Study Criminal Justice in New York

One of the unique features of New York-based criminal justice programs is that they’re offered by a wide range of colleges and universities. You can learn in programs based in New York City, Albany, and points in between. Each city in New York has its own set of criminal justice issues and needs. This informs, at least in part, the curriculum the universities devise to teach you about criminal justice.

What’s more, each of the four popular programs discussed below is led by faculty with real-world experience in criminal justice. Their unique perspectives on policing, the courts, and corrections further enhance your education, allowing you to graduate with a better sense of what it means to provide ethical services in this field.

We’ve selected some of the popular programs – both undergraduate and graduate – to highlight. In each case, you can complete these programs fully online without ever stepping foot on campus.

Best Accredited Online Criminal Justice Degrees in New York - Criminal Justice Bachelor's, Master's and Associate's Programs in NY

Online Criminal Justice Degrees in New York

Listed below are some of the popular schools offering online criminal justice degrees in New York:

  • University at Albany
  • Monroe College
  • St. Joseph’s University-New York
  • American Public University
  • John Jay College of Criminal Justice
  • Pace University
  • Liberty University
  • Southern New Hampshire University
  • UMass Global
  • Grand Canyon University

University at Albany

Online Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice

The University at Albany’s online Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice program helps you build a knowledge base and skill set that enables you to pursue entry-level careers. Whether you want to be a patrol officer, a correctional officer, a victim advocate, or something in between, this might be the degree for you.

This program introduces you to topics in the fields of criminal justice processes, the law, crime, and criminal behavior. Within these realms, you’ll discuss issues like juvenile delinquency, sentencing, capital punishment, and violent crime. This program is also multidisciplinary, bringing perspectives in from other areas of study, such as:

  • Psychology
  • Sociology
  • Political Science
  • Public Policy

By studying these and other broad areas, you’ll acquire the ability to explain the nature of crime, discuss the criminal justice process, and analyze the application of specific laws to criminal justice proceedings. You’ll also gain valuable research skills that enable you to analyze existing criminal justice research and add new thoughts to the body of research with original work.

The program requires you to complete 120 credits to graduate. Many of these credits fall under the umbrella of general education requirements, which include a sampling of courses from core fields like social science, natural science, English language arts, and math. These courses are typically completed in the first two years of the program, though you might take a smattering of general education classes during your third and fourth years.

The final two years of the program focus heavily on criminal justice core requirements. These requirements include 18 required credits and another 18 electives in criminal justice. You’ll begin by taking an Introduction to Criminal Justice course, which offers a survey of essential topics in this field. For example, you’ll study the three primary aspects of the criminal justice system: policing, the courts, and the correctional system. You’ll also discuss classifications of crimes, sentencing procedures, and the victim’s experience.

Another key foundational course is Introduction to Law and Criminal Justice. This class focuses on law and punishment in the U.S. legal system. You’ll conduct your studies via examinations of judicial decisions of constitutional importance, such as the rights of the accused, the rights of juveniles, and the government’s power to define criminality.

Other required coursework includes studies in criminology, statistics, and research methods. You must also complete a senior-level capstone experience. The capstone enables you to synthesize what you’ve learned throughout your studies and address areas of concern in criminal justice with detailed research and a well-designed paper.

The elective portion of the program gives you the freedom to take any 300 or 400-level criminal justice course. The University at Albany offers many different classes that fulfill this portion of the degree, including the following:

  • Wrongful Convictions
  • Punishment and Corrections
  • Juvenile Justice Administration
  • Policies of Crime in Diverse Societies
  • Problem-Oriented Policing

Other options focus on crime analysis, policy reform, deviance, and terrorism, to name a few.

Apply to the University at Albany online at any time. You must meet the following criteria to be accepted:

  • Be a high school graduate or have an equivalency diploma.
  • Submit official high school transcripts.
  • Submit official transcripts from every college or university from which you’ve earned credit.
  • Submit one letter of recommendation from a teacher or counselor.
  • Complete a 250-word essay as part of the application process with the Common App.
  • Pay a $50 application fee.

Monroe College

Online Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice

The Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Monroe College can be your stepping stone to a criminal justice career or further studies in a graduate program. On the one hand, you might use what you learn as a springboard to a career in law enforcement, social services, probation and parole, or the court system. On the other hand, you might use this degree to prepare for a master’s program in criminal justice, criminology, or a related field.

Either way, Monroe College’s curriculum will set you up for success. The 120-credit program includes an even split between general education courses and major-area studies. The general education courses include those mentioned earlier in core areas like science, math, social science, and English. However, the general requirements also include a healthy dose of coursework in areas directly related to criminal justice.

For example, you’re required to take introductory classes in Human Services, Psychology, Sociology, and Political Science. Gaining insights into these fields not only helps you understand the factors influencing crime but can also provide you with an understanding of why crime occurs in the first place (and how it impacts society on a broader scale). Other general courses that build on these themes include the following:

  • Psychology of Abnormal Behavior
  • Fundamentals of Communication
  • Criminology
  • Victimology

You’ll also take courses in quantitative reasoning, statistics, and history, as well as 15 credits of liberal arts electives and 12 English electives.

The major-area coursework includes 60 credits of studies, specifically in criminal justice and open electives. As is common for programs like this, you’ll start by building a foundation of understanding of basic concepts in an Introduction to Criminal Justice class. Criminal Law, Criminal Investigation, and Ethical Issues in Criminal Justice are additional lower-division courses that help you understand the structure and function of the U.S. criminal justice system.

You’ll have highly specific classes in criminal justice, too. For example, you’ll take a course entitled Prisons: Punishment and Rehabilitation in America, which focuses on the structure and role of prisons in deterring crime. Likewise, you’ll take a class on Ethical Issues in Criminal Justice, which examines common issues that arise in policing, the courts, and corrections. For example, you might analyze cases of police misconduct, such as improper use of force. You might also discuss the ethical questions raised by the use of plea bargaining by prosecutors to avoid going to trial.

You’ll take many other criminal justice courses, too:

  • Research Methods in Criminal Justice
  • Diversity in the Criminal Justice System
  • Leadership in the Criminal Justice System
  • Criminal Justice Capstone

This program requires you to participate in a field experience, too. This can take many forms, from shadowing a defense attorney to riding along with a police officer to working in a human services setting advocating on behalf of defendants who were wrongfully convicted. You can even enroll in Monroe’s special Police Academy Scholars Program, which prepares you for a job in law enforcement via classroom work, physical training, and off-campus trips.

Use the online application for undergraduate admission to apply to Monroe College. You must meet the following requirements to apply as a first-year student:

  • Submit an online application.
  • Pay a $35 application fee.
  • Be a high school graduate or have an equivalent diploma.
  • Submit official high school transcripts or equivalency scores.
  • Submit official transcripts from every college or university from which you’ve earned credit.
  • Submit an essay in which you describe yourself and your academic goals.
  • Schedule a phone, in-person, or video interview.

You can also submit official ACT or SAT scores, though this step is optional.

St. Joseph’s University-New York

Online Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice

At St. Joseph’s University-New York, you can complete a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice with a specialization in practice and policy in about four years of full-time study. The 120-credit program features professors with specialized areas of research and real-world experience, which add to the richness of your coursework.

This multidisciplinary program combines the study of criminal justice with philosophy, political science, and sociology. You’ll also touch on elements of psychology, criminology, and forensic bioscience in this program. Specifically, you’ll examine evidence-based practices that enhance the effectiveness of the criminal justice system. You’ll analyze criminal justice policies, assess the need for alternative approaches to crime, and discuss ethical issues in this field as well.

As is the case with any undergraduate degree, the first two years or so are more or less dedicated to completing general education requirements. This degree requires 60 credits of general education courses and electives chosen from major liberal arts fields, such as:

  • Communications
  • Quantitative reasoning
  • History and social sciences
  • Lab sciences
  • English
  • Art and humanities

The other 60 credits required to graduate are split between core required coursework in criminal justice and supplementary required courses in adjacent fields. The core coursework begins with a Criminal Justice Administration class that expounds on the history of criminal justice organizations. You’ll examine the structure of various entities and their functions, ranging from police organizations to prosecutorial offices to correctional institutions. Additionally, you’ll analyze seminal Supreme Court cases and discuss important policy issues in criminal justice.

The required sequence of coursework also includes studies of Law Enforcement and Policing. You’ll examine the role of law enforcement as an instrument of social control, discuss the subculture of police, and develop an understanding of major issues facing police and crime control in modern American Society.

Additional core courses include the following:

  • Corrections
  • Criminal Courts: Achieving Justice
  • Crime Analysis and Policy
  • Criminal Procedure
  • Race, Class, and Gender in Criminal Justice

This degree further requires you to complete criminal justice research, which you’ll do in a Research Methods class. Combined with studies in Quantitative Applications for Criminal Justice and Evidence-Based Practice and Policy, you’ll develop an understanding of important criminal justice issues and areas of research and how to analyze information to draw well-informed conclusions.

Supplementary required courses take you further afield from criminal justice to adjacent areas of inquiry. As noted earlier, you’ll take classes in ethics, forensic bioscience, and communications. You’ll also take an Introduction to Psychology class that examines the basic tenets of understanding human behavior. You’ll explore major psychological theories, including behaviorism, social psychology, and abnormal psychology. You’ll also study life span development, health psychology, and factors affecting motivation, learning, and emotion.

St. Joseph’s University has a rolling admissions policy, so you can apply online at any time. You must meet the following requirements to apply:

  • Have a high school diploma or its equivalent.
  • Submit official high school transcripts or equivalency test scores.
  • Submit official transcripts from every college or university from which you’ve earned credit.
  • Schedule virtual meetings with admissions and financial aid counselors.

American Public University

Online Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice

At American Public University, you as a New York resident can enroll in their online Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice program. This program offers several benefits, including free textbooks and no application fees. Additionally, American Public University is test-optional, so entrance exams are not required for admission consideration.

This program prepares you for entry-level roles in criminal justice, as well as for advanced studies in a graduate criminal justice program. By completing this degree, you’ll gain important skills and knowledge, including the ability to:

  • Compare local, state, and federal criminal justice systems.
  • Identify key components of the criminal justice system.
  • Design research related to criminal justice.
  • Analyze the impact of criminal justice standards on the legal system.
  • Explain common theories in criminal justice.

Developed by criminal justice professionals and taught by experienced faculty, this program provides practical insights into the application of theories and techniques, bridging abstract ideas with real-world practices in various criminal justice settings.

The degree requires 120 credits, with courses available in both 16-week traditional and 8-week accelerated formats. The curriculum is divided into four categories:

  • General education courses
  • Major required courses
  • Concentration courses
  • Final program requirements

The general education component includes 30 credits of required coursework, covering areas like arts and humanities, history, and natural sciences, along with additional credits in communications, mathematics, and civics.

For the elective requirement, you’ll complete 45 credits from any undergraduate field of study, as long as these courses are not used to fulfill major requirements.

The major-area coursework consists of 27 credits, covering essential criminal justice topics, such as Criminology, Ethics in Criminal Justice, and Constitutional Law. Additional courses include U.S. Law Enforcement, Corrections and Incarceration, and the Criminal Legal Process.

You must select a concentration as part of your studies, with options including:

  • Organizational Law Enforcement Leadership
  • Maritime Law Enforcement
  • Entrepreneurship

Alternatively, you may choose a general concentration by combining coursework from the other three concentrations.

The final program requirement is a three-credit senior seminar in criminal justice. This course requires you to review and analyze the knowledge you have gained, culminating in a detailed academic paper on a topic of your choice, approved by your advisor. The paper should reflect your understanding of key criminal justice principles and demonstrate mastery of program outcomes.

You can apply online to American Public University anytime. Admission requirements for first-year students are as follows:

  • High school diploma or equivalent.
  • Provide a copy of your high school diploma or equivalency scores.
  • Submit official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended .

John Jay College of Criminal Justice

Online Master of Arts in Criminal Justice

The Master of Arts in Criminal Justice program at John Jay College of Criminal Justice offers 100 percent online courses that give you maximum flexibility when getting your graduate degree. On top of that, you’ll enjoy small classes with no more than 20 students, which allows you as much one-on-one learning time with your professors as possible.

This program features an accelerated format. Each class is just eight weeks long, which makes your studies intense. However, you only take one class at a time, so you can really focus on the topic at hand rather than trying to maintain your studies in multiple classes at the same time.

More specifically, the 36-credit curriculum includes a broad selection of courses that widen your understanding of criminology, corrections, judicial studies, policing, and related areas. For example, you’ll take a two-part course on Issues in Criminal Justice, the first of which focuses on Theory and Courts. This class dives deep into criminal justice theory and its application in the U.S. judicial system. You might discuss topics like sentencing procedures, plea bargaining, and the rights of the accused.

The second component of this class focuses on Policing and Corrections. You’ll gain an understanding of central themes in law enforcement work and issues related to corrections, such as punishment and rehabilitation. Moreover, you’ll discuss solutions to central problems in criminal justice, such as recidivism and juvenile delinquency.

Research is a primary component of this program, too. You’ll take three research-related classes: Research and Design Methods, Using Computers in Social Research, and Policy Analysis in Criminal Justice. Generally speaking, these classes help you build solid research skills that enable you to analyze existing research and conduct research of your own.

A final component of the required coursework is a Qualifying Examination. This class covers the topics studied in the Research Design and Methods and Using Computers in Social Research courses. You must pass the Qualifying Examination before you’re allowed to move on in the program and enroll in the Policy Analysis class mentioned earlier.

The program’s other required coursework is in the form of a specialization of your choice. Four primary specializations are offered:

  • Criminology and Deviance
  • Criminal Law and Procedure
  • Policing
  • Terrorism Studies

However, you can work with the criminal justice program director to adjust any of these specializations to fit a unique area of interest. Furthermore, you can complete a dual specialization if you like.

This is a terminal degree program, meaning the credential you earn is the highest currently available. You might use this degree to advance your current criminal justice career, switch to a new job, pursue research opportunities, or teach at the collegiate level. Whatever your future goals, you’ll be well-prepared for them, having learned from distinguished faculty members with diverse areas of expertise.

You must meet the following requirements to be considered for admission to this program:

  • Have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution.
  • Have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher.
  • Complete at least one undergraduate statistics class.
  • Submit English proficiency scores if English is not your native language.

What are the Career Opportunities for Criminal Justice Graduates in New York?

As a criminal justice graduate in New York, you’ll discover numerous career opportunities awaiting you. The state offers diverse paths where your education can be applied, ranging from law enforcement to legal services. In law enforcement, you can consider roles such as a police officer or detective, where you’ll be responsible for maintaining public safety and investigating crimes.

Another avenue is corrections, where you can work as a correctional officer or probation officer, overseeing individuals who are serving sentences or are on probation.

In the legal sector, positions such as paralegal or legal assistant are viable options. These roles will allow you to support attorneys by conducting research, organizing files, and drafting documents. Additionally, you may find opportunities within the court system, working as a court clerk or a bailiff, where you’ll assist in the day-to-day operations of the courts.

If you are interested in social services, you might pursue a career as a social worker or case manager, helping individuals and communities navigate the criminal justice system. In the private sector, opportunities exist in private security or loss prevention, where you can work to protect assets and prevent theft for businesses and organizations.

Furthermore, with additional education and training, careers in federal agencies such as the FBI, DEA, or Homeland Security become accessible, allowing you to engage in national security and specialized criminal investigations.

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