Why Get a Criminal Justice Degree?
You will explore the complex criminal justice system of the U.S. while pursuing your degree in criminal justice. Graduates with this degree have the opportunity to contribute to the community through their work with offenders and victims. With this degree, you could work with law enforcement to investigate and prosecute crimes, or you could work with offenders to reform them and help meet their needs. A criminal justice degree is also a way to launch a career in the legal field. You will already have a robust understanding of the legal system, giving you a leg up pursuing employment in the legal field.
How to Get a Criminal Justice Degree
The criminal justice system in the U.S. is quickly changing and because of this, many top schools offer instruction in the topic. Students interested in pursuing criminal justice can pursue a certificate, associate degree, bachelor’s degree, or a graduate degree. The degree program that you choose depends on the type of career you are interested in. Students have the option to complete their degrees online or on campus. Each path has its benefits in terms of flexibility, instruction, and experience.
Best Criminal Justice Programs
In-Person Undergraduate Criminal Justice Degrees
Some students favor in-person programs for criminal justice and many colleges prioritize in-person learning over online degrees. For students interested in on-campus instruction, the University of Maryland's College Park campus has the best criminal justice program in the US, with the University of Albany's program following in second.
The University of Maryland's criminal justice program offers research opportunities and internships for undergraduate students. Program participants must complete courses in both the practical and theory of criminal justice.
The University of Albany's School of Criminal Justice emphasizes research and methods in their undergraduate program. Students can choose to complete a combined BA/MA program to begin fulfilling their graduate degree requirements in junior year.
Undergraduate Accredited Online Schools for Criminal Justice
Online, some of the top schools for an undergraduate criminal justice degree are the University of Massachusetts -Amherst and Florida State University.
- The University of Massachusetts offers both a certificate and a bachelor's degree in criminal justice. They pride themselves in incorporating contemporary issues into their criminal justice program.
- Florida State University has an entire college of criminology and criminal justice. Their online students receive the same degree as their on-campus counterparts without having to attend in-person classes. The program requires the completion of either a full-time internship in criminal justice or a minor.
Masters in Criminal Justice Online
Plenty of online schools that offer criminal justice have graduate programs. U.S. News and World Reports ranks the University of California- Irvine and Sam Houston State University as having the best online criminal justice graduate programs in the country.
- UC Irvine's online master's program boasts accomplished alumni including former presidents of the American Society of Criminology and the Law and Society Association. Their university also host the National Registry of Exonerations.
- Sam Houston State University maintains close connections with existing law enforcement agencies. The program is part of their College of Criminal Justice.
