Online Criminal Justice Degree

Total tuition for this degree program may vary depending on your educational needs, existing experience, and other factors.

Estimate your costs, potential savings and graduation date.

The goal of the Online Criminal Justice degree program is to provide a well-rounded overview of the entire criminal justice system. Students study criminal investigation, the impact of drug usage on crime, probation and parole. A choice of electives offers students the opportunity to delve into areas of particular interest, such as crime-victim studies and issues of cultural diversity.

Our online criminal justice degree curriculum is designed for students transferring college credits into AIU’s criminal-justice program. Students with college credits in criminal justice from a regionally-accredited college may have some of their earned credits applied towards this specialization on a case-by-case basis.*

Online Criminal Justice programs can help you learn how to:

• Apply foundational knowledge of criminal justice including causes of crime, criminal behaviors and victims of crime.
• Define and identify the various components of the criminal justice and juvenile justice systems which include law enforcement, law and courts and corrections.
• Analyze and apply law enforcement principles including the structure of police organizations, police discretion, police subculture and the legal constraints of policing.
• Analyze and apply knowledge of law adjudication including criminal law, criminal procedures and the decision-making processes associated with the defense and prosecution of criminal offenders.
• Analyze and apply knowledge of community-based corrections including the incarceration, treatment and alternative punishments offered in the correctional system.
• Use critical thinking skills and apply ethical theories to ethical dilemmas faced by criminal justice practitioners in law enforcement, courts, corrections and forensics.

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^*Transfer credit is evaluated on an individual basis. Not all credits are eligible to transfer. See the University Catalog for transfer credit policies.

In this specialized curriculum, students focus on the criminal-justice system, its organizational components and processes, and its legal and public-policy contexts. Courses are structured to assist students in the development of their goals as they learn focused knowledge and skills common to criminal-justice professionals. For an Online Criminal Justice Degree, your classes may include:

Security and Loss Prevention

This course examines the theories and principles of security and loss prevention through a systematic review of key issues and concepts associated with the reduction and prevention of personal and corporate loss. This course will review the historical development of loss prevention, exposures to losses, risk assessment techniques and strategies to minimize loss and improve security.

Comparative Criminal Justice System

This course is designed to give students a rationale for understanding and appreciating the different ways justice is conceived and administered internationally. This course serves as a basis for comparing various justice systems as they relate to the American justice system. Students will explore how various countries organize their law enforcement, judicial systems and corrections agencies, and compare them with the American criminal justice system.

Crime and Substance Abuse

This course examines drug abuse and its relationship to crime. Topics include the statistical relationship between drugs and crime, drug laws and courts, drug prevention programs and public policy concerning the use and abuse of substances.

Administration of Criminal Justice

This course focuses on the challenges administrators face in law enforcement, courts and corrections. Students will examine the various organizational frameworks in the criminal justice system and the concepts, organizational principles and models associated with these criminal justice agencies.

Criminalistics

Criminalistics is part I of a two part series. This course is a survey course of forensic science. The course content will focus on defining "forensic science"; recognizing practices of legitimate, junk and fraudulent science; examining the properties of physical evidence; discussing the scope, potential and limitations of a variety of forensic sciences; examining analytical techniques applied by forensic scientists; evaluating the criteria for admissibility of scientific evidence; and discussing the ethical responsibilities of forensic scientists.

Terrorism and Homeland Security

This course presents an overview of the key security issues facing the United States in both the areas of Homeland Security and Terrorism. It introduces students to the changing dynamics of homeland security at both the national and state levels. Students will explore the various dynamics of providing security in different settings. Additionally, the history and future of terrorism will be examined.

Offender Rehabilitation

This course focuses on the various factors utilized to develop personalized sentencing and treatment plans for individual offenders. It examines the personality of the offender who may be diagnosed as a psychopath, sociopath, drug addict or mentally ill person. Students will study how to develop treatment plans that will assist in the rehabilitation of the offender.

Criminal Investigation

This course explores the elements of investigation including crime scenes, witnesses and evidence and includes such topics as investigative techniques, evidence documentation, interrogation and arrest. The course addresses the particulars of investigating major crimes.

From grants to military service to transfer credits, see the variety of ways you can save time and money on your Online Criminal Justice Degree at AIU:

• Scholarships & Grants - AIU offers a number of institutional scholarships and grants that can help eligible students offset the program cost and help reduce out of pocket costs
• Reduced Military Tuition Rate – AIU Online offers a 45% tuition reduction to active military undergraduate students and a 20% tuition reduction to active military graduate students, including members of the Reserves and National Guard
• Transfer Credit – AIU’s transfer-friendly credit policy lets you transfer in up to 75% of the qualifying credits needed toward your degree
• Prior Learning Credit – You can receive credits for past college courses, qualifying military service, or eligible work experience

For more information, review the AIU guides below:

• Financial Aid Guide: Our guide to financial aid can answer your initial questions and help you prepare to apply for financial aid
• Scholarships and Grants Guide: Learn about the scholarships and grants offered by AIU along with details about eligibility
• Transfer Credit Guide: This guide explores how to transfer your credits from other schools—and earn college credit for your eligible past work and qualifying military experience