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Why Get This Online Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice?
American Public University’s online criminal justice bachelor's degree (BS) program explores the motivations, patterns, and deterrents of criminal behavior—specifically in today’s technology-driven world. Combining the foundations of the criminal justice discipline together with digital forensic science, coursework provides students with an education that’s well-rounded, yet highly specialized.
Classes are led by faculty comprised of researchers and practitioners whose teachings draw from their own professional experience in the field. In addition to studying criminal justice and criminology theories, learners will have the opportunity to develop the research and writing skills often essential for digital forensic investigations.
Is Criminal Justice a Good Major For Law Enforcement Personnel and Police Officers?
Many students pursuing their bachelor’s degree in criminal justice share an interest in law enforcement. Officers are typically required to complete police academy programs prior to joining the force, however, such programs rarely cover digital forensics.
“I refer to myself as a scholar-practitioner. Everything that I research, publish, and present at conferences is intended to add to the scientific literature but also improve the lives of the men and women who work in this profession. My colleagues and I have real-world practical experience and hold advanced degrees, many of them have PhDs. So, we can, and we are, bridging the gap between the academic literature and the practitioner literature. I truly feel that we do a great job of having a positive influence on both the profession and science of criminal justice.”—Michael Pittaro, Ph.D., Associate Professor, School of Security and Global Studies
This BS in Criminal Justice degree educates students on digital crime, digital forensics, and digital investigations, all of which are becoming integral to police work today, according to the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs. Consequently, criminal justice majors often enroll with prior law enforcement experience, as this bachelor’s degree may help to build upon the knowledge and skills acquired in the field.
Still, it’s important to recognize that the criminal justice field extends far and wide beyond the expertise of police officers.
American Public University’s online degree in criminal justice is designed to help equip learners with practical knowledge for the real world, incorporating courses that cover the following topics:
- Criminal Justice Administration
- Criminology
- Criminal Investigation
- Ethics in Criminal Justice
- Criminal Profiling
- Crime Analysis
- Criminalistics
- Constitutional Law
- Criminal Law
- Research Design and Methods
This criminal justice degree also incorporates a concentration in digital forensics. With the prevalence of digital crime, forensic investigations have evolved to accommodate not only physical evidence, but digital assets and data as well.
Focus Your Studies By Concentrating on Digital Forensics
Students will deepen their knowledge of digital forensics while earning this BS. In forensic science, investigators apply the scientific method—along with an understanding of criminal law—to identify evidence of a crime and to determine how it was committed. Digital forensics, similarly, analyzes digital assets to investigate crimes involving computer technology, such as data breaches.
Together, coursework covering these topics encourages students to think like forensic investigators:
- Wireless Networks
- Computer Forensics
- Cybercrime
- Digital Forensics: Investigation Procedures and Response
- Digital Forensics: Investigating Wireless Networks and Devices
- Digital Forensics: Investigating Network Intrusions and Cybercrime Security
- Digital Forensics: Investigating Data and Image Files
- Digital Forensics: Hard Disc and Operating Systems
- Criminal Legal Process
Digital forensic techniques are such an integral component of forensic examinations that law enforcement operations of all sizes—from local law enforcement agencies to larger federal agencies—continue to adopt and advance these skills.
Top 5 Benefits of Earning This Online Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice
1. Learn From Anywhere
As an online student at American Public University, you’ll receive a quality education in a convenient, accessible format. With no set login times and 24/7 access to your courses, this criminal justice bachelor program makes it possible to complete your studies, even while working full-time hours.
2. Classes Start Monthly
Flexible scheduling enables students from all walks of life to graduate with this criminal justice degree. Unlike many traditional brick-and-mortar universities, American Public University allows students to start courses—which vary in duration from 8 to 16 weeks—every month.
3. Connect With Others in the Criminal Justice Field
The School of Security and Global Studies at American Public University is proud to include faculty, students, and alumni who are actively involved in the criminal justice system. As you work towards your bachelor of criminal justice, you will have the opportunity to connect with—and learn from—this exceptional community.
4. Complete Your Criminal Justice Degree at an Affordable Rate
As an online institution, American Public University is committed to making higher education accessible and affordable for students who may not otherwise have been able to pursue a criminal justice degree.
Through the University’s Everyday Heroes Grant, law enforcement personnel, as well as other professionals representing the public safety community, are eligible for a 10% tuition grant. Family members, including parents, spouses, legal partners, siblings, and dependents, are eligible for this benefit as well. Request information to learn more.
5. Advance Your Studies Beyond This Bachelor Criminal Justice Program
Upon completion of a bachelor of science, further study in criminal justice at the master’s level might be considered as a natural next step. American Public University offers a master of arts in criminal justice to build upon the knowledge and skills acquired as an undergraduate in this baccalaureate program.
How to Pay For Your BS in Criminal Justice
There are many ways to pay for this bachelor of science in criminal justice. For example, students may qualify for federal loans and federal grants to help finance their studies. Additionally, some employers may offer educational benefits to help cover tuition expenses for higher education.
Everyday Heroes Grant
American Military University is proud to offer public safety personnel and their family members a 10% tuition grant for all undergraduate and master’s-level programs. Police, fire, and emergency medical services personnel are eligible. This represents savings on AMU’s already competitive tuition rate. Eligible family members include parents, spouses, legal partners, and dependents.
NOTE: Tuition grants cannot be combined with other special University rates, promotions, or grants. Only one tuition grant can be applied per course registration.
Other Ways to Finance Your Studies
Veterans and active-duty servicemembers may also apply GI Bill® benefits towards tuition expenses for this criminal justice program.
Private loans and scholarships are other wonderful resources to help reduce the expense of a BS. In forensic science and criminal justice programs like this, prospective students often have law enforcement and/or military experience that may even translate to credit hours and could help further reduce out-of-pocket costs. Please see the University’s transfer credit policy webpage for complete information.
“Out-of-Pocket” Payment Methods
Students enrolled in this bachelor of criminal justice program may use the following payment methods for tuition:
- Automatic debit plan (with 8- and 16-week schedule options)
- Credit cards
- Digital payments
Please note that tuition and fees associated with this bachelor criminal justice degree will be due at the time of course registration.
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by the VA is available at the official website: http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.
If eligible, you may apply up to 90 transfer credits towards your criminal justice bachelor degree.1 Transfer credits may be awarded for any of the following:
- Military service and education
- Professional training and certification
- Credit by examination
- Government training
- Public safety training
- Relevant prior learning (including community college education)
American Public University will provide a transfer credit evaluation for $0 to further help minimize the cost of earning your online bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.
1The 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
American Public University is part of the American Public University System, which is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). The HLC accredits degree-granting institutions located in the United States, and is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (ED), and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). In addition, some academic programs also have specialized accreditation.
A criminal justice degree is an academic achievement that signifies completion of a college-level program dedicated to the study of America’s criminal justice system, which includes law enforcement, state and federal criminal courts, and corrections. Criminal justice is a discipline that may be studied at the associate, baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral levels.
A bachelor of criminal justice is worth it if you would like to understand the inner workings of the criminal justice system. Police officers and other law enforcement officers may find value in connecting with peers, who are among both the faculty and student body, to get an informed perspective and share real-world experiences about crime scene investigation, forensic investigation, and criminal offenses. A criminal justice degree also helps to enrich the communication and critical thinking skills that are vital to those engaged in the criminal justice profession and digital forensics, as well as the work of professionals such as probation officers.
“Working in the field of forensic science begins with a foundation focused on research, leadership, and devotion to public service. Thinking scientifically requires a person to be unbiased in their development of a criminal profile, determine proper methodology and protocol, empirically test new technology, and be able to interpret scientific procedures used into layman’s terms so a judge and jury understand the process used to solve a criminal case.”—Dena Marie Weiss, Ph.D., Associate Professor, School of Security and Global Studies
Both of American Public University’s criminal justice bachelor degree programs offer concentrations to allow students to focus their studies on their unique interests. Although not technically a BS in Forensic Science, the bachelor of science concentrates on digital forensics.
Alternatively, students enrolled in the BA criminal justice bachelor’s degree program may select one of several degree concentrations offered by the University.
Neither degree is inherently “better,” but there are notable differences between a BA and BS. In forensic science programs, for instance, students will study research methodology as they work toward a bachelor of science. Criminal justice students pursuing a bachelor of arts, however, may study subjects like entrepreneurship, leadership, or maritime law.
Digital forensics is the discipline focus for this Bachelor of Science Criminal Justice program and can best be described as the application and analysis of digital data in the detection and solving of crimes. Forensic investigators are often highly knowledgeable in both computer system technology and criminal law.
Yes, this entire criminal justice bachelor degree program can be completed online. Courses have no set login times, and you’ll have 24/7 access to coursework via the internet.
“I pursued my doctorate degree online as a single father raising two young children at the time. The online learning environment provides students, like me, with the flexibility to attend classes, work full-time, care for our families, and serve our great nation. While juggling all these responsibilities can be daunting at times, asynchronous learning, in particular, is incredibly appealing to the non-traditional student who would not have the time nor the ability, for one reason or another, to attend college in person at a traditional brick-and-mortar university. I know for a fact that I would never have been able to pursue my doctorate degree if the online asynchronous programs did not exist. Those who work within the criminal justice profession often work non-traditional hours via erratic shiftwork. The online learning environment allows students to attend class when it works best for them whether it’s at 8 am, 5 pm, or 3 am.”— Michael Pittaro, Ph.D., Associate Professor, School of Security and Global Studies
This degree is a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice with a concentration in Digital Forensics. Students will explore the criminal justice field through the lens of forensic investigators in order to better understand how technology is used to commit, prevent, and solve crimes.
A full-time student without any transfer credits may be able to complete this online criminal justice bachelor’s degree program in about four years’ time. Actual time to completion will be dependent on number of credit hours taken each session.