Online Criminal Justice Degree :: Accredited Universities

The Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice is designed to benefit students and experienced professionals by providing them with the specialized education that can help prepare them to succeed and advance in criminal justice and law enforcement careers.

Criminal Justice students are provided with a comprehensive education that includes a core liberal arts curriculum as well as the training essential for careers in a variety of environments including courts, corrections, parole and probation systems, and law enforcement.

Aspen University also offers a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice degree completion program designed to benefit students whom have yet to complete an undergraduate degree and who now seek to transfer accumulated undergraduate credits or an Associates Degree into an accredited and widely-recognized college degree program.

Entry Requirements

Application

A completed application.

Statement of Goals

A statement of your goals reflecting the academic, professional, and personal goals you would like to achieve through your work with Aspen University. Your goals statement will be evaluated by the Admissions Committee as part of the application process. The statement of goals should be between 300 - 500 words.

High School Transcripts

An official high school transcript or its equivalent. Waived if student has completed at least 15 credits of college level course work.

Official Transcripts

Official transcripts for all previous college credit earned.

Prior Criminal Justice Education

Successful completion of fifteen credit hours of criminal justice course work prior to acceptance into the BSCJ program.

Military Documentation (Optional)

A Military ID or DD214 for those who qualify for the military discount program.

Transfer Credit Evaluation (Optional)

Students who have earned college credit may submit a transfer credit evaluation report with corresponding course descriptions, and official transcripts from accredited institutions in order to determine which credits may be applied toward the requirements of a program at Aspen University.

Minimum GPA Requirement

A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00 is required for all previous high school or college credit.

Conditional Acceptance

Students will be Conditionally Accepted pending successful completion of CMP160 - English Composition I. Upon successful completion of CMP160 - English Composition I students will be fully Accepted. This requirement is waived for students awarded Transfer Credit for CMP160 - English Composition I.

Other Fees

Annual Technology Fee - $150

Graduation (one time) - $100

Proctored Examination (per exam) - $100

Textbooks - $4,000

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The Master of Science in Criminal Justice degree is ideal both for students seeking a graduate degree to prepare them for a career in a law enforcement related field and for seasoned professionals interested in pursuing an education that will help take their careers to the next level. Criminal justice students are given the advanced training needed to succeed in leadership and management roles in a variety of environments including courts, corrections, parole and probation systems, and law enforcement.

Aspen University’s Master's in Criminal Justice degree offers students a comprehensive education in all facets of criminal justice, from behavioral science to criminal investigation to the justice system, in order to ensure that they are prepared to excel in their chosen field. Advanced training such as this may also play a key role for those interested in attaining top-level positions in state police or at federal law enforcement agencies.

If you are a member of the New York Police Department, you are also eligible to take the NYPD Elective Classes.

Potential Careers

Students who earn a Master in Criminal Justice degree typically pursue the following careers:

Police Officer
Detective
Corrections Officer
Manager of Correctional Officers
Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Education

Entry Requirements

Application

A completed application.

Statement of Goals

A statement of your goals reflecting the academic, professional, and personal goals you would like to achieve through your work with Aspen University. Your goals statement will be evaluated by the Admissions Committee as part of the application process. The statement of goals should be between 300 - 500 words.

Bachelor's Degree Transcripts

Evidence of a bachelor’s degree in the form of official transcripts from an accredited/approved institution, or an equivalently certified degree from a recognized foreign college or university. Official transcripts of all previous baccalaureate and post-baccalaureate study must be sent directly to Aspen University by the granting institution(s).

Military Documentation (Optional)

A Military ID or DD214 for those who qualify for the military discount program.

Transfer Credit Evaluation (Optional)

Students who have earned college credit may submit a transfer credit evaluation report with corresponding course descriptions, and official transcripts from accredited institutions in order to determine which credits may be applied toward the requirements of a program at Aspen University.

Other Fees

Annual Technology Fee - $150

Graduation (one time) - $100

Proctored Examination (per exam) - $100

Textbooks - $1200

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The Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice program is designed for students who want to gain knowledge of the multidisciplinary components that comprise American criminal justice. This program provides a broad base of traditional liberal arts and science courses, as well as courses that examine the functional components of criminal justice such as American law and procedure, criminal investigation and practice, and correctional settings. The program is geared toward students interested in such areas as law, law enforcement, corrections, and security, whether the student is already in the field or preparing for a career in a criminal justice related area.

Program Objectives
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Discuss the development of criminal law in the United States,including the elements of due process, rule of law, and the role of the Constitution in protecting rights.

Describe the dynamics of courthouse justice,the court process and process of the criminal justice system, and the role of court staff in interfacing with the public.

Demonstrate an understanding of the investigative process by providing a thorough overview of the fundamentals of criminal investigation and by showing its application to many major felonies.

Discuss the changing roles and goals of corrections; the variety of ways society punishes people who break criminal laws; and the impact of our corrections policies.

Demonstrate an understanding of contemporary concepts and practices for first line supervisors in law enforcement, with an emphasis on character, motivation, teamwork, and conflict resolution.

Identify and analyze the pertinent concepts and theories of law, ethical issues that arise, and the principles of legal reasoning.

Demonstrate a foundation of computer and information systems knowledge,technical skills, and a basic understanding of computer applications.

Demonstrate proficiency with English composition, including the ability to use appropriate style, grammar, and mechanics in writing assignments and to conduct academic research.

Identify and apply fundamental math concepts for operations and problem solving, and apply basic statistical concepts and tools in order to correctly interpret the results of statistical analyses.

Be prepared to enter Ashworth College’s Master of Science or MBA programs without any additional academic preparation.

Entry Requirements

High School Diploma or GED

Other Fees

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The purpose of the Masters of Science in Criminal Justice program is to provide a learning experience that students can readily transfer into everyday practice in their criminal justice careers. Performance competency (skill- and knowledge-developing projects) and affective development (value-challenging experiences) are emphasized. Projects focus on enhancing the following skills: Internet, primary, and secondary research; software (MSWord, Excel, PowerPoint, and Project Management); creative; decision making; project and people management; analytical; synthesis; integrative; conceptual; and communication. The program is designed to provide a high degree of specialization within the area of criminal justice, with an in-depth understanding of advanced concepts, knowledge and skills.

Program Objectives
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Graduates of the Masters of Science in Criminal Justice program will be able to demonstrate the ability to:

Examine the emerging challenges that are transforming the criminal justice landscape.

Utilize an expanded criminal justice vocabulary by exploring the core and specialty areas of criminal justice.

Examine the major sources of criminal justice statistics, and the various agencies, actors, and operational components of the criminal justice system in the United States.

Develop an integrated view of the fundamental concepts, and analyze the current issues, trends, and limitations of criminal law and procedures.

Apply sociological theory to the study of crime, criminal behavior, and social development processes.

Analyze the relationship between criminal behavior and social forces of culture, society, region, neighborhood, and enclaves within neighborhoods.

Design primary survey research and write a research proposal.

Analyze workplace behaviors, processes, and systems in a criminal justice setting utilizing current management theories, and recommend actions needed to ensure effective and efficient workplace behaviors to achieve desired organizational outcomes.

Examine the different types of corporate crime and defend various positions on penalties and punishments, consumer and corporate fraud, regulation, and enforcement.

Analyze the threats, vulnerabilities, and needs of the contemporary workplace, and develop contingency plans and policies to control internal and external corporate risks.

Analyze homeland security issues relating to terrorism activity in the future of law enforcement.

Apply theoretical frameworks to ethical and legal issues relevant to policies, practices, and management behaviors in the criminal justice system. )

Explain the considerations that are implicit in the forging of criminal justice policies within a democratic society.

Identify current trends in the area of corrections, policing, criminal justice, and criminology, and develop, plan, and implement innovative solutions to crime problems.

Entry Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree

Other Fees

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The Master of Arts in Criminal Justice (MACJ) is a professional degree designed to provide criminal justice professionals with the knowledge and skills necessary to advance their careers.
Students will study the larger context of crime, why it exists and its impact on society. In addition, post-graduate students will gain a detailed understanding of the concept of justice and how it’s applied. The program offers valuable training in research methods and statistics, program planning and management, policy analysis, and program evaluation.

The MACJ allows students to learn directly from professors who are nationally-recognized scholars in their respective fields as well as from a prestigious group of criminal justice professionals with expertise in policing, gangs, fraud, corrections and courts.

This 33-credit hour program requires students to complete a capstone course, Theory and Practice in Criminal Justice, in which they write a comprehensive research paper that focuses on a criminal justice policy or practice.

The Master’s program is offered to both full-time and part-time students. Full-time students can earn the degree in as little as 18 months. Part-time students will take longer to complete the degree, but must fulfill all requirements for the degree within six years from the date of their first course. GRE test scores are not required for entry into the MACJ program.

Students must meet all admissions criteria of the Graduate College, and applicants must have a 3.0 GPA or higher for unconditional admission to the MA in criminal justice program.

Other Fees

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