Want to make a difference for your community, region and beyond? Earn a Bachelor of Science in Criminology and Criminal Justice degree from Lincoln Memorial University! Our program was developed by a Criminal Justice Curriculum Advisory Board of academics, criminal justice professionals, and community members to comply with Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences (ACJS) academic standards while also ensuring that you are exposed to diverse experiences that are both dynamic and relevant in and out of the classroom.
To ensure that you make the most of your time at LMU, we are proud to provide small classes (no more than 30 students per class) so that you are able to interact with your peers and instructors alike on a personal level. As a part of your time in the criminal justice program, we encourage you to complete a field internship in a local, state or federal criminal justice agency of your choosing. Past graduates of our program chose to complete internships with groups and agencies like:
- Attorney General's Office, 8th Judicial District
- Bell County Circuit Court
- Claiborne County Sheriff's Department
- Federal Bureau of Investigation
- Federal Bureau of Prisons
- Tennessee Bureau of Investigation
- Tennessee Department of Corrections, Division of Probation and Parole
Admission Requirements
Review the list below to ensure that you are eligible for entry into the criminology and criminal justice program at LMU. To qualify, you must meet the following criteria:
Regular Admission
- Completed high school with a grade point average (GPA) of 3.2 or higher on a 4-point grading scale. ACT/SAT scores are optional. If your test scores are submitted to the Office of Admissions, they will be reviewed on an individual basis.
- Or pass your General Education Development (GED) examination with an average score of 45 or higher with no component score lower than 35.
Regular Transfer Admission
- Cumulative GPA of at least 2.4 on all of your previous college-level work.
If you have completed at least fifteen (15) semester credit hours of potentially transferrable, seated, college-level coursework at an accredited/approved college or university, you will be considered for regular transfer admission to LMU.
How to Apply
To be admitted into the criminology and criminal justice program, you must apply through the LMU portal. Your application must be completed to be considered for entry. We recommend you complete your application prior to the last year of your high school education.
Learn more about cost and tuition here, as well as opportunities for scholarships and others ways to get help paying for school.
Need help with your application process? Get application assistance.
Program Outcomes
After you've completed the criminology and criminal justice program at LMU and earned your degree, there are a wide variety of career opportunities waiting for well-equipped graduates just like you! Some of these opportunities include:
- Law Enforcement
- Criminal Investigations
- Crime Prevention
- Juvenile Intervention
- Victim Assistance Programs
- Court Administration
- Prisons, Jails, Penology
- Community Corrections, Probation, and Parole
- Private and Corporate Security
- Drug Enforcement and Interdiction
- Federal Agencies (FBI, Secret Service, CBP, BATFE)
- Law School
- Graduate Education in Criminal Justice or Criminology
The criminology and criminal justice program also offers a leg up if you are interested law school and pursuing a career as a lawyer. The Early Entry Program to LMU Duncan School of Law (DSOL) will allow you, as an undergraduate student, to apply, be accepted into and begin pursuing a law degree at LMU DSOL before completing your bachelor's degree. Our Early Entry Program to the Master's in Criminal Justice program offers you a unique opportunity to get a head start on completing your graduate degree!
Organizations and Honor Society
At LMU, the Alpha Beta Epsilon Chapter of the American Criminal Justice Association is accessible to all students interested in studying criminal justice or legal issues. If you excel academically and are interested in criminal justice, criminology or law, you may also be eligible for entry into Alpha Phi Sigma, the National Criminal Justice Honor Society.
Contact Us
Want to learn more about the Bachelor of Science in Criminology and Criminal Science program at LMU? Contact us at any time and we will get back to you as soon as we can!
Dr. Kevin Jennings
Associate Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice
Program Director of Criminal Justice
Office Address: Avery Hall, 301
Phone: 423.869.6580
Email: Kevin.Jennings@LMUnet.edu