Have you been dreaming of a career in law enforcement, social justice, corrections, rehabilitation, homeland security, or forensics? All of those and more are attainable with a bachelor's degree in a criminal justice and criminology field.
Although you may be able to quickly earn an online associate degree in criminal justice, with today's competitive job market, you'll need a four-year bachelor's degree to obtain a well-paying entry-level position.
Below, we provide an overview of the top nine online criminal justice degree programs in Pennsylvania.
Top Online Criminal Justice Programs in Pennsylvania
We list the top nine criminal justice programs in Pennsylvania below in alphabetical order.
1. California University of Pennsylvania
The Bachelor of Science in criminal justice curriculum focuses on the major functions and operations of the criminal justice field. California University of Pennsylvania (PennWest California) offers six concentrations:
- cyber forensics
- forensic investigation
- general criminal justice
- homeland and international security
- law and justice
- criminology
This university also offers an accelerated bachelor's-to-master's degree option, which enables students to earn a Master of Arts in applied criminology while also working towards a Bachelor of Science in criminal justice.
2. Cedar Crest College
As a women's college that also educates nontraditional adult learners, Cedar Crest College offers an online, behavioral-based Bachelor of Science in criminal justice program with an emphasis on crime prevention.
CJ majors can choose to focus on ethical leadership, criminal behavior and deviance, or juvenile studies. They can also double-major or minor in forensic science, pre-law, or psychology.
The college is committed to increasing the number of well-trained women in the ranks of criminal justice experts. The curriculum includes multiple field experiences culminating in a 220-hour senior internship experience.
3. Central Penn College
At Central Penn College, students may earn an online or hybrid Bachelor of Science in criminal justice administration degree.
The broad-based program offers an interesting mix of coursework:
- juvenile justice: alternatives to incarceration
- cyber investigations
- societal changes in victimology
- investigative report writing
- principles of management
- criminal law
4. Drexel University
Students can gain great credentials by earning an online Bachelor of Science in criminology and justice studies from Drexel University, a globally renowned research university.
Drexel's criminal justice program is an interdisciplinary program that offers a broad-based academic foundation to prepare students for graduate study or for professional careers in law enforcement, corrections, and the judiciary.
The curriculum includes not only history and theory but also innovative computer-based skills, technological expertise, and biochemical/biotechnological knowledge.
5. Pennsylvania State University
Pennsylvania State University's global online campus offers students a Bachelor of Science in criminal justice program with an optional 18-credit homeland security minor.
Since the fully online program has been designed for working adults, students can complete it part time or full time.
The program's distinguished faculty members have special training and experience teaching in both on-campus and online environments and maintain the same caliber of academic quality in both modes of teaching.
The university offers up to 16.5 academic credits toward a criminal justice degree to students with state or municipal police training, deputy sheriff training, Act 120 certification, or Act 2 certification. Military Grant-in-Aid is also available.
6. St. Francis University
The online Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice at St. Francis University is a 128-credit baccalaureate degree-completion program.
Its goal is to prepare graduates for careers or future advanced graduate study in the domains of law enforcement and security, courts, and corrections.
The private school is rooted in Franciscan values, as reflected in the following courses:
- CJ 215 - dilemmas, morality, and professional responsibility in criminal justice
- SOC 402 - cultural diversity
Because St. Francis emphasizes these values, the university reveals its respect and care for the individual as well as social justice, equality, and diversity.
7. Seton Hill University
This liberal arts university offers an online Bachelor of Arts degree in criminal justice that focuses on justice and rehabilitation.
Students get first-hand experience using forensic science in investigations in Seton Hill's Crime Scene House and participate in semester-long community projects and field internships.
Students have the unique opportunity to earn their Bachelor of Arts degree in criminal justice at the same time they earn their Master of Business Administration, completing both online degree programs in only five years.
8. Shippensburg University
Students can earn an online Bachelor of Science in criminal justice or a Master of Science degree in either criminal justice or administration of juvenile justice at Shippensburg University.
Certified by the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences, Shippensburg's online criminal justice degree program options include victim services and victimology certificate programs.
9. Strayer University
Strayer University's online Bachelor of Science in criminal justice provides students with a choice of specialization in computer security and forensics, criminal justice administration, or homeland security technology.
The curriculum emphasizes forensics, criminal behavioral analysis, and crime mapping, among other technical topics, to prepare students for professional careers.
FAQs about Pennsylvania Criminal Justice Degree Programs
Keep reading to find some of the most commonly asked questions about criminal justice programs in Pennsylvania.
Is an Online Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice Worth It?
At any reputable, accredited university program, you will find that an online degree program provides you with the same academic integrity and rigor—and ultimately, learning—that you could get through on-campus programs.
Of course, taking online courses requires a degree of self-discipline and a commitment to learning.
It's an ideal option for working adults or those with family obligations who are unable to attend on-campus programs or who need the flexibility that online coursework offers.
Is a Degree in Criminal Justice Hard?
A criminal justice degree requires the same commitment to your academic work as any other degree.
How much you learn really depends upon how well you take advantage of the opportunities that the faculty and program offer you. The harder you choose to work, the more you will gain from your degree program.
Do Criminal Justice Majors Have to Take Calculus?
Most universities have a math requirement in their general education program, but it rarely requires calculus.
Start Your Criminal Justice Degree Program in Pennsylvania
Would you like help finding out more about online criminal justice programs in Pennsylvania? Be sure to reach out to our team at Best Accredited Colleges as your best one-stop resource for college and university information.
