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or foreign equivalent.
- Certificate students may receive transfer credit for up to 6 semester units of previously completed coursework. Students may transfer up to 9 semester units of credit completed at California Coast University.
- To be eligible for undergraduate academic credit, transfer grades must be equivalent to a letter grade of C (2.0 GPA) or higher.
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During the admissions process, all professional experience is reviewed to determine if an applicant has sufficient occupational experience to warrant completing a Challenge Examination in lieu of a Study Guide for a particular course. The following factors are considered:
- An applicant may be offered an opportunity to complete a Challenge Examination if the candidate's occupational expertise appears to be comparable to the objectives identified for a particular course.
- Successfully passing a Challenge Examination will demonstrate an acceptable level of competence for that course.
- If a student does not pass a Challenge Examination they are assigned a Study Guide for completion.
- The maximum amount of Challenge Examinations allowed for each program level are: Associate 4; Bachelor's 10; Master's 2; Doctorate 0; and Certificates 1.
