Key takeaways
- A criminal justice degree is a highly interdisciplinary field that encompasses fields like psychology, juvenile justice, cybersecurity, and so on.
- Due to its evergreen relevance, people with criminal justice bachelor degrees enjoy rewarding benefits like higher salaries, consistent market demand, and specialized job roles.
- You can explore higher studies in criminal justice, after completing a BA or BS in criminal justice.
- A bachelor’s degree in criminal justice is commonly a minimum requirement by most of the job opportunities and employers.
- Core subjects in a criminal justice degree include criminology, criminal law, corrections, policing, and forensic science.
- Different colleges and universities use a variety of teaching and learning tools and methods, including written exams and group projects.
- Practical work experience such as an internship is required to complete a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.
- All undergraduate criminal justice programs require completion of 120 credit hours or more.
- Specializations within a criminal justice degree include homeland security, cybercrime, juvenile justice, law enforcement, and criminal psychology.
- The list of best colleges for criminal justice include Ball State University, University of Maryland, Arizona State University, and more.
A college education is taken up by many young and adult students to pursue their passion and interests. A college degree is an excellent way to get credibility and validation for your expertise and knowledge in a particular field. Moreover, college graduates enjoy a variety of benefits such as specialized jobs, higher pay, and a better chance to even start their own businesses and organizations. So, if you are considering going to college and wondering what degree to choose, we have some great recommendations for you.
A big amount of data reports that criminal justice is one of the most popular and commonly chosen fields or subjects amongst college students. The reasons for this are simple. Firstly, criminal justice is an interdisciplinary field that encompasses various specializations and subjects. Secondly, this degree prepares students and makes them eligible for a variety of career paths, including business administration, human resource management, marketing, and political science.
In addition to this, criminal justice is a field that will never become obsolete. In fact, crime and justice are now ever-evolving, with more technology coming into the scene and making crime more sophisticated. Many criminal justice agencies and organizations at all levels are now in need of new and modern talent.
So, this brings us here — a complete guide to getting a criminal justice degree, what it entails, career prospects, and best criminal justice degree colleges. Let’s start!
What is a criminal justice degree?
Firstly, an undergraduate college degree is a 4-year-long program that typically requires the completion of over 120 credit hours. Most of the colleges offer degrees and programs on-campus, but some might offer flexibility with the choice to take the classes completely online or through a hybrid mode of delivery. In either case, the coursework and program details tend to be the same.
Secondly, there are multiple types of undergraduate degrees. Associate degrees are 2-year diplomas, while bachelor degrees are 4-year professional degrees. In bachelors, you will find two options including a bachelor of arts, or BA, and a bachelor of science, or BS.
Therefore, a criminal justice degree is also based on the same pattern. In particular, this degree focuses on some key areas such as forensics, corrections, and law enforcement. In addition to this, students enrolled in criminal justice degrees study and prepare for various career paths and roles in the criminal justice system. They may develop skills such as analyzing crime, analyzing causes of crime, understanding corrections processes and facilities, and so on.
In addition to this, criminal justice degrees have different majors and concentrations. So, depending on what your college is offering, you will be able to choose a specialization. This will help you narrow down your focus on one stream and also enhances your job prospects accordingly.
So, now that you have an overview of criminal justice degrees, let’s take a deeper look at criminal justice college programs. We will explore what you will study, how you can get a degree, and what the specialization options are.
What courses will you study?
Within a 4-year bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, there will be numerous areas of study that you will explore. Firstly, there are core subjects and courses that every student must take. These are foundational courses that help you get an overview of the entire field and set a base. These areas may be related to law enforcement, research, and history.
Furthermore, different institutions utilize different teaching and learning strategies. So, you may be studying and reaching your learning objectives in various ways. For example, colleges tend to use written examinations in midterms and final terms that test your learning and knowledge. In addition to this, teachers may host guest sessions and seminars to further enhance your knowledge through industry-leading individuals and insights.
Class appreciation plays an important role in your overall grade, and you may also be required to give class quizzes. Additionally, group and individual projects, class presentations, research reports, and reflection papers are also commonly used.
Now, let’s take a look at a list of some commonly offered courses and subjects within a degree in criminal justice:
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How to get a criminal justice degree?
College planning is undoubtedly a challenging process and requires a lot of information and research. We strongly recommend seeking expert advice from one of the professionals at All Bachelor Degrees. Getting reliable advice can help you plan your college journey, choose the right major, and select the right college.
So, the big question is how to get a criminal justice degree. There are quite some steps involved, including multiple considerations and factors that need your attention.
The first step to getting a criminal justice degree is selecting the level of degree. This means whether you are getting a BA or BS degree in criminal justice. Fortunately, both are available in abundance, so you will not be struggling to find either of these. However, you need to keep some key points in mind about BA and BS degrees:
- BA degrees are more flexible and allow students to pick and choose courses as per their liking
- BS degrees are more structured and planned and need you to follow a certain path
- BA degrees are more on the conceptual and creative side
- BS degrees are more scientific, focusing on research and quantifiable aspects
Now, moving on, you need to check out the admission criteria and see if you meet the requirements. Keep in mind that different colleges may have different admission requirements. However, college-specific requirements are not as widely common, and you must first focus on aligning the bare minimums, which include:
- A high school diploma or equivalent
- Standardized tests such as SAT
- English proficiency tests for international students
- Admission forms and fees
- Personal essays
- Recommendation letters
- Submission of extracurriculars
Once these are aligned, you can start your search for the best college for a criminal justice degree. We have listed down the best colleges in the next section of the article. However, before you dig into that, keep in mind that most college degrees require practical work experience such as internships to complete your degree. Other than that, complete clearance of financial dues is also necessary.
List of colleges with criminal justice programs
So, this brings us to a very important part of our article. Here, we will dig into the offerings of the best colleges for criminal justice degrees. However, before we look into the different features and unique benefits of each college, let’s first go through a list of considerations you should make to choose the ideal college for yourself.
Moreover, you need to keep in mind that the college you graduate from will have a direct impact on your career prospects and opportunities. College name and reputation are crucial in shaping up your career outlook, as well as your professional and personal development. Therefore, we give immense importance to selecting the college with careful consideration. To help you get started, here is a list of considerations:
- College accreditations that can vouch for and ensure a credible reputation for the college
- Program accreditations that reflect the quality and standard of the particular program you are enrolling for
- Cost of attendance including charges like tuition fee, security deposit, and housing fee
- Financial aid options such as grants and scholarships to ensure that you can fulfill the 4-year commitment
- Explore flexibility options such as online mode of delivery, hybrid, and recorded lectures
- Evaluate campus location for factors like ease of commute, cost of living, security, and accessibility to essentials
- Quality and expertise of faculty to ensure optimum learning experience
- Acceptance rate and admission criteria to avoid wasting money and time
- Graduation rate that reflects the support and productivity of the institute
So, after going through the list of considerations, it’s time for us to look at the best criminal justice colleges in the USA:
University of Maryland Eastern Shore
Location: Princess Anne, MD
Acceptance rate: 88%
The criminal justice department at the University of Maryland, Eastern Shore is more focused in preparing the students for successful professions as changemakers. Therefore, the BS in criminal justice focuses more on providing students with knowledge and skills to lead important roles in this field. Moreover, you can explore master’s degree options to continue this education and excel in your career with UMES.
Arizona State University
Location: Tempe, AZ
Acceptance rate: 89%
Arizona State University is a popular college in Arizona, known for its variety of undergraduate majors and lots of flexibility options such as online and hybrid programs. So, if you are looking for a reputable college to pursue a degree in criminal justice, then look no further. Moreover, the BS in criminal justice and criminology is highly interdisciplinary and therefore covers a range of subjects and topics. Particularly, it explores issues like criminal psychology, causes, effects, ethics, and so on.
University of Illinois Springfield
Location: Springfield, IL
Acceptance rate: 84%
University of Illinois, Springfield offers a high acceptance rate, and easier admission, but excellent reputation and program accreditations. This state university offers bachelors degree in criminal justice and criminology and explores issues like criminal behavior, the social aspects of crime, and social responses to crime. Moreover, graduates of this program tend to work in state, federal, and local agencies with successful career prospects. :
Ball State University
Location: Muncie, IN
Acceptance rate: Approximately 72%
Colleges and institutes play a crucial role in helping you land prestigious job opportunities. Therefore, we strongly recommend enrolling in the criminal justice program at Ball State University if you wish to find good internship opportunities. The college facilitates its students in reaching their career goals, led by extremely qualified faculty. Lastly, the core skills you will learn with a BS in criminology from BSU are analytical capabilities, research, and social surveys.
Berkeley College
Location: New York and New Jersey campuses
Acceptance rate: 97% in NY campus
From homeland security to insightful justice studies majors, Berkeley College has an excellent variety of criminal justice majors. However, we strongly recommend its bachelor in criminal justice program that focuses on fostering core skills needed in the industry. Additionally, the degree focuses on preparing you for the real-world applications by utilizing modern tools and learning methods. Lastly, the program requires the completion of a capstone project for the competition of the major.
What are the specializations in a criminal justice degree?
Firstly, keep in mind that every college major requires you to select a specialization. These are particularly subfields within the broader range, and help you make your career path more laser-focused. Similarly, a degree in criminal justice offers students a broad understanding of the legal system, law enforcement, and corrections. However, most of the programs require students to specialize in specific areas of criminal justice based on their interests and career goals.
Specializing can provide a competitive edge in the job market and prepare students for more focused career paths. So, below are some of the most common specializations in a criminal justice degree.
Law enforcement
First on the list is law enforcement. This specialization prepares students for careers in policing and public safety. Moreover, it covers topics such as criminal law, investigation techniques, and community policing. Additionally, you will learn a lot about ethical considerations in law enforcement, which can be very interesting and useful in your career. In addition to this, you may learn about the psychology of criminals and the impact of law enforcement on different communities. After graduating, you can pursue a number of careers such as police officers, federal agents, detectives, or security consultants.
Corrections
Next is corrections. Essentially, this specialization explores the management of prisons, probation, and parole systems. Moreover, it focuses on what is done and how once the criminals are brought into the legal system. So, you will learn about rehabilitation techniques, recidivism reduction strategies, and inmate reintegration programs. Furthermore, you can explore many career options such as correctional officers, probation officers, parole officers, and case managers in rehabilitation facilities.
Complete guide on a Correction degree!
Criminal psychology
Criminal psychology is a very insightful and in-depth specialization that particularly delves into the psychological aspects of crime, including offender profiling and criminal behavior analysis. It is different from corrections and may include a variety of types of criminal psychology, such as forensic psychology and abnormal psychology. You will also study criminological theories to understand why individuals commit crimes. Lastly, some common career paths in this specialization may include forensic psychologists, criminal profilers, and consultants for law enforcement agencies.
Homeland security and emergency management
A recently emerging and rising field of popular interest is homeland security. Within criminal justice, you can opt for the specialization in homeland security which focuses on national safety, counterterrorism strategies, and disaster response. Moreover, courses in this specialization cover topics like cyber threats, border security, and emergency preparedness. With this specialization, you can work for government agencies such as the Department of Homeland Security, FEMA, or private security firms.
Explore a bachelor’s degree in homeland security with this guide!
Cybercrime and digital forensics
With the rise of digital crimes, cybercrime specialization focuses on cyber threats, hacking, and online fraud investigations. Students learn about computer forensics, network security, and data encryption. In addition to this, the cybercrime field is modern and increasingly relevant. You can explore a variety of career opportunities that include cybersecurity analysts, and digital forensic investigators.
Explore cybersecurity degrees for a diverse career outlook!
Juvenile justice
Lastly, there is juvenile justice. This specialization addresses crimes committed by minors and how the juvenile justice system differs from the adult system. Additionally, the most popular topics within this field include adolescent development, juvenile rehabilitation programs, and youth intervention strategies. Graduates can work as juvenile probation officers, counselors, or social workers in youth detention centers.
Start your criminal justice bachelor’s degree today
In conclusion, we can agree to say that criminal justice is a rewarding career choice, but requires a solid education path to ensure the best career outcomes. Luckily enough, there are excellent paths you can choose to become a professional in the criminal justice field.
Firstly, you must choose between a BA or BS in criminal justice. Once that is decided, you can move on to deciding which specialization to take so that you can be more focused and streamlined in your education as well. The specialization options for criminal justice are amazing, some of which include cybercrime, correction, juvenile justice, criminal psychology, and homeland security.
Furthermore, selecting the right college for criminal justice majors is also a crucial step. As we mentioned earlier, as well, a good college with accreditations and quality faculty can really enhance the overall job outlook. Therefore, we provide you with a complete list of the best colleges for criminal justice degrees. The list includes colleges like Berkeley College, Ball State University, and the University of South Alabama.