Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice
What makes OKWU different?
We believe in seeing the humanity in everyone—upholding respect and integrity as the foundation of law enforcement.
At Oklahoma Wesleyan University, the Criminal Justice program offers a comprehensive curriculum that covers a wide range of topics, including criminal law, criminology, ethics, and leadership. Students will gain a deep understanding of the criminal justice system and the skills necessary to succeed in various criminal justice careers.
In addition to the traditional classroom experience, OKWU also provides students with practical learning opportunities through internships, fieldwork, and research projects. These opportunities allow students to apply their knowledge and skills in real-world settings and gain valuable experience that will prepare them for their future careers.
Real-world Skills
The OKWU criminal justice students are involved in many criminal justice-related extracurricular activities. Successful students have access to internships with local law enforcement and legal firms, students have opportunities to go on ride-alongs with various police departments, and during one class students can go to the police range if they want. Students participate in building clearing exercises, traffic stops, and have opportunities to work with police trainers in a police use of force simulator. The criminal justice students have also been involved with various campus activities as well as community service activities.
Career-ready
The program has been carefully crafted to provide students with a well-rounded understanding of criminal justice system and concepts through coursework pertaining to law enforcement, criminal law, the court system, evidence, procedure, contemporary issues in criminal justice, victimology, ethics, and more.
Biblical Worldview Foundation
Our program approaches criminal justice from a Christian worldview. OKWU criminal justice graduates understand that they will be working with people who are hurting, angry, lost, and some who are dangerous. Yet they know they can potentially make a positive impact with each person they encounter by treating the person with the love of Christ within the situation that they are involved.
Earn Your Criminal Justice Degree
“The OKWU criminal justice program is uniquely crafted to help students develop into skillful criminal justice professionals who approach people and situations from a Christian perspective. That Christian outlook holds that all people have sinned, that God loves all people, and that He has provided a path of redemption for everyone. This means the OKWU criminal justice profession can see all people as valuable and worthy of care and decency despite their situations in life, demographics, or what they have done. It promotes a criminal justice professional that can be compassionate, enforce laws appropriately, better balance personal rights and liberties with social control needs, and enjoy a long career in criminal justice.”
– Eric Peterson
Fast-Track to the Tulsa Police Department
OKWU’s Criminal Justice program and TPD’s professional training prepares students to graduate career-ready with the highest standards in innovation and community service.
- Complete your degree and earn CLEET certification through TPD’s Academy.
- Finish your final 15 credits with real-world training at one of the nation’s top 10 police departments.
- Gain tools, mentorship, and confidence to excel in law enforcement.
Law Enforcement Officer Discount
Law enforcement officers who are actively serving in the law enforcement profession and individuals who have a verifiable employment commitment from a police department, and can provide written commitment documentation, are extended the same discount as military personnel receive for the Bachelor of Science Business Administration Criminal Justice Emphasis.
Career Path
Students who graduate with a Criminal Justice degree can go on to a variety of career pathways, some of which include:
- Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers: median salary of $67,290
- Detectives and criminal investigators: median salary of $87,060
- Correctional officers and Jailers: median salary of $47,440
- Forensic Science Technicians: median salary of $61,220
- Lawyers: median salary of $126,930
Featured Core Classes
Introduction to Criminal Justice
This course is an introductory overview of the criminal justice system, its components, and processes. This course focuses primarily on law enforcement, the court system, and corrections agencies. In addition, it examines the history, development, and philosophy of each system. This course will familiarize students with the relationships between the components of the criminal justice system as it works to deter crime, improve public safety, and punish violators.
Criminal Procedures
This course explores criminal procedure with emphasis on the First, Second, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, and Eighth Amendments. In addition, search and seizure, identifications, arrests, interrogations, confessions, and trial processes will be discussed within the guidelines established by the aforementioned constitutional amendments and case law.
Ethics in Criminal Justice
This course explores ethical behavior within criminal justice system and among its practitioners. It evaluates ethical predicaments, ethics in the roles of criminal justice organizations, ethics and community relations, ethics in criminal law, and individual ethical responsibility. Additional attention will be given to ethical considerations in law enforcement.
What makes OKWU’s Criminal Justice Program Different?
We believe in seeing the humanity in everyone—upholding respect and integrity as the foundation of law enforcement.