Getting a Criminal Justice Bachelor's Degree
There are many online schools and on-campus programs for criminal justice students. US News & World Report’s Best Colleges 2011 lists over 300 schools offering criminal justice degrees. Before you enroll in, or even apply to, a criminal justice program, do some research about program accreditation and see if the subjects that you wish to study in a criminal justice program are available at your school of choice.
Find an Accredited Criminal Justice Program
Whether you choose to acquire an online criminal justice degree or a criminal justice degree on campus, it is crucial to make sure that the criminal justice degree program is accredited. Doing so will ensure that you will be offered suitable and relevant coursework in criminal justice and thus be more prepared for your career in criminal justice. In addition, a degree from an accredited school will greatly enhance your employment prospects. Here are some resources for accreditation research:
- The US Department of Education operates a database of accredited postsecondary institutions and programs. This is a great starting point for seeing if the program or school you are interested in attending is accredited. You can search by the institution’s name or the accrediting agency.
- The Distance Education and Training Council (DETC) provides accreditation to post-secondary institutions and has a database that can be searched by topic and/or location. Search for an accredited criminal justice degree distance program.
What You Will Study in a Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Degree Program
As an interdisciplinary social science, criminal justice encompasses several subjects that together provide a cohesive overview of criminal behavior and the criminal justice system. Classes may include topics like:
- Constitutional law
- Corrections history, practice, and theory
- Criminal evidence and procedures
- Gangs and the criminal justice system
- Police operations, organization, procedures and supervision
- Substance abuse and the law
A credited internship, senior seminar, and/or individual study may also be required components of your criminal justice program.
Duration of a Criminal Justice Bachelor's Degree Program
A bachelor’s degree in criminal justice can usually be completed within four years or less. The duration will depend on your personal circumstances, such as the number of credits that you take per semester, whether you take online classes, and if you have prior college credits that are deemed transferable to your program. Speak with the admissions counselor to your criminal justice program to assess your options, and be sure to lay out a timeline for completing your criminal justice studies.