Top 5 Online Bachelor of Criminal Justice Degree Programs

An online Bachelor in Criminal Justice degree provides graduates the opportunity to compete for the large number of criminal justice jobs available across the nation. While the qualifications for these positions vary by the agency or company, a college degree is a big plus.

The increasingly popular Criminal Justice Bachelor’s degree programs provide an overview of the criminal justice system. The programs examine criminal behavior in relation to law enforcement, the criminal justice system, and society.

They explore areas including:

Corrections
Criminal justice system and the processing of cases through the system
Impact of crime
International justice
Juvenile justice system
Law enforcement
Nature and causes of crime and delinquency
Police
Probation and parole
Proposals to reduce crime and delinquency
Role and origin of criminality
Security management
Social policy
Society’s crime control mechanisms
Victims

In addition to core criminal justice subjects, the programs also typically cover statistics and research methods, multicultural understanding, and political issues.

Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice Concentrations

Community Justice
Corrections
Crime and Criminology
Criminal Justice Management
Homeland Security and Counterterrorism
International Justice
Investigations
Justice Policy
Juvenile Justice
Law Enforcement
Legal Studies and Advocacy
Police Administration and Operations

(Cincinnati, Ohio)

University of Cincinnati ranks #1 on The 30 Best Online Bachelor of Criminal Justice Degree Programs!
The University of Cincinnati (UC), a public research university founded in 1819, is among the largest universities in Ohio with more than 40,000 students enrolled. Part of the University System of Ohio, UC offers undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees and certificates. UC offers a wide variety of degree programs through Cincinnati Online.

The completely online Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice employs an interdisciplinary approach to the study of criminal justice and immerses students in the fields of sociology, criminology, psychology, and law.

UC’s Bachelor of Criminal Justice degree program prepares students for careers in law enforcement, corrections, security, and safety. The well-rounded curriculum includes the following core courses:

Introduction to Criminal Justice
Introduction to Criminology
Introduction to Courts
Ethics in Criminal Justice
Juvenile Justice System
Corrections in America
Criminal Punishment
Introduction to Criminal Investigations

The university encourages students to complete service learning projects as elective courses. These involve participation in community-based projects which allow students to gain a deeper understanding of program content while fostering their sense of civic responsibility. Service learning projects allow students to gain meaningful hands-on experience while earning their degree online.

The University of Cincinnati is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

2. Washington State University – Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology
(Pullman, Washington)

Washington State University ranks #2 on The 30 Best Online Bachelor of Criminal Justice Degree Programs! Washington State University (WSU), a non-profit, public research university founded in 1890, enrolls about 28,000 students. A land-grant university, WSU offers 200 fields of study leading to bachelor, master, and doctoral degrees.

WSU boasts the second-oldest academic program in criminal justice. WSU established the founding chapter of the Alpha Phi Sigma Criminal Justice Honor Society.

Through its Global Campus, WSU offers an online Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice which students can complete with 49 credit hours if they have transferable core classes.

Students in the Criminal Justice Bachelor’s degree program must complete the following five core courses:

Introduction to the Administration of Criminal Justice
Introduction to Criminological Theory
Crime Control Policies
Criminal Law or Criminal Procedure
Senior Seminar: Ethical Issues in Criminal Justice

Electives include the following options: Juvenile Justice and Corrections, Comparative Criminal Justice Systems, Juvenile Delinquency, Law of Evidence and Criminal Procedure, and Sociology of Race Relations. Notable professors who regularly assist law and corrections organizations teach all the courses.

Washington State University is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.

3.University of Missouri at St. Louis – Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice
(St. Louis, Missouri)

University of Missouri at St. Louis ranks #3 on The 30 Best Online Bachelor of Criminal Justice Degree Programs!
The University of Missouri at St. Louis, or UMSL, is the newest of the four public research universities which comprise the University of Missouri system. With approximately 17,000 undergraduate and graduate enrollees, UMSL is the largest university in the Saint Louis metropolitan area. Students can choose from a wide variety of bachelor, master, and doctoral degree programs through the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Business Administration, the College of Education, the College of Nursing, and the College of Optometry. UMSL offers many degree programs students can complete without ever visiting the campus.

The online Bachelor of Science degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice has an interdisciplinary curriculum which draws from the fields of criminology, social science, law, public administration, and corrections. The program prepares students for a variety of career possibilities. Additionally, UMSL’s bachelor degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice provides a platform of knowledge for students considering law school in the future.

Students must complete 42 credit hours in general education courses plus 37 credit hours in courses within the Criminology and Criminal Justice program. Core courses within the program include the following:

Introduction to Criminology and Criminal Justice
Theories of Crime
Criminal Law
Criminal Justice Policy
Research Methods in Criminology and Criminal Justice

The University of Missouri at St. Louis is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

4.Pennsylvania State University – Penn State World Campus
(University Park, Pennsylvania)

Pennsylvania State University ranks #4 on The 30 Best Online Bachelor of Criminal Justice Degree Programs!Pennsylvania State University, most commonly referred to as Penn State, is a public, land-grant, research-intensive university with 24 campuses located throughout Pennsylvania. Between all of its campuses, the school has about 100,000 students. In addition to the many bricks-and-mortar campuses, the Penn State World Campus, established in 1998, allows students from around the world to pursue their educations at the institution.

The Penn State World Campus online Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice degree includes 120 credit hours.

Topics covered within the criminal justice classes include the following:

Criminology
Introduction to law, policing, and corrections in America
Ethics in criminal justice
Security and police administration
Alternatives to incarceration
Aspects of the juvenile justice system
Concepts of social science research

The online Criminal Justice Bachelor’s degree prepares students to move into the fields of protective services, law and corrections, crime-related prevention and support, security management, and court administration.

Penn State World Campus is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. The World Campus shares this accreditation.

5.Sam Houston State University – College of Criminal Justice
(Huntsville, Texas)

Sam Houston State University ranks #5 on The 30 Best Online Bachelor of Criminal Justice Degree Programs!
Founded in 1879, Sam Houston State University (SHSU) is the third-oldest higher learning institution in the state of Texas. The total enrollment across all of SHSU’s graduate and undergraduate programs exceeds 20,000. In addition to over 80 undergraduate, 59 master, and 8 doctoral degree programs, SHSU also offers more than 20 online bachelor and graduate degrees.

SHSU’s College of Criminal Justice is nationally recognized and is one of the oldest and most prestigious in the country. The online Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice allows students to get a criminal justice education with maximum flexibility. Some of the popular web-based courses include:

Cyber Crime
Global Terrorism
Forensic Science
Victimology
Violent Offenders
Child Abuse and Neglect
White Collar Crime
Criminal Investigation

As part of the 120 credit hours required for graduation, the program encourages seniors to earn credits through a hands-on internship. An internship prepares students for careers in the criminal justice field.

Sam Houston State University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award bachelors, masters, and doctoral degrees.

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Top 5 Online Bachelor of Criminal Justice Degree Programs