Top Online Bachelor’s Degrees in Criminal Justice Criminal Justice Degrees

The criminal justice field includes three main sectors: law enforcement, corrections and security. Numerous professions fall within these areas, such as forensic scientist, police officer, paralegal, probation officer, security guard, loss prevention specialist, teacher and many more (Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics). Many careers in the field require some type of post-secondary education, from vocational training through advanced degrees. Traditional and online institutions across the country offer criminal justice degree programs via distance learning. Some schools offer an online criminology degree rather than one in CJ specifically. Criminology is a comparable major with a similar program. Let’s begin by examining the most common types of online criminal justice degrees in higher education:

Online Criminal Justice Degrees: An Academic Timeline

The path to a career in criminal justice varies by student. For those interested in the field, but perhaps unsure about their direction, it’s important to have as much information as possible. To simplify the investigative process, the timeline below identifies the educational options available from an associate degree to a doctorate and examines the important considerations involved in pursuing each of these degrees online.

Online Associate Degree in Criminal Justice (Two Years)

An online associate degree in criminal justice provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary for an entry-level career in the field. All students must take a certain number of general education courses in addition to courses in law enforcement, corrections and criminology. Some schools allow students to declare a concentration in one of these three areas.

Students who earn an online associate degree in criminal justice can transfer to a four-year institution to complete a bachelor’s degree. Many students find this to be a cost-effective route to a four-year credential. Before deciding to follow this path, students should meet with the academic advisor at their two-year college to determine which credits will transfer over to a four-year institution. It is also helpful to speak with an academic advisor at the college or university they plan to transfer to find out the specific requirements because — this can simplify the transfer process later on.

Online Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice (Four Years)

The online bachelor’s degree in criminal justice serves as the benchmark for students entering the field by expanding on concepts introduced at the two-year level. Students prepare for future careers by examining crimes and their effects on communities, as well as methods of promoting community safety. Courses help students clarify their career aspirations by identifying specific areas of interest. The following coursework is typical of years three and four in an online criminal justice degree curriculum:

Criminology: Focuses on explanations and measurement of crime, characteristics of criminals and victims. This includes property, white-collar, organized, violent and sexual crimes.

Courts and the prosecution process: Covers the purpose and function of criminal courts, including organization, jurisdiction and staffing. Other subjects include prosecution, adjudication and sentencing of offenders.

Policing: Examines police organizations and operations in the United States. Topics discussed include the impact of police on crime, disorder and social issues; police culture and public support; and community policing.

Corrections: An overview of the punishment and treatment of sentenced offenders. Students develop an understanding of correctional institutions and how they are organized, including staffing, inmates and subcultures among correctional institutions.

Other primary courses:

• Law enforcement administration
• Juvenile justice system
• Criminal justice ethics
• Alternatives to Incarceration
• Crime control
• Complex organizations

Online Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice (Two Years)

It usually takes two years of full-time study, after the bachelor’s degree, to earn a master’s degree in criminal justice. During that time, students gain knowledge and develop leadership skills that prepare them for supervisory or administrative careers in law enforcement management and the judicial courts. With a master’s degree in the discipline, graduates can also pursue careers in academia as instructors, although likely at the community college level. Visit our detailed page on online master’s programs in criminal justice to learn more.

Online Doctoral Degree in Criminal Justice (Eight Years or More)

A doctoral program in criminal justice explores the theories and legal framework of crime and criminal behavior, focusing on areas such as prevention, intervention and effective consequences. Coursework investigates theories of crime and criminal behavior, criminal laws and ethics. Students in an online criminal justice PhD program must research, write and defend a dissertation in an area of specialization, such as behavioral science, juvenile justice or organizational leadership. Graduates may pursue careers at organizations such as the CIA, FBI and secret service in positions that do not require fieldwork. Explore other career options, find top programs, and dive deeper into the timeline on our guide to online PhDs in criminal justice.

Quality Matters: Finding the Right Online CJ Program

Students interested in studying criminal justice can enroll at online community colleges, state and private schools, and for-profit institutions. No matter where an online criminal justice education resides, there are specific qualities that identify a high-caliber program.

A Stamp of Approval (Accreditation)

All online criminal justice degree programs should be fully accredited. The U.S. Department of Education recognizes six regional accreditation agencies as well as the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC). Students should avoid any program without one of these forms of accreditation. Some programs are also accredited by the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences (ACJS), which promotes high-quality higher education, research and policy analysis for both educators and practitioners within the discipline.

Program Diversity

Students pursuing online criminal justice degrees benefit from the option to choose from multiple specializations or concentrations. For example, students who wish to pursue a career in academia can specialize in Teaching for Higher Education. Students interested in working in jails and prisons in administration can specialize in Corrections and Case Management. Other concentrations include Homeland Security, Public Safety Leadership, Forensics, Public Administration and Health Policy and Management. Many of these concentrations train graduates for careers in one of the hundreds of departments within the U.S. Department of Justice (USDOJ.gov) or the U.S. Secret Service (Secret Service.gov), a federal law enforcement agency headquartered in Washington, D.C., with more than 150 offices throughout the U.S. and abroad.

Resources and Technology

Flexibility is one of the top reasons students are attracted to online criminal justice degrees. Therefore, a quality program should have round-the-clock access to tools and technology such as digital libraries, communication software, tech support and other materials. The curriculum should also have a strong technology component. According to “The State of Criminal Justice 2012,” a report by the American Bar Association, the rates of violent crimes are declining, yet cybercrime is on the rise. Experts in the field need to be trained in advanced technology in order to combat this rising problem.

Networking Opportunities

Students need the opportunity to build relationships with faculty members who are subject matter experts with years of hands-on experience. They also benefit from an internship program that allows them to associate with experts in the field. Additionally, a strong alumni network is essential for finding a job after graduation.

Online criminal justice degree graduates should have the knowledge skills to seek and obtain entry-level positions in law enforcement, corrections and security. By developing a broad understanding of criminal law, the justice system, and the legal structure, students are able to graduate with a strong understanding of the nature of crimes, ethics in criminal justice and the ability to identify and analyze social problems and develop solutions. According to multiple studies by PayScale, the top six careers for criminal justice majors are police officer, paralegal, probation officer, detective, security officer and loss prevention manager.

Criminal Justice Certification

Although professional certifications are not required for most positions, those who hold them display a high level of education and experience in their specialty area. The professional programs below are examples of designations available to experts in the criminal justice field by various organizations. Requirements vary be certification.

ACA Corrections Certification: The American Correctional Association sponsors the Corrections Certifications Program, which offers credentials for experts working in adult corrections, juvenile justice, security threat groups and corrections healthcare.

Certified Jail Officer: The American Jail Association recognizes those jail officers with superior knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as a commitment to the corrections profession on a national level, with the Certified Jail Officer Program.

Certified Criminal Justice Specialist: The National Association of Forensic Counselors offers several certifications. Several of the programs, including the Certified Criminal Justice Specialist program, are accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies.

Certified Security Consultant: Experts who display a high level of professionalism, knowledge and integrity as professional security consultants can earn Certified Security Consultant certification through the International Association of Professional Security Consultants.

Certified Law Enforcement Analyst: The International Association of Crime Analysts awards the Certified Law Enforcement designation to experts with high-level crime analysis, intelligence analysis, geographic profiling, police research and planning skills.

IAI Crime Scene Certification: The International Association for Identification manages the Crime Scene Certification Program, which is comprised of four separate designations: Certified Crime Scene Investigator, Certified Crime Scene Analyst, Certified Crime Scene Re-constructionist, and Certified Senior Crime Scene Analyst.

Criminal Justice Degree Search Tool

Myriad postsecondary institutions offer criminal justice degrees at varied levels as part of their online learning options. Many of these programs have numerous qualities an online student may be looking for, such as asynchronous classes or a good value for cost, though only some may have the student support and financial assistance they may want. The search tool below will provide a quick and helpful list of online criminal justice programs that have all the qualities a student desires.