A bachelor's degree in criminal justice can lead students to many career paths including working as police officers, special agents, parole officers, and more.
If you're considering an online criminal justice degree program in Washington, keep reading to learn about some of the best and most convenient programs available to you.
Top Online Criminal Justice Programs in Washington
First, let's take a look at the top online criminal justice programs in Washington.
1. Washington State University
Students can earn their online bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Washington State University. This program prepares students for careers in local, state, federal, and private law enforcement.
While pursuing their degree, students will learn about the individuals, institutions, and systems involved in the criminal justice process.
Courses in the criminal justice program also focus on social sciences including sociology, psychology, and political science.
Criminal justice students will have career opportunities in:
- crime analysis
- community corrections
- victim advocacy
- cyber-crime prevention
Classes that students can take in the program include:
- research methods for criminal justice
- criminal law
- realizing justice in a multicultural society
- comparative criminal justice systems
Tuition at Washington State University costs $554.05 per credit hour.
2. University of Washington, Tacoma
Students in Washington can earn their online criminal justice degree through the University of Washington in Tacoma.
This criminal justice program focuses on five core areas:
- administration of justice
- corrections
- criminological theory
- law adjudication
- research and theoretical methods
Criminal justice students may take the following classes as part of their program:
- media, crime, and justice
- criminal justice and the war on drugs
- introduction to the sociology of deviance and social control
- women in the criminal justice system
- crisis and trauma interventions with crime victims.
Students must complete 180 credit hours to earn their degree.
3. City University of Seattle
The City University of Seattle offers an online Bachelor of Science in criminal justice.
Students will learn about the complex issues facing the criminal justice system and ethical decision-making analysis.
This program also gives students the option to focus their degree on justice administration.
Students that choose the justice administration focus will gain knowledge and skills in public sector justice administration policy and operations.
Classes in the criminal justice program include:
- criminal procedural law
- justice and ethics
- criminal investigations
- globalization and crime
- applied criminology and crime prevention
Other Colleges with Online Criminal Justice Programs
Apart from the three colleges located in Washington discussed above, students who are ready to pursue a bachelor's degree in criminal justice can also enroll in the following two colleges from out of state.
University of Phoenix
Students in Washington can earn an online bachelor's degree in criminal justice administration from the University of Phoenix.
This program is designed to prepare students for administrative work in law enforcement, criminal courts, and corrections.
Students will also analyze criminal justice procedures and create solutions for problems within the justice system.
Criminal justice students in this program develop skills in communication, problem solving, research, and operations.
The University of Phoenix offers one course at a time, with each course lasting five weeks.
Classes in this program include:
- juvenile justice systems and processes
- diversity in criminal justice
- theories of criminology and victimology
- interagency communication
Tuition at the University of Phoenix costs $398 per credit hour.
Strayer University
Students in Washington can earn their online degree in criminal justice from Strayer University.
During this program, students will learn forensics, behavioral analysis, and crime mapping.
There are five areas of concentration for the criminal justice degree program:
- computer forensics
- crime and criminal behavior
- crime justice administration
- homeland security and emergency management
- probation and parole
These concentrations will allow students to tailor their degree more closely to the career path they want to pursue.
This program consists of 40 11-week courses. Depending on how many courses students take at a time, they can earn their degree at an accelerated rate.
Each course at Strayer University costs $1,525.
FAQs about Washington Criminal Justice Degree Programs
Are you considering earning your online criminal justice degree in Washington? Explore the answers to frequently asked questions about these online programs.
What Courses Will I Take in an Online Bachelor in Criminal Justice Program?
The exact courses you take in your online degree program will vary from school to school, but here are some topics most criminal justice majors can expect to learn about:
- criminology
- forensics
- investigating/interviewing
- criminal law
- criminal procedures
- juvenile justice
What Job Makes the Most Money with a Criminal Justice Degree?
According to Indeed.com, some of the highest paying jobs in the criminal justice field are:
- criminal investigator
- forensic specialist
- law clerk
- police chief
What Is the Difference Between Criminal Justice and Criminology?
Criminal justice focuses on the study of procedures and systems, while criminology examines the motivations and behaviors of criminal offenders.
Start Your Criminal Justice Degree Program in Washington
Earning your online degree in criminal justice allows you to develop highly sought after skills and prepare for many career paths.
Reach out to Best Accredited Colleges today to learn more about online criminal justice programs in Washington to suit your lifestyle and career goals.
