Criminal Justice Degrees

Why Earn a Degree in Criminal Justice?

Prepare yourself for an exciting and rewarding career in criminal justice with one of Saint Leo University’s undergraduate or graduate degrees. We offer several of these degree programs at our beautiful University Campus in Florida. Taught by faculty members who have worked in the field, students will learn the ins and outs of crime prevention and leading-edge strategies to keep citizens and communities safe in today’s ever-evolving society.

Plus, you can earn a criminal justice degree at one of our Education Centers located throughout Florida and Georgia or through our convenient online coursework. Having this option opens the door to far more opportunities for working professionals and those with family obligations.

What is a Criminal Justice Degree?

A criminal justice degree program teaches students the best ways to help communities become safer places to live. You’ll learn the fundamentals of law enforcement, including investigation procedures and the court system, in classes such as criminal justice ethics, criminal procedure and intro to homeland defense.

At Saint Leo, you’ll learn the latest techniques from faculty members who've served more than 25 years as crime scene investigators, local and federal agents, chief deputies, detectives and FBI advisers. Saint Leo’s online professors are leading experts on all the skills you need to get your foot in the door: interrogation, non-verbal communication, hostage negotiation, and international sex and organ trafficking. We are an approved educational partner by the FBI National Academy Associates.

Criminal justice degree graduates pursue entry-level positions in law enforcement agencies, correctional facilities, government agencies, private security companies and other security-related jobs in the private and public sectors. Depending on the type of criminal justice degree and specification you choose, you could have any of the following jobs and more:

• Corrections officer
• Police officer
• Security guard
• Coast Guard officer
• Bailiff
• State trooper
• Paralegal
• Victim witness assistant
• Probation officer
• Crime lab analyst
• Crime scene investigator
• Forensic engineer
• Medical examiner
• Criminalist
• Forensic documents examiner
• Forensic toxicologist
• Digital forensic examiner

What Type of Degree is Criminal Justice?

A criminal justice degree is a Bachelor of Arts degree as opposed to a Bachelor of Science degree. At Saint Leo University, we offer a criminal justice degree at the undergraduate level as a BA. We also offer an associate program and a master’s program in criminal justice.

How to Earn a Criminal Justice Degree?

Earning a criminal justice degree can be accomplished in a variety of ways. Those include both through the traditional campus setting, at a regionally based education center, or through our online program. Regardless of which way you choose to earn your degree, they are all valued the same way. There is no difference between a criminal justice degree that is earned on campus or a degree earned online, for example.

Examples of Criminal Justice Courses

Each criminal justice degree specialization is different based on the specific area of study. Similarly, the associate and master’s programs are different than the Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice. But as an example, some of the degree programs that the BA in criminal justice at Saint Leo University includes are as follows.

• Introduction to Law and the Legal System
• Survey of the Criminal Justice System
• Substantive Criminal Law
• Law of Criminal Procedure
• Criminal Justice Ethics
• Police Organization and Administration
• Theories of Criminal Behavior