Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice Administration

In a nation that faces many complex challenges, from human trafficking and cybercrime to gang violence and the drug epidemic, criminal justice practitioners need to be equipped with specialized intelligence and skills to fight 21st century crime and ensure that justice is served. Â鶹ÊÓƵ’s online Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice Administration prepares students with the education required to enter careers in enforcement, investigation, social services, law, victim services and other related professions.
 

Taught by professionals in Criminal Justice careers and professors with backgrounds in areas including law, law enforcement, the Courts, security, the FBI, and research, the program at Alvernia offers current practices and timely information to its students.


Interpersonal skills as well as managerial and administrative subject matter prepare students for positions of responsibility and leadership within the criminal justice community and related professions. Students can specialize in areas such as police officers, probation and parole officers, corrections officers, security specialists, victim services, pretrial counselors, and other rehabilitative programs.


This program is also available in a hybrid format with courses primarily offered fully online and some evening courses via Zoom or on campus.

 

Estimated Program Length2-4 years
Credit Hours123
Course Length7 weeks
Transfer Credits Accepted75
Cost per Credit$650*


*Tuition discount available. Ask for details!

In This Section
Online Programs

Getting Started

Application Instructions

For admission into Alvernia’s online Criminal Justice Administration degree, you must have a 2.0 GPA or higher. To apply:

  • Speak to an enrollment counselor
  • Complete an application
  • Provide evidence of high school completion/graduation. Documentation may include high school transcript, diploma, GED scores, or equivalent.*
  • Submit official transcripts of all previous college work (if applicable)
  • Submit a copy of from military (if applicable)
  • Submit police academy transcripts plus confirmation if currently a police officer


*This requirement may be waived if an official college transcript is provided to validate completion of 15 credits or more from an accredited school.

Financing Your Education

There are options to assist in financing your education and making the tuition affordable. Visit our Student Financial Services page for a detailed overview of the process, including a link to complete the FAFSA application, as well as more information about tuition, the tuition payment plan and the tuition deferment program we offer. Alvernia’s Title IV code for the FAFSA is 003233. The Office of Student Financial Services is available to help with any questions you may have. Call 610-796-8201 or email sfs@alvernia.edu.

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Online Learners
Online Learning Benefits
• A nationally ranked comprehensive regional university, Alvernia offers a growing number of online programs to advance your career or prepare you for a new one.
• Online learning with Alvernia offers a high-quality education at an affordable price, with the flexibility to study at your own pace.
• Alvernia's rolling admissions policy allows you to apply at any time. The university continually accepts and reviews applications to fit your schedule, with many programs offering starts throughout the year.
• As an Alvernia online student, you’ll have access to an array of resources including our online bookstore, online library and our Office of Career Development.


Program Overview

Topics of Study

With an interdisciplinary design, our online criminal justice degree will provide you with a strong foundation in the fundamentals of criminal justice.

  • Interrelationships of various parts of the criminal justice system
  • Classical and contemporary theories of crime
  • Roles of gender and race in the criminal justice system
  • Aspects of the correctional field, including incarceration, correctional counseling, practices, theories and specialized programs
  • Due process of law and judicial procedure
  • Juvenile delinquency and its history, philosophy and evaluation, as well as prevention and intervention programs and techniques
  • Honesty, integrity and ethical behavior in criminal justice careers
  • Contemporary issues in the criminal justice system
  • Crisis management and how it affects law enforcement officials and the criminal justice system

Our program also requires completion of a practicum course, in which you will gain relevant, hands-on experience through an internship on the local, state or federal level at a criminal justice, private corporate security or service agency.

Curriculum: Liberal Arts Core/General Electives Requirements

The online criminal justice degree is made up of a total of 123 credits. The Liberal Arts Core makes up 31 to 55 of the program’s credits, and the major requires 48 credits, including an elective course in criminal justice.


Liberal Arts Core (31-55 credits)

  • All Â鶹ÊÓƵ students are required to complete between 31-55 credits toward the Liberal Arts Core. Transfer work may be applicable for this area. As part of the application process, students receive specific information regarding remaining credits. Students entering the program with 70 or more transfer credits or an associate degree must complete 31-55 Liberal Arts Core credit hours.


General Elective Requirements (as needed)

  • A total of 123 credits, including three credits in a human diversity course, are required to earn a bachelor’s degree. To adhere to Franciscan values, community service hours are also required.
Curriculum: Major Requirements

Core Requirements (48 credits)

  • CJ 101: Introduction to Criminal Justice (3 credits)
  • CJ 102: Criminology (3 credits)
  • CJ 201: Criminal Law (3 credits)
  • CJ 217: Gender, Race and Crime (3 credits)
  • CJ 220: Writing for the Criminal Justice Professional (3 credits)
  • CJ 221: Research Methods I for Criminal Justice (3 credits)
  • CJ 273: Corrections, Probation and Parole (3 credits)
  • CJ 302: Judicial Process and Procedures (3 credits)
  • CJ 350: Professional Seminar in Criminal Justice (3 credits)
  • CJ 377: Juvenile Justice System (3 credits)
  • CJ 379: Ethics in Criminal Justice (3 credits)
  • CJ 403: Current Issues in Criminal Justice (3 credits)
  • CJ 408: Agency Practicum  (6 credits)
  • CJ 422: Crisis Management (3 credits)
  • CJ Criminal Justice Elective


*Students entering the program with 70+ credits or an associates degree must complete 30/31 Liberal Arts Core credits.


**A total of 123 credits including 3 credits in a human diversity course are required to complete a Bachelor’s degree. To adhere to Franciscan Values, community service hours are also required. In addition, at least 30 credits at the 300/400 level must be taken at Â鶹ÊÓƵ.

Accreditation
  • Alvernia is an accredited institution and a member of the (MSCHE). MSCHE is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.
Career Outlook

After earning your Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice Administration online, you can pursue a variety of careers, including:

  • Police Officer
  • Correctional Officer
  • FBI Agent
  • Private Investigator
  • Crime Prevention Specialist
  • Crime Scene Investigator
  • State Trooper
  • Prison warden
  • Criminal Law
  • Corrections
  • Criminal Justice Professor
  • Probation Officer


According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in the range of jobs available with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice is projected to grow up to 12 percent from 2021 to 2031, faster than average for all occupations. The median annual wage in those professions in 2021 ranged from $48,000 to $80,000.

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