The schools listed in our directory provide diverse majors and degree programs in criminal justice. These criminal justice degrees include corrections, homeland security, forensic science, forensic psychology, paralegal studies, justice administration, law enforcement, policing, court reporting and much more.
The criminal justice schools listed in this section are regionally accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), Southern Association for Colleges and Schools (SACS), Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), Northern Association for Colleges and Schools (NACS), New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) and/or Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
Criminal Justice Schools by Area of Study
- Corrections
- Criminal Justice/law Enforcement Administration
- Criminal Justice/safety Studies
- Forensic Science and Technology
- Criminal Justice/police Science
- Security and Loss Prevention Services
- Juvenile Corrections
- Criminalistics and Criminal Science
- Securities Services Administration/management
- Corrections Administration
- Law Enforcement Investigation and Interviewing
- Law Enforcement Record-keeping and Evidence Management
- Cyber/computer Forensics and Counterterrorism
- Financial Forensics and Fraud Investigation
- Critical Incident Response/special Police Operations
- Protective Services Operations
- Corrections and Criminal Justice, Other
- Fire Prevention and Safety Technology/technician
- Fire Services Administration
- Fire Science/fire-fighting
- Fire Systems Technology
- Fire/arson Investigation and Prevention
- Wildland/forest Firefighting and Investigation
- Fire Protection, Other
- Homeland Security
- Crisis/emergency/disaster Management
- Critical Infrastructure Protection
- Terrorism and Counterterrorism Operations
- Homeland Security, Other
- Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services
More Ways to Explore Criminal Justice Schools and Degrees
Criminal Justice Schools by Degree Level
Online Criminal Justice Degrees
Criminal Justice Colleges and Programs by State
What Is a Job In Criminal Justice Like?
The field of criminal justice is made up of a very diverse group of qualified professionals that come from just about every cultural, ethnic, professional and educational background imaginable. In fact, the criminal justice industry thrives on diversity.
Criminals are a very diverse group of individuals that are hard to catch, and the crimes they the commit are sometimes hard to prove. The officers that find and arrest these criminals and bring them to justice must also be diverse, talented, and highly trained. In the past, the best degree you could get to qualify for a job in law enforcement was a degree in criminal justice or criminology, but not anymore.
Criminal justice and law enforcement agencies today hire individuals with degrees in accounting, psychology, forensic science, computer science, engineering, political science. They also hire people with a variety of other liberal arts, science, and engineering degrees. And for those few who speak a second language, or are multicultural, a career in criminal justice is calling your name.
What Will I Study in a Criminal Justice Program?
If you choose to follow a traditional educational path in criminal justice, you’ll address a number of current issues and examine questions like these during the course of your studies: How do terrorist threats affect citizen’s lives? Are drug addicts and alcoholics best rehabilitated at abuse recovery facilities or in prisons? What is a cruel and unusual punishment?
Criminal justice students study the judicial and legal system and learn how law enforcement agencies operate. In addition, students will complete classes in various disciplines, including law, sociology, psychology, public administration, and other related subject matter.
Criminal Justice Education Requirements by Career
Before you can figure out which school or college to attend, it’s best if you have an idea of what the education requirements are for the criminal justice career you wish to pursue.
Below we’ve put together a comprehensive list of criminal justice and law enforcement careers and specialties. Directly to the right of each career we’ve listed the minimum education requirement for entry-level positions. However, we recommend that you get as much relevant education as you possibly can.
The practice of law enforcement and criminal justice is becoming ever more dependant on advanced equipment, technologies and investigative and forensic methodologies. Consequently, more knowledgeable and better educated criminal justice professionals are needed. (Disclaimer: The education requirements for specific criminal justice careers may vary by federal, state and local agency as well as location.)
| ATF Agent | Four-year college degree or equivalent experience |
| ATF Investigator | Four-year college degree or equivalent experience |
| ATF Technician/Professional | Bachelor’s and/or master’s degree depending on specialty |
| Bailiff | High School Diploma/GED or possibly college degree |
| Border Patrol Agent | 4-year college degree and/or relevant experience |
| CIA Agent | Bachelor’s, masters and/or relevant experience |
| Coast Guard | High School Diploma/GED |
| Compliance Officer | Bachelor’s degree (sometimes master’s) |
| Computer Forensics | Bachelor’s/master’s degree or equivalent experience |
| Corrections Officer | High School Diploma/GED/associate’s |
| Counter Terrorism Officer | GED/Bachelor’s Degree and/or relevant experience |
| Court Reporter | Certificate/associate’s degree |
| Court Clerk | 2- or 4-year college degree |
| Criminal Detective | Associate/bachelor’s degree or specialized training |
| Crime Lab Analyst | Bachelor’s degree |
| Crime Scene Investigator | Certificate or associate/bachelor’s degree |
| Criminalist | Bachelor’s degree |
| Criminologist | Bachelor’s degree (master’s preferred) |
| Customs Agent | 4-year degree or equivalent experience |
| Deportation Officer | 4-year degree or equivalent experience |
| Diplomatic Security Agent | 4-year degree or equivalent experience |
| Drug Abuse Counselor | Bachelor’s degree (master’s preferred) |
| Drug Enforcement Agent | 4-year degree or equivalent experience |
| Evidence Technician | 2- or 4-year degree or equivalent experience |
| FBI Agent | 4-year degree or equivalent experience |
| Federal Air Marshal | 4-year degree or equivalent experience |
| Federal Protective Service | 4-year degree or equivalent experience |
| Fish & Game Warden | High School Diploma/2-year associate’s degree |
| Forensic Accountant | Bachelor’s degree (master’s preferred) |
| Forensic Scientist | Bachelor’s degree (master’s preferred) |
| Forensic Psychologist | Master’s and/or doctorate (Ph.D. or Psy.D.) degree |
| Fraud Investigator | 4-year college degree |
| Homeland Security Agent | 4-year college degree |
| ICE Agent | 4-year college degree or equivalent experience |
| Immigration Agent | 4-year college degree or equivalent experience |
| Information Security Specialist | Bachelor’s degree (master’s preferred) |
| INS Agent | 4-year college degree or equivalent experience |
| IRS Special Agent | 4-year college degree |
| Juvenile Probation Counselor | Associate, bachelor’s or master’s degree |
| K9 Officer | High School Diploma/academy training/associate degree |
| LaW Clerk | Bachelor’s degree |
| NSA Police Officer | College degree or equivalent experience |
| Paralegal | Certificate, associate or bachelor’s degree |
| Park Ranger | Relevant bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience |
| Penologist | Bachelor’s degree (master’s preferred) |
| Prison Warden | High School Diploma and/or associate’s Degree |
| Private Security | 4-year college degree |
| Police Officer | Police academy training/associate degree |
| Probation Officer | High School Diploma/relevant college degree |
| Private Investigator | High School Diploma/4-year college degree |
| Psychological Profiler | Master’s degree in psychology (doctorate preferred) |
| Secret Service Agent | 4-year college degree or equivalent experience |
| Sheriff | Academy training, college degree, or equivalent experience |
| Surveillance Officer | 4-year college degree or equivalent experience |
| TSA Screener | High School Diploma or GED |
| US Marshal | 4-year college degree or equivalent experience |
| Victim Services Specialist | Bachelor’s degree (master’s preferred) |
| Youth Correctional Officer | Bachelor’s degree |
Featured Criminal Justice Programs
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