Criminal Justice
The Department of Criminal Justice provides a stimulating learning environment that promotes respect, tolerance, sensitivity and an open exchange of ideas regarding a wide range of cultural and intellectual differences.
Degree Programs
On Campus Degree Programs:
- Associate of Arts in Police Studies
- Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice
- Bachelor of Science in Police Studies
- Master of Science in Criminal Justice
Online Degree Programs:
- Online Associate of Arts in Police Studies
- Online Bachelor of Science in Correctional and Juvenile Justice Studies
- Online Bachelor of Science in Police Studies
- Online Master of Science in Adult, Juvenile and Community Corrections Leadership
- Online Youth Worker Certification
- Online Correctional Intervention Strategies Certification
- Online Graduate Certificate in Juvenile Justice or Correctional Leadership
Opportunities at Regional Campuses
You can now complete Criminal Justice and Police Studies degrees, or take courses toward degree completion, at several of EKU's regional campuses. The Associate's or Bachelor's in Police Studies, and Bachelor's in Criminal Justice can be completed entirely at the Corbin and Hazard Campuses. Additionally, the Manchester Campus offers many courses toward completion of these degrees.
Please contact Stephen Kappeler, Criminal Justice faculty member and Coordinator for regional campuses, for more information: 859-622-6710.
Mission of the Department of Criminal Justice
We are committed to exemplary teaching, research and philosophy that is grounded in:
- cutting-edge scholarship
- engaging students in critical inquiry, logical and ethical thinking
- direct engagement of the social world to develop a deep and practical understanding of justice problems
- service to the community, university, and profession
Providing students with the most current knowledge in the field prepares them to meet the challenges of an increasingly complex, technological, and diverse society.
Program Objectives
The purpose of undergraduate programs in criminal justice is to educate students to be critical thinkers who can communicate their thoughts effectively in oral and written form. Our programs will familiarize students with facts and concepts and teach them to apply this knowledge to related problems and changing situations.
Primary objectives of our criminal justice programs include:
- the development of critical thinking
- communication, technology, and computing skills
- quantitative reasoning
- ethical decision-making
- an understanding of diversity
The criminal justice bachelor's degree programs give students the opportunity to develop knowledge and skills above the introductory level through a logically sequenced, coherent, and rigorous body of coursework.
All our programs in criminal justice are part of a broadly based degree program with a balance of general education, required and elective courses in criminal justice and in related fields, and unrestricted electives wherever possible.