Online Associate Degree AS in Criminal Justice

Diversify Your Opportunities with an Associate Degree in Criminal Justice Online

Gain a better understanding of law enforcement with an Associate of Science in Criminal Justice degree online at Southern New Hampshire University. You'll have an array of courses to choose from, allowing you to obtain a thorough overview of the American justice system, criminal law, social science and more, expanding your opportunities when you graduate.

SNHU's associate degree in criminal justice program is suited for both experienced criminal justice professionals who want to upgrade their skillset and those seeking entry-level professional positions in the field.

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Get Credit for Law Enforcement Training

If you have completed a basic police, corrections or probation and parole academy training, you may qualify to receive up to 12 credits toward your criminal justice degree at SNHU.

See Yourself Succeed in Criminal Justice

SNHU's associate degree in criminal justice provides an introductory and career-focused overview with a curriculum designed to help you begin your career or continue on to earn your BS in Criminal Justice.

As a private, nonprofit university, SNHU has one mission – to help you see yourself succeed. Benefits of earning your associate degree in criminal justice online at SNHU include:

Affordability. Take advantage of some of the most affordable tuition rates in the nation.
Convenience. Access your coursework when and where you want – our online classroom is available 24/7.
Efficiency and flexibility. Complete your undergraduate degree at your own pace, over six 8-week terms throughout the academic year.
Expert instruction. Learn from instructors with relevant, real-world experience.
Networking. Tap into our nationwide network of alumni for internship and career opportunities.
Simple application process. Just fill out an online undergraduate application, and we'll retrieve U.S. transcripts from your previous institutions and automatically complete an official credit evaluation. Plus, there's no application fee.
Student support. Count on the ongoing support of dedicated academic and career advisors specialized in your area of study.
Transfer-friendly enrollment. Transfer up to 45 credits toward your associate degree.

Career Outlook

The associate degree in criminal justice was designed to help you prepare for entry-level jobs in fields including:

Business security
Corrections
Court administration
Dispute resolution
Law
Policing
Victim advocacy

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, a wide range of positions are expected to see growth through 2026, including police officers (7%) and social and human service assistants (16%).*²

Law enforcement positions may involve additional training and eligibility requirements.

Curriculum

The online AS in Criminal Justice curriculum introduces you to a spectrum of ideas, theories and practices related to the criminal justice system in the U.S. Designed to give you a strong foundation, coursework will provide you with core principles to help start or advance your career – or prepare you for further studies.

View Full Curriculum in the Catalog

AS in Criminal Justice

Courses May Include

CJ 104 Ethics and the Criminal Justice Leader

This course examines the subject of ethics as it relates to leadership in the criminal justice profession. It provides for an in-depth understanding and application of ethical decision-making processes at all levels of the criminal justice organization.

CJ 300 Research Methods for Criminal Justice

In an era of rigorous scrutiny from entities such as the media and the general public, it is essential criminal justice professionals make evidence-based and ethical decisions. The course is an introduction to basic social science research methods applied to contemporary issues in the field of criminal justice. Students examine the relationship between theory and research, identify patterns, and ultimately draw evidence-based conclusions.

JUS 101 Introduction to Criminal Justice

This course covers the nature, scope and impact of crime in the United States, independent and interdependent operations and procedures of police, courts and corrections, and introductory theories of crime and delinquency. The course introduces the justice model in a systematic way whereby students delve into the numerous components of the justice system including law enforcement, legal and judicial process and correctional operations. Career opportunities will be fully covered throughout the course.

JUS 305 International Criminal Justice

This course compares and contrasts the criminal justice system of the United States with the systems of other countries on a substantive and procedural basis. A thorough examination of other cultural models of law and justice in order that differences in justice processing and definition become apparent. Some emphasis is placed on international policing and legal enforcement, whether through INTERPOL, treaty or other regulation.

JUS 331 Juvenile Justice System

This course covers the juvenile justice system, with special emphasis on the way it procedurally differs from adult offender adjudication. The parts of the juvenile justice system, hearings, due process standards and constitutional mandates are fully reviewed. Status offenders and other youth classifications are considered, together with a historical summary of juvenile court philosophy. New trends in the procedural disposition of juveniles especially transfer to adult jurisdiction, types of punishment, suitability of the death penalty are discussed.

JUS 375 Criminal Law

An introduction to substantive criminal law that reviews the social, philosophical, and legal foundations of criminal codification. In addition, the course covers the historical development of criminal law in the U.S. Other subject matters include parties to crimes including principals/accessories, criminal capacity, criminal elements, e.g. mens rea, actus rea, and the specific crimes against person, property, and public order. Lastly, the course captures criminal law from the defendant's perspective by reviewing the accuser's mental states, potential defenses and uses of mitigation.

Total Credits: 60

Program Outcomes

Tuition & Fees

Tuition rates for SNHU's online degree programs are among the lowest in the nation. We offer financial aid packages to those who qualify, plus a 30% tuition discount for U.S. service members, both full and part time, and the spouses of those on active duty.

Online Undergraduate Programs	Per Course*	Per Credit Hour*
Degree/Certificates	$960	$320
Degree/Certificates (U.S. service members, both full and part time, and the spouses of those on active duty)	$675	$225

*Tuition Rates are subject to change and are reviewed annually.

Additional Costs
No Application Fee, $150 Graduation Fee, Course Materials ($ varies by course)

University Accreditation

Southern New Hampshire University is a private, nonprofit institution accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education as well as several other accrediting bodies. More...

*Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, on the Internet, at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/protective-service/police-and-detectives.htm (viewed online May 29, 2019). Cited projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual job growth.

²Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, on the Internet, at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/social-and-human-service-assistants.htm (viewed online May 29, 2019). Cited projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual job growth.