BS Criminal Justice Studies at University of North Dakota

Programme overview

Explore the causes and impact of criminal behavior and prepare to play a key role in administering criminal justice. The B.S. in Criminal Justice Studies prepares you to serve as an agent of change in our justice system. From law enforcement to community safety to juvenile justice issues, you’ll be ready to tackle some of our nation’s most pressing challenges.

Faculty: College of Arts & Sciences | Department: Department of Criminal Justice | Duration: 4 years (120 credit hours) | Study mode: full-time; online | Intake: Fall (Aug. 15), Spring (Dec. 15), Summer (May 1) | Location: Grand Forks, ND, United States

What you will study

Requires 120 credits (36 of which must be numbered 300 or above, and 30 of which must be from UND), including Essential Studies and major courses. Required courses include CJ 201 Introduction to Criminal Justice; CJ 210 Introduction to Policing; CJ 220 Introduction to Courts; CJ 270 Introduction to Corrections; CJ 330 Criminological Theory; CJ 365 Law and Society.

Career pathways

A degree in Criminal Justice opens the door to a diverse range of career paths – in policing, courts, corrections, victim services, juvenile justice, intervention/prevention, and more. Graduates can explore roles including police officer, detective, probation/parole officer, correctional officer, victim advocate, crime scene investigator, program manager, data analyst, court support specialist,…

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

University-wide undergraduate admission (not specific to this major): complete 14 units of high school core courses (English 4, math 3 of Algebra I or above, lab science 3, social studies 3, plus 1 additional unit from those areas or a world language); a high school GPA of 2.75 or higher is recommended (3.25 for Aviation Management and Commercial Aviation); ACT/SAT scores are not required. Source: UND Freshmen admissions page.

Domestic applicants: USD 10,378 a year (2026-27). North Dakota resident rate. On-campus tuition for 2026/2027 as shown in the programme's tuition table (fall and spring semesters, rate band 'Other'); excludes mandatory student fees, housing and books. The same table lists Minnesota residents $11,624.40 a Source

International applicants: USD 20,757 a year (2026-27). International student rate. On-campus tuition for 2026/2027 as shown in the programme's tuition table (fall and spring semesters, rate band 'Other'); excludes mandatory student fees, housing and books. Source

Entry terms: Fall, Spring and Summer. Applications are accepted up to one year before the start term.

Terms run Fall (August-December), Spring (January-May) and Summer (May-August).

First-year applicants: Fall priority deadline Feb. 1, Fall final deadline Aug. 15, Spring Dec. 15, Summer May 1. The Feb. 1 priority deadline applies to automatic freshman scholarships. ACT/SAT scores are not required. Application fee $35 (non-refundable, no waivers), submitted through the UND admissions application.

Transfer applicants: Fall Aug. 15, Spring Dec. 15, Summer May 1. Application fee $35 (non-refundable, no waivers).

Aviation Management and Commercial Aviation: applications for fall 2027 opened Aug. 1, 2026 and close Oct. 31, 2026; these degrees are not available on the Common App and require the UND application. Minimum unweighted high school GPA 3.25 (2.60 college GPA for transfers).

International undergraduate applicants (outside Canada): Fall June 15, Spring Nov. 15, Summer March 15. Canadian applicants and international students transferring from another US institution: Fall July 15, Spring Dec. 15, Summer April 15. Application fee $35 (US funds), non-refundable.

Apply through the official page: https://und.edu/admissions/apply.html

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