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Bachelor of Science (BS) in Public Safety

School of Undergraduate Studies

Criminal Justice specialization

Criminal justice careers put you on the front line, protecting and serving your community. This specialization provides an overview of public safety research, theory and principles, with a focus on criminal justice processes and procedures. Course work includes such topics as corrections and judicial systems, criminal law and the legal process, police-community relations, white collar and organized crime investigations, and criminal procedure and evidence. People who choose this specialization are often pursuing entry-level officer positions or career advancement within law enforcement agencies, corrections departments, and federal regulatory or enforcement agencies.

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Total Program: 180 quarter credits
Up to 132 quarter credits may be transferred into this specialization
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Next Start Date: March 5, 2012
1000-2000 Level Credit: $275
3000-4000 Level Credit: $345

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General Education Requirements

To complete your bachelor's degree, you will need 45 quarter credits in general education subject areas with a minimum of 6 quarter credits from each category. We offer general education courses in communication, humanities, natural science and mathematics, and social science.

Residents of Arkansas must complete Arkansas general education requirements.


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Gain more value from your degree

Expand your educational and career opportunities by choosing one of Capella's degree enrichment options.

  • Tuition discount grows as you learn

    Capella supports your long-term educational goals with a bachelor’s-to-master’s tuition discount program. It could mean up to a 45% discount on tuition for your master’s degree courses.

    When you graduate from Capella with your bachelor’s degree and enroll in any Capella master’s degree, your total discount percentage can be applied to each master’s level course you take.

  • Earn graduate credits while completing your bachelor's degree

    With Capella's Combined Bachelor's/Master's options, you could start earning master's-level credit during your bachelor's program. You may be able to save thousands over the cost of pursuing each degree separately and reduce your time to master's degree completion by up to two quarters. Speak to an enrollment counselor about possible financial aid implications of choosing a Combined Bachelor's/Master's option.

    To be eligible:
    • Enroll in an eligible Capella bachelor's program under current admission requirements.
    • After you have completed 100 quarter credits of bachelor's-level course work and have earned a 3.0 GPA, you may enroll in one of the Combined Bachelor's/Master's options.
    • Maintain at least a 3.0 GPA to remain in the combined option.
    Combined Bachelor's/Master's options available for this specialization:
    • BS to MPA
    • BS to MS in Public Safety
  • Add a concentration to gain deeper expertise

    Delve more deeply into a specific knowledge area by earning a concentration that will be included on your transcript and can enhance your career opportunities. If you have elective courses in your degree program, you may be able to use them to fulfill both your degree and concentration requirements at the same time. However, completing a concentration may extend your total credits beyond the requirements of your degree.

    Concentrations available as part of this specialization include:
    • Finance
    • Marketing
    • Project Management
  • Expand your career options with additional specializations

    Increase your knowledge and career options by earning multiple specializations as part of your bachelor's or master's degree program at Capella. If you have elective courses in your program, you may be able to use them toward earning another specialization. However, completing additional specializations may extend your total credits beyond the requirements of your degree.

MAT2050 - Statistical Literacy is required for Criminal Justice specialization.

Core Courses (each course 4 quarter credits unless noted)

  • PS3004 - Communication Strategies for the Public Safety Professional - 6 quarter credits
  • PS3100 - Introduction to Criminal Justice
  • PS3200 - Introduction to Emergency Management
  • PS3300 - Principles of Security Management
  • PS3400 - Introduction to Homeland Security
  • PS3500 - Applied Public Safety Theory
  • PS3600 - Principles of Public Safety Investigation
  • PS3700 - Justice, Crime, and Ethics
  • PS3800 - Applied Public Safety Research Methods
  • PS3900 - History of Violence in the U.S. Society
  • PS3950 - Introductory Public Safety Statistical Research* - 6 quarter credits

Specialization Courses (each course 4 quarter credits unless noted)

  • PS4105 - White Collar and Organized Crime Investigations*
  • PS4110 - Corrections, Probation, and Parole*
  • PS4115 - Juvenile Justice Practice*
  • PS4120 - Police-Community Relations*
  • PS4125 - Policing in the U.S. Society*
  • PS4135 - Race, Crime, and Criminal Justice*
  • PS4140 - Criminal Law and the Legal Process*
  • PS4145 - Criminal Law*
  • PS4150 - History of Drug Control*
  • PS4155 - Police Administration*
  • PS4160 - Criminal Procedure and Evidence*

Elective Courses

  • Choose 37 quarter credits of additional undergraduate courses.
  • Recommended elective courses:
  • PS2100 - Introduction to Corrections
  • PS2200 - Criminal Investigation
  • PS2300 - Introduction to Juvenile Justice
  • PS2400 - Introduction to Criminal Law

Capstone Course (taken during learner's final quarter)

  • PS4990 - Public Safety Senior Capstone Project - 6 quarter credits

View all bachelor's degree specializations

* This course has a prerequisite. Contact an enrollment counselor for more information.

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Along with the Criminal Justice specialization, Capella offers specializations in Emergency Management and Homeland Security in our BS in Public Safety Program.


At the master's level, we offer a specialization in Public Safety Leadership. You can also earn two complementary degrees – a Master of Public Administration (MPA) and MS in Public Safety – in less time and at less cost than pursuing the two degrees separately with our MS and MPA Joint Degree program.





A Capella Student

November 22, 2010Patricia I must say that the teachers and faculty are some of the nicest people to speak to either on the phone or via e-mail. They understand that we are working adults most with children and families that take up a huge part of our lives and they are willing to work around my schedule not me having to work around theirs. I truly enjoy going to school here at Capella. I am working on my Criminal Justice Degree and loving every minute of it.

A CJ Student with High Hopes

November 27, 2010Holly I am a Criminal Justice student. I have really enjoyed most of my learning. Some classes I did not enjoy in part because the class was not set up well. However, that can be the case anywhere. I have enjoyed most of my classes and I am actually learning here. I have never been able to say that! The only down side is the cost. Between tuition and books it really breaks the bank. I still plan to graduate in about three years from Capella as this program is the easiest to work with my schedule.

Comments & Experiences

November 22, 2010Lisa At the beginning of my program, I felt very supported by my academnic advisor, and thought that I would complete my degree at Capella. Unfortunately, after a few courses, the support faded, and I suddenly found myself looking at a degree program that would take me more than 5 years to complete. That may have been appropriate if I was right out of high school and had no previous college or life experience, however, it was not the case. I was also disappointed in the cost of tuition as my employer was paying for my education. After calculating the costs for a degree at Capella, it was determined that I could achieve a better quality education at a Washington State school. Overall the courses were interesting, but were somewhat rote.

Capella equals "Success"

December 6, 2010Ebony This is my first time taking online classes. Capella has made this experience, very exciting and enjoyable. The Course room and IGuide are very well structured to guide you to and from the information needed. The instructors are awesome - at times it seems as if i am not online. Capella has made my experience outstanding.

A Capella "Graduate Hopeful"

September 22, 2011chervon I have an associates degree in criminal justice, which I received in 1995. I am petrified of going back to school because it has been so long , but inorder to advance in my career I must have a bachelor's degree. I heard so many good things about Capella University, so I decided to give it a try. I was very sceptical about on-line classes, as oppose to, a traditional classroom setting, but after talking to my enrollment counselor I feel very comfortable with my decision.
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