If you are interested in majoring in criminal justice, you will be pleased to find out that there are ample growth opportunities in this field.
According to the U.S. of Labor and Statistics, we should expect to see a notable growth in protective service jobs over the next decade.
A few examples of career paths one can take with a criminal justice degree are Criminal Investigator, Bailiff, Police Officer, and Fish and Game Warden.
Those pursuing a degree in this field can opt for an Associate, Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Doctorate degree, and if you are one of those interested in starting a career in the field, keep reading for a list of the best criminal justice schools in Oklahoma.
1 Oklahoma State University (OSU)
About the School
Very few schools in Oklahoma have a reputation as good as OSU.
This university offers over 200 majors and minors and more than 200 Master’s and Ph.D. programs on several campuses.
Among them is the Law and Criminal Justice program.
Programs Offered
Upon perusing the hundreds of options on the school catalog, you will come across the Sociology: Criminology and Criminal Justice BS offered through the College of Arts and Sciences.
Law and Criminal Justice Program: Comprised of 120 credit hours, the program consists of extensive courses, such as:
- Introduction to Criminal Justice
- Comparative Perspectives of Criminal Justice Systems
- Policing and Society
Students enrolling in the program must have at least a 2.0 GPA and meet the school’s minimum requirements.
To ease the financial burden on students, OSU offers various scholarships, loans, and work-study opportunities.
Contact Information
- Address: Oklahoma State University 213 Life Sciences East Oklahoma State University Stillwater, OK 74078
- Phone: 405-744-5658
- Website: Visit School Website
2 University of Oklahoma (OU)
About the School
Founded in 1890, OU competes with OSU in the spot for the most prestigious university in the state.
This public university offers more than 170 programs, one of which is the Masters of Science – Criminal Justice.
Programs Offered
Master of Science – Criminal Justice: Students must complete no less than 33 credit hours and finalize the program with a minimum GPA of 3.0 in order to graduate the program.
The curriculum is divided into:
- Core Courses: These are divided into Liberal Studies and Criminal Justice courses
- Elective Courses: Students are required to check the availability of these courses since they happen on a rotational basis
Contact Information
- Address: Dodge Family College of Arts and Sciences Ellison Hall 633 Elm Avenue Norman, OK 73019-3118
- Phone: 405-325-2151
- Website: Visit School Website
3 Oklahoma Baptist University
About the School
Established in 1911, this Christian liberal arts university is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and focuses on integrating faith into the higher education of students.
At OBU, students can choose their desired program from a list of more than 80 majors, minors, and concentrations.
Programs Offered
Criminal Justice BA: The program consists of 120 credit hours, and is divided as such:
- Common Core for BA: 35 credit hours
- Supportive Core: 15 credit hours
- Major: 39 credit hours
- Minor: 38 credit hours
Contact Information
- Address: 500 West University Shawnee, OK 74804
- Phone: 405-585-5000
- Website: Visit School Website
4 Northeastern State University
About the School
NSU offers courses on three different campuses – Tahlequah, Muskogee, and Broken Arrow – and online.
Students can choose from the school’s extensive list of undergraduate (majors, minors, certificates, and non-degrees) and graduate programs (Master’s degrees, certificates, and Optometry).
On this list, you can also find the school’s Criminal Justice B.S.
Programs Offered
Criminal Justice B.S.: The program equips students with the necessary skills to succeed in the criminal justice field. More specifically, it focuses on analytical, leadership, and communication skills.
The objective of the program is to instill an understanding of the legal system, and how theoretical knowledge can be applied in real-life instances.
Some examples of the program objectives presented on the school’s website are:
- To develop an understanding of the origin, organization, and function of American law.
- To impart knowledge of crime and correctional theory.
- To perfect the ability to conduct research in the major components of the Criminal Justice System and describe the findings.
Upon graduating from the program, students can pursue careers in various positions and environments, like courthouses, Local or federal agencies, and the Department of Corrections.
Contact Information
- Address: 600 N. Grand Ave. Tahlequah, OK 74464
- Phone: 918-456-5511
- Website: Visit School Website
5 East Central University
About the School
East Central University offers a multitude of 4-year programs from different fields.
For example, students can choose their desired program from a diverse list that contains programs like Accounting, Computer Science, Biology, and Criminal Justice.
Programs Offered
Criminal Justice: The goal of this program is to equip students with the theoretical knowledge and practical skills needed for success in the workforce.
The program is divided into:
- 40 credit hours of General Education Courses
- 18 credit hours of Required Core Courses
- 24 credit hours of Required Elective Courses
- 12 credit hours of Internship of upper-level electives
- 6 credit hours of Psychology and Sociology
The program can be divided into a 4-year plan, in which the student takes between 12 and 16 hours each semester.
The estimated tuition cost is $10,581 per semester.
However, the school offers various forms of scholarships and financial aid to help ease the students’ financial burden.
Contact Information
- Address: 1100 East 14th Street Ada, Oklahoma 74820
- Phone: 580-332-8000
- Website: Visit School Website
6 Rose State College
About the School
Opened in 1970, this two-year university offers more than 60 programs, among which is the Associate in Criminal Justice.
Programs Offered
Associate in Criminal Justice: The goal of this program is to equip students for going on to a four-year institution or entering the workforce.
Graduates of this program can orient themselves towards a various list of positions and careers, such as police officer, TSA security, or private security.
To graduate, students must complete no less than 62 credit hours.
Some of the courses are offered during the daytime, while others are offered at night or online.
A few examples of the courses in the curriculum are:
- Introduction to Corrections
- Introduction to Law Enforcement
- Criminal Justice Internship
Students can make use of the various forms of financial aid that the school offers.
A few examples of financial aid available are Pell Grants, scholarships, and Federal Direct Loans.
Contact Information
- Address: 6420 S.E. 15th Street Midwest City, OK 73110
- Phone: 405-733-7673
- Website: Visit School Website
7 Southeastern Oklahoma State University
About the School
Southeastern Oklahoma State University offers over 45 undergraduate, graduate, and online programs.
Among them is the school’s reputable Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice.
Programs Offered
Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice: The goal of the program is to equip students with the theoretical knowledge and the practical skills needed to succeed post-graduation.
According to the university’s website, the curriculum focuses on the following areas:
- Criminological Theory
- Administration of Justice
- Corrections
- Law adjudication
- Law Enforcement
- Research and Analytic Methods
Upon graduation, students will be familiar with the ins and outs of working in law enforcement, as well as the inner workings of courts and corrections.
Additionally, they can pursue careers in various fields such as:
- Corrections
- Victim Advocacy
- Law Enforcement
Contact Information
- Address: 425 W. University Boulevard Durant, OK 74701
- Phone: 580-745-2000
- Website: Visit School Website
8 Seminole State College
About the School
Upon looking through the school’s catalog, you will discover various online, blended, evening, and 8-week courses that are designed to equip students with the necessary skills for starting a career in their desired field.
Among all the programs presented on the school’s website, you will also come across the Criminal Justice A.S.
Programs Offered
Criminal Justice, A.S.: The program equips students with the skills and credit hours necessary for transferring to a four-year university.
Students can take the program in person or online.
The curriculum is divided into:
- General Education Requirements: include courses like Composition 1, American National Government, and Learning Strategies
- Major Field Requirements: include courses like Intro to Criminology, Intro to Law Enforcement, and Juvenile Justice Procedures.
To graduate, students are required to finalize no less than 63 credit hours and a GPA of 2.0 or higher.
Additionally, students are required to complete the Graduate Exit Survey.
Contact Information
- Address: 2701 Boren Boulevard Seminole, OK 74868
- Phone: 405-382-9950
- Website: Visit School Website
9 Rogers State University
About the School
Rogers State University offers a multitude of Associate, Bachelor’s, and Master’s degrees.
A few examples are the school’s AAS in Applied Technology, the Justice Administration B.S., or the Business Administration M.B.A.
Among these, you will also find the A.A. in Criminal Justice Studies.
Programs Offered
A.A. in Criminal Justice Studies: Similar to the other programs on this list, the goal of this program is to prepare students to transition from the classroom to the workforce.
Upon graduation, students will learn about:
- Criminal Law
- Community Relations
- Criminal Procedures
Students can personalize their degree path by selecting the Law/Justice option or the Collegiate Officer Program option.
Contact Information
- Address: 1701 W. Will Rogers Blvd. Claremore, OK 74017
- Phone: 918-343-7777
- Website: Visit School Website
10 Oklahoma Christian University
About the School
Oklahoma Christian University offers on-campus and online programs, as well as graduate and professional programs from a wide variety of fields.
And when perusing the school’s website, you will come across the B.S. Degree in Criminal Justice offered through the school.
Programs Offered
B.S. Degree in Criminal Justice: The program is 126 credit hours divided as such:
- Foundation (36 credit hours): includes courses like Theories of Criminal Behavior, Policing in America, and Cultural Diversity in Criminal Justice
- Foundation (12 hours): includes courses like Team Communication and Leadership, Comparative Justice Systems, and Family Policy
- Statistical Analysis (3 hours): includes two courses, Research Skills in Political Science and Intro to Psychology Statistics
- Criminal Justice Capstone (3 hours): includes Contemporary Issues in Criminal Justice
Contact Information
- Address: 2501 E. Memorial Road Edmond, OK 73013
- Phone: 800-877-5010
- Website: Visit School Website
Schools Summary Table
Criminal Justice Schools by State
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- 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
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
I’m a parent researching colleges for my son who’s interested in pursuing a career in law enforcement. This list is a helpful starting point.
It’s encouraging to see my alma mater listed among the top criminal justice schools in Oklahoma.
I’m considering applying to a few of these schools and it’s great to see them ranked like this.
I graduated from one of these schools and can vouch for the quality of education. The professors were experienced professionals who really cared about their students’ success.