Why Pursue Your Criminal Justice Degree Online at American Public University?

1. Learn From Faculty With Real-World Experience 

The bachelor’s in criminal justice program at American Public University is designed to equip students with a deeper understanding of criminal law, crime prevention, law enforcement, the U.S. court system, and the penal system. Courses are led by learned professionals, many of whom are scholar-practitioners who have held prior criminal justice positions and even served in law enforcement themselves. 

“When teaching a course, I always try to bring personal experiences from my criminal justice career into the discussions where applicable. I believe that applying real-life experiences to theoretical course content assists students with applying the course material to the situations they will encounter later in their professional careers. The blending of theory and practice seem to make the course content easier for students to comprehend.”
– Ron Wallace, Ph.D., Associate Professor, School of Security and Global Studies

2. Gain Career-Relevant Skills

Managing relationships with the public and peers often requires strong communication skills, enhanced critical thinking, and the ability to be an effective problem solver. Higher education can be an excellent means to sharpen these skill sets.

3. Earn Your College Degree From an Accredited University

American Public University is part of American Public University System, which is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org), an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Accreditation is your signal that the University is committed to a quality learning experience and rigorous academic standards. 

4. Study Online and Access Coursework 24/7

Pursuing your online bachelor degree at American Public University allows you the flexibility to advance your education, even while working full-time, raising a family, or balancing other long-term commitments. Classes are delivered online and have no set login times.

5. Affordable Tuition and $0 Ebooks

American Public University strives to make quality education affordable by offering a competitive cost-per-credit-hour compared to many other universities. To help further minimize the cost of pursuing a bachelor’s degree, the University provides no-cost ebooks to all undergraduate students, thus eliminating the need to buy or rent textbooks.

6. Online Classes Start Each Month For Flexible Scheduling

Most courses in this bachelor’s degree program run for only 8 weeks. Students can register for new classes every month. This allows undergraduates to progress through the degree program at their own pace—without having to wait for a new semester to enroll in classes.

Criminal Justice Classes and Curriculum

The online bachelor’s degree in criminal justice program provides a well-rounded learning experience, combining general education with major-specific courses and a degree concentration. Students are also required to complete a specified number of credit hours’ worth of electives. Electives may include any baccalaureate-level courses—other than the senior seminar in criminal justice—that have not already been completed to satisfy general education, major-specific, or degree concentration curriculum requirements. 

Deepen Your Knowledge of the Criminal Justice System

An education in criminal justice opens your eyes to the many layers that comprise this complex field. From defending the law to charging and rehabilitating offenders, students will be familiarized with each system involved along the way. 

The criminal justice major therefore examines how the following entities work toward a shared goal to protect public safety and bring criminals to justice:

• Local and state law enforcement officers*
  
• Federal agents (Secret Service and FBI agents)*
  
• Forensic science technicians*
  
• Criminal courts professionals*
  
• Prosecutors*
  
• Corrections officers*
  
• Parole officers*
  
• Probation officers*
  
• Homeland security professionals*

How to Transfer Credits Toward This Bachelor’s Degree

Students pursuing an online criminal justice bachelor’s degree at American Public University may be eligible to transfer up to 90 credits from other academic and/or professional programs. This may reduce the number of courses an undergraduate must take in order to satisfy degree requirements, making it possible to graduate in less than four years (if studying full-time).¹ Time to completion is also dependent on the number of courses taken per session.

¹ The University reserves the right to accept or deny credits according to policies outlined on our University website. Please see the University’s transfer credit policy webpage for complete information. 

Your Professional Experience May Translate to College Credit

Often, students interested in criminal justice programs already have professional experience—either as police officers or in other roles within the criminal justice field—which may translate to applicable college credit. For this reason, students are strongly encouraged to inquire about a transfer credit evaluation. A transfer credit evaluation may be completed at no cost, and preliminary results may be provided within only 2-3 days.

The University may award credits for any of the following:

• Academic credit, including college credit earned through completion of an associate degree program
  
• Military service and education
  
• Professional training and certification
  
• Credit by examination
  
• Government (such as homeland security) training
  
• Public safety (such as police officer) training
  
• Relevant prior learning
  
• Community college agreements

For more information about transferring credits, please visit the University’s transfer credit policy page.

Paying For Your Online Criminal Justice Degree

Tuition and fees are due at the time of course registration. Those pursuing a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice may pay for their studies in any number of ways.

Everyday Heroes Grant

The University recognizes the selfless and courageous work of public safety professionals and awards a tuition grant to all police officers, firefighters, and emergency medical services personnel. This grant is available for all undergraduate and master’s-level programs. Family members, including parents, spouses, legal partners, siblings, and dependents, are also eligible for this grant. Request information to learn more about this opportunity. 

Financial Aid, Loans, and Scholarships

Students who seek financial assistance may qualify for federal student aid administered by the government in the form of loans and/or grants. Federal student aid may help to lower the upfront cost of pursuing a degree online—and, unlike loans, many federal grants do not need to be repaid. 

Alternatively, degree-seekers may wish to consider looking into private loans and/or scholarships that may further lower the upfront cost of enrollment.

Employer Tuition Assistance Benefits

Those who are currently employed and seeking a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice are encouraged to inquire about employer-sponsored tuition assistance. Many companies offer benefits to support team members who are pursuing a college degree. Consult with your employer’s human resources department to find out if you are eligible for tuition assistance through your workplace. Many police departments and municipalities have partnerships with the University, which may afford additional savings and benefits. Ask your HR department or your department’s leadership if there is a partnership with the University.

NOTE: Grants cannot be combined with other University grant offers. Only one tuition grant can be applied per course registration.

Paying For Your Online Degree Out-of-Pocket

The following payment methods are accepted for tuition and fees:

• Credit cards
  
• Digital payments
  
• E-checks

We also offer an Automatic debit plan, with 8- and 16-week payment schedule options.