5 Best Criminal Justice Schools in Washington, DC

About the School

The University of the District of Columbia was established in 1851.

It was originally a college for black women that later became a teacher’s college.

The Miner Normal School and the Washington Normal School merged after the Brown v Board of Education decision.

The newly formed school was named the District of Columbia Teachers College.

Through further actions, the University of the District of Columbia was formed in the 1970s.

It now offers more than 80 programs, including two criminal justice programs.

The school offers an Associate of Applied Science in Corrections Administration degree and an Associate of Applied Science in Law Enforcement degree.

Courses Offered

The law enforcement program and the corrections administration program at the University of the District of Columbia both require students to complete 65 credit hours.

The courses that students complete depend on their chosen concentration.

Some courses that students who enroll in the Associate in Applied Science in Law Enforcement program take include Justice Issues in Society, Contemporary Police Systems and Problems, Investigations, Criminal Procedures, and Issues in Criminal Law.

Some courses that students take when they choose to earn the Associate in Applied Science in Corrections Administration option include Criminal Behavior, Juvenile Justice Systems, History and Philosophy of Corrections, Probation, Class, and Parole, and Dynamics of Human Relations.

The tuition at the school is $324 per credit hour for residents, and a fee of $430, for a total cost of $754 per credit hour.

Non-residents pay $680 tuition, plus the $430 fee, for a total of $1,110 per credit hour.

About the School

Trinity College opened its doors to its first class of female students in 1900.

The liberal arts college quickly evolved to offer more programs and to serve more students, including male students.

The school became Trinity Washington University in 2004.

The university welcomes women and men to enroll at the school.

Courses Offered

One of the programs that is offered at Trinity Washington University is the Criminal Justice Bachelor of Arts program.

The school emphasizes that its Washington, DC location gives students opportunities to have first-hand observations of the criminal justice system.

Students who enroll in the program learn about the court procedures, criminal law procedures, addressing inequality and discrimination in justice systems, and explanations for antisocial behavior.

They also learn about statistics and graphical representation of data.

Some courses that are offered in the 45-credit program include: 

• Introduction to Law Enforcement
• Theories of Crime and Deviance
• Evidence
• Criminal Investigations
• Juvenile Justice

Students also complete an internship.

The tuition at the school is $830 per semester credit.

About the School

Marymount University first opened its doors as a junior college that served female students.

Its continued growth over the years includes becoming a coed university that now offers undergraduate programs, graduate programs, and doctoral programs.

It is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).

The school sits just minutes away from Washington, DC.

One of the programs offered by the school is the Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice program.

Courses Offered

The Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice program prepares students to work in various criminal justice settings.

Students gain a deep understanding of the legal system.

They learn about the things that can impact the court system and policing.

Some of the required courses include: 

• The Criminal Justice System
• Juvenile Justice
• Deviant Behavior
• Criminal Justice Management
• Internship
• Students choose electives from options that include:
• Principles of Forensic Science
• Criminal Litigation
• Cybercrime and Digital Terrorism
• Recognition and Recovery of Human Remains

Students complete a required internship.

Some places where students may complete their internship include the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Missing Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and county sheriff’s offices.

Students may also engage in research and study abroad opportunities.

Tuition at the school is $1,340 per credit.

Students may choose to complete the program on a full-time or part-time basis.

About the School

American University invites future students to start the journey to their future at the Washington, DC, school.

The school says that Washington, DC, is its home, classroom, laboratory, community, and playground.

Students learn to build their skills at the school, across Washington, DC, and around the globe.

The student-centered research institution has accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

Courses Offered

Students who are interested in a criminal justice career can enroll in the Bachelor of Arts in Justice and Law and choose the Criminal Justice concentration.

Students learn to analyze crime, violence, and the policies surrounding these issues.

They develop critical thinking skills.

Students learn how to use evidence in written work to support the explanations of the causes of crime and the policy responses to criminal acts.

Some courses that students complete in the 120-credit hour program include: 

• Critical Issues in Justice
• Introduction to Legal Studies Research
• Measurement of Crime
• Concepts of Punishment
• Judicial Administration

Students may earn up to 12 credits toward their degree when they complete internships.

The tuition at the school is $2,007 per credit hour.

About the School

The George Washington University has a history that dates to 1821.

Today, the school welcomes students from across the country and from more than 130 countries.

Students have opportunities to engage in hands-on experiences and international engagement opportunities.

One opportunity that students have is to enroll in the Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice program.

Courses Offered

The curriculum in the Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice program examines the contemporary reality of crime.

The coursework examines the social context of crime.

Students learn about policing, courts, juvenile justice, and victimization.

The program requires that students complete a Senior Capstone project before they can earn their degree, after completing coursework.

Some courses that students may take include: 

• Introduction to Criminal Justice
• Criminal Law
• Youth and Delinquency
• Economics of Crime
• Fundamentals of Forensic Science

Some other courses in the program include Social Research Methods, History of FBI Counterintelligence, U.S. Constitutional Law and Politics, and Psychology of Crime and Violence.

Some sites that students choose to complete their applied experience include the courts, law enforcement departments, U.S. federal departments, research organizations, or various associations.

The undergraduate tuition is $2,330 per credit hour.

Students can continue their education at the school by enrolling in one of the graduate programs, such as the Master of Arts in Criminology program.