$350 per credit (120 credits)
Colorado State University Global’s online accelerated criminal justice degree is a 120-credit program that includes core courses, general education and elective courses, and optional degree specializations and certificates.Industry-aligned
This degree offers FEMA courses in its emergency management specialization so students can earn FEMA certificates and credits towards FEMA's Professional Development Series by completing three independent study courses.100% Online
Our fully online courses can be completed on your schedule. We offer 24-hour faculty response time; flexible, weekly, stay-focused deadlines; and live tutoring, library, and technical support.Request Information
Protect and Serve: Online Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice
CSU Global’s online accredited criminal justice degree helps you step into a career that makes a difference. Whether you aim to be on the front lines of law enforcement, transition from military to civilian life, or explore roles in security and finance, our program is the stepping stone to get you there.
This program teaches both traditional practices and cutting-edge methods in crime fighting, including forensics, cybercrime, and international criminal justice issues. You'll explore the intricate balance between public safety and civil liberties, equipped with the latest knowledge on technology's role in justice. Choose from specializations like criminology, criminal forensics, management, homeland security, and emergency management to tailor your education to your career goals.Â
The curriculum is designed in partnership with FEMA, the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, the International Association of Emergency Managers, and several other partner agencies — so you can start your journey to a rewarding career knowing you’ll develop the skills to become a leader in protecting and serving our communities.
Â
Program Details
CSU Global's bachelor's in criminal justice program prepares students for the challenges of the field. It focuses on technology, research skills, and ethics, ensuring graduates are well-prepared to uphold the rights and needs of individuals within the criminal justice system. With various specializations available, students can tailor their education to align with their career aspirations, making them versatile and valuable professionals in various criminal justice environments.
What skills will I gain with a bachelor’s in criminal justice?
The CSU Global online criminal justice degree covers core criminal justice concepts, including policing, the court process and corrections, and cutting-edge issues surrounding terrorism, cybercrime, and forensics. As a graduate, you'll be able to:
- Perform qualitative and quantitative research
- Understand the ethical issues surrounding criminal justice operations
- Support the needs of crime victims
- Understand the legal frameworks on a state and federal level
What jobs can you do with a bachelor's in criminal justice?
Completing a criminal justice degree online opens the door to a variety of careers, particularly in law enforcement or the justice system. These jobs allow them to use their skills while serving the local community or protecting the safety and security of the United States.
- Police Officer | 2022 Median Pay: $65,790
- Probation Officer | 2022 Median Pay: $59, 860
- Federal Agent | 2022 Median Pay: $92,820
- Private Investigator | 2022 Median Pay: $52,120
Salary information based on Lightcast data from O*NET Online by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. 12/2023
Third-Party Licensure & Certificate Pathways
In addition to the comprehensive knowledge that you’ll earn through a degree, industry certifications are an excellent way to demonstrate your proficiency in a specific area. CSU Global integrates FEMA courses into its Emergency Management and Homeland Security Specialization (as part of a Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice).Â
When a student takes a CSU Global EMG course, they have the option to take three FEMA Independent Study (IS) courses as well. Upon the successful completion of the FEMA IS course final exam, you will be awarded a FEMA certificate. Additionally, you may apply the FEMA IS course toward FEMA’s Professional Development Series Certificate.
Â
CSU Global’s course EMG300 will prepare you to take the following FEMA exams:
- IS-230.d – Fundamentals of Emergency Management
- IS-240.b – Leadership and Influence
- IS-242.b – Effective Communication
- IS-100.b – Introduction to the Incident Command System, ICS-100
- IS-288 – the Role of Voluntary Organizations in Emergency Management
Â
CSU Global’s course EMG325 will prepare you to take the following FEMA exams:
- IS-393 – An Introduction to Hazard Mitigation
- IS-318 – Mitigation Planning for Local and Tribal Communities
- IS-328 – Plan Review for Local Mitigation Plans
- IS-271.a – Anticipating Hazardous Weather & Community Risk, 2nd Edition
- IS-914 – Surveillance Awareness: What You Can Do
Â
CSU Global’s course EMG375 will prepare you to take the following FEMA exams:
- IS-42 – Social Media in Emergency Management
- IS-505 – Religious and Cultural Literacy and Competency is Disaster
- IS-241.b – Decision-Making and Problem-Solving
- IS-700.a – National Incident Management System (NIMS), An Introduction
- IS-800.b – National Response Framework, An Introduction
Â
CSU Global’s course EMG400 will prepare you to take the following FEMA exams:
- IS-632.a – Introduction to Debris Operations
- IS-2900 – National Disaster Recovery Framework (NDRF) Overview
- IS-558 – Public Works and Disaster Recovery
- IS-634 – Introduction to FEMA’s Public Assistance Program
- IS-253.a – Overview of FEMA’s Environmental and Historic Preservation Review
Â
CSU Global’s course EMG450 will prepare you to take the following FEMA exams:
- IS-120.a – An Introduction to Exercises
- IS-244.b – Developing and Managing Volunteers
- IS-235.c – Emergency Planning
- IS-130 – Exercise Evaluation and Improvement Planning
- IS-660 – Introduction to Public-Private Partnerships
Â
Courses in this Program
CSU Global’s Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Degree requires the completion of 120 total credits, including a mix of core degree courses, general education courses, elective courses, and optional degree specializations and certificates.
CSU Global’s General Education Courses are more than a bachelor’s degree requirement. They are designed to help you develop and strengthen valuable skills demanded in the workplace.
Already taken some courses? Up to 90 total credits (and 64 from community colleges) can be transferred into a bachelor’s degree at CSU Global. Request a Transcript Evaluation Summary to see how close you already are to graduation!
ORG300 - Applying Leadership Principles
CRJ300 - Introduction to Criminal Justice
CRJ310 - Law Enforcement and American Policing
CRJ330 - Research Methods for the Criminal Justice Professional
CRJ420 - Criminal Justice and the Constitution
CRJ440 - Ethics for the Criminal Justice Professional
CRJ480 - Capstone: Application of Criminal Justice Knowledge and Skills
When you earn your bachelor’s degree through CSU Global, you can choose to customize it with an undergraduate specialization in a subject that matches your professional goals or personal interests.Â
Most Popular Specializations:
- Organizational Leadership
- Project Management
- Human Resources and Organizational Development
- Marketing
- Emergency Management
- Healthcare Management
Additional Available Specializations for this Program:
- Applied Social Sciences
- Business Administration
- Communication
- Criminal Forensics
- Criminology
- Data Management and Analysis
- Foundations of Accounting
- Information Technology Management
- Information Technology Operations
- Intelligence and Homeland Security
- Operations Management and Supervision
- Public and Non-Profit Management
- Public Relations
- Web Application Development
The remainder of your degree is comprised of courses of your choice that support your educational goals and needs. Including a specialization reduces the number of elective credits you'll need to complete your bachelor's degree.
Affordable Tuition
As a not-for-profit public university, our goal at CSU Global is to make your online tuition cost as affordable as possible. We offer low-cost online degree tuition rates without taking anything away from the quality of the education you receive. We also lock in that low tuition rate with our tuition guarantee, and we provide additional discounted tuition rates for members of the armed forces and employees of our corporate affiliate partners.
Learn more about CSU Global tuition rates, and explore financial aid options available that can help cover the cost of your education.
Frequently Asked Questions
Criminal justice is an extremely important sector that has a significant impact on communities and society, as criminal justice professionals are effectively responsible for protecting everyone and everything from criminal activity, terrorism, and other threats.
The criminal justice system is made up of law enforcement agencies and personnel, courts, and the corrections department, who must collaborate to prevent, deter, and address crime. There are many other components to the criminal justice system, however, and other important elements include the military and specifically certain types of military personnel, as well as private-sector investigators, and technology experts who play significant roles in ensuring the safety and security of people, companies, and property.
To be successful in the field, you’ll need to be capable of combining managerial skills with knowledge of law enforcement best practices to ensure that the department or agency you work for can continue to run smoothly and efficiently, allowing it to complete its core mission of protecting people and their property.
There are all sorts of interesting, exciting, and rewarding career opportunities in criminal justice, especially for people who are reliable, thorough, independent, clear communicators, and who are willing to be challenged, yet who can remain calm under pressure. Whether you’ve already got experience in the field or you’re looking to start a career from scratch, getting your bachelor’s degree in criminal justice could help set you up for lifelong success in the industry. According to The Balance Careers, top-rated reasons to consider working in criminal justice include getting to help others on a daily basis, enjoying job stability and security, getting to engage your brain in complex, challenging work situations, and enjoying excellent health and retirement benefits. If you’re the type of person who wants to have a positive impact on society, then a career in criminal justice could be the perfect fit for you.
Criminal justice professionals are tasked with a huge variety of responsibilities, with duties being dramatically different depending on the specific role.
The criminal justice system encompasses a huge number of different types of roles, and is not at all limited to jobs working as police officers or corrections personnel, as is commonly thought.
As a criminal justice professional, you’ll have the opportunity to explore careers in a whole series of related sectors, institutions, and organizations, including:
- State and federal agencies, including, but not limited to law enforcement agencies.
- Local police and sheriff departments, or other related organizations.
- Correctional and government facilities.
- Private sector investigative, security, and risk-assessment firms.
- Insurance, banking, and other companies in the financial sector.
Because there are so many different options for criminal justice professionals, it’s difficult to say exactly what any given professional is responsible for doing on a daily basis, but some typical responsibilities across different positions in the field include:
- Developing policies.
- Advising on crisis response.
- Providing law updates.
- Managing records.
Depending on what specific role you pursue, your work functions and duties may be similar, or significantly different from the list above.
The great thing about getting into the criminal justice industry is that you’ll have lots of different options for the types of roles you choose to pursue, so no matter what you’re interested in doing, as long as you’re keen on having a positive impact, you should be able to find a compelling and rewarding position in the field.
CSU Global’s Criminal Justice Bachelor’s program prepares alumni to lead criminal justice, law enforcement, and related organizations by providing them with a strong foundation of competencies in a range of related skills, including:Â
- Learning how to run an effective criminal justice system and how to serve as a professional who is capable of making excellent decisions even while under a great deal of pressure.
- Developing a detailed understanding of the role and impact that the criminal justice system has on communities and society as a whole, including a sophisticated awareness of addressing safety concerns and protecting civil liberties.
- Awareness for how the criminal justice system and investigation-related jobs and processes are changing due to cyberthreats and rapid improvements in technology.
Our online B.S. in Criminal Justice introduces students to the theories and practices of law enforcement, helping them to develop a complex understanding of the ethical issues and controversial policies facing criminal justice organizations and personnel, setting them up for success in pursuing roles in:
- Law enforcement.
- Public- and private-sector agencies.
- Political science.
- Research.
- Social work.
- Investigations.
- Military personnel.
- Corporate security.
- Executive protection.
- Global security specialist.
- Government contractor.
- Other related fields.
With the detailed understanding our program provides of the functions and relationship between the police, courts, and corrections component of the criminal justice system, our graduates emerge from their bachelor’s program fully-prepared to provide value to any organization from day one.
Yes. While it may take hard work and dedication to complete your bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, CSU Global’s 100% online program is one of the best ways to prepare for a career in the field.
Earning your bachelor’s degree in criminal justice can contribute to your overall career advancement, preparing you for employment in some of the industries top roles, like:
- Police Officers and Detectives / 2019 Median Pay: $65,170
- Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists / 2019 Median Pay: $54,290
- Private Detectives and Investigators / 2019 Median Pay: $50,510
- Emergency Management Directors / 2019 Median Pay: $74,590Â
It really is worth getting a bachelor’s in criminal justice, because the skills, knowledge and abilities you develop by learning about criminal justice best practices will set you up to pursue lifelong success in the industry.
CSU Global is one of the best online colleges for criminal justice, and you should consider studying with us because:
- Our B.S. in Criminal Justice program earned a #1 ranking for 10 Best Online Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice Degree Programs from Online Course Report.
- Our partnership program with important criminal justice agencies and organizations could help build your professional network
- Our online criminal justice program is nationally and professionally recognized, and regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
We also recently earned several prestigious awards, including:
- A #3 ranking for Best Colleges in Colorado from Best Value Schools.
A Gold School of Distinction award from Best Colleges, making us one of only 15 schools to receive gold rankings, out of more than 2,000 online degree programs.
Career Outlook
Qualities Needed for Success in the Field
Reliable, thorough, independent, clear communicator, willing to be challenged, and able to remain calm in high-pressure situations.
CSU Global's Criminal Justice Partner Agencies
FEMA, IAEM, ACFE, CAIF & Alpha Phi Sigma Honor Society
$66k+ Median Salary
According to the BLS, the average annual salary for Police Officers and Detectives in 2021 was over $66k.
Program Accreditations and Rankings
CSU Global is proud to offer affordable, reputable programs that have received recognition for their quality, value, and more. Click here to learn more about our rankings and acknowledgements.
Best Online Bachelor's Degree Programs
U.S. News & World Report ranks CSU Global among the Top 20 Online Bachelor's Programs for 2024.
#1 Best Online Bachelor's in Criminal Justice
Online Course Report ranks CSU Global #1 in their 10 Best Online Bachelor's in Criminal Justice Degree Programs.
#1 Affordable Online Law Enforcement Degree Programs
Best Value Schools ranked CSU Global the most affordable online B.S. in Criminal Justice undergraduate program.
#8 Best Online Bachelor of Criminal Justice Degree Programs
The Best Schools selected CSU Global based on curriculum quality, faculty excellence, rankings, awards, and reputation.
Want To Know More?
Ready to learn more about how to move forward with CSU Global? Complete the form below and we’ll be in touch to answer any questions and help you get started.
I have had a wonderful experience and am proud to take part in the CSU global community. I have become the A-student I was meant to be. Thanks to CSU Global for the wonderful support!
Deirdre JonkerB.S. Criminal Justice, Class of 2021
Related Links
CSU Global Online Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice: 2 Minute Overview
Let's Get Started Together
You don't even have to fill out your application alone. Our Enrollment Counselors are standing by to help if you need us.