This flexible B.A. program explores the intersection of criminal and social justice through an interdisciplinary lens.ÌýIn addition to studying the foundations of the criminal justice system, students analyze systemic issues such as addiction, race, gender, and violence to understand the social and economic roots of crime and identify ethical approaches to addressing them.
Taught by experts in the field of criminal justice—including attorneys, police chiefs, academics, and practitioners—the program combines in-depth study of criminal law and criminology with electives on social change, psychology, and sociology. Boston College’s Jesuit tradition of inquiry and service prepares graduates to help build an ethical, rehabilitative criminal justice system.
A distinguishing characteristic of liberal arts education is a required core curriculum. The Bachelor of Arts programs require the following core courses:
| Students who started Fall 2025 onward: | Students who started prior to Fall 2025: |
|---|---|
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Beginning in the fall of 2025, the Woods College Undergraduate Programs will be integrating its core curriculum into the Boston College University Core. This decision reflects our commitment to align our standards of quality and rigor to the rest of the University.
| Requirements for MajorÌý | Course Code |
|---|---|
| Introduction to Social Justice | ADCJ 1100 |
| Principles of Criminal Justice | ADCJ 1101 |
| Faith, Justice & the Criminal Justice System | ADCJ 2003 |
| Perspectives and Concepts of the Juvenile Justice System | ADCJ 2110 |
| Criminology OR Crime & Punishment | ADCJ 2000 OR ADCJ 2001 |
| Corrections: Policies and Practice | ADCJ 4100 |
| Criminal Law & Procedure | ADCJ 3010 |
| American Institutions | ADCJ/ADPO 3051 |
Additional electives: Select 4 courses, one of which must be from each of the following categories:
| Criminal Justice Electives | Course Code |
|---|---|
| Policing in America | ADCJ 2004 |
| Criminology* | ADCJ 2000 |
| Crime and Punishment* | ADCJ 2001 |
* Eligible for elective credit if the student did not take it as part of their major requirement.
| Social and Systemic Challenges in Criminal Justice Electives | Course Code |
|---|---|
| The Evolution of a Hate Crime from Thought to Execution and Punishment | ADCJ 3801 |
| Introduction to African American Literature | ADEN 2005 |
| Community Psychology | ADPS 2445 |
| Deviance and Social Control | ADSO 1030 |
| Class, Power, and Social Change | ADSO 1151 |
| Social Change in Action | ADSO 1357 |
| Law and Society | ADSO 1365 |
| Drugs and Society | ADSO 2010 |
| Sociology of Antiracism | ADSO 3019 |
| Race, Gender, and Violence | ADSO 3503 |
| Race, Surveillance, and Society | ADSO 3510 |
| Captive Bodies: Race, Resistance, and the Archive | ADSO 3511 |
| The Challenge of Justice | ADTH/ADPL 2160 |
| Interdisciplinary Electives | Course Code |
|---|---|
| Any ADCJ, ADSO, and ADPS course | Ìý |
| Applied Data Analysis and Interpretation | ADBM/ADCO 1771 |
| Conflict Resolution and Negotiation Skills | ADBM/ADCO 2075 |
If you are mailing hard copies of application materials, please send them to:
Boston College
Woods College of Advancing Studies Admissions Office
St. Mary's Hall South
140 Commonwealth Avenue
Chestnut Hill, MA 02467
*Current Woods CollegeÌýUndergraduateÌýdegree students interested in adding a certificate to their plan of study shouldÌýnotÌýuse the online application.Ìý
If you have been conferred your associate's degree, you may submit anÌýAttestation FormÌýin lieu of an official high school transcript. The completed form can be sent toÌýwcasadm@bc.edu.Ìý
Please mail transcripts to:
Boston College
Woods College of Advancing StudiesÌýAdmissions Office
St. Mary's Hall South
140 Commonwealth Avenue
Chestnut Hill, MA 02467
If your academic institution provides electronic transcripts please indicateÌýwcasadm@bc.eduÌýas the recipient.
Applicants whose Native language is not English are required toÌýdemonstrate English language proficiency, for required scores, visit ourÌýInternational Student page.
Please submit one essay by responding to one of the topics listed below. The essay should be typewritten, double-spaced, and should be limited to 500 – 750 words in length.
The essay is essential to the Admissions Committee as it allows the committee to assess your personal goals, your reasons for choosing the program to which you are applying, your commitment to your educational goals, and your writing ability.Ìý
The essay must be uploaded as part of your online application.
Application fee: $45
Ìý
Two letters of recommendation are required. Letters must be sent directly from the recommender through our online application portal or sent directly to Woods College (wcasadm@bc.edu).
Please note: Letters of recommendation should be provided by recommenders who can speak to your professional or academic abilities.
If you are having difficulty securing a second letter of recommendation, please email wcasadm@bc.edu to schedule an interview with the Associate Director of Undergraduate Admissions. This interview will serve in lieu of the second letter of recommendation.
For all non-native English speakers the TOEFL (reporting code 3276) or IELTS (if applicable) from within the past two years, is required.ÌýPlease view our International Students page for required test scores. If your undergraduate degree was conducted in English, you may be eligible for a TOEFL waiver. Please contactÌýWoods College AdmissionsÌýif you believe you qualify for a waiver.
For all international students and non-native English speakers, interviews are conducted as part of the application process.
The purpose of the interview is for the admission committee to gain a better sense of an applicant and how the program fits his or her academic and vocational needs. Additionally, the interview provides the committee an opportunity to assess a student’s specific information and to address the unique needs one may have in transitioning to Boston College.Ìý The interview will last no more than 15 minutes.Ìý Interviews will only be scheduled once an application has been submitted.
All students who have, or are currently attending, an institution outside of the United States must provide a detailed, course-by-course transcript evaluation indicating the following:
For BA applicants: conferral of a secondary school degree that is equivalent to a U.S. high school’s degree from an accredited institution.
For MS applicants: conferral of an undergraduate degree that is equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
This evaluation is not just an English translation, but a document provided by an accredited evaluating agency that shows all grades, course titles, credit hours, United States degree equivalency, grade-point average (GPA), and date of degree conferral.
This detailed, course-by-course transcript evaluation must be submitted to complete the application.
Please request a detailed, course-by-course transcript evaluation for all international institutions where a degree was conferred from one of the following agencies:
Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE) | Center for Educational Documentation (CED) | The Evaluation Company (TEC) | Ìý World Education Services Inc. (WES) Ìý |
Financial Aid and Scholarship Information
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Schedule an appointment with an admissions counselor through ourÌýonline calendar.Ìý
Woods College of Advancing Studies offers Bachelor's and Master's degrees, certificates, and professional education opportunities.Ìý If you're interested in furthering your education, we have something for you.Ìý
Courses and Microcredentials.
Take a course, see how it goes.Ìý