Online Graduate Certificate in Analysis of Criminal Behavior
University of Cincinnati’s online Analysis of Criminal Behavior graduate certificate focuses on the various types of criminal offenders and methods of criminal offending.
Analysis of Criminal Behavior Graduate Certificate Highlights
High Quality Education
Our online Master’s in Criminal Justice program is ranked 12th best in the country for 2024 by U.S. News & World Report. By enrolling in this certificate program, you will deepen your understanding of the bio-social factors that impact criminal offending and decision-making. It will also provide you with an in-depth grasp of specialized forms of criminal behavior.
By graduation, students will be prepared for what’s next. Below are the student learning objectives for this certificate.
- Students will identify and explain major individual and aggregate level criminological theories.
- Students will identify and critically analyze the respective strengths and weaknesses of major criminological theories.
- Students will identify the distinguishing characteristics of certain crime types (cybercrime, white collar crime), offenders (serious and life-course-persistent offenders), and victims.
- Students will analyze data on different types of criminal offending and make cogent presentations of those analyses.
- Students will describe and evaluate efforts to prevent various types of criminal offending.
Flexibility
- 100% online
- Start in the fall, spring, or summer semester
- Only 12 credit hours
Support from Application through Graduation
At UC, you’ll have a full support team behind you:
Enrollment Services Advisor: Your partner through the application process, getting enrolled, and starting your program
Student Success Coordinator: Helping you prepare for classes and stay on track
Access to Resources: Access to university resources that will support you through your program including online learning expectations and resources, health and wellness resources, and academic support
The Graduate Certificate in Analysis of Criminal Behavior takes 12 hours to complete and can be completed in 1 year. The certificate requires two core classes (6 hours) and two electives (6 hours).
| Course | Title/Description | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| CJ7020 | Seminar in Criminology This course provides an introduction to and critical analysis of major criminological theories, including theories from the bio-social, life course, strain, control, learning, labelling, rational choice, routine activities, feminist, and critical theory perspectives. The emphasis is on understanding the logical structure of these theories as well as their respective strengths and weaknesses. |
3 |
| CJ8028 | Biosocial Factors in Serial Offending This course provides an introduction to the biosocial perspective on criminal offending. The primary goal is to introduce students to the current state of knowledge on biosocial factors that affect human behavior, especially serious, repeated criminal behavior. The course will explain the structures of the brain and their functioning. The literature on behavioral and molecular genetics as it relates to criminal offending and antisocial behavior will be reviewed. The characteristics of psychopathology and the biological and social factors that lead to this condition will be explored in depth. |
3 |
| Course | Title/Description | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| CJ6012 | Cybercrime This course is designed to provide master’s level students with a broad introduction to the various types of criminal conduct associated with computers and the Internet. As a student in this class you will be exposed to techniques associated with digital forensics and will assess criminological theories of crime as they relate to digital crime and terrorism. Additionally, you will examine a number of the national and international laws and policies related to cybercrime including the diverse steps that have been taken to increase digital security around the globe. Familiarity with computers and the Internet will help you progress through the course, but expertise is not required nor expected. |
3 |
| CJ7055 | Terrorism and Homeland Security This course provides an overview of the various components related to an empirical understanding of terrorism. The course will also review the development of homeland security in America as it relates to terrorism and situate this development within various perspectives. Emphasis in this course will be placed on critical assessment of ideologically-based viewpoints of terrorism and homeland security. Scientific empiricism will guide the student’s journey of the variety of topics that will be covered in this course. |
3 |
| CJ8013 | Seminar in Juvenile Justice This seminar course covers the juvenile justice system from arrest to corrections. Related issues on diversion and programmatic treatment will be covered. Contemporary issues in juvenile justice are considered. |
3 |
| CJ8072 | Seminar in White-Collar Crime This course provides a detailed examination of white-collar crime. The primary goals are to provide an introduction to the field of white-collar crime and identify the main research issues and directions that currently dominate this area of study. The course reviews the history of the field and its relevance to mainstream criminology. It identifies the distinguishing characteristics of white-collar crime. Selected forms of white-collar crime are investigated. Methods of controlling white-collar crime, including civil, administrative, criminal justice and situational crime prevention techniques, are explored. |
3 |
Prerequisites
- Bachelor’s Degree (in any field of study) from a regionally accredited university
- At least one professional or academic letter of recommendation from an individual you have known for a minimum of one year – at least one letter must be from a current or past supervisor
- A personal goal statement
- An overall 3.0 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) or higher from all previous undergraduate coursework
– OR –
- An overall 2.75 GPA will be considered for acceptance with at least one of the following:
- Five years of criminal justice work experience (does not include social work)
- Nine hours of graduate coursework with a 3.0 GPA or higher with a regionally accredited college or university
- A minimum combined score of 300 on the verbal and quantitative parts of the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) taken within five years of your application*
- *The GRE is not needed with a 3.0 GPA or higher
Fast Track Admission: automatic admission into the online Graduate Certificate in Analysis of Criminal Behavior for undergraduate students who graduate from UC
- Cumulative GPA of 3.50 or above (for courses completed at UC)
- Earned 4-year undergraduate degree from UC
- Graduated from UC within the past 5 years (15 academic semesters)
- Any major applies (not limited to Criminal Justice majors)
- Must still complete the application and pay the application fee, but if the student meets the above requirements they will be automatically admitted to the program
- The Fast Track application process removes the Statement of Purpose/Personal Statement, CV/Resume, and Letter of Recommendation requirements from the application for qualified applicants; submission of transcripts as part of the application process is still required
- Letter of recommendation will be waived as a requirement (a generic letter signed by the MS DL Director or the Associate Director will be provided to meet Graduate School requirements)
Complete the online application and submit the application fee.
Standard Application Fees:
- $65.00 for domestic applicants to most degree programs
- $70.00 for international applicants to most degree programs
- $20.00 for domestic applicants to Graduate Certificates
- $25.00 for international applicants to Graduate Certificates
- Application fees are waived for Summer 2026 applications submitted by March 1st, 2026
- Application fees are waived for Fall 2026 applications submitted by July 1st, 2026
- Fee waivers are automatically applied for applicants who:
- are currently serving in the US armed forces
- are veterans of the US armed forces
All applicants are required to upload unofficial transcripts during the application process, showing all undergraduate and graduate course work completed, including degrees granted and dates of conferral.
Official transcripts are not required until the student has received and accepted an offer of admission from the university. Once the offer has been confirmed, the student must submit official transcripts.
Students who have received degrees from the University of Cincinnati do not need to submit official paper copies of their UC transcripts.
Transcripts can be submitted electronically or by mail. To see if your transcript(s) can be ordered electronically, visit the links below and search for your previous school(s).
- Parchment
- Please select “University of Cincinnati – Main Campus” as the recipient of your transcript.
- National Student Clearinghouse
- Please have your transcript sent directly to admissions@uc.edu.
If you do not see your past school(s) listed on either site, please contact the school(s) directly. Then, mail your sealed, unopened, official transcripts to:
Please mail sealed, unopened, official transcripts to:
University of Cincinnati
Office of Admissions
PO Box 210091
Cincinnati, Ohio 45221-0091
At least one professional or academic letter of recommendation from an individual you have known for a minimum of one year, presented on corresponding professional letterhead. At least one letter must be from a current or past supervisor.
The personal goal statement should explain how the Certificate in Analysis of Criminal Behavior will further your career goals in less than 500 words. You may also provide any other information about your ability to succeed in our program that you’d like us to consider.
International applicants must have a minimum TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score of 550 (paper version) or 190 (electronic version) to be considered for acceptance.
| Term | Application Deadline | Classes Start |
|---|---|---|
Spring 2026 | B Term Summer 2026 | A Term Summer 2026 | B Term Fall 2026 | A Term Fall 2026 | B Term |
February 16, 2026 April 28, 2026 June 11, 2026 August 1, 2026 September 21, 2026 |
March 2, 2026 May 11, 2026 June 25, 2026 August 24, 2026 October 13, 2026 |
The University of Cincinnati's online course fees differ depending on the program. On average, students will accrue fewer fees than students attending on-campus classes.
The one fee applied across all UC Online programs is the distance learning fee. Students living outside the state of Ohio must also pay an additional “non-resident” fee to enroll in courses at UC Online. This fee is lower than the out-of-state fee for traditional on-campus programs.
To view tuition information and program costs, visit the Online Program Fees page.
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