Gain the knowledge and skills
necessary to become an effective
leader while preparing for
advancement in your law
enforcement career.
OU’s Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies with a major in Criminal Justice Leadership is a 100% online program that will prepare you for your next career phase. Designed for students who are a minimum of five years post high school/GED or at least 25 years of age and have already completed at least 60 hours of college credit, the bachelor’s degree in criminal justice leadership makes finishing your degree an obtainable goal.
Led by a team of instructors with extensive experience in law enforcement and leadership, the criminal justice leadership program will help you gain the knowledge and skills necessary to lead in law enforcement.
Rolling admissions (applications due 14 days before the intended start date).
Fall, Spring, Summer
Stay up to date with OU holiday closings, deadlines, and more.
Finish your degree and reach your career goals with a first-class education from the University of Oklahoma. Our flexible online format allows you to complete assignments on your own schedule, leaving more time for what matters to you most. You’ll have support from our experienced faculty and advisors every step of the way.
Job opportunities in law enforcement are expected to grow by 7% by 2030, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. With an average of 67,100 openings for police and detectives over the decade, a criminal justice leadership degree will help drive your career upward with more job options and opportunities for increased pay.
In addition to a generous transfer credit policy, your professional credentials may translate into college credit. Prior learning credit is awarded for college-level learning, balancing theory, and practical application appropriate to the subject. Talk to an enrollment coach about how your past college credits and work credentials can save you time and money.
OU Online graduates find employment within six months after graduation*
OU Online graduates report earning an annual salary of $75,000 or more*
OU Online students say the skills they gained in their program made them more competitive in their career field*
*Source: OU Online Graduate Outcomes Survey, 2023
Take the next step in your career with an online bachelor’s degree from the University of Oklahoma. Applications are reviewed year-round for eight-week fall, spring, and summer sessions. Choose your program, choose your start, and apply today.
Offered through the nationally ranked OU College of Professional and Continuing Studies, the online Bachelor of Arts – Criminal Justice Leadership is a fast-paced, accelerated program designed to accommodate working adults. You will be assigned an advisor who creates an individualized graduation plan when you are admitted into the program. This plan will help organize and identify the courses you need for your degree.
These courses will total 30 credit hours completed in the upper-division (3000-4000) level. Degree topics will vary depending on your proposed plan of study.
All undergraduate courses in this program are eight weeks long. Most students take four courses (or 12 credit hours) a semester – two classes in the first half of the semester and two in the second half. The number of credit hours you take each semester should be discussed with your advisor and reflective of your personal and work schedules.
To apply, students must:
The admissions committee operates under a rolling admission process, and admissions may continue until two weeks before classes start. The committee strives to respond to all applicants within two weeks of submitting a completed application.
For more information on the admissions process or to request a transfer credit evaluation, please schedule a call, and an enrollment coach will be in touch shortly.
If you would like to explore resources to help pay for your degree or compare the estimated cost of your program with a typical financial aid package, use the cost calculator on our OU Online financial aid page.
“I am truly inspired by students in my classes each and every term. The stories that they tell, the obstacles they’ve overcome, the dreams that they have and are working hard toward every single day… I am humbled to get to be a part of their journey.”
Jennifer Gatlin, Instructor
Every OU Online program is built on the foundation of world-class University of Oklahoma faculty mixed with professors of practice providing valuable instruction. By linking industry experts with our online programs, we offer the most advanced curriculum and prepare students for future career success.
Yes. The University of Oklahoma’s bachelor’s programs are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and are created by university staff and faculty. Graduates of online programs receive the same degree designation as students who attend classes on campus. Your diploma will be a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Oklahoma.
All OU Online degree programs are regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.*
*Note: Degrees also AACSB-accredited specify so in their corresponding program webpage. OU Online’s B.A. in Integrative Studies and B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies degrees (Organizational Leadership, Business Administration, Healthcare Management, etc.) are not accredited by the AACSB.
To be admitted to an online bachelor’s degree program, students:
Once OU receives all materials, we will begin processing your application. Admissions will email a decision letter to the address listed on the application. The average processing time is 2-3 business days.
For more information on the admissions process or to request a transfer credit evaluation, please schedule a call, and an admissions counselor will be in touch shortly.
If you do not meet the adult degree completion admissions requirements, the University of Oklahoma offers other degree programs that might be right for you. Schedule a visit with an enrollment coach to discuss your options.
No. Applicants should have at least 60 college credit hours completed, but they do not need an associate degree to be admitted.
Our programs are offered year-round and in eight-week increments. We offer five start dates, with opportunities to begin taking classes in the fall (August or October), spring (January or March), and summer (June).
All programs have a rolling admissions process; however, applicants are encouraged to have their completed applications submitted a minimum of two weeks prior to the start date they intend to begin. Your application is considered complete when we have received official transcripts from all institutions you have attended (academic and military, if applicable). We require a separate transcript from each institution.
Once you apply, we welcome you to submit your information to our Online Transcript Request Form, and we will attempt to order official transcripts from all prior institutions for you. Some institutions do not allow third-party transcript requests. In those cases, you will be contacted and asked to order the official transcript.
To be considered official, transcripts must be enclosed in a sealed envelope and mailed directly from the institution you attended to the following address:
The University of Oklahoma
OU Online
Attn: Incoming Transcripts
1610 Asp Avenue, Room 108
Norman, OK 73072
Transcripts may be submitted electronically as long as they are sent directly from the institution you attended to pacsugadmissions@ou.edu. Unfortunately, transcripts submitted through any other method of delivery can’t be accepted as official.
If you would like to compare the estimated cost of your program with a typical financial aid package, you can use the cost calculator on our OU Online financial aid page.
OU Online has a friendly and knowledgeable team of enrollment coaches ready to guide you through the admissions process. Browse the calendar and schedule a one-on-one meeting that fits your schedule, and an enrollment coach will help answer your questions.
Meet your goals and reach beyond them. A bachelor’s degree can lead to a 49% increase in salary or more, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The best investment you can make for your career is in yourself.
The criminal justice leadership degree completion program requires 120 credit hours to graduate, and 60-90 of those hours can be transferred to OU from other institutions.
For example, if a student transfers in 90 credit hours, only 30 hours at OU are required to complete the degree. At $500 per credit hour, the cost to that student would be $15,000.
$15,000-$30,000 depending on the number of transfer credits
Our tuition calculator can help you estimate your tuition and financial aid for your program of interest.
We are a top-tier public institution offering high-quality, affordable, professional undergraduate and graduate programs committed to maintaining academic excellence online.
Every OU Online program is built on the foundation of world-class faculty mixed with professors of practice providing valuable instruction. By linking industry experts with our online programs, we offer the most advanced curriculum and prepare students for future career success.
When you graduate from an OU Online program, you’ll join the network of 250,000 OU alumni and be forever part of the OU family. Become part of the tradition of excellence that OU has established in its 130-year history.
