Bangor and Online

Criminal Justice – BS

The Criminal Justice program at Husson University educates students in the many professions in the criminal justice and private sector security career fields. The program balances strengths in the traditional areas of law, budgeting, and policy-making, with careful attention to the development of skills in communication, interpersonal relations, psychology and leadership essential to effective performance in organizations.

Students also have the opportunity to participate in experiential internships with organizations related to the Criminal Justice field that they choose. The Bachelor of Science in criminal justice/MSCJA degree can be accelerated and completed in four years.

Students in this program are eligible to attend the Maine Criminal Justice Academy’s Pre-Service Training program, which certifies individuals to become eligible for employment as part-time law enforcement officers in the State of Maine, while also receiving six college credits. Students in their fourth year of the program may choose to attend the Maine Criminal Justice Academy’s Basic Law Enforcement Training Program to be eligible for employment as a full time law enforcement officer in the State of Maine and receive fifteen college credits as well.

Husson can help you prepare for many careers in the criminal justice field, as well as help you advance in a career you have already started. Husson students can choose from a variety of degree options in Criminal Justice including: Bachelor’s degree, Dual Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and Psychology, Dual Bachelor’s and Master’s degree (completed in 5 years), and the Master’s degree in Criminal Justice Administration. Undergraduate students in this program may choose from a wide range of internships and attend the Maine Criminal Justice Academy in their senior year to pursue certification to become eligible for employment as a full-time law enforcement officer upon graduation.

Program Requirements

B.S. CRIMINAL JUSTICE – NATIONAL/CORPORATE SECURITY

B.S. CRIMINAL JUSTICE – PSYCHOLOGY

B.S. CRIMINAL JUSTICE/B.S. PSYCHOLOGY – 5 year dual degree

B.S. CRIMINAL JUSTICE – NATIONAL/CORPORATE SECURITY/M.S. CRIMINAL JUSTICE ADMINISTRATION

B.S. CRIMINAL JUSTICE – PSYCHOLOGY/M.S. CRIMINAL JUSTICE ADMINISTRATION

Southern New Hampshire University

Online

Criminal Justice – BS

Earn an Online Criminal Justice Degree

$320/credit (120 total credits)
Transfer up to 90 credits
24/7 online access to the classroom

No application fee or SAT/ACT scores
Online CJ club and events
Get up to 12 credits for law enforcement training

Online Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Degree Overview

Criminal justice is an ever-evolving field that requires qualified professionals who have both a deep understanding of our legal system and adept interpersonal skills.

At Southern New Hampshire University, you can earn the Bachelor of Science (BS) in Criminal Justice with real-world perspective. Expanding the boundaries of a traditional criminal justice program, you’ll be exposed to:

Current criminology theories
Discretion in decision making
Emerging national and global trends
Effective communication strategies

The bachelor’s degree in criminal justice includes an embedded communication certificate, which can help give you the tools to write and speak effectively in situations where every detail matters.

Get credit for law enforcement training: If you have completed a basic police, corrections or probation and parole academy training, you may receive up to 12 credits toward your criminal justice degree at SNHU.

What You’ll Learn

The impact of tech on criminal justice agencies
Community relations and partnerships
Communication to diverse audiences
Laws, regulations and ethical standards
Research-based solutions to complex problems
Human motivation and behavior

How You’ll Learn

At SNHU, you’ll get support from day 1 to graduation and beyond. And with no set class times, 24/7 access to the online classroom, and helpful learning resources along the way, you’ll have everything you need to reach your goals.

Admission Requirements

Expanding access to quality higher education means removing the barriers that may stand between you and your degree. That’s why you can apply at any time and get a decision within days of submitting all required materials:

Completed free undergraduate application
Prior transcripts, which we can retrieve at no cost to you
Test scores are not required as part of your application

Acceptance decisions are made on a rolling basis throughout the year for our 6 (8-week) undergraduate terms.

Concentration Options:

Corrections

Criminology & Crime Analysis

Cybercrime

Homeland Security & Counterterrorism

Police Administration & Operations

Human Services & Advocacy

Security Management

Substance Abuse

Career Outlook:

Whether you’re looking to start a career in criminal justice or advance in your current role, earning your online criminal justice degree opens doors to positions in a variety of areas:

Advocacy and Law

Victim advocates help victims navigate the criminal justice system and connect them with the support services they need.

Corrections

Within the correctional system, there are many careers, including probation and parole officers, corrections officers and case managers.

Law Enforcement

Positions in law enforcement, for both sworn officers and civilian employees, exist at all levels of government: federal, state and local.

Security

Security management professionals focus on protecting businesses from threats to people, property and assets.

Joseph Medina in uniform with the text Joseph Medina “I attribute my education with my promotion and have seen, firsthand, the continued career opportunities that are now attainable as a result of earning my degree,” said Joseph Medina ’17 ’19, a citywide mobile sergeant with the Boston School Police Department. Medina earned his associate degree in criminal justice at SNHU and then seamlessly moved on to his bachelor’s degree in the same subject.

Law enforcement positions may involve additional training and eligibility requirements. Some students also choose to gain more knowledge through an online master’s in criminal justice: SNHU offers the general track, as well as 2 concentrations – advanced terrorism and public safety administration – for more specialized graduate study.

Job Growth and Salary

There are many avenues you can pursue with a degree in criminal justice — from law enforcement and security to advocacy, law and government. Learn more about the job growth and salary for positions like these

Careers as police and detectives are projected to see 3% growth through 2031, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.¹

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that median pay for police and detectives was $66,020 per year in 2021.¹

Learn from Instructors with Real-World Experience

David Lemieux ’18

“(My criminal justice degree) has provided me with the knowledge in constitutional law to conduct proper police community involvement. Every instructor had a vast array of knowledge; they got back to you within 24-48 hours on a question that you might have.”

Courses & Curriculum

Throughout the courses in this online criminal justice degree program, you’ll gain the practical, hands-on experience that can help you pave your way in the field.

Dr Jeff Czarnec in a suit with text 'Dr. Jeff Czarnec'

Our criminal justice faculty have experience working for major law enforcement agencies, including:

Atlanta Police Department
Chicago Police Department
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
Homeland Security
Houston Police Department
Miami Police Department
New York Police Department (NYPD)

Casey Dickson with the text Casey Dickson

“Criminal justice programs have the direct responsibility to help ensure that future law enforcement professionals have an enhanced understanding of the human condition along with strong critical thinking skills in order to become culturally competent public servants,” said Dr. Jeff Czarnec, associate dean of criminal justice and social science programs at Southern New Hampshire University. Czarnec spent decades with the Manchester (N.H.) Police Department.

“Having professors that have combined centuries’ worth of knowledge is incredibly handy,” said Casey Dickson ’21, a graduate of the bachelor’s in criminal justice program. “You can pick their brain on just about anything you want.”

Curriculum Requirements & Resources

Degree Specific Courses

Critical thinking and communication are crucial for success in the field, and it’s why this program includes courses that make up an embedded criminal justice communication certificate – a bonus if you want to move up the ranks.

General Education

All bachelor’s students are required to take general education classes. Through these foundation, exploration and integration courses, students learn to think critically, creatively and collaboratively, giving you the edge employers are looking for.

Technology Resources

We provide cloud-based virtual environments in some courses to give you access to the technology you need for your degree – and your career. Learn more about our virtual environments.

Earn Math Credits

Save time and tuition with our Pathways to Math Success assessments. Depending on your scores, you could earn up to 12 math credits – the equivalent of 4 courses – toward your degree for less than $50 per assessment. For additional information, or to register for a Pathways to Math Success assessment, contact your admission counselor or academic advisor today.

Program Requirements

Tuition & Fees

As a private, nonprofit university, we’re committed to making college more accessible by making it more affordable. That’s why we offer some of the lowest online tuition rates in the nation.

We also offer financial aid packages to those who qualify, plus a 30% tuition discount for U.S. service members, both full and part time, and the spouses of those on active duty.

Online Undergraduate Programs	Per Course	Per Credit Hour	Annual Cost for 30 credits
Degree/Certificates	$960	$320	$9,600
Degree/Certificates (U.S. service members, both full and part time, and the spouses of those on active duty)*	$675	$225	$6,750

Tuition Rates are subject to change and are reviewed annually. *Note: students receiving this rate are not eligible for additional discounts.

Additional Costs No Application Fee, $150 Graduation Fee, Course Materials ($ varies by course)

Contact Us

Online Admission

888.327.SNHU

enroll@snhu.edu

University of Maine at Augusta

Online and Ellsworth Center

Justice Studies, BS

ustice Studies offers students interested in law enforcement at the federal, state or local level, security (tangible or virtual), corrections and/or probation, investigations of tangible or cyber crime, or the law—as lawyer or paralegal—the opportunity to acquire an academic foundation for all law-related fields and a credential in one or two specialties.

UMA’s Justice Studies program offers a bachelor’s degree and an associate degree as well as Certificates in Paralegal Studies, Community Policing, Forensics, and more. UMA and University of Maine Law School offer a joint accelerated 3+3 program for UMA students interested in pursuing a legal career.

In collaboration with the Business Administration Program, JUS offers a minor and certificate in Fraud Examination, which enables the student to sit for the national fraud exam; and in collaboration with the Computer Information Systems Program, an Information Security Certificate, which prepares the student to work in cyber-security.

The program also offers an Advocacy Minor for students to research, present, and defend their cause in any law-related forum—court, legislature, and administrative agencies.

Justice Studies Program Overview »

Program Requirements

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