Union Institute & University offers two options to undergraduates interested in criminal justice: The Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Management and the Bachelor of Science in Emergency Services Management with a criminal justice management concentration. The criminal justice management program was created for law enforcement and corrections officers. The curriculum focuses
Best Online Criminal Justice Degree Programs
Earning a degree in criminal justice can open a multitude of doors. While many criminal justice majors find rewarding careers in law enforcement and corrections, others pursue opportunities working with people who have previously been incarcerated, or pursuing careers in politics and advocacy. Police and sheriff patrol officers earn an average of $63,000 a year, while probation officers and correctional treatment specialists earn $54,000 per year. Those passionate about criminal justice reform may find a career in policy advocacy or the nonprofit sector rewarding. Below is our ranked list of the best schools offering online bachelor’s degrees in criminal justice. Continue reading for more information about popular degrees and accreditation in criminal justice.
Online Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice with the Highest Return on Investment

We ranked the top schools with online bachelor's degrees in criminal justice based on return on investment (ROI). Our ROI shows a graduate's earnings in 10 years according to salary and debt data reported by the US Department of Education (and accounting for salary growth and loan interest). We hope our rankings will help prospective students understand whether the cost of a program may be worth the benefit in future earnings. All of the online programs on this list have higher-than-average ROIs compared to all bachelor's degrees in criminal justice (online or not) in the United States, which average $337,500. The ROI for the top-ranked school, Union Institute & University, is three times the national average.
ROI amounts are based on data reported by the U.S. Department of Education. Tuitions are manually researched in order to determine tuition amounts specific to online degrees. Read our methodology for more details.
Rank | School | Annual Tuition | Median Starting Salary | Median Debt | 10-year ROI |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Union Institute & University | $16,350 | $112,028 | $17,750 | $1,131,200 | |
Fisher College | $14,400 | $60,161 | $26,000 | $587,000 | |
Oakland City University | $10,950 | $56,641 | $20,477 | $557,600 | |
Waldorf University | $9,150 | $56,415 | $24,145 | $550,700 | |
Herzing University | $17,940 | $55,693 | $20,358 | $548,000 | |
Lynn University | $9,000 | $53,358 | $15,250 | $530,300 | |
Central Christian College of Kansas | $12,750 | $54,053 | $25,000 | $525,300 | |
Columbia Southern University | $7,050 | $53,647 | $22,192 | $524,700 | |
American Public University System | $8,550 | $53,436 | $25,746 | $518,100 | |
National University | $16,650 | $52,464 | $25,000 | $509,000 | |
Excelsior College | $15,300 | $50,231 | $13,710 | $500,100 | |
Reinhardt University | $13,950 | $50,856 | $27,800 | $488,900 | |
Columbia College - SC | $11,850 | $47,729 | $17,482 | $469,600 | |
Wayland Baptist University | $13,206 | $46,087 | $15,625 | $455,000 | |
University of Maryland Global Campus | $14,970 | $46,726 | $22,000 | $453,600 | |
Concordia University - Saint Paul | $12,600 | $46,478 | $22,515 | $450,500 | |
Colorado State University Global | $10,500 | $46,673 | $25,000 | $449,400 | |
Bethel University - TN | $11,936 | $47,260 | $30,917 | $448,000 | |
Franklin Pierce University | $12,000 | $46,478 | $27,000 | $444,900 | |
Utah Valley University | $16,092 | $45,037 | $18,250 | $440,900 | |
University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus | $21,369 | $45,383 | $25,000 | $436,100 | |
Thomas University | $15,940 | $46,087 | $32,525 | $434,000 | |
University of Alaska Anchorage | $25,440 | $44,933 | $24,193 | $432,500 | |
University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh | $10,800 | $44,276 | $23,000 | $427,200 | |
Ashland University | $10,950 | $43,674 | $22,372 | $421,800 |
Best Bachelor's Degrees in Criminal Justice Rankings Details
#1
Union Institute & University
- 10-Year ROI: $1,131,200
- Median Salary: $112,028
- Annual Tuition: $16,350
- Median Debt: $17,750
#2
Fisher College
- 10-Year ROI: $587,000
- Median Salary: $60,161
- Annual Tuition: $14,400
- Median Debt: $26,000
Fisher College offers an online Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice to prepare students for careers in law enforcement, courts, corrections, or government policy. This 120-credit program includes courses such as Corrections in America, Principles of Investigations, Criminal Justice Statistics, and Deviance and Social Control. Fisher reports an average length of 40 months to
#3
Oakland City University
- 10-Year ROI: $557,600
- Median Salary: $56,641
- Annual Tuition: $10,950
- Median Debt: $20,477
Students can pursue Oakland City University’s online Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice as a general degree or with a concentration in investigative forensics. This 120-credit program includes 45 credits of core classes such as Statistics in Criminal Justice, Basics of Crime Scene Investigation, and Conflict Management in Criminal Justice, and Offender Assessment System. Both
#4
Waldorf University
- 10-Year ROI: $550,700
- Median Salary: $56,415
- Annual Tuition: $9,150
- Median Debt: $24,145
Waldorf University offers a number of online bachelor’s degrees for students who want to work in law enforcement, courts, or corrections. The Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice features four possible concentrations. Waldorf’s Bachelor of Applied Science in Criminal Justice Administration and Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Administration are both for future criminal
#5
Herzing University
- 10-Year ROI: $548,000
- Median Salary: $55,693
- Annual Tuition: $17,940
- Median Debt: $20,358
Herzing University offers an online Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice, with an optional concentration in either Homeland Security and Counterterrorism or Management and Leadership. This 120-credit degree includes a common core of classes such as Criminal Law, Juvenile Justice, and Civil Liability in Public Safety. Each concentration contains six required courses, and each
#6
Lynn University
- 10-Year ROI: $530,300
- Median Salary: $53,358
- Annual Tuition: $9,000
- Median Debt: $15,250
Lynn University offers a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice. Students in this 120-credit program learn the organization of the U.S. justice system alongside theories of criminal behavior and social problems. The program’s 48-credit core includes courses such as Abnormal Psychology, Issues in Corrections, Global Human Rights, and Introduction to Forensic Science. Interested full-time
#7
Central Christian College of Kansas
- 10-Year ROI: $525,300
- Median Salary: $54,053
- Annual Tuition: $12,750
- Median Debt: $25,000
Central Christian College of Kansas (CCCK) offers an online Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice for students interested in a law enforcement, court, or corrections career. This degree requires courses such as Criminology, Comparative Justice, and Terrorism and Counterterrorism, many of which are taught by real-world practitioners. Another option is CCCK’s Bachelor of Science in Health and Human Services
#8
Columbia Southern University
- 10-Year ROI: $524,700
- Median Salary: $53,647
- Annual Tuition: $7,050
- Median Debt: $22,192
Columbia Southern University (CSU) offers an online Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Administration, with optional concentrations in arson investigation and forensics. This 120-credit program includes 36 credits in core class requirements, such as Police and Community Relations, Criminal Justice Organization and Administration, and Victimology. Each of the concentrations
#9
American Public University System
- 10-Year ROI: $518,100
- Median Salary: $53,436
- Annual Tuition: $8,550
- Median Debt: $25,746
The American Public University System offers both a Bachelor of Science and a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice. The B.S. emphasizes a hard-science approach to the subject, including an optional 27-credit concentration in digital forensics and a required Criminal Justice Capstone - Digital Forensics (which even non-concentration students take). The B.A. degree focuses on social
#10
National University
- 10-Year ROI: $509,000
- Median Salary: $52,464
- Annual Tuition: $16,650
- Median Debt: $25,000
National University offers an online Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Administration. This degree requires 180 quarter units to complete and includes eight core classes and a capstone with a senior project. Students also choose seven upper-level electives such as Criminal Intelligence, Organized & White Collar Crime, and Survey of Forensic Sciences. Students who want to pursue
#11
Excelsior College
- 10-Year ROI: $500,100
- Median Salary: $50,231
- Annual Tuition: $15,300
- Median Debt: $13,710
The fully online Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice at Excelsior College teaches students the skills to enter careers in law enforcement, probation, parole, investigation, security analysis, victim advocacy, and crime scene investigation. The program focuses on practical procedures and theories in psychology, sociology, and criminology related to criminal procedural laws. Students
#12
Reinhardt University
- 10-Year ROI: $488,900
- Median Salary: $50,856
- Annual Tuition: $13,950
- Median Debt: $27,800
Reinhardt University offers an online Bachelor of Criminal Justice degree. This program requires 120 credit hours and includes courses such as Managing Criminal Justice Organizations, Fraud Investigation, Incident Command Paradigms, and Survey of Correctional Thought and Practices. Reinhardt has a long-standing relationship with the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council,
#13
Columbia College - SC
- 10-Year ROI: $469,600
- Median Salary: $47,729
- Annual Tuition: $11,850
- Median Debt: $17,482
Columbia College in South Carolina offers an online Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice with either a general or forensic concentration. Students take a core of classes to satisfy major requirements, including Corrections, Criminal Procedure, Research Methods in Criminal Justice, and the Leadership Seminar capstone. The general track requires 12 credits of criminal justice electives,
#14
Wayland Baptist University
- 10-Year ROI: $455,000
- Median Salary: $46,087
- Annual Tuition: $13,206
- Median Debt: $15,625
Wayland Baptist University (WBU) offers three options for prospective students in criminal justice: a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Administration and a Bachelor of Applied Science in Justice Administration. The B.S. and B.A. are 124-credit programs with most of the same core requirements, including a final practicum and courses titled Administration
#15
University of Maryland Global Campus
- 10-Year ROI: $453,600
- Median Salary: $46,726
- Annual Tuition: $14,970
- Median Debt: $22,000
The online Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice program through the University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) teaches criminological theory applicable to the private and public sectors. The program includes 41 credits of general education coursework, 33 credits of major coursework, and 46 credits of electives. The program provides an accelerated path for a master’s degree in
#16
Concordia University - Saint Paul
- 10-Year ROI: $450,500
- Median Salary: $46,478
- Annual Tuition: $12,600
- Median Debt: $22,515
Concordia University - St. Paul (CSP) offers an online Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice degree aimed at working practitioners in the field. This 120-credit program features 44 credits in the criminal justice major, including required courses such as Cultural Considerations in Criminal Justice Systems, Delinquent and Criminal Behaviors Across the Life Course, Research Methods
#17
Colorado State University Global
- 10-Year ROI: $449,400
- Median Salary: $46,673
- Annual Tuition: $10,500
- Median Debt: $25,000
Colorado State University Global (CSUG) offers an online Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice. Each student in this 120-credit program takes 30 credits of core classes, including Criminology, Ethics for the Criminal Justice Professional, and the capstone Application of Criminal Justice Knowledge and Skills. Students can also chart a unique degree path by putting 15 credits toward
#18
Bethel University - TN
- 10-Year ROI: $448,000
- Median Salary: $47,260
- Annual Tuition: $11,936
- Median Debt: $30,917
Bethel University’s College of Professional Studies offers a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice for working practitioners in law enforcement. This program features a required major core of 45 credits, including classes such as Criminal Procedure: Adjudication, Statistics in Criminal Justice, Community Based Corrections, and Review of Forensic Science. Applicants must have 30
#19
Franklin Pierce University
- 10-Year ROI: $444,900
- Median Salary: $46,478
- Annual Tuition: $12,000
- Median Debt: $27,000
Franklin Pierce University (FPU) offers an online Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice. This 120-credit program emphasizes the sociology behind crime and enforcement in order to make students into data-literate criminal justice practitioners. Coursework includes Courts and Criminal Procedure, Race and Ethnicity in Society, Victimology, and Social Science Research Methods.
FPU delivers
#20
Utah Valley University
- 10-Year ROI: $440,900
- Median Salary: $45,037
- Annual Tuition: $16,092
- Median Debt: $18,250
Utah Valley University’s online Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice aims to prepare students for careers in courts, corrections, or law enforcement. The program requires 120 credits, including 74 in core courses such as Laws of Evidence, Writing for Criminal Justice Professionals, Ethical Issues in Criminal Justice, and Corrections in the Community. To graduate, students must
#21
University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus
- 10-Year ROI: $436,100
- Median Salary: $45,383
- Annual Tuition: $21,369
- Median Debt: $25,000
The University of Oklahoma Extended Campus offers an online Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice with four available concentrations: homeland security, restorative justice, administrative leadership, and investigations and intelligence analysis. This is an accelerated program for students who are already working in the field — most students finish in two or three years. Of the
#22
Thomas University
- 10-Year ROI: $434,000
- Median Salary: $46,087
- Annual Tuition: $15,940
- Median Debt: $32,525
Thomas University offers an online Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice. This 120-credit program includes required courses such as Crime Prevention, Research and Analysis, Criminology, Community Policing, and Evidence. Students who want to lead justice organizations may opt for the online Bachelor of Arts in Justice Administration, which blends criminal justice requirements with
#23
University of Alaska Anchorage
- 10-Year ROI: $432,500
- Median Salary: $44,933
- Annual Tuition: $25,440
- Median Debt: $24,193
The University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) offers an online Bachelor of Arts in Justice. This 120-credit program requires at least 42 upper-level credits in addition to core classes such as Introduction to Research Methods in Justice, Crime Prevention, and Crime Victimization and Justice. This program is affiliated with the UAA Justice Center, which publishes research on crime and
#24
University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh
- 10-Year ROI: $427,200
- Median Salary: $44,276
- Annual Tuition: $10,800
- Median Debt: $23,000
The University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh (UWO) offers a Bachelor of Applied Studies, Bachelor of Arts, or Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice. Faculty in these programs aim to improve students’ critical thinking and data analysis around criminological theories and policies. Students can complete an internship, independent study, or honors thesis to graduate. The B.A. and B.S. require
#25
Ashland University
- 10-Year ROI: $421,800
- Median Salary: $43,674
- Annual Tuition: $10,950
- Median Debt: $22,372
Ashland University offers an online Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice, either as a general degree or with one of four concentrations: correctional administration, criminology and research, law enforcement administration, and legal studies. All tracks require 120 credits and share a common core of major classes, including Ethics in Criminal Justice, Victimology, and Restorative
Online Criminal Justice Degree Overview & Career Information
Undergraduate students enrolled in an online criminal justice degree are introduced to the three arms of criminal justice in the United States: the courts, the correctional system, and law enforcement. Students in criminal justice certificate, associate, and bachelor's degree programs also commonly learn about police procedures and the techniques for collecting evidence at a crime scene. Classes in criminology and human behavior provide a background in the psychology of crime. Students in the online bachelor's degree typically take a greater number of general education topics in areas like communication, humanities, English, and math.
Criminal justice graduate certificates and master's degrees can provide a brief overview of general justice topics or a survey of a specialized justice area. Some possible specializations include law enforcement, administration, and corrections. These programs can be useful for current criminal justice professionals who would like to enter administrative or supervisory roles. Some master's programs require a thesis or a capstone project in the student's criminal justice area.
Online doctoral degrees in criminal justice require an in-depth research project into a particular aspect of criminal justice and the completion of a dissertation. Students take a core of classes in quantitative and qualitative analysis, research skills, and criminal justice topics. These intense programs are suited to individuals that are interested in teaching criminal justice at the postsecondary level, doing advanced research, or holding high-level criminal justice positions in settings such as federal agencies.
Online Bachelor's Degrees in Criminal Justice
Criminal justice degrees often lead people toward careers in law and order. Applicants to a bachelor's degree program in criminal justice must possess a high school diploma or its equivalent and meet other college entrance requirements. Students typically take four years to complete the 128-180 credits required to earn a bachelor's degree.
The bachelor's-level criminal justice curriculum will feature both broad and focused topics in the field. Students may take various specific course paths depending on the career they are pursuing. Specializations include white collar crime, family law, crime scene investigation, and more. Students typically take general courses in ethics, research methods, legal studies, crime and diversity, administration of justice, sociology, and government and politics. More focused courses may also be available, such as psychology of policing, comparative criminal justice systems, terrorism, criminal profiling, philosophy of law, intercultural communications, gender and nation, and history of law and economics.
There are many types of jobs available in the field of criminal justice. Graduates often become probation officers or correctional treatment specialists for detention facilities. Some become police officers, but these jobs require special criminal justice schooling in addition to a college degree. Others continue their education and earn master's degrees in criminal justice to become qualified to work as detectives or seek employment with the FBI or CIA.
Accreditation for Online Criminal Justice Degrees
Accreditation is an important characteristic of any online criminal justice degree program. It is granted to schools and degree programs that meet high academic standards, and it can help ensure that students are provided a valuable education. Because schools must renew their accreditation every few years, the schools and programs are periodically re-evaluated, ensuring that schools stay on top of all curricular and service requirements.
Institutional accreditation is bestowed by national and regional accrediting bodies and applies to all the academic programs within a school. Programmatic accreditation is granted by trade-oriented accrediting agencies and applies to a specific degree program within a larger institution. Both types of accrediting agencies should be recognized by the US Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. Legitimate institutional accreditation is important for students that want to apply federal financial aid funds to their tuition or transfer their earned credits to other accredited schools; it is also desirable to most employers.
While there is not currently a USDE- or CHEA-recognized programmatic accrediting agency for criminal justice programs, the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences does provide what it considers 'certification' for degree programs that it considers worthy. The ACJS bases its certification standards on several of the same standards as recognized accrediting agencies, such as curricula, faculty, student services, and program quality.
Online Criminal Justice Classes
The courses required during your criminal justice degree program will depend on your educational path, career goals, and the school you choose to attend. However, there are some foundational topics that are typically part of every program. Here are some examples of the general criminal justice courses you may encounter:
Alternatives to Incarceration: Not every crime is punished through time in jail. Some crimes require probation, civil service, therapy or many other forms of punishment. Many people believe that incarcerating people isn't the most effective way to ensure they don't commit their crime again, but rather, they need to be educated or helped psychologically. This class will give an overview of these types of methods and give you an idea of how the justice system works outside of correctional facilities.
Correctional Facilities: You can expect to take a class in correctional facilities that will explore the ways in which jails and prisons work and what to expect when you're in them. You'll learn how prisoners are brought in, what the rules are, what options are available to prisoners, the differences between security levels, and much more. These classes are also aimed at teaching you the inner workings of these facilities, including staff schedules and the risks involved in working here.
Criminal Justice Systems: Be prepared to take a number of courses in criminal justice systems. Depending on where you plan on working, you'll likely take a course that describes your state's justice system as well as one that describes the US federal system. You'll learn about mandatory steps, trials, rights, and much more.
Juvenile Corrections: Because all criminal justice systems treat juvenile-age children (under 18 years old) differently than they do adults in the way of crimes and punishment, you will learn about these differences as well as ways in which these criminals must be treated. You'll also learn about juvenile correction facilities and the rights, rules, and regulations involved.
Legal Rights: As a criminal justice professional, you'll need to understand the rights that each offender has when they are being accused of committing a crime. This will be one of the most important courses you are required to take, and it should be one you use on a daily basis once you are in the workforce.
Psychology: To be successful in a criminal justice profession, you need to be able to examine why people do the things they do. Of course, these psychology courses can't prepare you for all of the crimes you will run into, but it will give you some insight into why people break rules and how to deal with them in the most effective way possible. Psychology courses will also help you to work better with colleagues and hopefully give you a sense of understanding of people in this field as well.
Safety: Almost every job in the criminal justice field involves an element of danger. These courses will teach you the best and most effective ways to protect yourself and your coworkers, as well as teach you how to respond to emergency situations. Depending on the job you take, you'll get training specific to your role in the way of safety.
Technology: Technology plays a large role in the criminal justice field, as suspects are often found through computer software and other technological means. There are also computer crimes which are emerging every day that must be treated and punished appropriately. In these courses, you'll learn about the ways in which technology is used in the criminal justice system as well as ways in which you'll use technology on the job.
Types of Crime: Although these will likely be divided into more specific categories such as white-collar crime, computer crime, terrorism, etc., you can be sure that you'll learn about the types of crime that are out there. This course can also help you decide which area of criminal justice you are most interested in pursuing as a career. These courses will help you to understand what constitutes each crime and how common or rare they are in different areas of the nation.
Popular Degrees in Criminal Justice
There are a variety of degree topics within the criminal justice category. Popular degrees include cyber security and forensic science. Other possible degrees include the following:
Emergency Management
Online emergency/security management degrees educate students on communication strategies, security breach management, mitigation tactics and allocation of resources in case of natural or man-made disasters. The curriculum in an emergency/security management program typically involves organizational theory, emergency planning, psychology of disaster, bioterrorism, hazard risk assessment, and crisis communication.
Homeland Security
Online homeland security programs prepare students to safeguard communities and fill positions in corporate, military and national environments throughout the country. To become a professional involved in border security, students must hold a degree in law, criminal justice or public administration, and the curriculum involves classes in national law, immigration law, statutory authority, criminal law, police training and Spanish language.
Computer Forensics
Online computer or digital forensic degrees train students to search computer data for legal evidence to help ongoing investigations. They recover encrypted and deleted data, emails and passwords. The information is then analyzed and presented in court as necessary. Presently, licensure is not mandated by any state but a certification of completion is highly regarded during the hiring process. The topics include current issues in cyber law, network security, mobile forensic security, computer ethics, database design, information systems and computer forensics.
Corrections
Online corrections degrees prepare students to work in retaining institutions enforcing the rules and regulations for people who have been arrested and are awaiting a trial or people who have been sentenced to prison. Correction officer duties also include preventing assaults, escapes, and disturbances as well as regular jail cell inspections for drugs or weapons. Correctional officers are required to have a high school diploma, as well as complete the training academy and on-the-job practice. For careers in county jails or state prisons, some college credits are required. The curriculum usually includes English and math, investigative report writing, emergency planning, personal and physical security, and psychology.
Crime Scene Investigation
Individuals with a crime scene investigations degree are prepared to pursue justice and safety in their communities and are involved in numerous crime scenarios that require evidence collection and the use of spectrometry, genetics, and chemistry. The most frequent path to become a crime scene investigator is to obtain a two-year associate degree or four-year bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. The studies should be centered on crime scene investigations. A large part of the education curriculum is focused on the practice and hands-on training. Curriculum also includes upper-level math (statistics and calculus), chemistry, biology, anatomy, legal instruction and crime lab practice.
Criminology
Online criminology degrees teach students about compiling data, analyzing all aspects of crime and finding methods of prevention. A criminologist works with law enforcement agencies, and their work is research driven with a focus on statistics and crime pattern identification. Typical curriculum is composed of classes on culture and crime, theories of social order, victimology, drugs and crime, psychology of criminal behavior, crime analysis, constitutional law, police and society and economics of crime, among others. In order to become a criminologist, either a bachelor’s or a master’s degree is required along with proper licensing in some states. All programs require completing hands-on training under the supervision of an experienced criminologist and a submission of a research thesis.
Law Enforcement
An online degree in law enforcement opens many doors for graduates who are considering a career as a police officer, a sheriff, a park ranger or a correction officer. Upon completion of a law enforcement degree, students are prepared to enter the police academy or a boot camp as mandated by the rules and regulations specific to each state. Although possible to obtain a position in the law enforcement specialty with a high school diploma in some states, individuals with a bachelor’s degree are given preference and higher paying positions. Some states, such as New York, Pennsylvania and Illinois, require as many as 60 college credits before attending a police academy. A minimum of an associate degree is mandated, in addition to age and minimum fitness specifications. The curriculum encompasses courses in the introduction to criminal justice, corrections and psychology, sociology, investigative principles, criminology, modern policing, victimology, and criminal law.
Safety Studies
Online safety studies degrees cover the entire system of criminal justice, legal policies, public contexts and administration of justice. The typical curriculum includes public safety administration, public safety training and leadership, multicultural diversity, fiscal management, and organizational behavior.
Frequently Asked Questions About Criminal Justice Degrees
What is the difference between criminal justice and law enforcement?
Criminal justice refers to the broad field of crime prevention, detection, punishment, and reparations for crimes. It includes law enforcement, the court system, and jails and prisons. Law enforcement is a specific branch within the field of criminal justice and refers to officials and agencies who enforce laws, solve crimes, and detect and arrest people who violate laws and policies.
Which is better—a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science in criminal justice?
Both degrees provide a well-rounded education and prepare students for a career in the field. Most programs offer a Bachelor of Science (BS), but some offer a Bachelor of Arts (BA) and some offer both. A BS provides extensive study in criminal justice, and may focus on topics such as criminal procedure and evidence, family law, and forensic pathology. Graduation requirements may be more heavily focused on math and science. A Bachelor of Arts includes a broader look at the topic, with classes on juvenile justice, policing communities, and victims of crimes.
What kind of jobs do criminal justice majors get?
Criminal justice majors often find employment as correctional officers, police or sheriff’s patrol officers, probation officers, and security guards, among others. They may pursue a career in a specialized area, such as crime or crime scene investigation, or may look into a position as a paralegal or legal assistant, although these may require additional training. Careers in the nonprofit sector may be appealing for those who want to advocate for people who have committed crimes and for criminal justice reform. With additional education and training, criminal justice majors can also go on to become lawyers, detectives,and federal agents.