Earn the Online Criminal Justice Degree with Real-World Perspective
Criminal justice is an ever-evolving field that requires qualified professionals who have both a deep understanding of our legal system and adept interpersonal skills. At SNHU, you can earn the Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice with real-world perspective. Expanding the boundaries of a traditional criminal justice program, you’ll be exposed to current theory, discretion in decision making, emerging national and global trends, and effective communication strategies.
SNHU's unique online criminal justice degree curriculum is taught by knowledgeable faculty members with years of real world, hands-on experience.
Our criminal justice faculty have experience working for major law enforcement agencies, including:
- Atlanta Police Department
- Chicago Police Department
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
- Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
- Homeland Security
- Houston Police Department
- Miami Police Department
- New Hampshire police departments
- New Orleans Police Department
- New York Police Department (NYPD)
- Utah Office of the Attorney General
Get Credit for Law Enforcement Training
If you have completed a basic police, corrections or probation and parole academy training, you may receive up to 12 credits toward your criminal justice degree at SNHU.
Concentrations
Corrections
Explore current issues in corrections, including evidence-based programs and practices that address the rehabilitation of offenders. Students will gain a foundation in policies and procedures, laws and regulations, and staffing needs in correctional institutions.
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Criminology
The criminology concentration provides a comprehensive overview of social and behavioral sciences in relation to criminal behavior. Examine the psychosocial theories of crime and identification of causal factors associated with inception, continuity and subscription to a criminal lifestyle.
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Homeland Security & Counterterrorism
The concentration in homeland security and counterterrorism offers you a unique opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the threat of terrorism. Examine the history of terrorism, how terrorist groups succeed and fail, and responses to domestic and international terrorist campaigns.
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Human Services & Advocacy
Explore the function and duties of civilian advocacy and how advocates interact with the various components of the criminal justice system in the human services and advocacy concentration. Examine public policy, child welfare and support services that help families navigate the system.
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Police Administration & Operations
The concentration in police administration and operations helps students understand the demands, functions and goals of modern police agencies. Students will gain an understanding of the roles police agencies assume in the U.S.
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Substance Abuse
With increasing recognition of the substance abuse crisis in the U.S., the need for highly skilled community workers is on the rise. The substance abuse concentration was built to help you become a voice for justice and a conduit for recovery for people in treatment facilities, outpatient programs and the court system.
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The Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice with a concentration in Substance Abuse offered by Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) does not directly lead to licensure. It does provide a significant portion of the substance abuse coursework most often recognized as necessary for licensure. Students seeking licensure and/or certification may be required to complete additional coursework and will be required to complete fieldwork as prescribed by each state. Most states also require a passing score on a licensing exam.
The licensure process and educational requirements for drug and alcohol counselors vary from state to state. This program does not directly lead to licensure.
It is the student’s responsibility to contact their state board or agency for additional information regarding the licensure process and educational requirements. If the student moves to another state, the requirements for licensure will likely be different from the state where the student currently resides, and the student is responsible for determining the licensure requirements in the state to which he/she relocates. Southern New Hampshire University does not guarantee that the completion of this program will result in state licensure or certification.
See Yourself Succeed in the Bachelor's in Criminal Justice Program
SNHU's BS in Criminal Justice emphasizes coursework built to prepare you for various civilian and sworn positions. With faculty members who work closely with their students to offer professional insights and firsthand experience in criminal justice roles, the bachelor’s in criminal justice will put you on the path toward a wide variety of post-graduation career opportunities.
In the online bachelor's in criminal justice degree program, you'll learn how to:
- Evaluate the impact of emerging technologies and societal trends on the operations of criminal justice agencies and allied organizations.
- Promote positive community relations and partnerships using strategies that incorporate diverse perspectives and cultural awareness.
- Communicate effectively and professionally in collecting and conveying information to diverse audiences using appropriate skills and procedures.
- Analyze the power of discretionary decision making in relation to laws, regulations and professional ethical standards.
- Explore the branches of the criminal justice system to develop research-based solutions to complex problems professionals in the field face.
- Analyze issues in the criminal justice system through the lens of various social, behavioral and criminological theories to examine human motivation and behavior.
As a private, nonprofit university, SNHU has one mission – to help you see yourself succeed. Benefits of earning your criminal justice degree 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 90 credits toward an undergraduate degree.
Career Outlook
Whether you’re looking to start a career in criminal justice or advance in your current role, earning your criminal justice degree opens doors to positions in a variety of areas:
- Advocacy and law
- Corrections
- Forensics
- Law enforcement
- Security
Both civilian and sworn careers are projected by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics to have an average growth rate through 2026 (6% and 7% respectively).*²
Law enforcement positions may involve additional training and eligibility requirements.
Curriculum
Today, duties go beyond protecting and serving, and jobs in the criminal justice field demand critical thinkers with tip-top communication skills. That’s why SNHU’s bachelor’s in criminal justice program includes an embedded communication certificate that covers these subjects:
- Professional writing
- Cultural awareness
- Communication skills
- Discretion in criminal justice
Built to prepare learners with the knowledge, attitudes and skills to communicate effectively to internal and external audiences in various contexts, students examine written, oral and non-verbal communication skills and techniques to improve their ability to collect and convey field-related information.
Courses To Prepare You For Your Career
SNHU's bachelor's in criminal justice program includes:
- General education
- Degree-specific courses
General Education Program
Our programs are designed to equip you with the skills and insights you need to move forward. In recent years, employers have stressed the need for graduates with higher order skills - the skills that go beyond technical knowledge - such as:
- Writing
- Communication
- Analysis
- Problem solving
All bachelor's students are required to take general education classes. Through foundation, exploration and integration courses, students learn to think critically, creatively and collaboratively, giving you the edge employers are looking for.
View Full Curriculum in the Catalog
Courses May Include
CJ
112
Introduction to Criminal Justice
In this introduction to the criminal justice program learners will begin to understand the major components within various professions at the state, local and federal levels and how they are interconnected. Communication skills, career prospects, and an overview of the core components of the United States government will be reviewed to provide learners with a holistic view of sworn and civilian roles within the criminal justice system.
CJ
205
Policing in the United States
Learners will explore the historical evolution of policing to better understand its current structure and function within criminal justice. The value of positive community relationships and partnerships will be covered, as well as how sworn and civilian positions work together to maintain public safety. Various types of communication such as internal reports and documentation will be practiced.
CJ
207
The United States Judicial System
Learners will examine the structure and function of the United States court system through the lens of both sworn and civilian professionals. Learners will focus on the different levels of the federal court system, roles and responsibilities of criminal justice professionals and allied organizations, and common processes and procedures in the United States judicial system.
CJ
210
The United States Correctional System
Learners will examine the function of corrections in the United States criminal justice system to develop an understanding of the structure, function, and relationships with allied professions. Systemic issues impacting incarceration, ideologies of punishment that influence sentencing, and the role of public policy in corrections will be analyzed.
CJ
305
Technology in Criminal Justice
Learners will analyze how technology is leveraged by criminal justice professionals and used as a tool to commit crime. Legal aspects of using technology in the field as well as positive and negative impacts technology has had on the criminal justice field will be discussed.
CJ
485
Problem Solving for Criminal Justice Professionals
Knowledge of criminal justice theory and practice will be applied to develop creative, evidence-informed solutions to identified professional problems. Learners will evaluate potential solutions for feasibility before presenting recommendations to various audiences.
Program Outcomes
- Apply various criminological theories of human behavior to the analysis of crime causation, including biological, sociological, and psychological factors and influences
- Apply principles of criminal law to promote ethical policing strategies and protect the rights and freedoms of citizens
- Apply criminological scientific methods of inquiry to arrive at reasoned decisions regarding professional practice, problem-solving, sound operational decisions, and critical evaluations
- Analyze how organizational culture, behavioral theory, planning and community relations impact and inform criminal justice leadership strategies and practice
- Evaluate the impact of emerging technologies as a tool for criminal enterprise, investigation, and on the operations of criminal justice agencies
- Evaluate transnational criminal enterprises and the impact globalization of crime has upon policing in the United States
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.
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Online Undergraduate Programs
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Per Course*
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Per Credit Hour*
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Degree/Certificates
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$960 |
$320 |
Degree/Certificates
(U.S. service members, both full and part time, and the spouses of those on active duty)
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$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 28, 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/probation-officers-and-correctional-treatment-specialists.htm (viewed online May 28, 2019). Cited projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual job growth.