University of Central Florida Criminology Program: A Comprehensive Overview
The University of Central Florida (UCF) offers a comprehensive criminology program designed to equip students with a thorough understanding of crime, society's response to it, and the intricate relationship between societal structures and the law. Whether you aspire to a career in law enforcement, corrections, or academic research, UCF's program provides a solid foundation for success.
Program Overview
UCF's criminology program offers both Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Bachelor of Science (BS) degrees in Criminal Justice. These programs are designed to provide a broad understanding of crime and society’s control mechanisms, while also preparing students for professional careers in criminal justice and related agencies. Students can choose to study fully online or on campus, offering flexibility to learn when, where, and how they want.
Upon graduation, criminal justice majors can find employment as police, correctional or probation officers, justice system administrators, crime analysts, private security administrators, superintendents, county sheriffs/deputies, program directors or elected officials. You can also go on to graduate school and get involved with academic criminal justice; or professional school, like law school, and take positions in the legal aspects of the justice system as prosecutors or defense attorneys.
Undergraduate Programs
Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice
The BA in Criminal Justice program at UCF prepares students for a professional career in criminal justice and related professions. Students learn how to apply a broad yet specialized degree to the operations of criminal justice professions, such as law enforcement, courts, corrections, advocacy (domestic violence, human trafficking, elderly abuse), juvenile justice and cybersecurity.
Tracks
Students have the option to choose between two tracks:
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- Criminal Justice Scholars’ Track: This track distinguishes high-achieving undergraduate students by recognizing their academic excellence and commitment to scholarship. By meeting departmental requirements, students can apply nine elective credits (5000-level courses) from the Criminal Justice Master’s program toward their undergraduate Criminal Justice degree. This dual credit system allows students to make progress toward their graduate studies while completing their bachelor’s degree. The Scholar’s Track is for students who maintain a GPA of 3.2 or better and have met the entrance requirement of having achieved a grade of B or better in both ENC1101 and ENC1102.
- Professional Track: This track allows undergraduate students to graduate with a state certification in law enforcement or corrections already under their belt. If you're in the Criminal Justice Professional Track, an internship is required to help you apply your knowledge in real-world settings.
For students in the Scholars Track or who haven't selected a track within the Criminal Justice B.A. or B.S. program, internships are optional-but highly valuable. Internships give you hands-on experience, connect you with industry professionals, and strengthen your resume, setting you up for success in the field.
Curriculum Overview
The curriculum focuses on explanations for the development of law within society, why people break laws, and how society reacts to law-breaking. Interdisciplinary breadth in the study of criminology and law is essential for those majoring in criminology.
The Bachelor of Arts in Criminology introduces students to the study of criminal behavior, criminal justice systems from a multidisciplinary, liberal arts perspective. It enables students to understand crime, how society reacts to it (especially through the criminal justice system), and the interrelationships between features of society and law.
Graduate Programs
Master of Science in Criminal Justice
The Master of Science in Criminal Justice is designed to meet the needs of students preparing for careers in the field of criminal justice. The curriculum focuses on the traditional issues such as management, administrative and criminal justice theory, as well as basic research methods and descriptive statistics.
The Master of Science in Criminal Justice core and elective courses focus on the complex and changing world in which criminal justice systems operate in this country and abroad. This plan of study is designed to equip future criminal justice leaders to be critical consumers of criminal justice research.
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The benefits of an advanced graduate degree in criminal justice are self-evident and are being increasingly recognized by employers in central Florida and throughout the United States. Federal, state, and local criminal justice agencies benefit from an informed and innovative workforce that is aware of the complex issues and problems faced by the system regardless of geographic locale. Furthermore, graduates of the program are grounded in the latest theories and learn how these theories affect each individual or organization within the system.
The Master of Science in Criminal Justice requires 36 credit hours, including 21 credit hours of core courses, 6 credit hours of restricted electives, and 9 credit hours of general electives. For students electing to complete a thesis, 6 credit hours of the general elective requirements will be thesis hours.
Total Credit Hours Required: 36 Credit Hours Minimum beyond the Bachelor's Degree
Please note: Criminal Justice (MS) may be completed fully online, although not all elective options may be offered online. Newly admitted students choosing to complete this program exclusively via UCF online classes may enroll with a reduction in campus-based fees.
Online Master's in Criminal Justice Programs
UCF offers online master's in criminal justice programs with several concentrations.
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Concentrations Offered
- Corrections
- Crime Analysis and Mapping
- Crime prevention
- Criminal justice (general)
- Criminal justice administration
- Criminology (general)
- Deviance
- Juvenile delinquency
- Juvenile justice
- Law enforcement
- Other
- Policing
- Public safety management
- Social justice
- Victimology
Concentrations with Highest Demand
- Corrections
- Criminal justice administration
- Juvenile justice
- Law enforcement
- Policing
Dual Master of Public Administration and Criminal Justice
UCF also offers a dual Master of Public Administration and Criminal Justice program.
Important Considerations for International Students
International applicants should be aware the program may not offer sufficient on-campus courses for F or J visa holders. Please contact the program for more information before applying.
The Criminal Justice MS program currently offers limited face-to-face courses. The program is offered primarily online. Contact the program for additional information.
International students (F or J visa) are required to enroll in a full-time course load of 9 credit hours during the fall and spring semesters. Only 3 of the 9 credit hours may be taken in a completely online format. For a detailed listing of enrollment requirements for international students, please visit UCF Global. If you have questions, please consult UCF Global at (407) 823-2337.
UCF is not authorized to provide online courses or instruction to students in some states.
Admissions
General Requirements
- Average undergraduate GPA: 3.4
- Entrants providing undergraduate GPA: 100%
- Application essay: Required
- Letters of recommendation: 2 Letters of recommendation from professional contacts
Standardized Tests
- GRE not used in admissions
Factors Considered
- Undergraduate institution: Considered
- Undergraduate GPA: Very Important
- Undergraduate field of study: Considered
- Recommendation(s): Important
- Standardized test scores: Not Considered
- Application essay: Important
- Work experience: Considered
- Character/personal qualities: Important
- First-generation college student: Considered
- Alumni/alumnae relations: Considered
- Geographical residence: Not Considered
- Applicant's interest level: Important
Deadlines
- Application deadline (U.S. residents): July 1
- Application deadline (international students): Dec. 1
- Notification of admissions: On a rolling basis beginning Jan. 15
Admissions standards are the same for all online programs. The program sometimes denies admittance to qualified applicants, but admits applicants living abroad.
Financial Aid and Expenses
Tuition
- Part-time tuition (per credit, in-state): $328
- Part-time tuition (per credit, out-of-state): $1,234
- Full-time tuition (per credit, in-state): $328
- Full-time tuition (per credit, out-of-state): $1,234
- Total program cost (full-time, in-state): $11,784
- Total program cost (part-time, in-state): $11,784
- Total program cost (full-time, out-of-state): $44,429
- Total program cost (part-time, out-of-state): $44,429
Same tuition is charged for all online programs. Veterans pay in-state tuition.
Financial Aid Availability
- College-funded aid (fellowships, assistantships, grants or scholarships) available: Yes
- International students eligible for college-funded aid: Yes
- Yellow Ribbon Program member: Yes
- Yellow Ribbon Access: Limited, not first-come, first-served
- Yellow Ribbon Funding: Limits or caps funding
Student Debt
- Average debt of 2024-2025 graduates who borrowed: $37,287
- Proportion of 2024-2025 graduates with debt: 58%
Contact Information
- Financial aid director: Karemah Manselle
Faculty and Course Offerings
Faculty
- Instructional faculty who teach courses accessible online: 21 full-time; 5 part-time
- Instructional faculty with Ph.D.
All online faculty are trained as part of compulsory faculty development to develop authentic assessment strategies that ameliorate academic integrity issues (projects, papers, portfolios, etc.). UCF has conducted faculty seminar workshops on how to create “cheat-proof” multiple choice assessments. Individual programs have contracted with third-party live proctoring service providers. Finally, the university makes available online proctoring tools including Honorlock and Respondus lock down browser.
Course Offerings
- Credit-granting courses: 26
- Standardized copyright policy for course materials: Yes
Career Prospects
Upon graduation, criminal justice majors can find employment as police, correctional or probation officers, justice system administrators, crime analysts, private security administrators, superintendents, county sheriffs/deputies, program directors or elected officials. You can also go on to graduate school and get involved with academic criminal justice; or professional school, like law school, and take positions in the legal aspects of the justice system as prosecutors or defense attorneys.
There are currently more than 6,000 people working as detectives and criminal investigators throughout Florida.
Distinguishing Characteristics
The program specializes in criminal justice and a more professional focus.
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