7 Best Online Bachelor’s in Corrections Degree Programs

About

Located in the heart of Phoenix, Arizona, the University of Phoenix serves 101,150 undergraduate and graduate students both on campus and online.

Founded in 1976 as the first online university.

The institution claims more than 1 million alumni to date.

Courses Offered

The University of Phoenix offers a Bachelor of Science in Correctional Program Support Services (BSCPSS).

Courses are 5 weeks long, and 120 credit hours are required for graduation.

The estimated completion time is 48 months.

All aspects of the degree are offered online, providing a flexible learning environment.

In addition to general education, such as Psychology and Media Influences, corrections-focused courses include:

• Survey of U.S. Corrections
• Mental Health and Criminal Justice
• Institutional and Community-Based System
• Working With the Correctional Population
• Case Planning and Management

Students have access to technical support and 1-to-1 mentoring support throughout their enrollment.

The cost of the Bachelor of Science Correctional Program Support Services degree is $1,364 per course.

Books and incidentals are extra.

Students are encouraged to apply for financial aid and scholarship grants.

Transfer and life-experience credits are considered and evaluated on a case-by-case basis

About

The Kentucky legislature established the Eastern Kentucky State Normal School in 1906.

It was renamed Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) in 1966 and currently serves over 15,000 students across 100 undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs.

Courses Offered

A Bachelor of Science from Eastern Kentucky University in corrections and juvenile justice is available 100% online.

Relying on evidence-based practices, Eastern Kentucky University combines academic and professional preparation to explore corrections and rehabilitation.

The bachelor’s degree requires the completion of 122 hours with a minimum GPA of 2.0 to graduate.

In addition to general education coursework, the Corrections and Juvenile Justice syllabus includes:

• Rehabilitation strategies
• Community Corrections
• Criminal Justice Ethics
• Crime and Delinquency
• Policing in the Popular Media

The cost of the undergraduate program is a flat rate of $4,915 per 12-hour semester for full-time students.

The cost for part-time and online studies is calculated at $443 per credit hour.

Extra fees may apply.

Non-conventional credit, such as life, military, or work experience, can be considered, reducing overall program costs.

Students are also encouraged to apply for FAFSA, federal and state aid, as well as employer scholarships.

About

Walden University was founded in 1970.

It offers over 82 undergraduate and graduate degrees and certifications online.

Unique to the institution, Walden University (WU) offers students two learning speeds.

The standard course-based route has weekly deadlines and is usually completed in 48 months.

The second, Tempo-Learning, is self-directed and can accelerate the completion of a degree program to 16 months.

Courses Offered

The Walden University Bachelor of Science in Corrections and Human Services program is administered by the College of Criminal Justice.

The degree’s primary focus is on corrections and community management skills.

A 120-hour degree, the 40 courses each last eight weeks.

The program first provides foundational education; next, courses that specialize in corrections are given, such as:

• Crime and Community
• Principles of Corrections
• 21st-Century Policing
• Probation and Parole
• Restorative Justice

Standard tuition costs for a Bachelor of Science are $46,000 plus degree-specific fees.

The accelerated ‘Tempo’ program can significantly reduce costs to an estimated $17,500.

During the Tempo track, students are provided with a personal academic coach.

Military tuition discounts are available.

FAFSA, scholarship, and grant applications are available for eligible students.

About

Westfield State University (WSU) was founded in 1839.

It was the first co-educational and equal-opportunity college in the United States.

After a variety of name changes, school governors adopted the current moniker in 1966.

Today, Westfield State University is ranked as a top 100 online university with 4,300 enrolled students and over 900 online courses available.

It accepts roughly 80% of applicants.

Similar to other online universities, SAT or ACT scores are not required for application.

Courses Offered

WSU’s Bachelor of Science in Concentration in Rehabilitation and Restoration is housed in the College of Criminal Justice.

The pathway requires a surprising 42 out of 120 credit hours.

This provides a nuanced study of correctional strategies, focusing on an offender’s reintegration into society.

Psychology courses are encouraged, diving into the why and how of criminal behavior.

Rehabilitation and restoration coursework includes:

• Women in the Criminal Justice System
• Restorative Community Justice
• Race and Ethnicity
• Probation, Parole, and Community Corrections
• Correctional Theory
• Abnormal Psychology

Completion of a Capstone project is required for graduation.

A bachelor’s degree at WSU costs $12,616 plus fees per year for in-state students.

Military students’ costs are calculated at $250 per credit hour.

FAFSA, state aid, and other discounts are available to eligible students.

Students over 60 can attend Westfield State University for free!

About

Based in Virginia, Strayer University (SU) offers both online and on-campus education at 15 locations.

Founded in 1892 as Strayer Business College, the university offers the choice of an associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, or professional certificate in over 20 fields of study.

Currently, there are over 50,000 enrolled students.

Its online program serves an international enrollment.

Courses Offered

The Bachelor’s degree, focused on Probation and Parole, is housed in the College of Criminal Justice.

Studies focus on strategies and technologies in rehabilitation.

The program consists of 40 courses, each 11 weeks in length – the total requirement is 135 hours.

Degree courses include:

• Criminal Justice Communication
• Psychology
• Community Corrections
• The Criminal Mind
• Criminal Justice Technology

An Undergraduate Capstone Project is required to complete the degree sequence.

The Bachelor of Science degree at Strayer University costs $1,525 per course, an estimated $61,000.

Additional course-specific fees may be necessary.

Unique to Strayer University, if eligible, students can take the first 10 general education courses free of charge.

This reduces the overall cost of an undergraduate degree.

Transfer credits are also accepted.

FAFSA, military and veteran assistance, as well as private loans, are available to most students.

About

Lynchburg, Virginia, is home to Liberty University (LU).

Rev. Jerry Falwell formed the private, faith-based university in 1971.

In 1985, classes were expanded to the online environment, giving students access to over 700 degrees at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

Currently, over 140,000 students are enrolled across all programs.

Courses Offered

Liberty University offers an online Bachelor of Science degree specializing in Corrections and Human Services from its College of Criminal Justice.

The 120-hour degree showcases offender rehabilitation and restorative justice.

Courses are 8 weeks in this broad-based program and include:

• Current Issues in Corrections
• Evidence-based Community Corrections
• Non-traditional Prison Settings
• Crisis Intervention
• Juvenile Court Systems

The correctional specialization of the bachelor’s degree costs $46,800+ or $390 per credit hour.

Military tuition is $250 per credit hour.

Application and course fees are additional.

Financial Aid (FAFSA) and scholarships are available for eligible students.

About

Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) taught its first students in 1932.

In 1995, online education was embraced.

Awarded for its innovations in education, SNHU lists 200 online degree and certification programs.

Only 3,000 attend onsite, while 181,000 students opt for online programs.

Courses Offered

Although the 120-hour online Bachelor of Science from Southern New Hampshire University is housed in the College of Criminal Justice, its concentration is in corrections.

This comprehensive 40-course degree provides a strong focus on the rehabilitation of offenders through evidence-based programs.

This degree is a foundation for careers in:

• Correctional Administrator
• Correctional Case Manager
• Correctional Officer
• Correctional Treatment Specialist

Each course is 8 weeks long.

First, students concentrate on general coursework such as psychology and critical thinking.

The core courses in corrections include:

• Community-Based Corrections
• Criminal Justice
• The United States Corrections System
• Offender Rehabilitation
• Correctional Administration

Highly competitive, an undergraduate degree from SNHU costs $330 per credit hour, plus additional course-specific fees.

Financial Aid (FAFSA) and payment plans are available for eligible students.

Transfer and work credit are considered on a case-by-case basis.