Criminal Justice Students’ Guide: Types of Degrees and Requirements
Whether you're aspiring to advance your existing career, plan your college major or find one of the highest-paying criminal justice jobs, it's essential to understand the degree requirements at every step of the way. This includes knowing what's expected from the moment you enroll in a bachelor's degree to the time you decide to undertake specialized studies in a master's program.
In this article, we'll explain what type of degree you need to start and advance your career in criminal justice, along with a comprehensive look at the criminal justice degree requirements for both graduate and undergraduate programs.
Our goal is to provide you with the insights needed to strategically navigate your educational journey, ensuring you're well-prepared for the competitive job market ahead.
- Types of Criminal Justice Degrees
- Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice
- Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice
- Doctorate in Criminal Justice
- Criminal Justice Admission Criteria
- Undergraduate Prerequisites
- Graduate Prerequisites
- Criminal Justice Major Requirements
- And What About Math
Types of Criminal Justice Degrees
The best degree for a career in criminal justice mostly depends on your career goals, the specific area you wish to focus on, and how quickly you want to enter the workforce.
Here's a brief overview of different types of criminal justice degrees and their potential benefits for your career:
Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice:
You should know there are two types of bachelor’s degrees: Bachelor of Science (B.S.) and Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Criminal Justice.
A B.S. tends to be more specialized and focuses on criminal justice's technical and practical aspects, diving into more scientific content, data analytics, forensics, or other technical areas in the field. It's perfect if you're aspiring for a job in law enforcement, forensic analysis, or any position where knowing criminal justice science is key.
A B.A., on the other hand, is suitable for students interested in broader liberal arts education, covering a mix of topics like psychology, sociology, and humanities. This way, you get a fuller picture of the social and cultural sides of the criminal system. It's the way to go if you're thinking about careers in social work, criminal justice reforms, legal studies, or any area where a solid background in social sciences really comes in handy.
Nowadays, there are online programs that you can complete without compromising your current lifestyle. These programs are designed with your convenience in mind, offering flexibility and accessibility so you can learn at your own pace, from anywhere in the world.
Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice
A master's degree in criminal justice is a program that goes beyond the basics, offering specialized knowledge and focusing on research, policy analysis and leadership over an additional two-year post-bachelor’s. This degree is the first step to influential roles, whether in leadership, academia, or high-level administration.
A master’s degree is ideal for professionals looking to deepen their knowledge and advance their careers within the criminal justice system. It suits professionals currently working in law enforcement, corrections, or related fields seeking advancement, as well as recent graduates aspiring to enter these sectors. Some programs offer a curriculum grounded in criminological theory and practical application, preparing students for leadership roles and advanced research.
Doctorate in Criminal Justice
The doctorate is the highest-level of degree in criminal justice and takes around 3-5 years post-master’s, on average. This path is best for those passionate about research, teaching, and leading at the highest levels, and aiming to become a leader in the academic community, a consultant, or even an executive in criminal justice organizations.
Criminal Justice Admission Criteria
The admission requirements for criminal justice programs can change based on the type of program you’re interested in. Let’s take a closer look at the general eligibility criteria for each.
Undergraduate Prerequisites
To get started with your application to an undergraduate program, you'll need to meet a few admission requirements. Keep in mind they can vary by school. That said, there are some universal elements to look out for to get yourself ready for your studies. Here's a rundown to help you sort everything out:
Complete the Admission Application: This is your first step. Make sure to fill out the institution’s application form thoroughly, as it's your initial introduction to the admissions committee.
Submit Your Official High School Transcript(s): You'll need to have your high school send your transcript(s) directly to the institution. These documents should include important details like your diploma type, class rank, and GPA (Grade Point Averages). It's crucial because it gives the admissions team a comprehensive look at your academic history and achievements.
Provide Your Official Test Scores: Next up, you'll need to submit your standardized test scores. This includes any combination of SAT, ACT, GED, and TAKS scores. These scores offer a standardized measure of your academic capabilities and readiness for college-level work. Make sure these are sent directly from the testing agency or are included in your official high school transcript.
Just a heads up: there are often some extra requirements for applicants from abroad or the military. Make sure to look them over before you send in your application.
Graduate Prerequisites
As we said before, the institution's guidelines might change, but we’ll provide you with a broad picture of what's typically needed for a grad school application.
When applying for graduate studies, you usually need to have a B.A. or B.S. in criminal justice, criminology, or something similar from an accredited school. Additionally, your GPA should be at least 3.0 for your last 60 hours of upper-level undergrad classes. Don't forget to include a professional resume too, especially if you've got any relevant internships or work experience on your track record.
Besides that, institutions often require a 3–4-page Statement of Purpose where you detail your background and what you want to achieve with your degree. This essential requirement demonstrates your academic history, interests and objectives to the admissions committee. Therefore, dedicate enough time to write it, explaining in detail why you are interested in pursuing graduate studies, what led you to this decision and how your past experiences have prepared you for it.
Finally, you’ll need two letters from professionals or academics who can attest to your potential for success in graduate studies. If you are a non-native English speaker, a language proficiency certificate could also be requested.
Criminal Justice Major Requirements
Now that you know the types of criminal justice degrees and what you need for the admission, let’s look at the degree requirements:
Usually, you must complete a minimum of 120 semester hours to get your bachelor’s degree, including at least 39 hours at the advanced level.
For example, at The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), the advanced-level courses in the B.A. in Criminal Justice program dive deep into specialized topics, research methods and contemporary issues within the field, getting you ready for professional careers or further academic study. These courses cover a wide range of subjects, from Applied Research Methods in Criminal Justice to Cyber Crime.
You’ll also need to fulfill general education, block electives, foreign language core requirements, and minor or additional electives.
To deepen your understanding of societal and behavioral factors influencing criminal justice, at UTEP we encourage students to take courses in Sociology and Psychology as well.
For master's degree programs, you are required to complete 36 credit hours. In some cases, such as at UTEP, you have the option to choose between two tracks: a professional/non-thesis track or a thesis track.
In the first option, the curriculum includes 9 credits of courses focused on the practical aspects of criminal justice, such as organization and management, program evaluation, and evidence-based practices, culminating in a capstone project. Additionally, you must complete 18 credits of electives, 9 of which must be specifically designated to criminal justice topics.
Alternatively, the thesis track requires students to engage more deeply with research, requiring 12 credits in track-specific courses and a smaller portion of electives, totaling 15 credits, with the same stipulation for criminal justice-specific courses.
And What About Math?
At this point, you’re probably asking what kind of math you need for criminal justice.
Typically, for a criminal justice degree, you'll take math courses applied to social sciences. This approach helps you build a critical foundation to develop necessary quantitative skills.
These math classes encompass college algebra and geometry, as well as key concepts such as set algebra, diverse types of functions (linear, quadratic, exponential, logarithmic), matrix algebra and addressing systems of equations and inequalities. They also provide a basis in probability and finance-related mathematics.
If you are interested in delving deeper into the criminal justice curriculum and its requirements, visit the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Criminal Justice program's webpage, review the coursework details and reach out to one of our enrollment counselors for personalized guidance.