Legal Issues in Criminal Justice, Certificate
Explore how legal and policy decisions shape the criminal justice system. You examine the laws that govern crime investigation and offender prosecution, studying constitutional rights during adjudication, searches and seizures, and interrogations and confessions.
Quick facts
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Additional facts
Accreditation
Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Certificate description
Legal Issues in Criminal Justice undergraduate certificate description
In the certificate program in legal issues in criminal justice, you learn how laws and policies shape the practice of criminal justice. Coursework examines law and theoretical perspectives on the effects of specific policies, including their impact on justice professionals and communities. You study issues such as crimes and defenses, searches and seizures, interrogations and confessions, and constitutional rights during adjudication.
Why earn a legal issues in criminal justice undergraduate certificate at ASU?
This undergraduate certificate at ASU focuses specifically on law, policy and criminal justice. You gain deeper knowledge of how legal decisions affect criminal justice systems and the communities they serve, examining both theoretical perspectives and the practical impact of specific policies on justice professionals.
The coursework is designed to complement a variety of majors and career pathways. Whether you're pursuing a degree in public service, social sciences or another field, this certificate gives you specialized expertise in criminal law and procedure that enhances your academic foundation and professional readiness.
You learn at Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions, where faculty and students work with community partners through research centers dedicated to violence prevention, problem-oriented policing and correctional solutions. You can also join student organizations such as Alpha Phi Sigma and the Criminology and Criminal Justice Club, and participate in undergraduate research opportunities.
Additional details
The School of Criminology and Criminal Justice houses three research centers that enhance the lives of people who live and work in the justice system. The Center for Correctional Solutions uses a participatory, collaborative approach to transform the experience of incarcerated individuals and improve community health. The Center for Problem-Oriented Policing delivers information used worldwide in police training and college courses, hosting dozens of guides that address approaches to problems ranging from alcohol and drugs to fraud and traffic. The Center for Violence Prevention and Community Safety uses a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to build, implement and test new models for predicting, preventing and controlling violence.
Courses
This undergraduate certificate includes courses focused on a specialized topic, so you can advance your skills for further professional opportunities. Explore all courses below:
2026-2027 Catalog Year
The certificate requires 18 credit hours. A "C" minimum is required for all courses in the certificate, although students must maintain a 3.00 GPA in the post-baccalaureate certificate program.
| Requirement | Minimum grade | Credit hours |
|---|---|---|
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The certificate requires 18 credits hours, of which 12 are upper division. At least 12 credit hours must be taken in residence at ASU. |
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CRJ 203 Courts and Sentencing
3 credit hours
Minimum
grade:C
|
C | 3 |
|
CRJ 260 Criminal Law I: Introduction to Substantive Criminal Law
3 credit hours
Minimum
grade:C
|
C | 3 |
|
CRJ 410 Criminal Procedure I: The Law of Investigations
3 credit hours
Minimum
grade:C
|
C | 3 |
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CRJ 416 Criminal Procedure II: Adjudication
3 credit hours
Minimum
grade:C
|
C | 3 |
|
CRJ 460 Criminal Law II: Advanced Substantive Criminal Law
3 credit hours
Minimum
grade:C
|
C | 3 |
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Special Topics courses (CRJ 394 and CRJ 494) must be approved legal issues-related topics only.
3 credit hours
Minimum
grade:C
|
C | 3 |
|
Prerequisite courses may be needed in order to complete the requirements of this certificate.
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Bachelor of Science in criminology and criminal justice majors who are also pursuing the Legal Issues in Criminal Justice certificate may not use CRJ 410, CRJ 416, CRJ 460, and their chosen elective (CRJ 321, CRJ 350, or CRJ 411) towards both their degree and certificate.
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What you'll learn
The following learning outcomes highlight some of the knowledge and skills you'll develop to support your future success.
- Demonstrate competency in explaining the criminal process and Constitutional rights.
- Demonstrate competency in the historical development of criminal law, and the public policy implications of it.
- Demonstrate competency in explaining how the criminal court systems of the United States apply the law to pretrial, adjudication and sentencing processes.
Demonstrate competency in explaining the criminal process and Constitutional rights. Enrollment requirements
Students must complete CRJ 100 Introduction to Criminal Justice with a grade of "C" or higher (scale is 4.00 = "A") to be admitted to the certificate program. This course may be taken at ASU or transferred from another institution, including a community college.
Bachelor of Science in criminology and criminal justice majors who are also pursuing the legal issues in criminal justice certificate may not use CRJ 410, CRJ 416, CRJ 460 or their chosen elective (CRJ 321, CRJ 350 or CRJ 411) for both their degree and this certificate.
A student pursuing an undergraduate certificate must be enrolled as a degree-seeking student at ASU. Undergraduate certificates are not awarded before the completion of an undergraduate degree. A student who already holds an undergraduate degree may pursue an undergraduate certificate as a nondegree-seeking graduate student.
Here are the admission and application details
Paying for college
Use our calculator to estimate your full-time or part-time tuition fees for this program prior to any financial aid. Keep in mind that most of our students recieve financial aid, which can reduce out-of-pocket costs.
Get an estimateCareer opportunities
Careers this legal issues in criminal justice undergraduate certificate prepares you for
Graduates are prepared for employment opportunities in public policy, law enforcement and corrections, law firms and social service agencies. Advanced degrees or certifications may be required for academic or clinical positions.
Contact information
Use the contact information below to get in touch if you're a current student or have general questions.
School of Criminology and Criminal Justice
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UCENT 600
SCCJadvising@asu.edu
602-496-1658
Frequently asked questions about degree programs
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.
