About

Join our alumni working for INTERPOL or Homeland Security or choose your own path in international related criminal justice. With Appalachian State University’s Criminal Justice (BSCJ) - International Studies degree, you will understand the criminal justice system, its stakeholders, and the interaction and influence of foreign countries and governments. Students in this degree take criminal justice classes as well as courses with an international focus in political science, religion and languages.

Appalachian State University’s Criminal Justice (BSCJ) – International Studies majors are taught by faculty in the Department of Government and Justice Studies who have diverse expertise. At Appalachian, you will take classes from both sides of the department, including faculty from the pre-professional legal studies concentration and faculty from the public administration undergraduate concentration.

In addition to classes in criminal justice, the program’s strong liberal arts focus emphasizes critical writing, communications and analysis skills. You will be required to complete a writing course that focuses on the writing skills needed in your specific concentration. Students are required to complete an internship to gain practical experience, and the department’s full-time internship coordinator can help you find that perfect host site. 

If you want to continue your education and have a 3.4 GPA or higher, you can complete Appalachian’s Accelerated Admission from Baccalaureate to Master’s Program and receive a Master’s of Public Administration in one extra year.

After Graduation

Employment: Students find jobs after graduation with both national and international organizations. Popular employers include: INTERPOL, Border Patrol or Homeland Security.

Graduate schools: Some students choose to continue their education at Appalachian State University or other institutions such as Florida State University and University of Missouri at St. Louis.

Career Exploration website

People

• 

  Faculty Profile: Dr. Cathy Marcum

  In this Q&A, criminal justice professor Dr. Cathy Marcum discusses her research on cybercrime and corrections.

  Meet more faculty

• 

  Student Profile: Madison Cook '20

  Madison Cook works as a part-time police officer with Appalachian State University Police after completing the university’s new Appalachian Police Development Program (APDP).

• 

  Alumnus Profile: Brock Long ’97 ’99

  After 16 years’ experience in homeland security, Long served as FEMA administrator from 2017 to 2019. He holds two degrees from Appalachian: a bachelor's degree in criminal justice and a Master of Public Administration degree.

• 

  Hughes prepares for a career in intelligence by combining ROTC and criminal justice

  “If you want to have a positive influence on society, I’d argue that criminal justice is probably one of the most important majors to pursue.”

  - Kendall Hughes '18, second lieutenant in the U.S. Army

Related Program

• Criminal Justice (BSCJ)

Minors

A minor is not required. Popular minors include:

• Psychology
• Sociology
• Accounting
• Chemistry
• History

View all minors

Engagement Outside the Classroom

American Correctional Association - The Appalachian Students Chapter of the American Correctional Association was founded in 2003 and works to educate the community about the truth of our justice system.

International Relations Association - a student organization dedicated to the appreciation and increased understanding of world events and international organizations. The club participates extensively in Model United Nation activities, hosting events as well as traveling to different cities as Model UN delegations.

Global Learning

Appalachian is committed to introducing students to different cultures and teaching them how to live and interact in a global society. Past faculty led study abroad locations include Cuba and Eastern Europe.

Admission Requirements

There are no admission requirements beyond admission to Appalachian State University.