Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
A Concentration In
Criminal Justice
An emphasis within the B.A. in Political Science — study law, crime, and justice for a career in the justice system.
Law & the Justice System
Criminal law, procedure, and criminology
Ethics at the Center
Includes Criminal Justice Ethics
Built on Political Science
Pairs justice study with constitutional grounding
The justice system shapes lives — and it needs people who understand both how it works and how it should work. The Criminal Justice concentration pairs ACU’s political science core, with its strong grounding in constitutional law and government, with focused study of criminology, criminal law, and justice ethics.
On top of the political science major, you’ll add twenty-one credits in criminal justice: Introduction to Criminal Justice, Criminology, Criminal Law and Procedures, Criminal Justice Ethics, and three upper-division electives you choose. You’ll understand crime, the courts, and law enforcement — and, framed by a Biblical Worldview, you’ll wrestle with the harder questions of justice, mercy, and human dignity that the field raises. It’s strong preparation for law enforcement, law school, and the justice system.
Understand the Justice System
Get a foundation in how the criminal justice system works end to end.
Study Why Crime Happens
Explore criminology — the theories and causes behind crime.
Know Criminal Law and Procedure
Learn criminal law and the procedures that govern the justice process.
Wrestle With Justice Ethics
Engage the ethical questions at the heart of criminal justice work.
Specialize Through Electives
Choose three upper-division criminal-justice courses aligned with your goals.
Ground It in Constitutional Government
Connect criminal justice to constitutional law and the political system it operates within.
Few fields raise harder questions about justice, mercy, and human worth than criminal justice — and a Biblical Worldview gives you a framework for them.
Justice and Mercy Together
Scripture holds justice and mercy together rather than pitting them against each other. That tension shapes the hardest questions in criminal justice — punishment, rehabilitation, and what people are owed.
Equips you to pursue justice without losing sight of mercy.
The Dignity of Every Person
Victims, the accused, and the convicted are all image-bearers. Holding that conviction reframes how the system should treat people at every stage.
Grounds your work in the dignity of everyone the system touches.
Law, Order, and Their Limits
Scripture affirms the rule of law and the role of authority while recognizing that justice systems, run by fallen people, can themselves do harm. That realism keeps reform and accountability in view.
Prepares you to value order and pursue a justice system that's genuinely just.
The concentration opens careers across the justice system — and pairs well with law school and public service.
Law Enforcement
Pursue careers in local, state, and federal law enforcement.
Corrections & Probation
Work in corrections, probation, parole, and rehabilitation settings.
Law School & Legal Careers
Use the law and constitutional foundation as preparation for law school.
Victim Advocacy & Social Services
Serve victims and communities through advocacy and justice-related social services.
Federal Agencies & Public Service
Build toward roles in federal agencies and public-service careers in justice.
The Criminal Justice concentration combines focused justice study with a strong political-science and constitutional foundation.
Justice Plus Government
You study criminal justice on top of a constitutional and political-science core — a stronger foundation than a stand-alone CJ track.
Ethics Built In
A dedicated Criminal Justice Ethics course puts the hardest questions front and center.
Career-Ready Focus
Twenty-one applied credits prepare you for law enforcement, corrections, and the justice system.
Justice With Conviction
Engage justice framed by a Biblical Worldview that holds justice and mercy together.
Already drawn to the Political Science degree? Adding the Criminal Justice concentration is simple.
Apply to ACU
Submit your application for admission to Arizona Christian University.
Start Your ApplicationChoose Criminal Justice as Your Concentration
Tell your advisor you want the Criminal Justice track, and they'll map the CRJ courses into your plan.
Start With Introduction to Criminal Justice
Begin with the CRJ core; note that Criminal Justice Ethics requires 9 CRJ credits first.
The Criminal Justice concentration gives you focused justice study on a strong political-science foundation — preparation for law enforcement, law school, and the justice system. Apply or reach out today.