Criminology and Criminal Justice
Mission
The School of Criminology and Criminal Justice offers high quality educational programming to support students in gaining the knowledge and skills necessary for a successful career in criminology and criminal justice or related social services fields. Students can participate in scholarly and applied research projects that involve collaborative partnerships with local and federal agencies. Students learn about emerging technologies as a means of improving and advancing criminology and criminal justice. We provide opportunities for students to connect with professionals in the classroom as well as through extracurricular events. Students are strongly encouraged to complete an internship to gain field experience prior to their graduation.
Student Learning Outcomes
- Demonstrate mastery of core content areas in criminology and criminal justice.
- Locate, integrate and use information from varied sources to effectively communicate in writing and other mediums.
- Apply specialized knowledge through field-based learning experiences, civic and/or community engagement activities, and/or policy analysis.
- Explain diverse positions, including those representing different cultural, economic, and geographic interests in the context of criminology and criminal justice.
Academic Advising
All CRCJ majors are strongly advised to schedule an appointment with our advising staff each semester. Advisors provide assistance with degree planning and course scheduling. They are also available to answer questions regarding major/minors, academic performance, and SCCJ policies or procedures. To contact an Omaha academic advisor, call 402.554.2610. To contact a Lincoln academic advisor, call 402.472.3677
Transferring to Criminology and Criminal Justice
Students wishing to transfer from another institution or department within the University of Nebraska must have a 2.0 cumulative grade point average to be admitted into the criminology and criminal justice program. Contact the school for more details on the transfer policy.
Degree Requirements
- A minimum of 30 of the last 36 semester credit hours must be earned by the student in residence in the University of Nebraska System. (Summer independent study courses are not considered in residence.)
- At least 21 hours of criminal justice must be taken at the University of Nebraska, on either the Omaha or Lincoln campus.
- A minimum of 33 credit hours must be earned in upper division (3000/4000-level) courses. At least 21 of these upper division hours must be taken in the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice courses, and 12 hours of 3000/4000 level courses are required in a concentration/minor (see course requirements section).
- A maximum of 12 credit hours of departmental independent study and internship courses may be applied toward the BCCJ degree. No more than 6 hours of CRCJ 3970 and CRCJ 3980 may apply and no more than 6 hours of CRCJ 4950 may apply.
- A maximum of 24 hours may be taken pass/no pass. Contact an advisor for more details.
- Credit for basic military and law enforcement training may be applied to the BCCJ degree. Contact an advisor for more details.
- Credit from an institution that is not regionally accredited cannot be applied to the BCCJ degree.
Fast Track
The School of Criminology and Criminal Justice has developed a Fast Track program for highly qualified and motivated students providing the opportunity to complete a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in an accelerated time frame. With Fast Track, students may count up to 9 graduate hours toward the completion of their undergraduate program as well as the graduate degree program.
Program Specifics:
- This program is available for undergraduate students pursuing any of the following:
- BS in Criminology or Criminal Justice on either the UNO or UNL campuses
- Double-major at UNO with a BS in Criminology and Criminal Justice as either the primary or secondary major
- BMS with a concentration in Criminology and Criminal Justice
- Students must have completed no less than 60 undergraduate hours.
- Students must have a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.25.
- Students must complete the Fast Track Approval form and obtain all signatures and submit to the Office of Graduate Studies prior to first enrollment in a graduate course.
- Students will work with their undergraduate advisor to register for the graduate courses.
- A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required for graduate coursework to remain in good standing.
- Students remain undergraduates until they meet all the requirements for the undergraduate degree and are eligible for all rights and privileges granted undergraduate status including financial aid.
- Near the end of the undergraduate program, formal application to the graduate program is required. The application fee will be waived, the applicant will need to contact the Office of Graduate Studies for a fee waiver code.
- Admission to Fast Track does NOT guarantee admission to the graduate program. Successful completion of the graduate courses will be a significant consideration during the evaluation of admission to the MA or MS in Criminology and Criminal Justice.
- The admit term must be after the completion term of the undergraduate degree.
Special Note: Eligible undergraduate students may enroll in any 8000-level CRCJ course approved by the SCCJ program.
Student Group Opportunities for Undergraduate and Graduate students
The School of Criminology and Criminal Justice offers several student organizations. Visit our Student Involvement website for more information.
Contact
The UNO School of Criminology and Criminal Justice offers courses on the Omaha and Lincoln campuses. The Omaha office is located in the College of Public Affairs and Community Service Building (CPACS), Room 218. Our office can be reached by phone at 402.554.2610. The Lincoln office is located in Nebraska Hall, Room 310 and can be reached by phone at 402.472.3677. Events for both campus locations are regularly posted on our Website, Facebook page #unosccj, Twitter feed @unosccj, and Instagram @unosccj1.
Degrees Offered
**Criminal justice courses are offered on the Omaha and Lincoln campuses of the University of Nebraska. The BCCJ degree can be earned in its entirety on the Lincoln campus; however, the degree is conferred by the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
If you seek a career such as a police officer, DEA agent, probation officer or correctional counselor, a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice is a key step towards turning that aspiration into reality. The CRCJ program at UNO provides undergraduates an excellent foundation in the theories of crime and the criminal justice response to crime while also introducing students to criminological research methods.
Law Enforcement
- Alcohol, Tobacco, & Firearms (ATF)
- Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA)
- FBI Agent
- Federal Protective Service Officer
- IRS Agent
- Military Police
- Postal Inspector
- Secret Service Agent
- United States Marshal
- Nonprofit Management
- Animal Control
- Police Officer
- Arson Investigation
- Campus Police
- Deputy Sheriff
- Fish & Game Officer
- Highway Patrol
Probation
- Diversion Program Coordinator
- Pretrial Services Officer
- Probation Officer (Juvenile/Adult)
Corrections
- Corrections Counselor
- Corrections Officer
- Juvenile Corrections
- Parole Officer (Juvenile/Adult)
- Prerelease Counselor
- Recreation Leader
- Warden
Courts/Law
- Bailiff
- Court Administrator
- Court Reporter
- Investigator for law offices
- Lawyer
- Legal Researcher
- Paralegal/Legal Assistant
Homeland Security
- Customs Inspector
- Emergency Management
- Coordinator
- Federal Air Marshal
- FEMA Positions
- Intelligence Analyst
- Investigative Specialist
- Immigration Inspector
- Linguists
- Surveillance Specialist
- TSA Officer
- Border Patrol Agent
Private Security
- Security Director
- Loss Prevention Specialist
- Private Security Officer
- Credit Investigator
- Bank Fraud Investigator
- Legal Researcher
Juvenile Services
- Aftercare Counselor
- Child Protective Services Worker
- Detention Counselor
- Group Home Worker
- Rehabilitation Coordinator
- Runaway Counselor
- School Attendance Officer
- Youth Advocate
Victim Services
- Caseworker
- Child Support Agency Worker
- Crisis Center Coordinator
- Crisis Counselor
- Domestic Violence
- Advocate/Counselor
- Social Worker
- Victim/Witness Service Coordinator
Research
- Legislative Assistant
- Professor
- Research Analyst}