Criminal Justice Online-Frequently Asked Questions
We know making a decision about where and how to obtain your degree can be overwhelming. We are here to help clarify some of the most common questions you may have about our program.
If you have questions that you cannot find an answer to on this page, please let us know and we will be happy to provide an answer.
Q: Can I complete my Criminal Justice minor online?
A: Yes. All courses required for the CJ minor are available online.
Q: What classes will I take in this program?
A: You will take a wide variety of required courses in addition to several courses that you can tailor to meet your educational goals (e.g., focus on policing, courts, corrections, etc.). View the degree requirements or to view the various courses offered by the criminal justice program.
Q: Can I take any course online?
A: All of our required courses are available online. While not all electives are available online, we make many electives available online, on a rotating schedule. This includes Fall courses (CJ 101, 202, 304, 317, 375, 425, and at least 3 electives), Spring courses (CJ 101, 203, 204, 315, 425, 426, 498, and at least 3 electives), and a rotating summer course schedule.
Q: Is there a difference between being an “online-only” student and just taking classes online?
A: Yes, but only insofar as registration goes. If you let us know that you will be completing your degree completely online, we make special allowances for you to have a “seat” in our online courses. While students who are not “online-only” can register for the same classes, they do not have access to these special reserved seats.
Q: I’m an online-only student but the classes I need to register for are full. What can I do?
A: Since there are special seats for online-only students, you should reach out to the program to see if any of these seats are still available and for a registration permission number (crimjust@boisestate.edu).
Q: I started as an online-only student but want to take face-to-face classes now. Can I do that?
A: Yes. Please contact the program and we will remove your online-only status.
Q: I started as a face-to-face student but want to move fully online. Can I do that?
A: Yes. Please contact the program and we will add your online-only status.
Q: I am a face-to-face student but want to take some online classes or maybe a full semester online, what should I do?
A: You can simply register for classes as you normally would. If you will be online-only for a short time, you don’t need to alert us.
Q: Can I transfer credits from another college or university?Â
A: Boise State accepts a wide range of credits from other colleges and universities. Please contact the registrar’s office to discuss whether your specific credits will transfer.
Q: I have some college or university credits but I was not a CJ major. Does this matter?
A: Only partially. Many of your previous credits are likely to apply to our foundational, lower-division requirements.
Q: I heard that online degrees are not as good as face-to-face degrees. Is this true?
A: It depends on the program. The standards of our online program are equal to those of our traditional face-to-face degree.
Q: Will my career prospects be lower for getting my degree online?
A: At Boise State, due to the rigor of our online program, your degree will not indicate that you completed your studies online.
Q: Can I take courses online and face-to-face in this program?
A: Absolutely. The flexible format is designed to help you learn in whatever format is best suited to your life and learning style.
Q: Where do I even begin?
A: Follow our link for “Begin your Criminal Justice Degree” to see options tailored to your educational history.