Criminology and Criminal Justice (Community Safety, Law and Social Change) ,BS
Community, Community Advocacy, Criminal Justice, Justice, Law and Society, Legal, Public Safety, Reform, SAFETY, Victimization
Explore innovative, community-driven strategies that advance safety, justice and meaningful reform. You'll study alternatives to traditional criminal justice approaches, such as diversion programs, restorative practices and policy innovation, while building practical skills through research, advocacy and hands-on engagement to help reduce harm and strengthen accountability.
The community safety, law and social change concentration in the Bachelor of Science program in criminology and criminal justice helps you explore innovative and equitable approaches to public safety, legal reform and community well-being. This program emphasizes strategies for reducing harm and victimization that extend beyond traditional criminal justice responses.
You learn about emerging approaches to safety --- including crisis response teams, transformative justice practices, and community-led initiatives. You also examine the social impacts of law and policy, as well as efforts to build trust, accountability and resources within communities. Through the curriculum, you gain a deeper understanding of how safety can be achieved through prevention, collaboration and structural change.
Courses are taught by nationally recognized faculty with expertise in community justice, legal advocacy and social change, and by professionals engaged in shaping real-world alternatives to the current system. You're encouraged to participate in internships, applied research and community engagement opportunities that provide hands-on experience in building safer, more just communities.
GI Bill® benefits
This new program is not yet approved for use with GI Bill® benefits.
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/.
- College/school:
Watts College of Public Service & Community Solutions
- Location: Downtown Phoenix, West Valley or Online , ASU Local
- Second language requirement: No
- STEM-OPT extension eligible: No
- First required math course: MAT 114 - College Mathematics
- Math
intensity: General
What If: See how your courses can be applied to another major and find out how to change your major.
General university admission requirements:
All students are required to meet general
university admission requirements.
First-year | Transfer | International | Readmission
A current ASU student has no additional requirements for changing majors.
Students should visit the Change of Major form for information about how to change a major to this program.
ASU offers this program in an online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. Applicants may view the program’s ASU Online page for program descriptions and to request more information.
It is now possible to earn an ASU degree with ASU Local, an integrated college experience in which students take advantage of in-person success coaching and programming experiences on site while completing one of 130+ undergraduate online degree programs, all of which come with online faculty interaction and tutoring support.
ASU is committed to helping students thrive by offering tools that allow personalization of the transfer path to ASU. Students may use MyPath2ASU® to outline a list of recommended courses to take prior to transfer.
ASU has transfer partnerships in Arizona and across the country to create a simplified transfer experience for students. These pathway programs include exclusive benefits, tools and resources, and they help students save time and money in their college journey.
With more than 300 Global Education program opportunities available to them, criminology and criminal justice students are able to tailor their experience to their unique interests and skill sets. The School of Criminology and Criminal Justice has existing rotating summer study abroad programs in multiple countries, including Israel, Norway and Northern Ireland. These programs are currently open to online and in-person students.
Graduates of this concentration are well prepared to pursue careers in legal and policy advocacy, community-based organizations, research and think tanks, government leadership, and political oversight. They are equipped to lead in the development of inclusive and effective safety strategies, and to drive meaningful change in the criminal legal system and beyond.
Graduates pursuing advanced study in Juris Doctorate or Master of Legal Studies programs are well prepared with the strong foundation this program has given them.
Example job titles and salaries listed below are not necessarily entry level, and students should take into consideration how years of experience and geographical location may affect pay scales. Some jobs also may require advanced degrees, certifications or state-specific licensure.
| Career | *Growth | *Median salary |
|---|---|---|
|
4.6%
|
$56,730
|
|
|
-7.8%
|
$58,940
|
|
|
4.4%
|
$61,990
|
|
|
4.1%
|
$159,670
|
|
|
-1.2%
|
$72,110
|
|
|
2.9%
|
$106,040
|
|
|
3.4%
|
Not available
|
|
|
6.4%
|
$80,390
|
School of Criminology and Criminal Justice
|
UCENT 600
SCCJAdvising@asu.edu
602-496-2356
Program term definitions
Accelerated programs allow students the opportunity to expedite the completion of their degree.
Accelerated master's
These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).
Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master's during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
Concurrent degrees allow students to pursue their own personal or professional interests, earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. To add a concurrent degree to your existing degree, work with your academic advisor.
Joint programs, or jointly conferred degrees, are offered by more than one college and provide opportunities for students to take advantage of the academic strengths of two academic units. Upon graduation, students are awarded one degree and one diploma conferred by two colleges.
ASU adds new programs to Degree Search frequently. Come back often and look for the "New Programs" option.
ASU Online offers programs in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. See https://asuonline.asu.edu/ for more information.
