With an increasing need to fill law enforcement positions, universities in Maine have developed several significant online degree programs in criminal justice. This article shares information about the top online criminal justice programs in Maine.
Police and detectives have daily roles that can be dangerous as well as stressful and physically rigorous, resulting in high rates of illness and injuries.
Although not all criminal justice degree–holders go into front–line law enforcement, it is one of the many careers that those who study criminal justice can enter.
Below, we share information about the state of online criminal justice programs in Maine.
Top Online Criminal Justice Programs in Maine
A state with a scattered population, there are only three online criminal justice programs in Maine. Two are at private colleges and universities and one is at a public university.
1. Husson University
Husson University in Bangor, ME, offers an online program enabling students to earn a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice (BSCJ), as well as a degree completion option.
In addition, students interested in criminal justice careers can follow Husson's accelerated dual pathway to earn both their Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in Criminal Justice in only five years, from start to finish.
Husson University is very welcoming of transfer students or those who have previously earned associate degrees.
Up to 90 credits of the 120–credit degree program may be transferred in, which could shorten and accelerate your degree length.
Husson undergraduates can enhance their criminal justice degrees by incorporating certificate programs in fields such as counterterrorism and security or diversity, equality, and Inclusion.
Students in online degree programs at Husson receive valuable and personalized support services at many levels, from academic support and 24/7 tutoring to advising, career services, and mental health services.
2. St. Joseph's College of Maine
Although it's a bit hard to find through a search engine, the criminal justice degree that you can earn online at St. Joseph's College of Maine, a private school in Standish, is listed under Social Science + Humanities on the Online Degrees page.
The degree program is a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies (IDS) with your choice of a criminal justice minor as your field of concentration.
The philosophy of studying in an Interdisciplinary studies program is the ability to learn across a range of disciplines.
The IDS degree also has related minors in human services or social service professions that are compatible with criminal justice and may be bundled together in a student's customized degree program.
The core criminal justice courses in the program include:
- Principles of Sociology
- Introduction to Criminal Justice
- Introduction to Corrections
- Critical Issues in Policing
- Critical Issues in Criminal Justice
- Law & Society
- Victimology
3. University of Maine at Augusta
The University of Maine at Augusta (UMA) has two online bachelor's programs that serve the needs of students interested in a criminal justice career.
The online Bachelor of Science in Justice Studies has two optional concentrations:
- criminal justice concentration
- pre–law concentration
UMA also provides an 18-credit Post-Baccalaureate Studies (PBS) second-degree program in justice studies for those who already have a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
In addition, undergrads can earn minors and certificates to further enhance their degrees:
Minors include Advocacy, Cyber Forensics, Fraud Examination, and Justice Studies.
Certificates are available in fields such as:
- advanced criminal justice management
- community corrections
- community policing
- crime analysis & GIS
- cyber forensics
- digital forensics
- forensic science (investigative and scientific focus areas)
- fraud examination
- mediation
- paralegal studies
Second, in a separate department, students can earn an online Bachelor of Science in Public Administration degree through a completion program built upon an associate degree in criminal justice or justice studies.
Students with a prior bachelor's degree in an unrelated field can work toward a second BS, in public administration, with only 30 hours of coursework.
This degree is popular for those seeking a career in public safety or public service leadership, which includes many of the same careers as those majoring in criminal justice.
FAQs about Criminal Justice Programs in Maine
Continue reading to find answers to the most commonly asked questions about criminal justice programs in Maine.
What Jobs Can I Get in Maine With a Criminal Justice Bachelor's Degree?
Traditional law enforcement jobs with local police forces and sheriff's departments are popular careers for criminal justice graduates, but Maine also has some special career niches to offer.
At the federal government level, Maine residents often seek jobs with agencies like the U.S. Border Patrol, Homeland Security, Customs and Immigration, or as Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents at airports.
Criminal justice graduates also fill important positions in correctional centers and institutions, the state highway patrol, probation and parole, private security, drug rehab programs, victim assistance programs, or insurance companies in loss prevention.
Why Should I Get an Online Criminal Justice Degree?
Graduating from an online criminal justice program in Maine will most certainly assure you the credentials to start a career in any of the professions listed above, plus many more.
The advantages of an online degree, depending on your personal and family situation, can be its flexibility and accessibility.
What Courses Will I Take in an Online Bachelor in Criminal Justice Program in Maine?
You'll find a variation in the curricula of the various programs, but some basic courses you may see include police operations, history of corrections, court and justice systems, criminal punishments, or criminal justice management.
Other courses might include juvenile justice, crime and delinquency, forensic science, race and ethnicity, criminology theory, criminal investigations, fire and explosives investigation, ethics, and criminal law.
Start Your Criminal Justice Program in Maine
Our team at Best Accredited Colleges is here to help you find the degree programs you're looking for, whether you're searching for online criminal justice programs in Maine or in another state. Reach out to us today!
