Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University

What you'll study

Students begin with the program prerequisite CCJ 2010 Introduction to Criminal Justice and progress through coursework covering theory, research methods, criminal law, law enforcement, corrections and juvenile justice. To complete the major, students must take thirty (30) credit hours at the 3000-level or above in criminal justice: 21 credit hours of core courses plus 9 credit hours focused in one substantive area. Available substantive areas are:

• Legal studies
• Minority and gender studies
• Juvenile justice
• Corrections

Internships are offered for students seeking professional experience prior to graduation; they are optional but strongly encouraged for students who do not plan to pursue graduate study. A minor is required and must consist of eighteen (18) credit hours in an approved discipline following that minor's curriculum.

Entry requirements

Degree completion requires a total of 120 semester hours including all general education and university requirements and a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 on a 4.00 scale. The basic program prerequisite is CCJ 2010 Introduction to Criminal Justice; subsequent criminal justice coursework follows the program components noted above.

Career prospects

Graduates are positioned for entry into graduate study or a range of criminal-justice-related occupations. Typical roles held by alumni include corrections officer, law enforcement officer, probation officer, DEA agent, forensic science technician and loss prevention specialist. Some career paths such as lawyer or certain forensic roles may require additional training or graduate education.

Scholarships & funding angle (general)

Many students combine federal or institutional financial aid, scholarships and employer tuition support for online study. Prospective applicants should consult FAMU's financial aid office and scholarship listings for current options and eligibility criteria.