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Our online degree programs are designed for busy working adults just like you – intentionally structured to allow you to balance work, life and other commitments. As a student of ACU Online, you are part of a vibrant, virtual, Christ-centered community.
Introducing
Locked-In Tuition.
Our Locked-In Tuition program guarantees you’ll pay the same price for your entire undergraduate degree.
About the Program
With ACU’s online Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice, you will study professionalism and ethics in criminal justice, law enforcement leadership, and much more. You will also develop strong writing, research, and analytical skills; attractive traits to employers in all industries.
Program Structure
All the Details on Your Degree
You’ll gain an understanding of the justice system and its process, from local to global issues, and how to uphold ethical standards.
Required Hours
Total: 120 hours
University Requirements: 56 hours
Major: 64 hours (up to 22 hours in electives)
Example Coursework
Law Enforcement Leadership
Professionalism and Ethics in Criminal Justice
Crime and Delinquency
Domestic Violence
Department
Upcoming Start Dates
June 28, 2022
August 23, 2022
Common Job Titles
Police Detective
Game Warden
Probation/Parole Officer
Correctional Officer
Lawyer*
Victim/Witness Assistant
*Law degree and licensure required
Meet the Program Director
Dr. Brenda McAdoo, Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice
Dr. Brenda McAdoo is an assistant professor and the program director for ACU’s online Criminal Justice program. Brenda retired in 2020 after over twenty-four years as a Special Agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. In her tenure with the FBI, Brenda investigated crimes against children, violent crime, and organized crime was a member of an Organized Crime Task Force, which investigated groups committing extortion, kidnapping, and murder for hire. Brenda was a member of the FBI Crisis Negotiation Team from 1998 to 2020, serving as team leader for seven years, and served as a certified Federal Mediator from 2007 to 2020 for the Department of Justice. Before joining the FBI, Brenda was a Deputy District Attorney with the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office, where she prosecuted sexual assault, domestic violence, and narcotics offenses.
Brenda received a bachelor’s in Political Science from ACU, where she was a Jack Pope Fellow, holds a Juris Doctor from Pepperdine School of Law and is a member of the California Bar. She also graduated from Southern Methodist University with a Graduate Certificate in Dispute Resolution and is a certified Mediator in Texas. Brenda is passionate about training future public servants and leaders.
Spotlight
Student Spotlight: Edmund Garcia
Meet Edmund Garcia, military veteran, pastor, family man and first-generation college student at ACU Online. After serving his congregation in Pearland, Texas, for 12 years, Garcia realized he needed more than experience to provide counsel to his church members; he needed a degree. With the help of ACU’s undergraduate programs, he has not only gained the skills and knowledge needed to support his congregation, but created a clearer vision for his dreams.
4 Signs Conflict Resolution is in Your Blood
Problem solving… arbitration… mediation — many people have natural abilities to create consensus and soften opinions, even in very tough issues; however, innate skill is not as useful as skill combined with training.
Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Brenda McAdoo
From prosecutor to FBI agent to program director, ACU alumna, Dr. Brenda McAdoo fuses her mission-mindset with real-life experiences to create an invaluable curriculum for ACU Online’s Criminal Justice students. Learn more about her story and goal as an educator.
Why Attending College is Worth It
The debate about whether college is worth it rages on. Here are just a few reasons why you might want to take the plunge.
Why ACU?
Interested in finding a school program that will work for you? Here’s what makes ACU stand out from the pack.
To be considered for admission, students must:
- Submit official high school and/or college transcripts.
- Complete the online program application accompanied by a non-refundable processing fee.
Students are not required to submit ACT or SAT test scores.
Graduation Requirements: Students must earn a 2.0 GPA or higher to meet graduation requirements. Additionally, students must earn a C or higher in each major course and have a minimum GPA of 2.25 in the major.
Abilene Christian University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate, baccalaureate, master’s and doctoral degrees. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Ga. 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of ACU.
Abilene Christian University enjoys a strong national reputation as one of the leading private Christian universities in the west and southwest, indicated by various ratings (such as U.S. News and World Report and other reports).