Online Certificates in Criminology & Criminal Justice

Online Certificate Overview

Make a difference in your workplace and your community.

Criminology and Criminal Justice Online offers certificates designed for those interested in specializing in specific topic areas within the criminology and criminal justice field. Students can choose to add one or more certificates to their bachelor's degree in order to build their knowledge and skill in:

• Criminal Law
• Criminal Behavior
• Advanced Crime Analysis

Completing a certificate through Criminology and Criminal Justice Online requires admission to the Criminology and Criminal Justice Online pathway. Information about the admissions process, program tuition and special services available only to Criminology and Criminal Justice Online students is available on the Criminology and Criminal Justice Online Pathway page.  

Criminal Law & Justice Certificate

The Criminal Law and Justice Certificate is designed for students who have a specific interest in understanding criminal law and in developing legal skills for careers within and related to the criminal justice systems. It provides an opportunity for students to focus on how the content, practice and enforcement of criminal law impacts individuals and society, particularly through the structure and function of the criminal justice system. Students will gain insights into the practical application of both research and criminological theory to the law and criminal justice policy and practice. 

Throughout the coursework, the concept of "equal justice under the law" will be examined from diverse perspectives in the context of the criminal law-making, enforcement, and imposition of criminal punishments. Students are able to tailor the electives to focus on specific subject areas within criminal justice policy and practice that is most relevant to their career goals and interests. 
 

Criminal Law and Justice Certificate Curriculum (24 credit hours)

The Criminal Law and Justice certificate is made up of 24 credits, three required courses (12 credits) and three electives (12 credits). 

Complete Three Required Courses: 

• CCJ 300 Criminology and Criminal Justice (4)
• CCJ 310U American Courts (4)
• CCJ 420 Criminal Law and Legal Reasoning (4)

Choose One Criminal Law and Practice Elective (4 credits): 

• CCJ 311 Defense, Prosecution & Justice (4)
• CCJ 390U Crimes of the Powerful (4)

Choose Two Criminal Justice System Electives (8 credits):

• CCJ 312 Criminal Behavior (4)
• CCJ 365U Crime and Social Justice (4)
• CCJ 370U Women, Crime & Justice (4)  

Up to 4 transfer credits from a regionally accredited institution may be applied to towards the course requirements of the Criminal Law and Justice Certificate. Transfer courses must have been taken for a letter grade, and the grade received must have been a  “C-” or higher. Be sure to check the list of pre‐approved substitution courses from your Oregon or Washington community college.

Criminal Behavior Certificate

The online Criminal Behavior Certificate Program explores the complex nature of crime and the factors that contribute to criminal behavior, including psychological, social and economic causes and influences. This curriculum introduces students to different theories on the pahtways and motivation sleading to criminal behavior in general and within specific groups. Special topics include female gang members, domestic violence, illegal drug use during pregnancy, juvenile delinquency youth substance use, and school violence.

Students will also explore how the causes of “crimes of the powerful” (such as white collar crimes, abuses of power, fraud and economic exploitation) compare to the violent and property crimes more typically processed through the criminal justice system.

Taken together, the online Criminal Behavior Certificate provide students with an understanding of how factors like community, culture, poverty, race, age, gender, family, personality, mental illness, psychopathy, and biological factors contribute to the complexities of criminal behavior. This will help prepare students to make meaningful contributions in a variety of careers that invovle understanding, preventing or responding to criminal behavior.

Criminal Behavior Certificate Curriculum

Students complete all 6 courses (24 credits).

• CCJ 303 Punishment and Corrections (4 credits)
• CCJ 305 Juvenile Justice Reform (4 credits)
• CCJ 312 Criminal Behavior (4 credits)
• CCJ 320U Theories of Crime and Justice (4 credits)
• CCJ 370U Women, Crime, and Justice (4 credits)
• CCJ 390U Crimes of the Powerful (4 credits)

Up to 4 transfer credits from a regionally accredited institution may be applied towards the course requirements of the Criminal Behavior Certificate. Transfer courses must have been taken for a letter grade, and the grade received must have been a “C-” or higher. Be sure to check the list of pre‐approved substitution courses from your Oregon or Washington community college.

Department Certificate in Advanced Crime Analysis

Crime analysis is a central feature of modern criminal justice agencies. Many larger law enforcement agencies employ crime analysts who use technology and research to identify patterns in crime and criminal behavior. Crime analysts use crime reports, crime mapping, statistics, arrest reports, police calls, geographic data, and other resources to identify patterns and help develop solutions to ongoing problems.

The Criminology and Criminal Justice Department Certificate in Advanced Crime Analysis represents a focused study of crime mapping and analysis tools that are valued across of range of crime and justice agency settings. This online certificate program gives students hands-on experience coding, analyzing, interpreting, and presenting crime data and reports, as well as extracting relevant data from multiple sources including police homicide reports, FBI databases, corrections records, and survey data.

Working with mapping software actually used in the field, students will gain the technical and analytical skills need to aid investigations, improve operations, and help prevent crime.

Advanced Crime Analysis Certificate Curriculum (24 credit hours)

Students complete all 6 courses (24 credits).

• CCJ 330U Crime Control Strategies (4 credits)
• CCJ 335 Understanding Crime Hotspots (4 credits)
• CCJ 336 Applied Crime Mapping (4 credits)
• CCJ 340 Crime Analysis (4 credits)
• CCJ 380 Criminal Justice Research (4 credits)
• CCJ 435 Crime, Grime, & Fear (4 credits)

Up to 4 transfer credits from a regionally accredited institution may be applied towards the course requirements of the Advanced Crime Analysis Department Certificate. Transfer courses must have been taken for a letter grade, and the grade received be a “C-” or higher. 

Be sure to check the list of pre=approved substitution courses from your Oregon or Washington community college.

Advanced Crime Analysis is a Department Certificate issued by the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice upon successful completion of all courses. Verification of completion is provided by the Department. 

Course Calendar and Descriptions

Criminology and Criminal Justice Online is a year-round program, meaning that certificate students may need to take some courses in the summer in order to complete their program. The schedule for all CCJ Online courses is released at least one year in advance to help students plan for upcoming terms. 

Since they are only open to admitted Criminology and Criminal Justice Online students, courses in CCJ’s online programs cannot be found in PSU’s Schedule of Classes. Registration for Criminology and Criminal Justice Online courses takes places through a separate, customized process. Schedules and registration information is provided directly to CCJ Online students each term, along with individual advising to assist each student in selecting courses.

Visit Criminology and Criminal Justice Online course page for course descriptions and Criminology and Criminal Justice Online course calendar.

Getting Started and Getting Help

Criminology and Criminal Justice Online students are provided consistent support and specialized advising to assist them with completing their fully online program. Students are proactively assisted in each phase of the program with a wide variety of matters, including course planning, registration, connecting with academic resources, understanding and navigating university processes, and preparing for graduation.

Prospective and new students are provided exceptional advising and support by CCJ Online's Enrollment Advisor Chelsey Huff. Chelsey works with prospective students exploring the CCJ Online program options, incoming CCJ Online students who have started the PSU application process, and new CCJ Online students getting ready for their first term. Chelsey can answer a wide variety of questions about admissions requirements, transfer credits, financial aid, Criminology and Criminal Justice course content, career opportunities, PSU resources, and more. 

CCJ Online's Enrollment Advisor can be reached at CCJO@pdx.edu or by completing our information request form at the bottom of this webpage.   

For established students, CCJ Online's Academic Advisor is Angela Barrett, CCJ’s expert on successfully guiding online students through PSU and CCJ’s fully online programs. Angela is a former PSU student herself and has been working with CCJ’s online students for more than a decade. Angela can be reached at abarrett@pdx.edu and (503) 725-5131.

General advising and university information is posted in the Criminology and Criminal Justice Online Advising Center.