Jobs in criminal justice play an important role in our society. Crime scene investigators help determine who has committed a crime, detectives investigate crimes and lawyers help ensure our legal system works as intended. These are just three of the many jobs available in criminal justice.
To secure a job in criminal justice, you’ll need a degree. While gaining a criminal justice degree, you’ll study social, economic and historical factors which influence criminal justice and develop a firm understanding of the legal system. A degree in criminal justice could help you work in the court system or in law enforcement.
Over the years, online criminal justice degrees have become more popular. These degrees provide you with more flexibility than in-person programs, allowing you to study from anywhere and on a less rigid schedule.
In this article, we’re going to break down the top five online criminal justice degree programs that will help you become a criminal justice professional. We’ll discuss each of these schools individually, and explore their course structures and tuition rates.
Online Criminal Justice Degree Rankings in 2020
With so many options out there, you may find yourself asking: what is the best online criminal justice degree program? While the right program for you will depend on your needs, there are a few top programs you should consider as you start your research. We’ve listed them below to help you get started.
#1: Arizona State University
- Degree: Bachelor of Science in Criminology and Criminal Justice
- Tuition: $640 / credit
- Duration: 4 years
- Credit Requirement: 120 credits
Arizona State University has a nationally-recognized criminal justice program.
Their online Bachelor of Science in Criminology and Criminal Justice degree will teach you the policies and practices of the criminal justice system, including within corrections and law enforcement. You’ll cover topics such as an introduction to policing, statistical analysis, and courts and sentences.
By the end of the program, you’ll be equipped with the skills you need to enter a range of criminal justice careers, from being an intelligence officer to being a corrections worker.
Arizona State University’s program is taught by a prestigious faculty. For instance, one member of their faculty is a Fellow of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences; another is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association.
#2: Colorado State University – Global Campus
- Degree: Bachelor of Criminal Justice
- Tuition: $350 / credit
- Duration: 4 years
- Credit Requirement: 120 credits
On Colorado State University’s Global Campus, you’ll be able to study criminal justice online. Their criminal justice program will help you learn the inner-workings of law enforcement, corrections and the court system.
In this program, you’ll get an overview of the theories and practices used in law enforcement and learn how effective criminal justice systems are operated. As part of your course, you’ll participate in a degree specialization which matches your career interests. Some specializations include criminology, business administration and criminal forensics.
CSU’s Global Campus is partnered with agencies such as the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. This helps CSU ensure their programs cover the latest developments in law enforcement and criminal justice so graduates are equipped with a modern skillset.
#3: Florida International University
- Degree: Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice
- Tuition: $228.81 / credit (in-state); $345.87 (out-of-state)
- Duration: 4 years
- Credit Requirement: 120 credits
Florida International University has been offering online courses for more than 20 years. One of the online courses you can take at FIU is a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice.
Whether you’re interested in working in private security, law enforcement or as a probation officer, this degree will provide you with the foundational knowledge you need to start your career. You’ll cover topics such as research methods in criminal justice, criminological theory and constitutional law.
Students at FIU come from all 50 states and 142 different countries, and there are more than 200,000 alumni from the school working across the globe. That’s not all: 96 percent of FIU’s faculty members hold a doctoral degree or the highest degree in their field.
#4: University of Massachusetts – Lowell
- Degree: Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice
- Tuition: $380 / credit
- Duration: 4 years
- Credit Requirement: 120 credits
The University of Massachusetts Lowell offers a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice degree. This course combines criminal justice with a well-rounded liberal arts education.
In this course, you’ll take on emerging issues confronting the criminal justice system. You’ll develop an understanding of how the justice system works, and learn how to apply theory and research to real problems in the field.
Faculty members at the University of Massachusetts Lowell have won millions of dollars in grants from federal agencies, including the National Science Foundation and the Department of Homeland Security. This is indicative of the quality of teachers who will instruct you at the university.
#5: University of Colorado
- Degree: Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice
- Tuition: $330 / credit (in-state, if paying with the College Opportunity Fund); $509 / credit (out-of-state)
- Duration: 4 years
- Credit Requirement: 120 credits
The University of Colorado’s online Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice will give you a strong understanding of the legal and justice systems. Whether you want to work for a non-profit advocating for criminal justice policy or as a corrections officer, this degree will help you further your criminal justice career.
In this course, you’ll cover the importance of criminal justice statistics, the criminal justice process, and crime theory and causes. Students in this program are also required to participate in a one-semester internship which helps them build practical experience in their field of interest. Many students extend their internship due to the value of the opportunity.
Online Criminal Justice Degree Offerings
An online degree in criminal justice will help you enter any one of the three core areas of criminal justice: law enforcement, the court system or corrections. Within these core areas, you can specialize in a particular career path, such as working as a detective or a corrections officer.
You can earn any level of a criminal justice degree online, from an associate degree to a doctorate. With that said, the most common degree offered online for criminal justice is a bachelor’s degree, followed by a master’s degree.
Online Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Degree
A bachelor’s degree in criminal justice will set you on a path to pursuing a career in law and order. You’ll develop a general understanding of the legal system, then specialize in a particular area of interest to you, such as white collar crime or crime scene investigation.
Online Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Degree Entry Requirements and Length
You’ll need a high school diploma or its equivalent in order to be accepted into an online criminal justice degree program. You may also be expected to meet other standard first-year undergraduate admission requirements such as submitting your SAT or ACT scores, along with having a minimum GPA of 2.0.
Most programs require online students to complete 120 credits to earn their degree, which takes about four years.
Online Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Degree Curriculum
The courses you’ll take to earn an online criminal justice degree will depend on your career path. If you want to pursue a career in corrections, your course load will look different from someone who wants to pursue a career as a detective. Here are a few topics of study you can pursue within your bachelor’s degree:
- Criminal Justice Systems: In this part of your degree, you’ll learn about the justice system in your state, as well as the federal justice system. This will involve learning trial procedures, rights and how each system is structured.
- Crime: In this part of the course, you’ll learn of different types of crime and the characteristics inherent to each type of crime. For instance, you’ll learn about cybercrime, white-collar crime, violent crime and more.
- Legal Rights: You’ll learn the rights every accused criminal has after being suspected of committing a crime. You’ll use the skills you acquire in this part of the course on a daily basis.
- Psychology: In this part of your degree, you’ll learn how to determine why people commit crimes. This will give you an idea of why people subvert rules so that you can better understand the motivations and psyche of a criminal.
- Correctional Facilities: Correctional facility classes will help you understand what happens to criminals after they are convicted. You’ll learn prison rules, security levels used by different prisons and more.
- Restorative Justice: While incarcerating people is a common method of justice, there is a growing body of research to suggest that other options — such as restorative justice or rehabilitation programs — may be more effective in some cases. You’ll learn how these methods work while discussing their merits and drawbacks.
Online Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Degree Progression
A bachelor’s degree in criminal justice will prepare you for a range of jobs in criminal justice. Graduates often work in the corrections system, the court system or for a police department.
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Some jobs, such as becoming a police officer, require further, specific training. Other jobs may require a master’s degree in criminal justice, such as those that involve working with the FBI or another federal law enforcement agency.
Online Criminal Justice Master’s Degree
An online criminal justice master’s degree will provide you with deeper insight into how the criminal justice system works. This will help you pursue more advanced positions in the field of criminal justice later in your career.
Online Criminal Justice Master’s Degree Entry Requirements and Length
You’ll need a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, criminology or a related field to be accepted into an online criminal justice master’s degree program. These programs require completion of around 40 credits, which usually take two years to earn.
Online Criminal Justice Master’s Degree Curriculum
The curriculum for an online criminal justice master’s degree involves exploring the foundations of criminal justice and criminology theory in depth. You’ll master policing, crime and punishment, ethics in criminal justice, criminal law enforcement, legal issues in administering criminal justice and more.
You’ll also be able to specialize in an area of criminal justice, such as homeland security or cybercrime, which will help you prepare for a specific career.
Online Criminal Justice Master’s Degree Progression
A master’s program will prepare you for jobs in corrections, law enforcement and the court system. You may also be able to use your master’s degree as a stepping stone to a political position which may or may not be related to criminal justice.
The typical work setting for a master’s degree graduate is working within a government agency, law enforcement agency, non-profit or legal body.
What Can You Do With a Criminal Justice Degree?
A degree in criminal justice can take your career in many directions depending on what specific interests you have in the criminal justice system. There are dozens of specialized fields within criminal justice for you to explore.
Here are a few of the most common jobs people pursue after graduating from a criminal justice degree program:
- Detective: Detectives are a type of senior police officer who conduct and manage investigations into various crimes such as robbery, corporate fraud, cybercrimes and different violent crimes.
- Crime Scene Investigator: Crime scene investigators aid police officers and detectives in their investigations. They collect and analyze evidence from crime scenes and share their findings with other members of their law enforcement team.
- Corrections Manager: Corrections managers are responsible for managing employees at a prison. They’ll interact with inmates to ensure their security and will also ensure workers are protected while on the job.
- FBI Agent: A degree in criminal justice could prepare you for a job as an FBI agent. Your role as an FBI agent would include investigating federal and organized crimes on behalf of the federal government.
- Police Officer: Police officers protect the public from crime and respond to emergencies when a crime is committed. They work with the public to maintain law and order, reduce the fear of crime and act as a source of reassurance to people in a community.
- Private Investigator: Private investigators work on behalf of a client to investigate a crime or potential crime. For instance, they may look into missing persons, research the financial practices of a business or help uncover evidence of cheating.
Career Prospects for Criminal Justice Degree Graduates
Graduating from an online criminal justice degree program will position you to find a stable job that offers a good salary.
Indeed, many jobs in criminal justice involve being employed by a local or federal government agency. In these jobs, you’ll earn a consistent salary, which may be accompanied by benefits, such as a government pension program.
Here are a few median salaries collected from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics to give you a better idea of what you can expect to earn with a degree in criminal justice:
- Police Officer and Detective: $65,170
- Forensic Science Technician: $59,150
- Private Detectives and Investigators: $50,510
- Correctional Officers and Bailiffs: $45,300
- Paralegal and Legal Assistant: $51,740
These salaries demonstrate that a criminal justice degree can unlock significant earning potential. When you first start your career, you can expect to command a lower salary on account of your experience. However, you’ll be able to earn a higher salary as you gain more experience.
Conclusion
Are you passionate about the law? Do you want to get involved with the criminal justice system? If so, there may be no better investment than a criminal justice degree.
Criminal justice degree programs provide you with the knowledge and skills you need to pursue a range of careers, from working in law enforcement to assisting in the legal system.
There are dozens of online programs out there that offer a high-quality criminal justice education. These online programs provide more flexibility than in-person programs. This is because you can usually study from anywhere, with many classes pre-recorded so you can study them on your own schedule.
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