Study Criminal Justice in Ohio

One of the most important characteristics of a criminal justice degree is that it can lead to employment in many different areas. Use a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice to become a correctional officer or police officer. Likewise, you can use an undergraduate degree to work in law firms, probation and parole offices, or as a victim advocate.

With a master’s degree in this field, your career options are even broader. You might work in criminology, as a university professor, or in criminal justice research. Whatever the case, getting your degree online makes your career dreams a possibility – and with the convenience of learning from home.

This guide explores some of the popular bachelor’s and master’s degree currently available online for Ohio residents. Explore each one, and see which of these popular programs best fits your needs!

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

Online Criminal Justice Degrees in Ohio

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

  • Ohio University
  • University of Akron
  • University of Cincinnati
  • Bowling Green State University
  • Drexel University
  • Shawnee State University
  • Southern New Hampshire University
  • Grand Canyon University
  • UMass Global
  • Walden University

Ohio University

Online Bachelor of Arts in Sociology-Criminology

Ohio University’s online Bachelor of Arts in Sociology-Criminology examines the social influences on crime and criminal behavior and also explores traditional components of the criminal justice system, such as policing, the courts, and the correctional system. The program is specifically designed for transfer students, in particular, those who have already completed an applied associate’s degree in criminal justice, human services, law enforcement, or another related field.

You must complete 120 credits to graduate from an undergraduate program at Ohio University. Since the program is designed for students with an associate’s degree, you’ll need around 60 credits to finish the bachelor’s program.

An associate’s degree typically covers general education requirements and basic coursework in your selected major. As such, the courses you must complete for this degree are mostly upper-division major-area classes.

For example, you’ll take courses like Development of Sociological Theory, Elementary Research Techniques, and a Sociology Statistics class, each of which helps you develop an understanding of the research aspect of studying crime. Additionally, you’ll take criminology-focused classes.

Two core criminology courses are required: Criminal Justice and Criminology. The Criminal Justice course examines the agencies that deal with crime, including law enforcement, the judicial system, and the correctional system. You’ll learn about the decision-making processes of administrative officials, explore how people are apprehended and tried for crimes, and analyze the victim’s experience, too.

The Criminology class, meanwhile, offers an exploration of the theories that attempt to explain criminal behavior. You’ll discuss the relationship between society and crime, deviance, and the distribution of crime. You’ll also learn how researchers examine crime based on multiple factors, like culture, politics, and economics, to name a few.

You must also take three or more criminology electives. These classes focus on many different specific areas of criminal justice, such as:

  • Crim and Media
  • Social Justice
  • Punishment and Society
  • Contemporary Social Problems
  • Ethics in Law, Crime, and Justice

Moreover, you might select courses that take a look at issues related to Human trafficking, the Sociology of Mental Illness, or Deviant Behavior. With more than two dozen approved electives available, you can tailor your learning to suit your career goals and areas of interest.

The final component of this program is a sociology capstone experience. The capstone requires you to synthesize what you’ve learned throughout the program and integrate that knowledge with the techniques you’ve studied to undertake a sociological research project. You’ll review literature, examine data, and participate in a peer review of your project prior to presenting it in a professional manner.

The capstone also serves as a means of learning more about sociology and criminology. You’ll learn about different areas of study and research, improve your communication and writing skills, and acquire a better understanding of the nature of crime and how social influences impact the criminal justice system.

You must meet the following criteria to qualify for admission:

  • Have an associate’s degree in criminal justice or a related area from a regionally accredited institution.
  • Have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.0 or higher.
  • Submit official transcripts from every college or university you’ve attended.

University of Akron

Online Bachelor of Science in Criminology and Criminal Justice

The Bachelor of Science in Criminology and Criminal Justice from the University of Akron requires you to complete at least 120 credits of coursework to graduate. For most students, this means taking 15-18 credits each spring and fall semester for four years. However, taking courses in the summers can help reduce your time to graduation by a semester or even a full year.

As is typical of most undergraduate programs, you’re required to complete general education coursework as well as classes within your major. The general education component includes classes in traditional liberal arts fields, such as the humanities, natural sciences, and math. You must also take courses in art, history, and English. The University of Akron also requires you to take elective courses from other undergraduate fields, so you have a well-rounded education. In all, you’ll complete 36 general education credits plus six credits of foreign culture studies.

The major-area courses begin with core requirements in criminal justice. These classes are very broad, introductory studies of areas like government and politics, criminal law, police studies, and corrections. You’ll also take classes on criminal justice and sociology.

From there, you must complete a sequence of foundational courses. These classes focus on more specific criminal justice topics, such as:

  • Political Research and Social Research Design
  • Politics of the Criminal Justice System
  • Social inequalities
  • Criminology
  • Advanced Research Methods

This program offers four different concentrations, of which you must pick one. The first option is a Policing Concentration which requires you to take classes on Policing Administration and Management, Foundations of Crime Analysis, and Policing Theory and Strategy. You’re required to take three approved criminal justice-related electives, too.

The Courts and Law Concentration gives you wide latitude for completing nine concentration credits and another nine elective credits. In fact, you can choose three of six possible required classes:

  • Law and Society -or- Sociology of Law
  • The Judicial Process -or- Criminal Procedure
  • Theory of Criminal Law -or- Evidence Law

If you wish to work in the prison system, the Corrections Concentration is the best fit. This specialization requires you to take coursework in Juvenile Delinquency, Drugs in Society, and one of the following: Theories and Practices of Correctional Systems or Administering Prisons, Probation, and Parole.

The final specialization offering is the Criminology Concentration. This concentration requires you to take two required courses and 12 credits of electives. The required courses include Sociology of Deviant Behavior and either the Sociology of Law or Law and Society.

This program is taught by experienced practitioners with real-world experience. The program has been in existence for more than 50 years, and has established itself as one of the top criminal justice programs in the state. Part of the reason why this program is so highly regarded is its practitioner-friendly design – you’ll get technical experience, study theories and techniques of criminal justice, and get hands-on experience as well.

You can apply to the University of Akron online at any time. The following requirements must be met to apply:

  • Have a high school diploma or its equivalent.
  • Submit official high school transcripts or equivalency scores.
  • Submit official transcripts from every college or university you’ve attended.
  • Submit official ACT or SAT scores (though this is optional).

University of Cincinnati

Online Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice

At the University of Cincinnati, you can work towards a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice in a completely online format. The 120-credit program offers multiple start dates throughout the year to increase its flexibility. The University also seeks to make the program more affordable by offering numerous scholarships and fee waivers to qualified students.

This program offers a comprehensive study of the criminal justice system. You’ll learn about criminology, criminal justice policies, and how American society has changed many aspects of the criminal justice system over the years. These and other skills are necessary for pursuing jobs in this field, which are widely varied.

For example, completing this program prepares you for entry-level positions in law enforcement, private security, and social advocacy, to name a few. You might also use this program as a stepping stone to an advanced degree, like a Master’s in Criminal Justice or a law degree.

As a student in this program, you’ll take a range of classes in criminal justice and other fields. As discussed earlier, the bulk of your first two years of studies will be in general education areas like quantitative reasoning, communications, natural sciences, and social sciences. You’re also required to take courses in Social and Ethical Issues, Humanities and Literature, and Diversity and Culture, to name but a few.

The criminal justice requirements come in three different areas: required courses, a focus area or minor, and electives. The required courses form the foundation of your understanding of criminal justice. These courses are mostly upper-division and examine highly specific topics. For example, you’ll take classes in Criminal Procedure, Policing in America, and Corrections in America.

Likewise, this major requires you to complete classes in research-focused concentrations, like Criminal Justice Research Methods and Criminal Justice Statistics. You’ll take a separate class in Preparing for Career Success, too. Additionally, a field placement experience is required. This experience puts you in a legal, correctional, or law enforcement setting where you get a first-hand look at how you can apply what you’ve learned to address problems in the criminal justice system.

The focus area or minor requirement includes six classes in your choice of academic field. On the one hand, you might focus on a related area of study, like sociology, human services, or psychology. On the other hand, you might broaden your horizons by minoring in another field, like communications, public administration, or public policy.

The final part of this degree is criminal justice electives. In all, you must complete at least 30 credits of approved electives. You can choose from a long list of courses, including the following:

  • Crime Prevention
  • Victimology
  • Psychology of Criminal Behavior
  • Computer Criminology: Cybercrime and Digital Security
  • Introduction to Loss Prevention and Corporate Security

With this degree, you can pursue a career as a security manager, a patrol officer, or a criminal investigator. You might also work in municipal courts, correctional facilities, or as a fraud examiner.

The admissions requirements are as follows:

  • First-year applicants must have a high school diploma and a cumulative high school GPA of 2.7 or higher.
  • First-year applicants must submit official high school transcripts.
  • Transfer applicants must have at least 24 college credits with a 2.0 cumulative college GPA.
  • Transfer students must submit official transcripts from every college or university attended.

Bowling Green State University

Online Master of Science in Criminal Justice

If you already have a bachelor’s degree and want to enhance your education and skills with a graduate program, the Master of Science in Criminal Justice from Bowling Green State University is an option worth exploring.

Not only is this program entirely online, but it’s also short – it takes just 18 months to complete the curriculum and graduate with your master’s degree. The flexibility of the program is enhanced with six start dates each year. Classes are accelerated, too. At just seven weeks long, you can quickly work through the material and move on to a different class.

The curriculum is rooted in studies of criminal justice theory, research, and hands-on learning. Your courses not only give you insights into the historical roots of the U.S. criminal justice system, but it also allows you to explore modern questions and problems and examine ways to make the criminal justice system function better for all.

The program’s coursework is divided into three categories: required courses, electives, and a culminating experience. The required courses offer a broad foundation of learning in critical areas of this field. For example, you’ll take a class entitled “Criminal Justice Processes and Institutions” that familiarizes you with the components of justice, from arrest and arraignment to trial and sentencing to corrections and rehabilitation.

You’ll also take a course on the Nature of Crime, which examines why crime occurs. You’ll explore criminological, sociological, and psychological factors that lead to crime and discuss ways that criminal justice professionals attempt to minimize the occurrence of crime. Other required courses include the following:

  • Research Methods in Criminal Justice
  • Data Analysis and Interpretation in Criminal Justice
  • Criminal Justice Policy Analysis
  • Seminar in Criminal Justice Ethics

The next part of the program is a sequence of 12 elective credits. You are given the freedom of choosing whatever four criminal justice or forensics elective courses you wish to take from a list of approved options. You can choose from nearly 30 different classes, each of which focuses on a broad spectrum of specialized studies.

For example, let’s say you’re interested in learning more about the legal system. That being the case, you might take courses such as Seminar in Criminal Justice Legal Issues, Seminar in Court Administration, and Forensic Science and the Law. Or, perhaps, you wish to study specific types of crimes in more detail. In that case, you might take classes like Crim Analysis, Exploitation Crime, and Organize Crime and Criminal Networks.

The options don’t stop there, though. You can focus your studies on online crimes by taking classes like Cybercrime and Digital Forensics. You can also focus on crime investigation by taking classes such as Cold Case Investigation, Workshop in Criminal Justice, and Criminalistics.

You’re required to complete a culminating experience as well. You have the choice of three options:

  • A thesis, which requires thorough research, a well-developed paper, and an oral defense of your work.
  • A comprehensive examination, which requires you to earn a passing score on a test of your knowledge of key criminal justice topics.
  • A portfolio, which requires you to develop a collection of work that demonstrates your competency in key criminal justice topics.

To qualify for admission, ensure you meet the following requirements:

  • Have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
  • Submit official transcripts from every college or university you’ve attended.
  • Submit two letters of recommendation.
  • Submit a resume.
  • Provide a statement of purpose in which you outline your interests in this field, your future goals, and your expectations of the program.

Drexel University

Online Bachelor of Science in Criminology and Justice Studies

Drexel University is physically not located in Ohio, however, its online programs are accessible to you from anywhere in the US. The Bachelor of Science in Criminology and Justice Studies program is 100% online. This program is exclusively available on a part-time basis, meaning you’ll need five or more years to complete your studies.

One noteworthy aspect of this program is its broad focus. Unlike many criminal justice programs that mainly cover police sciences, this one expands your studies into criminology, criminal justice administration, the history of criminal justice, and criminal justice policy. Your coursework will also include various other fields, such as:

  • Sociology
  • Psychology
  • Legal Studies
  • Political Science
  • Information Science and Computer Technology
  • Bioscience and Biotechnology

The degree requirements consist of courses in six areas, starting with basic university requirements. Drexel requires you to take classes in English Composition, Career Management, and Civic Engagement to fulfill this part of the curriculum.

Next, you’ll proceed to the core curriculum for the College of Arts and Sciences. This includes general education requirements, where you’ll take classes in math, philosophy, natural science, diversity, and human behavior, among others.

The criminal justice core requirements focus mainly on lower-division studies. You’ll take foundational courses like Introduction to Criminal Justice, Criminology, and Crime and the City. These are complemented by upper-division courses in Crime and Public Policy, Comparative Justice Systems, and Sentencing.

This program also requires you to complete a Methods and Analytics sequence that emphasizes criminal justice research. For example, you’ll take a three-part course on Research Methods and Analytics, covering topics like criminal justice research design, sampling, units of measurement, and observation methods.

Additionally, you’ll take a two-part course in Crime Mapping Using Geographic Information Systems, where you’ll explore place-based theories of criminology to understand why crime events often occur in specific time and place clusters. These classes involve analyzing and interpreting geospatial data to create maps illustrating these criminological theories.

A five-course thematic sequence is also required, focusing on specific applications of criminal justice, such as:

  • Police and Society
  • Crime Prevention Planning
  • Introduction to Computer Crime
  • Communities and Crime
  • Juvenile Justice

The final 70 quarter credits in this program are electives. You must complete at least 24 criminal justice elective credits and 46 free elective credits, which can be chosen from any undergraduate field of study.

By completing this degree program, you’ll gain the knowledge and skills necessary for entry-level careers in criminal justice, such as a law enforcement or corrections officer. You’ll also have a strong educational foundation for pursuing advanced degrees, such as a master’s in criminal justice. Many pre-law students use criminal justice degrees to prepare for law school.

To apply for admission to Drexel University, you must meet the following requirements:

  • Have a high school diploma or GED.
  • Submit official high school or GED transcripts.
  • Submit official transcripts from every college or university you’ve attended.
  • Submit a personal essay discussing who you are, your goals, and how studying at Drexel can help you achieve those goals.

What are the Career Opportunities for Criminal Justice Graduates in Ohio?

As a criminal justice graduate in Ohio, you’ll find numerous career opportunities suited to your education and skills. The state offers various roles across different sectors, allowing you to apply your knowledge effectively and make a meaningful impact.

In law enforcement, you can pursue a career as a police officer or detective in cities like Cleveland, Columbus, or Cincinnati. These roles involve maintaining public safety, investigating crimes, and building relationships within the community to address local security concerns. Additionally, you can consider working with the Ohio State Highway Patrol, which focuses on traffic enforcement and statewide law enforcement duties.

The corrections sector in Ohio provides roles such as correctional officer or probation officer, where you’ll manage individuals in correctional facilities or those on probation. The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction is a significant employer in this field, offering various opportunities for career advancement and specialization.

Legal services in Ohio present another pathway. Positions as paralegals or legal assistants are available in law firms, corporate legal departments, and government agencies. These roles involve supporting attorneys by conducting legal research, preparing documents, and organizing case files. Furthermore, the Ohio court system, including the Ohio Supreme Court and various county courts, offers positions like court clerks or bailiffs, assisting in the administration of justice.

Social services offer career options as well, with roles such as social worker or case manager. In these positions, you’ll help individuals and families navigate the criminal justice system, providing essential support and resources to those affected by crime.

The private sector in Ohio also offers opportunities in private security and loss prevention, especially in commercial centers and large retail operations. Here, you can work to protect assets and ensure the safety of employees and customers.

Moreover, Ohio provides pathways into federal law enforcement agencies, such as the FBI, DEA, and Homeland Security, where additional education and training can lead to specialized careers in national security and criminal investigations.

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