If you want to make a difference in the world and support law and order, you should consider a career in criminal justice.
After getting a criminal justice certificate, you can work as a court reporter, probation officer, and more.
1 Liberty University
About
Liberty University has an impressive number of awards.
They are one of Niche’s Top 3 Online Schools.
They have many accreditations and are noted as being military-friendly.
Liberty is a Christian college.
You don’t have to be a Christian to attend college.
You won’t be forced to take classes on Christianity.
However, the school believes strongly in Christian values.
This means that they teach ethics from a biblical perspective, and include this in their overall teaching style.
The school has a physical campus, but the majority of students take their classes online.
Liberty offers certificate programs, associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate degrees.
This means you can choose to begin your education with a certificate or associate’s degree and continue your education with Liberty until you achieve your ultimate goal of a higher degree.
Courses Offered/Program Name
Liberty University offers a criminal justice certificate online.
The course is designed for law enforcement officers and regular citizens interested in a criminal justice career.
The program takes 6 months to complete and consists of 18 credit hours.
The course gives you an overview of the criminal justice system and teaches you how to navigate public policy situations.
You’ll learn about the judicial process, corrections, and crime from multiple perspectives, including philosophy, and sociology.
Contact Information
- Address: 1971 University Blvd Lynchburg, VA 24515
- Phone: (800) 424-9595
- Website: Visit School Website
2 Georgia Southwestern State University
About
Georgia Southwestern State University is considered a prestigious small 4-year college.
They offer a total of 85 degree programs.
The school was founded in 1906.
It was a two-year institution until 1964 when it began the transition to a four-year college.
Famous alumni include President Jimmy Carter First Lady Rosalyn Carter and former Attorney General Griffin Bell.
Courses Offered/Program Name
The Criminal Justice Certificate Program from Georgia Southwestern State University is an 18-credit course that gives you a basic foundation in criminal justice.
You can complete the course The cost is $3,580.
The program is online.
However, students are required to be enrolled in a degree program and must have at least 30 credit hours before beginning the program.
Courses include criminal law, criminal procedures, research methodology, and criminal investigations.
Contact Information
- Address: 800 GSW State University Dr., Americus, Georgia 31709
- Phone: (877) 871-4594
- Website: Visit School Website
3 Boston University
About
Boston University offers a variety of programs ranging from bachelor’s programs to master’s.
They also allow you to take courses for personal enrichment.
They have more than 80 programs and emphasize real-world skills and experiential learning.
Courses Offered/Program Name
Boston University offers a Criminal Justice Graduate Certificate which can be applied towards a Masters in Criminal Justice.
To enroll in the program, you’ll need to have completed a bachelor’s degree.
The program is designed for those who are in a policy-making position within criminal justice, as well as social workers, healthcare workers, mental health workers, and journalists.
The program typically takes 8-12 months to complete and consists of 4 courses.
These are Criminology and Crime Policy, Criminal Justice Administration and Ethics, Research and Evaluation Methods, and one elective course.
Costs for the course are typically $8,600 to $10,000.
The school also offers an undergraduate certificate in criminal justice.
The courses in this program include Principles of Criminal Justice, Police and Society, Corrections, and Courts, Society, and Criminal Procedure.
This course takes 8 to 12 months to complete.
Contact Information
- Address: 1010 Commonwealth Avenue, 3rd Floor, Boston, MA 02215
- Phone: 617-353-6000
- Website: Visit School Website
4 Washington Technical Institute
About
Washington Technical Institute offers programs that focus on teaching you the skills you’ll need to begin a new career.
The online school values mutual respect, efficient delivery of learning and materials, and integrity.
Courses Offered/Program Name
Washington Technical Institute offers an online Criminal Justice Certificate.
The self-paced course must be completed within 8 months of beginning the program.
This means you can complete the program in your own time, as long as it’s completed by the deadline.
The program is 18 credits, which makes it a total of 756 class and study hours.
Students will be prepared to work as law enforcement professionals, corrections, private security, and more after graduating from the program.
The program focuses on practical skills that you’ll need in the field.
Contact Information
- Address: 601 Carlson Parkway, Suite 1250, Minnetonka, MN 55305, USA
- Phone: 800-371-5581
- Website: Visit School Website
5 Albany Technical College
About
Albany Technical College offers more than 100 programs that range from certificates to degrees.
Most of the programs they offer are available online, with some programs also available on campus.
Courses Offered/Program Name
Albany Technical College offers several options in criminal justice.
To earn a criminal justice certificate, you’ll need to complete 15 credits.
Courses include Introduction to Criminal Justice, Corrections, Principles of Law Enforcement, Criminal Law, and Constitutional Law.
You can begin the course at the start of a semester.
Completion of the program usually takes one to two semesters or 6 months to 1 year.
Albany also offers a Criminal Justice Diploma, which requires 48 credits.
You’ll need to complete a few basic courses, including Foundations of Math.
You’ll take 30 credit hours of criminal justice courses, and 9 credits for elective courses in criminal justice.
You’ll also complete an internship as part of the program.
Lastly, you can get a Criminal Justice Associate’s Degree, which requires 60 credits.
You can begin your education with the certificate program, and go on to earn your diploma or degree.
Contact Information
- Address: 1704 South Slappey Blvd,. Albany, GA 31701
- Phone: 229-430-3500
- Website: Visit School Website
6 National University
About
National University is a veteran-founded non-profit college in California.
Since it opened in 1971, the school has focused on offering education for adult learners.
Instead of a one-size-fits-all approach, the National University offers customized education plans, student support, and competency-based credentials.
We customize education plans that include adaptive instruction, holistic student support, and competency-based credentialing.
Courses Offered/Program Name
National University offers a Criminal Justice Administration.
You’ll learn how to manage or supervise employees in criminal justice agencies.
You’ll learn about the factors of criminality and the judicial process of criminal justice.
Courses include Criminal Justice Management and Leadership, Corrections, Criminology, and Courts and Judicial Process.
Contact Information
- Address: 9388 Lightwave Ave, San Diego, CA 92123
- Phone: (855) 355-6288
- Website: Visit School Website
7 Indiana Wesleyan University
About
Indiana Wesleyan University, also known as IWU, was founded by The Wesleyan Church in 1920.
It was originally known as Marion College.
The University was founded in 1920 as Marion College and is committed to liberal arts and professional education.
The school is the largest in the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities, and the largest private college in Indiana.
They offer more than 80 undergraduate programs.
They aim to instill character and leadership while helping students live a Christ-like life.
Courses Offered/Program Name
IWU offers a Criminal Justice certificate program.
Students will learn about the criminal justice system, criminology, and the psychology of crime.
What sets this apart from other programs is that they also focus on drug and alcohol addiction in relation to crime.
This program is geared towards those who want to help others currently involved in the criminal justice system.
Classes are completely online, and criminal justice is taught from a biblical perspective.
The program is 15 credit hours and consists of 5 courses, and costs $5,925.
Completion typically takes 6 months.
After you complete the program, you’ll be ready for a career in criminal justice.
Contact Information
- Address: 4201 S Washington Street, Marion, IN 46953
- Phone: 1-866-498-4968
- Website: Visit School Website
8 Forsyth Tech Community College
About
Forsyth Tech Community College focuses on preparing students for real-world careers.
The school offers degree programs and fast-track programs, which are designed to teach you what you need to know to begin a career quickly.
They also offer programs designed to transfer to four-year universities after graduating.
Courses Offered/Program Name
Forsyth Tech Community College offers a Certificate in Criminal Justice Technology.
You’ll study criminology, investigative principles, ethics, technology, counseling, and government.
The program can be completed by attending school part-time for one or two semesters.
You can choose from day, evening, and online classes.
Forsyth also offers an Associate of Applied Science in Criminal Justice Technology and an Associate of Applied Science in Criminal Justice Forensics.
Contact Information
- Address: 2100 Silas Creek Parkway, Winston-Salem, NC 27103
- Phone: 336-723-0371
- Website: Visit School Website
9 Barton Community College
About
Barton is a community college that offers associate’s, diploma, and certificate programs.
Students can choose to continue their education after graduating or begin a new career.
The school has several physical campuses in Kansas, but they also offer programs online.
Courses Offered/Program Name
Barton offers a Criminal Justice Certificate program.
This course requires 43 credit hours and generally takes 6 to 12 months to complete.
Courses included in this program include Criminal Law, Criminal Investigation, Criminal Procedures, and Crime Scene Investigation.
You can also earn an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Criminal Justice, which requires 67 hours.
This course is recommended for aspiring police officers.
You can also choose the Associate of Arts in Criminal Justice, which requires 60 credit hours.
Contact Information
- Address: 245 NE 30 RD Great Bend, KS 67530
- Phone: (620) 792-2701
- Website: Visit School Website
10 Ogeechee Tech
About
Ogeechee Tech was founded 37 years ago.
Since then, thousands of graduates have gone on to have fulfilling careers.
It’s also helped adults earn their GED or improve their literacy.
Courses Offered/Program Name
Ogeechee Tech offers several criminal justice options.
The Criminal Justice Fundamentals program is 12 credit hours or about 210 contact hours.
This program takes 1 semester to complete and costs about $2,000.
The Criminal Justice Specialist Certificate requires 15 credit hours, which is about 225 contact hours.
This program can be completed in one semester and costs approximately $2,500.
Students may choose to continue their education and earn a diploma or associate of Applied Sciences degree in Criminal Justice after completing the program.
Contact Information
- Address: 1 Joe Kennedy Blvd., Statesboro, GA 30458
- Phone: (800) 646-1316
- Website: Visit School Website
Schools Summary Table
I enrolled in one of these programs last year and it’s been a game-changer for my career prospects. Highly recommend!
It’s great to see a comprehensive list like this. Choosing the right program can really make a difference.
I’ve been considering a career switch into criminal justice. This list is exactly what I needed to get started!