Study Criminal Justice in Florida

Whether you need a bachelor’s degree or a master’s degree in criminal justice, Florida’s higher education system has many options for you. What’s more, the Sunshine State’s colleges and universities offer many criminal justice programs online, offering you the benefit of getting your education from the comfort of your own home.

Like many other states, Florida’s public colleges dominate the list of top online criminal justice degrees. From large schools like the University of Florida, the University of Central Florida, and Florida International University to smaller schools like the University of West Florida, the list below offers you degree options from schools of all shapes and sizes!

Best Accredited Online Criminal Justice Degrees in Florida - Criminal Justice Bachelor's, Master's and Associate's Programs in FL

Online Criminal Justice Degrees in Florida

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

  • University of Central Florida
  • University of Florida
  • Florida International University
  • University of West Florida
  • UMass Global
  • Liberty University
  • Southern New Hampshire University
  • Grand Canyon University
  • Walden University

University of Central Florida

Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science – Criminal Justice

The University of Central Florida’s online Criminal Justice program offers you both Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science options. The primary difference between these programs is that the Bachelor of Arts track allows you to take more electives in other areas, while the Bachelor of Science track focuses your studies more on the criminal justice area.

Both options require you to complete 120 credits to graduate, which most students do in four years. However, by taking just one extra class each semester, you can cut that down to just over three years. In that time, you’ll learn essential skills, such as:

  • Analyze crime patterns
  • Evaluate social factors that influence criminality
  • Understand criminal interventions
  • Explore the criminal justice system
  • Make research-based contributions to the field

You’ll learn how to do these things by participating in a multidisciplinary curriculum focusing on corrections, policing, and the courts. The core coursework includes 33 credits of studies in areas like Police and Society, Crime in America, and Corrections and Penology. You’ll also take classes in Careers in Criminal Justice, the Criminal Justice System, and Race, Ethnicity, Equity, and Injustice.

This program emphasizes the development of research skills, too. You’ll take courses like Research Methods in Criminal Justice and Data Analysis in Criminal Justice, both of which help you become a good consumer of information. You’ll also develop the skills needed to devise and carry out criminal justice research of your own.

The core sequence of courses includes a Criminal Justice Ethics capstone, too. This capstone project examines major ethical issues that might arise in your career. You’ll examine case studies to explore issues like police use of force, the minority experience in the criminal justice system, and legal ethical issues, like prosecutorial misconduct as well.

In addition to these core courses, you must also take a range of electives. These classes include restricted electives and supporting electives. The former focuses on specific criminal justice-related topics, such as:

  • Community Policing
  • Prisons and Jails
  • Criminal Sentencing
  • Organized Crime
  • Cultural Diversity in Criminal Justice

Meanwhile, supporting electives come from other areas of study. For example, you might take an anthropology class in Law and Culture, a communications class in Conflict Management, or a public administration class in Public Personnel Administration, to name a few.

You can also pursue other learning opportunities that enhance your understanding of criminal justice. On the one hand, you can apply for an internship in one of the University’s partner programs. On the other hand, you can pursue various certificate programs focusing on specific criminal justice applications. This includes options in the following areas:

  • Criminal Profiling
  • Crime Scene Investigation
  • Security Management
  • Victim Advocacy
  • Crime Analysis and Crime Mapping
  • Criminal Justice Management and Leadership

By completing this program, you’ll have the knowledge and skills to start a career as a corrections officer, FBI agent or other law enforcement officer, a crime scene investigator, or a customs enforcement agent, to name a few.

Get the application process for this program started here. The application requirements for first-year students are as follows:

  • Be a high school graduate or complete a high school equivalency.
  • Submit high school transcripts or equivalency scores.
  • Provide official ACT or SAT scores.
  • Submit official transcripts from every college or university from which you’ve earned credit.
  • Pay a $30 application fee.

It is also strongly recommended that you submit an application essay.

University of Florida

Online Bachelor of Arts in Criminology

The online Bachelor of Arts in Criminology from the University of Florida specifically focuses on criminal behavior. You’ll examine the criminal justice and legal systems from a multidisciplinary perspective, allowing you to develop a better understanding of crime, its causes, and the effects of crime on society as a whole.

This 120-credit program includes coursework in several areas. Your initial studies fall under the general education requirements – courses all students must complete regardless of major. These classes focus on core liberal arts areas, like math, science, social science, and language arts. However, you’ll also complete courses in communications, the humanities, art, and others.

You must also complete foundational coursework, which includes specific general education and criminology-related classes. For example, you’re required to take Introduction to Statistics, which teaches you about descriptive and inferential statistical analyses as a means of improving your problem-solving skills. Likewise, you must take nine credits of criminal justice classes or general classes.

For example, choosing the criminal justice foundation track requires you to take Advanced Principles of Criminal Justice, Law and the Legal Process, and Law and Society. The general foundation track gives you the option of taking nine credits in classes ranging from Cultural Anthropology to U.S. History to Social Problems.

The major coursework for this degree includes classes in criminology and law. You’re required to complete a sequence of four criminology courses:

  • Advanced Principles of Criminal Justice
  • Research Methods in Criminology
  • Criminological Theory
  • Law and Society

As you can see, these classes discuss varying components of criminology. For example, the Criminological Theory class examines different theories of crime and explores the psychological, sociological, biological, and economic underpinnings of criminalistic behavior. As another example, the Law and Society class analyzes the legal institutions and the legal process in the U.S.

You must also add at least one of the following law-related courses to your course list:

  • Juvenile Law
  • Criminal Procedure
  • Criminal Law
  • Law and the Legal Process

Along with these law-related courses, you’re required to complete at least 18 credits of criminology electives. These classes enable you to study niche areas of this field and develop skills and knowledge specific to your interests. Approved electives run the gamut from Medicine and the Law to Deviance to Legal Issues in Sports. Other options include Introduction to Public Administration, Race and Racism, and Law of Mass Communication.

As a result of these and other studies, you’ll develop essential skills that prepare you for numerous jobs in the criminal justice field. Graduates of this program have gone on to work as probation officers, youth correctional officers, and CIA analysts. Other possibilities include working as a criminal investigator, a court clerk, or a criminological research scientist, among many others.

The application instructions for first-year students are as follows:

  • Have a high school diploma or its equivalent, including 14 academic units in the following areas:
    • 4 years of English
    • 4 years of math
    • 3 years of natural sciences (two of which must be lab sciences)
    • 3 years of social sciences
    • 2 years of foreign language (preferred, but not required)
  • Have a cumulative high school GPA of 2.5 or higher (though competitive applicants typically have a 3.7 GPA or above).
  • Submit high school transcripts.
  • Submit official ACT, SAT, or CLT scores.
  • Submit official transcripts from every college or university from which you’ve earned credit.

Florida International University

Online Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice

Florida International’s online Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice requires the completion of 120 credits to graduate. The curriculum prepares you for work in areas like private security, law enforcement, and corrections. You’ll explore core issues of policing, the legal system, and the U.S. correctional system while also gaining deep insights into crime, its causes, and its effects.

Likewise, you’ll study criminology, criminal justice policy, and constitutional issues. You’ll take courses that look at terrorism, digital crimes, and border safety issues, too. In fact, your learning extends well beyond this.

As noted earlier, general education requirements comprise a significant portion of this or any other undergraduate degree. The purpose of general education classes is to give you insights into the rich diversity of the world around you and acquire essential skills for being successful in college and beyond.

For example, you will learn crucial problem-solving and analytical skills in the required math courses for this degree. Moreover, you’ll learn how to communicate more effectively by taking required courses on English composition and oral communication. The remaining required and elective general courses add to your skills and your development as a well-prepared student.

You’ll supplement these and other general education classes with 18 credits of core coursework in criminal justice. One of the first classes you’ll take within the major is Introduction to Criminal Justice. This class explores the history of the criminal justice system in the U.S., as well as its organization and how it functions.

Another early major-area course you’ll take is Criminological Theory. This class analyzes and compares basic theories of crime. This includes a study of social influences on crime, individual psychological factors that lead some people to commit crimes, and economic factors, such as poverty, as well.

Other required courses include the following:

  • Research Methods and Analyses in Criminal Justice
  • Professional Development in Criminal Justice
  • Criminal Justice and the Constitution
  • Senior Capstone

Another 18 credits of criminal justice electives are also required. These six courses can be chosen from a laundry list of approved electives. If, for example, you’re most interested in juvenile criminal justice issues, you might take classes that explore topics like juvenile delinquency, juvenile justice, and juvenile corrections. Alternatively, if you’re interested in community applications of criminal justice, you might take classes on criminal justice administration, community organizing, and advocacy.

Many undergraduate students in this field go on to get a master’s degree. If you’re considering this, Florida International’s combined bachelor’s and master’s degree in criminal justice is worth your consideration. This program allows you to apply up to 12 credits – which is one semester’s worth of studies – toward both degrees. Doing so not only saves you time in getting two degrees, but it also saves you money.

Applying as a first-year student requires you to submit the following:

  • An online application.
  • A $30 application fee.
  • Official high school transcripts.
  • Official transcripts from every college or university from which you’ve earned credit.
  • Official SAT, ACT, or CLT scores.

If applying as an international student, you must also submit official English language test scores, such as IELTS or TOEFL.

University of West Florida

Online Master of Science in Criminal Justice

The Master of Science in Criminal Justice from the University of West Florida allows you to build on your undergraduate studies and explore advanced topics in this field. You can then use your advanced knowledge to pursue administrative-level careers in criminal justice or continue your studies in a doctoral program.

The curriculum focuses on building essential skills related to the following areas:

  • Criminological theory
  • Criminal justice research
  • Criminal justice administration and organization
  • Criminal justice operations and functions

To gain these skills, you’ll complete 30 credits, of which 12 are required core classes. The required classes include an examination of topics like Criminological Theory, Criminal Justice Theory, Research Methodology, and Analysis of Quantitative and Qualitative Data. You must also take at least one of the following classes: Policing and Society, Criminal Justice Administration, Penology, or Courts and Society.

Naturally, these classes have different focuses. For example, the Criminological Theory course looks at the origins of criminological theories and their applications in the modern world. You’ll explore empirical research on all major theories and examine each theory’s implications on the development of criminal justice policy.

The Criminal Justice Theory course, meanwhile, has a different focus. You’ll explore the theoretical perspectives of criminal justice that influence the decision-making processes in criminal justice organizations of all kinds, from courts to correctional facilities to law enforcement agencies.

As noted above, research and statistics are a central component of this degree. On the one hand, the Research Methodology class helps you gain skills related to criminal justice research, how to conduct effective research, and ethical issues. You’ll build on those skills in the Analysis of Quantitative and Qualitative Data course by understanding statistical theories, research designs, and programs like SPSS.

You can choose from two options to complete the core coursework for this degree. Option one is a criminal justice internship in which you gain real-world experience in criminal justice or criminology. You’ll have opportunities to participate in field experiences in which you observe workers in criminal justice settings carry out their daily tasks. You’ll also have opportunities to apply what you’ve learned in the classroom to address real-world issues in a supervised criminal justice setting.

Option two replaces the internship with a criminal justice research paper. This option requires you to analyze a criminal justice topic in great detail. This includes conducting a review of related literature, completing statistical analyses, and presenting your findings in a research proposal or an oral presentation.

Both options have further requirements, too. First, you must take two approved criminal justice-related electives to enhance your understanding of this field of study. And second, you must take three unrestricted electives, which can be in any graduate field you like.

Your eligibility for admission is dependent upon meeting the following requirements:

  • Have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
  • Have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher.
  • Submit official transcripts from every college or university you’ve attended.
  • Submit a resume or curriculum vitae.
  • Submit a personal statement in which you discuss your career goals and how this program will help you achieve those goals.
  • Submit one letter of recommendation.

Does the FBI Accept Criminal Justice Degrees?

The FBI does accept criminal justice degrees for many of its positions. However, while a degree in criminal justice can be a solid foundation for a career with the FBI, the agency values a diverse range of educational backgrounds and skills.

A bachelor’s degree is the minimum educational requirement for FBI agents. While criminal justice is a relevant field of study, the FBI also recruits candidates with degrees in other areas such as accounting, computer science, engineering, and foreign languages, among others.

The FBI places a strong emphasis on candidates who possess specialized skills and experience that are relevant to their various divisions. For instance, applicants with backgrounds in cybersecurity, forensic accounting, law, and international studies may have an advantage for certain roles.

Applicants often need at least two years of professional work experience, although this requirement can vary based on the level of education (e.g., candidates with advanced degrees might have different experience requirements).

Candidates must also meet other eligibility criteria, such as being a U.S. citizen, being between the ages of 23 and 36, having a valid driver’s license, and being able to pass a rigorous background check, physical fitness test, and drug test.

What is the Best Degree to Get for Criminal Justice?

Here are some degrees commonly pursued by those aiming for a career in criminal justice, along with their respective benefits:

Bachelor of Science (BS) in Criminal Justice

A BS in Criminal Justice focuses on the technical and scientific aspects of the field, providing a strong foundation in research methods, statistics, and the application of scientific principles to criminal justice. This degree is ideal for those interested in forensic science, criminal investigation, or law enforcement roles that require technical expertise.

Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Criminal Justice

A BA in Criminal Justice offers a broader liberal arts education, emphasizing social sciences and humanities. This degree is well-suited for those interested in policy analysis, community outreach, and administrative roles within the criminal justice system. It also provides a strong foundation for pursuing law school or graduate studies in criminology or public administration.

Bachelor of Science (BS) in Criminology

A BS in Criminology focuses on the theoretical and scientific study of crime and criminal behavior. This degree is ideal for those interested in research, academic careers, or roles in criminal profiling and crime analysis. Criminology programs often include coursework in sociology, psychology, and research methods, preparing students for analytical and research-oriented positions.

Bachelor of Science (BS) in Forensic Science

A BS in Forensic Science is tailored for those interested in the scientific analysis of crime scene evidence. This degree provides specialized training in biology, chemistry, and forensic techniques, preparing graduates for careers in crime laboratories, medical examiner’s offices, and investigative agencies.

Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Sociology or Psychology

Degrees in sociology or psychology can be beneficial for careers in criminal justice, particularly in roles that involve understanding human behavior and social dynamics. These degrees provide insights into the social and psychological factors that contribute to criminal behavior, making them valuable for roles in probation, parole, counseling, and social services.

Law Degree (JD)

For those aiming to become prosecutors, defense attorneys, or judges, a Juris Doctor (JD) degree is essential. Law school provides the necessary legal education and training to practice law within the criminal justice system. A background in criminal justice or criminology can be advantageous for aspiring legal professionals.

Master’s Degrees and Beyond

For advanced career opportunities, consider pursuing a master’s degree in criminal justice, criminology, forensic science, public administration, or a related field. Advanced degrees can lead to higher-level positions, specialized roles, and opportunities in academia and research.

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