Criminal Justice Degree Online

The Criminal Justice program prepares graduates for careers in one of the fastest growing disciplines in the United States today. The demand for personnel in the areas of correction, probation, parole, security and law enforcement is projected to remain high well into the 21st century.

Offering a bachelor degree, the curriculum is broadly interdisciplinary in nature, combining the study of the humanities, law, natural, behavioral and social sciences, and seeks to balance theoretical inquiry with applied knowledge. Off-campus internships are an important part of the degree programs, providing students with first-hand knowledge of the criminal justice system. Students interested in forensics may also want to pursue our forensic psychology minor.

Interested in learning more? Contact the admissions office at admissions@mountida.edu for more information.

MSUM’s Criminal Justice Program is a multidisciplinary major with classes from several departments. Students, working with a faculty advisor, have significant flexibility to choose their coursework. Six classes are required and remaining classes are tailored to each student’s interests in criminal justice. Students interested in Law Enforcement usually do additional coursework.

The basic philosophy of the major is to provide a broad background in the social sciences. Our graduates understand that the criminal justice system involves more than formal criminal procedure. This social science background teaches students about the many ways criminal justice issues and practices relate to what is occurring in the larger society.

Some of the topics studied include criminal law, relationships between law and the larger society, victim issues, how the courts operate, why people commit juvenile and adult crimes, and the psychology of abnormal individuals.

There is a separate Law Enforcement track for students seeking peace officer careers in Minnesota. This track is certified by the Minnesota Peace Officers Standards and Training Board (POST). Minnesota is a leader in law enforcement and the Minnesota standards for entering law enforcement careers are among the most rigorous in the nation. Most MSUM graduates perform very well on the entrance examination.

Criminal Justice students take classes in sociology, psychology, political science, and sometimes social work. It is common for students to major in both criminal justice and one of these four disciplines.

Career Opportunities
Students majoring in criminal justice are well prepared for careers as probation officers, as correctional counselors and as police officers. Graduates are also qualified to work as prison staff, as researchers and as professionals in other areas of the system. Each year, several graduates go beyond the bachelor’s degree and attend law school or graduate school. MSUM criminal justice graduates have made impressive careers in police departments throughout Minnesota and North Dakota, in county and state probation offices and in counseling positions. Some very good students are in federal law enforcement agencies.

In the past decade, internships have become almost mandatory to secure probation and other corrections positions. They are currently becoming critical in law enforcement. Internships, while not required, are therefore strongly recommended. They are best done during the summer between a student’s junior and senior year, but may be done any time after a student becomes a junior.

Program Benefits
A four year Bachelor of Arts degree that emphasizes both high professional standards and an intellectually rigorous approach to criminal justice.
A program that allows a second major in a social science.
Excellent law enforcement career preparation.
Excellent correctional career preparation.
Excellent preparation for law school and other professional and graduate work.
Sufficient flexibility to accommodate unique student interests.
Excellent faculty contacts with local and state agencies.
An active criminal justice student association.
Available computer labs and student tutors.
Regular field trips and invited guest speakers.
Opportunities for students to work with faculty on social research.

These are difficult times. In this post 9/11 world, issues are serious, solutions complex and the need for professionals and leaders is growing. While crime and security are of constant concern, interest in Criminal Justice is up. The timing is right. Enroll in Molloy College’s Criminal Justice Program and make a difference in the real world.

Criminal Justice is the only program where you will study the relationship between social and legal forces in society while developing an understanding of the nature and consequence of crime. You will discover it’s both a timely and interesting major, full
of exciting career opportunities.

Unlike other institutions of higher learning, our Criminal Justice Program is optimized in size to ensure a maximum quality education for you. We allow and encourage you to develop intellectually while acquiring the necessary knowledge, skills and abilities employers are looking for.

The Molloy College Criminal Justice faculty is comprised of scholar practitioners from areas like law enforcement, the legal field and the corrections system. They will immerse you in a curriculum that covers all the significant areas of Criminal Justice and gives you an outstanding foundation into criminal behavior, the law and how the criminal justice system works.

Our faculty is dedicated to providing you with an enriched educational experience comprised of classroom and experiential learning. You will be guided to take those courses designed for your individual objectives and to prepare for the future of your choice – local and state law enforcement, the legal world, court system or maybe Homeland Security.

Our curriculum extends beyond the classroom with internships in the real world. Field placement will heighten your learning experience and give you the backdrop to use all the valuable lessons you have mastered in the classroom. Earning your degree will prepare you for both graduate studies and a fulfilling career.

As a Criminal Justice major, your campus life at Molloy College includes participation in special activities such as student government, numerous collegiate clubs and Alpha Phi Sigma - the National Honor Society in Criminal Justice. Are you already involved in Fire Service or the Criminal Justice System? If so, we have scholarships available.

At Molloy College, we set you up for success. We will tailor a program to meet your needs, your schedule and your plans for a bright future. You only get that kind of personal, individualized guidance here. Go ahead. Get your degree in Criminal Justice from Molloy College. Start something.

Baccalaureate Degrees
Business Psychology
• Requirements

Criminal Justice
The purpose of the Criminal Justice program is to provide the student with a system orientation to the field of criminal justice. Studies involve the principles of criminal justice and the related problems and issues in the field. Students develop a knowledge base for an in-depth understanding of human behavior and the kinds of problems and circumstances that often result in criminality.
• Requirements

Psychology
Psychology is one of the single largest majors at MidAmerica Nazarene University. The primary objective of the department is to present sound psychological principles within a Christ Centered Context.
• Requirements

Sociology
Sociology is the study of society and its parts, and the social sources of human behavior. Sociologists study the structure of societies, groups, organizations, and social institutions and how people interact in these settings. The subject matter of sociology encompasses the family, culture, race and ethnicity, gender, stratification, work, deviance and crime, mass media, social theory, health care, social welfare, religion and legal institutions.
• Requirements

Minor Emphases
Criminal Justice
The purpose of the Criminal Justice program is to provide the student with a system orientation to the field of criminal justice. Studies involve the principles of criminal justice and the related problems and issues in the field. Students develop a knowledge base for an in-depth understanding of human behavior and the kinds of problems and circumstances that often result in criminality.
• Requirements

Psychology
Psychology is one of the single largest majors at MidAmerica Nazarene University. The primary objective of the department is to present sound psychological principles within a Christ Centered Context.
• Requirements

Sociology
Sociology is the study of society and its parts, and the social sources of human behavior. Sociologists study the structure of societies, groups, organizations, and social institutions and how people interact in these settings. The subject matter of sociology encompasses the family, culture, race and ethnicity, gender, stratification, work, deviance and crime, mass media, social theory, health care, social welfare, religion and legal institutions.
• Requirements

Learn about the new Criminal Justice program on Miami’s Regional Campuses
Whether you’re looking to begin or advance a career working within the police, courts, or corrections, Miami’s Criminal Justice Program could be just what you’re looking for.
Learn more >>

Frequently Asked Questions
See if the question currently on your mind has already been answered.
Go to the FAQs page >>

Note: PDF files on this this Web site require PDF Reader. Download free PDF Reader software from Adobe.
The Criminal Justice course curriculum
Do you have what it takes?
Learn more >>

Want to know more about careers in Criminal Justice?
Check out an extensive list of online resources for those interested in Criminal Justice.
View CJ resources >>

Contact the CJ program coordinator
Email Dr. Alana Van Gundy-Yoder

Typical career tracks for graduates of the criminal justice program include positions with local, state, federal police agencies; court administration; corrections, probation, or parole officers; private security and loss prevention managers; and social service providers.

The Providence Campus’ Career Development Office (CDO) is also available to help you build your career plan. Learn more about CDO’s career options. You may also continue your online research through our unique Career Management System.

Review the profiles of our graduates and see firsthand how JWU’s unique, career-focused education continues to launch successful careers.

The Criminal Justice program includes flexible credits which can be satisfied in more than one way. You are given the benefit of options which include the possibility of studying abroad to earn credits towards graduation.

The Study Abroad Brochure identifies programs available to students in each major. Many students are able to study abroad as early as freshman year and, with proper planning, can study abroad multiple times before graduation.

Detailed program Fact Sheets include information about dates, courses, pricing, inclusions, and housing.

To find the application and all study abroad support services, visit the Study Abroad Office website. The study abroad office is located in Providence and is the central resource for all study abroad information. Our staff advise students from all campuses and can help identify programs that best fit your academic and career goals.

JWU has long standing international partners around the world that welcome our students every year. Consider destinations that you may not visit on your personal travels, and explore corners of the world that will offer you new insights into your chosen field.

Typical career tracks for graduates of the criminal justice program include positions with local, state, federal police agencies; court administration; corrections, probation, or parole officers; private security and loss prevention managers; and social service providers.

Jobs within the Criminal Justice field include:

Airport Security Officer
Border Patrol Agent
CIA Agent
Corrections Officer
Customs Agent
Deportation Officer
Drug Enforcement Agent
FBI Agent
Fish & Game Warden
Paralegal
Police Officer
Secret Service Agent
Sheriff
U.S. Customs Agent
U.S. Marshall

The ITT Technical Institute in Indianapolis, Indiana offers an online program leading to a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice. This program teaches the fundamentals of the criminal justice system and criminal justice skills. The program offers a foundation in criminal law, legal procedures, criminal evidence and criminology. Areas of study include law enforcement, the courts and corrections. Students are taught about the legal system and law enforcement standards and can develop technical skills predominant in today’s criminal justice environment. This program is offered online to allow students the flexibility to participate when it is convenient to them.

An online education can offer opportunities for students to pursue their educational objectives when attending school in a traditional classroom is just not practical. With ITT Tech’s online education, a quality technical education is now available when and where it is convenient for the student.

If you would like an ITT Tech representative to contact you about this program, please click here.

Currently, the ITT Technical Institute in Indianapolis, Indiana is pleased to offer the Criminal Justice program to residents of the following states:
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Iowa
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Kansas
Kentucky Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming

ITT Technical Institute, Indianapolis, may also enroll students into the on-line programs from all foreign countries except: Afghanistan, Angola, Burma, Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Syria and Yugoslavia

For a course description of this online program, click here.

To request information about our campus based programs, click here.

What It Means:
Popular culture thrills us with portrayals of local, state and federal enforcement agencies, crime scene investigators and detectives who solve complicated crimes using their powers of deduction and sophisticated technology. However, these are only some of the more high-profile jobs in the field of criminal justice. Criminal Justice professionals work in a variety of positions, both in the public eye and behind the scenes. There are entry level positions, for example, in local law enforcement, including sheriff’s departments and juvenile justice centers; state law enforcement including the court system and attorneys general offices; federal law enforcement including the Department of Homeland Security and the Office of the Inspector General; and private companies including insurance companies and security patrol officers.

Criminal justice is one of America’s fastest-growing career fields. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for correctional officers, law enforcement officers and security officers is projected to increase as much as 35% through 2010.*

What It Means To You:
The Criminal Justice program of study at the ITT Technical Institutes1 teaches fundamentals of the criminal justice system and criminal justice skills. The program offers a foundation in criminal law, legal procedures, criminal evidence and criminology. Areas of study include law enforcement, the courts and corrections.

The upper-level courses include more in-depth study of the criminal justice systems, along with instruction in areas such as criminalistics, victimology and computer forensics.

Graduates of this program may pursue career opportunities in a variety of entry-level positions involving criminal justice, including local, state and federal law enforcement jobs in policing, crime commissions, parole and probation, corrections and court systems. The program also offers the academic preparation to pursue a broad spectrum of criminal justice careers in the private sector involving workplace security, private investigations, and insurance investigations as private detectives, safety officers and security patrol officers.

Some of the Courses in the Program Include:
Courts and the Criminal Justice System
Criminal Justice Organization and Administration
Principles of Policing and Law Enforcement
Law Enforcement Reporting and Recording
Correctional Programs: Probation and Parole
Criminal Investigation
Forensics and Crime Scene Investigation
The Criminalistics of Cybercrime
Policing Techniques: Interviewing and Interrogation
Essentials of Security
Aviation Security
Crime Prevention
Multicultural Law Enforcement
Substance Abuse and Crime in America
Gangs and Juvenile Justice
The Criminalistics of Computer Forensics
Controversial Issues in Law Enforcement
Homeland Security

Equipment Used By Students In the Program:
Students will have the opportunity to use the following school equipment as required throughout the program: computer systems, network hubs, patch panels, printers and other common computer peripherals.

Length of Program:
Based on the typical class schedule of a full-time student, this program of study is 15 quarters in length. A typical class session lasts approximately four to five hours. Class sessions are generally available in the morning, afternoon and evening, depending on student enrollment. Some programs of study also offer one or more classes via the World Wide Web. This program leads to a bachelor degree.

Admission Requirements:
Please consult the school catalog for an explanation of the admission requirements for this program. Please contact the local school regarding the opportunity to transfer credits earned at other postsecondary institutions to satisfy course requirements of this program.

* Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2002 - 2003 Edition

1 Bachelor’s degree programs are not offered at all ITT Technical Institutes and not all ITT TEchnical Institutes offering bachelor’s degree programs offer this program. See the specific ITT TEchnical Institute’s school catalog for a complete list of the programs offered at that institute.

This program is available at the following campuses. Please select a campus to learn more about this program.