University College Degrees Offered

Degrees Offered

Bachelor of Criminal Justice

This program offers students with technical education background the opportunity to broaden their exposure to liberal higher education while acquiring the necessary specialization to qualify for careers in such fields as parole and probation, forensic science, adult and juvenile corrections, and police administration. Criminal justice students also may prepare for law school or for further study in graduate or professional schools.

The flexible multi-disciplinary curriculum is composed of a broad range of courses from the social and behavioral sciences, humanities, natural sciences, and professional disciplines, all of which make a contribution to the complex field of criminal justice. You may individualize your program of student to a significant degree through elective courses.

To enter the Criminal Justice program, you must complete a separate degree application form in addition to the application to the University and submit a college transcript showing that you have completed an associate's degree in an appropriate technical field. Applications are available from the University College office or any regional campus student services office. Upon admission, you will be assigned an academic advisor who will assist you in completing your approved program of study.

Bachelor of Criminal Justice students may earn departmental honors through University College. Students must have an accumulated g.p.a. within the top 20 percent of BCJ students to be eligible for departmental honors. An honors thesis is required. Guidelines and an application are available from the college office.

Degree requirements

1. Earn 192 credit hours, including at least 80 hours of Ohio University work.
2. Must complete at least 45 hours at the 300 level or above.
3. Complete the General Education Requirements (Tier I, II, III). Some courses taken to complete the associate's degree may be equivalent to courses that fulfill these requirements.
4. Complete the BCJ core and no fewer than 9 courses from within the following BCJ Major Requirement areas :

BCJ Core:
Three of the following courses :
POLS 409,
SOC 260, SOC 362, SOC 366.

BCJ Major Requirements :

Area II:Social and political systems. Two courses, one each from A and B -- (A) AAS 254, HIST 315C, 315D, SOC 329, 470, 471; (B) POLS 301, 306, 404, 410, 477, SW 390, SOC 309, 364.

Area III:Human behavior. Two courses, one each from A and B. Do not take both SOC 210 and PSY 336 -- (A) PSY 233, PSY 332, PSY 336 or SOC 210, SW 380, SOC 211; (B) PSY 337, SOC 261, 363.

Area IV:Organization skills and management. Two courses, one each from A and B -- (A) ACCT 101, HRM 320, MGT 202, POLS 210, 412; (B) BUSL 255, 356, HRM 425, MGT 340, POLS 414, PSY 261, SOC 430.

Recommended electives :AAS 440; CS 120 or MIS 201; HIST 307; COMS 205, 306, 405, 410, 420, 422; POLS 320, 401, 402; PSY 273; SOC 367, 464, 467; SW 382.

You choose the remaining hours beyond the core and major requirements in consultation with an academic advisor on the basis of your educational goals and career interests. Internship and field experience programs may be arranged for qualified students without prior professional experience in criminal justice.

Courses taken to complete the associate's degree cannot additionally fulfill BCJ major requirements (Areas I, II, III, and IV) for the baccalaureate degree.

Bachelor of Specialized Studies

Major code BS1112

The Bachelor of Specialized Studies degree program reflects the recognition that degree programs, as varied as they are at Ohio University, cannot satisfy the legitimate educational requirements of all students. Through specialized studies, you may construct an individualized degree.

To enter the specialized studies program, you must complete an application, available in the University College office, the University College Web site (https://www.ohio.edu/univcollege/degree/special.htm) , or at a regional campus student services office, and have it reviewed by a University College advisor, Adult Learning Services Advisor, or regional campus student services staff member. You must consult with and gain approval from two faculty members in the preparation of your program, one of whom must be from your area of concentration. The faculty members must be Group 1 or 2. Final admission is granted only upon successful review of the application by the Bachelor of Specialized Studies review committee, which meets quarterly to consider applications. You will receive a letter indicating the decision of the review committee.

As a student in the Bachelor of Specialized Studies program, you may complete one or more academic minors if the courses taken to meet the minor requirements are not included in the Bachelor of Specialized Studies area of concentration plan. You need to indicate your intention to complete a minor at the time you submit your Bachelor of Specialized Studies application.

Up to 48 hours of credit earned through the Experiential Learning Program may be applied to the Bachelor of Specialized Studies degree program. A maximum of 44 quarter hours from the College of Business may be included in a Bachelor of Specialized Studies degree program.

Bachelor of Specialized Studies students may earn departmental honors through University College. Students must have an accumulated g.p.a. within the top 20 percent of B.S.S. students to be eligible to earn departmental honors. An honors thesis is required. Guidelines and an application are available from the college office or on the Web, https://www.ohio.edu/univcollege/degree/honors.html .

To submit an application to the specialized studies program for consideration, you must

1. Be currently enrolled as a degree-seeking student.
2. Have achieved sophomore or higher rank.
3. Have earned an accumulative g.p.a. of 2.0 or above.

To graduate with a Bachelor of Specialized Studies degree, you must:

1. Earn 192 credit hours, of which at least 80 must be courses with catalog numbers at the 300 level or above as shown in this catalog.
2. Complete no fewer than 45 credit hours of credit (the degree residency requirement) after being admitted to the specialized studies program. This total excludes any transfer, transient, Course Credit by Examination, Independent Study coursework, etc., for which the initial registration occurred prior to application to the specialized studies program.
3. Complete a minimum of 45 credit hours in the self-designed area of concentration approved by the Bachelor of Specialized Studies review committee. The area of concentration can include courses that are completed, current and planned at the time of application. The courses included as current and planned in the concentration become requirements for graduation subject to change only by prior permission from a University College advisor and, in some cases, the Bachelor of Specialized Studies review committee.
4. Complete the University General Education Requirements.
5. Complete the minimum of 48 credit hours of Ohio University coursework to satisfy the University residence requirement.

Programs and Courses

SPST 425: Senior Seminar

SPST 490: Internship

The Richard Brackin Scholarship

Special Projects Fund

Associate's Degrees

Information about all associate's degree programs is available through either the regional campuses or University College. If you plan to pursue an associate's degree, you must consult with a University College staff member or a student services staff member at one of the regional campuses.

If you plan to earn an associate's degree, you must complete an Application for Update of Program(s), available from any college office or regional campus student services office.

If you are currently enrolled in a baccalaureate degree program and want to earn an associate's degree as well, you must complete an Application for Update of Program(s) to add the associate's degree program as a secondary code. Your records will remain in your current college. If you plan to earn a baccalaureate degree after earning the associate's degree, you must complete an Application for Update of Program(s) to add the bachelor's degree program as a primary code.

Policy on Second Associate's DegreesYou are not permitted to earn both the A.A. and A.S. degrees. If you already have earned the A.I.S. degree, you are not permitted to earn either the A.A. or A.S. degree.

Application Toward Bachelor's DegreeCredit earned while enrolled in an Ohio University associate's degree program will be applied toward an Ohio University baccalaureate program.

If you intend to complete a baccalaureate degree, you should complete Ohio University General Education Requirements while working toward your associate's degree.

Associate's Degree After a Baccalaureate DegreeIf you have already earned a baccalaureate degree, you may pursue an Associate in Individualized Studies degree, depending on the rationale for doing so and the desired area of concentration. The Associate in Arts or the Associate in Science degree will not be granted if you have already earned a baccalaureate degree.