Study Criminal Justice in Wisconsin
Wisconsin might not have the high profile that other states do, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t ample opportunities to get a higher education. In fact, Wisconsin has an extensive higher education system that enables its residents to easily access degree programs. This includes many schools with online learning options.
If you’re interested in advancing your education in criminal justice in Wisconsin, you’re in luck. Not only is criminal justice a popular major, but it’s also a popular offering for online studies at schools throughout the state. Even if you’re not a Wisconsin resident, you can still earn your undergraduate or graduate degree from an esteemed Wisconsin school.
Online Criminal Justice Degrees in Wisconsin
Listed below are some of the popular schools offering online criminal justice degrees in Wisconsin:
- University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh
- University of Wisconsin-Platteville
- University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
- Grand Canyon University
- Purdue Global
- ASU Online
- Liberty University
- Walden University
University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh
Online Bachelor of Applied Studies in Criminal Justice
At the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, you can complete an online Bachelor of Applied Studies in Criminal Justice that’s offered as an accelerated program. Each course you’ll take is just seven weeks long – less than half of what’s usually required.
The intensive nature of these classes requires the utmost dedication to your studies. However, the reward is that you can complete your degree more quickly. That’s especially true if you stack courses. The more classes you take simultaneously, the faster you can complete the program.
Additionally, the coursework is completed asynchronously. This means you can work on your assignments as your schedule allows. There are no required meeting times, either, so you don’t have to change your work or life schedules to accommodate your degree.
You’ll begin by completing the university studies requirement. These general introductory courses cover academic areas ranging from writing and speaking to math and laboratory sciences. You’re also required to take classes that fulfill requirements for culture, society, ethnic studies, and global citizenship. Three credits must also be earned in an advanced writing class.
The major requirements include ten courses focusing on essential features of criminal justice. On the one hand, you’ll take introductory classes like the following:
- Introduction to Criminal Justice
- Introductory Criminal Law
- Introduction to Public Administration
- Correctional Process
- Elementary Statistics in Criminal Justice Research
You’ll pair these lower-division courses with upper-division studies in areas like Quantitative Research Design. This class explores the major principles of conducting research in this field, including the processes of developing and implementing research studies, data collection and analysis, and data reporting.
Furthermore, you’ll take courses like Adjudication Process in Criminal Justice, which examines the various steps involved in charging someone with a crime, trying a case against them, and sentencing procedures. You’ll also take a Theories of Crime class that offers insights into why crimes are committed in the first place. This includes examining the social influences involved that make crime a more likely outcome for some people.
The final component of this program is a series of criminal justice electives. You need 9-15 elective credits in this field depending on the number of credits you earn elsewhere. You can choose from a dozen options, including Criminal Investigation, Criminal Courts Behavior, and Police Administration. Many other options are available, too:
- Community-Based Corrections
- Criminal Courts: Proof of Guilt
- Illegal Bias in the Criminal Justice System
- Juvenile Justice Systems
- Organized Crime
Several options for customized studies are available as well. For example, you can enroll in a Special Topics in Criminal Justice course that explores important problems and issues facing the criminal justice system. Alternatively, you can choose to participate in an internship in criminal justice, which places you in a law enforcement, legal, or correctional setting, where you can apply what you’ve learned in the program while you work with an experienced supervisor.
You’ll complete these courses in a highly supportive environment. UW Oshkosh provides you with individual academic support and technical assistance as you make your way through the program. You’ll also benefit from individualized career guidance to help you make the transition from being a student to being a criminal justice professional.
You must meet the following qualifications to be eligible for admission as a first-year student:
- Have a high school diploma that includes completed studies in the following areas:
- 4 units of English
- 3 units of social science
- 3 units of math
- 3 units of science
- 4 units of academic electives
- Submit official high school transcripts.
- Submit official transcripts from every college or university from which you’ve earned credit.
University of Wisconsin-Platteville
Online Bachelor of Science / Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice
You have the choice of pursuing a Bachelor of Science or a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. These options are similar, but the B.A. provides you more opportunities to take electives outside of criminal justice, while the B.S. requires more courses within the major.
Additionally, both majors offer two concentrations: Corrections or Law Enforcement. These options allow you to focus your studies in a major criminal justice area in preparation for a career after graduation. For example, the law enforcement emphasis requires you to take classes like Criminal Investigation, Criminal Procedure and Evidence, and Police Ethics – all important topics for prospective law enforcement officers to understand.
Likewise, the law enforcement emphasis requires you to take a Foundations of Interviewing course that helps you develop the unique skills needed to interview witnesses and interrogate suspects. Additional classes in Counterterrorism, Police Administration, and Police-Community Relations are required.
The corrections emphasis explores topics pertinent to working in a jail or prison. You’ll take classes like Law of Corrections, Community-Based Corrections, and Correctional Institutions. You’ll also take classes like Victimology and Restorative Justice, which examines the patterns and trends of victimization, responses to criminal victimization, and real-world cases of successful restorative justice programs. Additional coursework must be completed in the following areas:
- Foundations of Interviewing
- Juvenile Justice
- Current Topics in Criminal Justice
The coursework outlined above is just part of the requirements for graduation. You must also complete general education courses and electives as well as major-area courses. The general education courses cover a broad range of liberal arts topics, like the arts, social sciences, writing, and math. You’re also required to take classes in natural sciences, physical activity, and gender studies, to name a few.
The major-area coursework includes foundational classes like Introduction to Criminal Justice, Criminal Law, Foundations of Policing, and Foundations of Corrections. You must also take a senior seminar in Criminal Justice and Forensic Investigation that discusses contemporary issues in the criminal justice system. Furthermore, you’ll take two classes focusing on criminal justice theory: Criminology and Crime and Delinquency.
This program heavily emphasizes social research. As such, you’ll take classes like Research Methods in Criminal Justice, Social Research Methods, and Introduction to Experimental Psychology. You must also take Behavioral Research I and II, which focuses on the processes of developing a research project, collecting and analyzing data, and preparing an APA-style manuscript. These classes are required for both the B.A. and B.S. options.
The final 15 credits for this degree are electives. You can choose from a long list of approved classes such as Social Welfare Policy, Survey of Forensic Sciences, and Courtroom Testimony and Evidence. Other elective options include the following:
- Issues in Criminal Justice Planning and Management
- Criminal Procedure and Evidence
- Deviance, Crime, and Social Control
- History and Ethics of Forensic Investigation
- Crime Prevention
You may also choose to participate in an internship. To do so, you must have a 2.5 GPA or higher. You must also have at least 60 credits already completed, including 12 upper-division credits in criminal justice or forensic investigation.
The admissions requirements for first-year students are as follows:
- Have a high school diploma or its equivalent.
- Submit official high school transcripts or equivalency scores.
- Submit official transcripts from every college or university from which you’ve earned credit.
You can also submit ACT or SAT scores. This is an optional step, though.
Online Master of Science in Criminal Justice
In addition to the bachelor’s degree, UW-Platteville also offers an online Master of Science in Criminal Justice. This 30-credit program can be completed in as little as three semesters, which allows you to quickly earn your degree and pursue career advancement.
The curriculum is evenly divided between required courses and an emphasis area. The 15 credits of required courses build a foundation of understanding of essential criminal justice topics. For example, you’ll take a Criminal Justice Systems class that explores the functions, structures, and processes of modern criminal justice systems. You’ll also study how different systems – law enforcement, the courts, and corrections – are interrelated.
Another required course is Criminological Theory. This class is important because it gives you insights into the nature of crime – why crimes are committed, why certain groups commit crimes in greater numbers than others, and the sociological influences on crime. You’ll study criminological theories, examine crime data, and evaluate popular criminological theories for validity as well.
You do have some choice regarding other required courses you take. For example, you can choose between the following classes: Criminal Justice Research and Statistical Methods or Evaluation and Program Analysis in the Criminal Justice System. Likewise, you can choose to complete a seminar research paper or a thesis.
This master’s program offers four different emphasis areas. The emphasis you choose dictates the remaining 15 credits you’re required to complete to graduate. The emphasis areas include the following:
- Criminal Justice Theory
- Criminal Justice Management
- Victim and Offender Services
- Emergency Management Emphasis
In each case, you must complete nine credits of coursework specific to the emphasis. Then, you’ll take six elective credits to meet the 15-credit threshold. For example, let’s say you’re interested in the Victim and Offender Services Track. That being the case, you would take courses in Victimology, Crisis Intervention Theory, and Perspectives on Child Maltreatment and Child Advocacy.
But let’s now assume that the Emergency Management Emphasis is more appealing to you. If so, you’d take Criminal Justice Administration, Principles of Emergency Operations Management, and Emergency Planning and Preparedness.
The university offers a wide selection of electives to supplement your emphasis area. On the one hand, you might take courses on Crisis Intervention Theory and Civil Liberties. On the other hand, you might take Organizational behavior and Cybercrime. The possibilities are virtually limitless.
This program has three start dates each year – one each in the spring, summer, and fall. This allows you to start the program at a point that works best for your schedule. UW-Platteville’s transfer policy gives you added flexibility, too – you can transfer up to 12 credits to this program. Doing so allows you to significantly reduce the time required to finish this degree.
To apply, you must create a UW-Platteville account. The graduate admissions requirements are as follows:
- Have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
- Have a 2.75 cumulative undergraduate GPA or higher.
- Submit transcripts from every college or university you’ve attended.
- Submit a current resume.
- Submit a purpose and goals statement.
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Online Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and Criminology
The Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and Criminology at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee requires 120 credits to complete. Most students finish the credit requirements in four years of full-time studies. However, part-time options are available if you need to pursue your college degree while maintaining a work or life schedule.
Alternatively, you can also speed up the process of finishing this degree. For example, you can cut a semester off the timeline to graduate by taking one extra class each spring and fall. You can also take courses during the summer, which might allow you to finish this degree in about three years.
As is the case with any undergraduate program, this one requires you to complete general education requirements. These requirements include 21 credits of required courses and 54 elective credits. Required courses cover essential topics like writing, math, science, and social sciences. Electives, on the other hand, can be chosen from any undergraduate academic area.
For example, let’s say you’re interested in supplementing your criminal justice major with studies in business administration. As such, you might take classes like Marketing Management, Human Resources Management, and Principles of Business. But now let’s assume you’re interested in psychology. In that case, you might take electives like the Psychology of Learning, Abnormal Psychology, and Biological Psychology.
The major requirements include 45 course credits in criminal justice topics. This includes both required and elective classes. Required classes focus on core topics like Introduction to Criminal Justice, Introduction to Policing, and Introduction to Corrections. You’ll also take classes such as:
- Introduction to Criminal Courts
- Criminological Theory and Policy
- Race, Ethnicity, and Justice
- Data Analysis and Visualization for the Information Professional
- Methods of Social Welfare Research
A criminal justice capstone is also required. The purpose of the capstone is to help you integrate what you’ve learned in your classes and apply that learning in the context of a real-world applied project. The final 18 credits of this degree are electives in criminal justice. These courses allow you to customize your learning to a degree.
There is an optional fieldwork component for this degree, too. If you choose, you can participate in up to six credits of internship at an approved criminal justice site. The site where you work is arranged with the university. However, since this is an online program, your internship site will be arranged near where you live to minimize travel requirements.
To complete this program, you must maintain a 2.0 GPA throughout the entirety of your college career. Of the 120 credits needed to graduate, at least 30 must be at UW-Milwaukee, and at least half of the criminal justice major requirements must be completed at UW-Milwaukee.
The university also offers this degree as part of an accelerated bachelor’s-to-master’s program. This is a great option if you’re interested in getting an advanced education. Doing so not only saves you time in earning both degrees but there’s also a cost savings benefit.
You can apply to UW-Milwaukee online at any time. The following criteria must be met to apply as a first-year student:
- Have a high school diploma or its equivalent.
- Submit official high school transcripts or equivalency scores.
- Submit official transcripts from every college or university from which you’ve earned credit.
- Provide a list of activities and work experience.
- Submit an application essay.
Grand Canyon University
Online Master of Science in Criminal Justice
At Grand Canyon University, the Master of Science in Criminal Justice with a focus on law enforcement equips you with knowledge about current policing trends, crime analysis, and strategic planning. You’ll investigate various crime prevention strategies and study recent trends in criminal activities.
This program requires you to complete 38 credits, but you have the flexibility to transfer up to one-third of these credits from previous academic work. This can help you accelerate the completion of your degree.
The format of the program includes courses that last eight weeks each, structured to be intense yet manageable by taking fewer courses simultaneously. You are required to complete ten core courses throughout the program.
For example, in the Criminal Behavior Analysis course, you’ll delve into the connection between criminal justice and psychology, covering subjects such as criminal profiling and crisis management.
Another mandatory course is Advanced Crime Analysis, where you’ll focus on recognizing and analyzing crime patterns to enhance preventive measures and responses.
The program also includes courses not solely centered on criminal behavior. For example, Organizational Behavior and Leadership covers management principles in law enforcement, including topics such as conflict resolution and organizational growth.
Other key courses include:
- Law Exploration and Public Policy
- Ethics and Decision Making
- Strategic Analysis and Organizational Planning
- Crime Prevention and Public Relations
You are also required to take a course in Research Methods, where you’ll master social research techniques, including statistical analysis and the design of research projects utilizing both quantitative and qualitative approaches.
All courses are conducted online via Grand Canyon University’s virtual learning platform, providing you with the convenience of studying from anywhere with internet access and participating in interactive projects and discussions.
The application is free, and the university reviews your application and provides a study plan within 24 business hours. Admission criteria include:
- Possessing a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
- Having a cumulative undergraduate GPA of at least 2.8.
- Optionally, submitting GMAT or GRE scores if your GPA does not meet the requirement.
- Providing official transcripts from all colleges or universities you you’ve attended.
Which is Better, BA or BS in Criminal Justice?
Choosing between a Bachelor of Arts (BA) and a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Criminal Justice depends on your career goals and educational preferences.
A BA in Criminal Justice typically offers a broader education, focusing on the social sciences, humanities, and a foreign language requirement, which can be beneficial for roles in social services, community outreach, and administration.
In contrast, a BS in Criminal Justice is generally more focused on the natural sciences and technical aspects, including courses in forensics, biology, and data analysis. This might be more suitable if you’re interested in fields like forensic science, law enforcement, or federal agencies where technical skills are highly valued.
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