Police Officer Preparation & Law Enforcement Resource - Archive

Hi. I am wanting to explore a career change. I just recently attained a bachelor's degree in business management and have been working for an engineering company for the past 20 years. I'm researching an online University to attain a Masters degree in Criminal Justice (Criminal Behavior). I am still unsure of the career I would like to pursue but I'm thinking it will be more on the lines of behavioral science area - not lawyer, judge or policeman. What University is considered the Yale or Harvard in the criminal justice arena?

I believe that the University of Phoenix has a good reputation in this area, I also remember, I think it was Boston University, that has a Master's programme online as well but you'd need to check on that.

Try this link - http://www.degree.net/OnlineCourses/Social-Sciences.html

I'd recommend PennState. They seem to be a very respectable school. The tuition is kind of pricey, but if you're willing to pay some of these other online school's tuition, it's really a good value.

Pennslyvania State University has been around since 1855, and started their distance education program in 1892. Yeah, that's the 19th century. :cool: As for me, I'm kind of uneasy about starting a degree at an university that's only online and sprung up in the late 80's. I'd rather attend a school that's been around for a while in the traditional setting.

Penn State is arguably one of the US's flagship public institutions in a traditional setting, aswell as offering undergraduate and graduate programs online through their world campus.

This is a link to their BS in Criminal Justice program.
http://www.worldcampus.psu.edu/BachelorinCriminalJustice.shtml

What University is considered the Yale or Harvard in the criminal justice arena?

Hi Laura,

I'm pretty confident that you don't need the Yale or Harvard of CJ if you are exploring behavorial science. Tom O'Connor keeps a pretty thorough listing of online CJ unversities at his MegaLinks site -- see http://www.apsu.edu/oconnort/disted.htm
Search [Ctrl F] for "Masters" and I know you'll find the University that US News ranked 3d as I recall -- U of Cincinnati.

Boston University does have a Master of Criminal Justice program online, and they are a very good school. The program is 36 credits, and the cost is $665 per credit hour. www.cjdegree.info 1-866-232-0232 x 3268 Caveat: I do not believe federal funding can be used for online porgrams, even though it is from a reputable school, since there is a potential for fraud.

Caveat: I do not believe federal funding can be used for online porgrams, even though it is from a reputable school, since there is a potential for fraud.

That is absolutely false. I've worked for two online schools, both having financial aid available to students, including FASFA. Financial Aid fraud is found at all colleges, not just online schools (it's a huge chunk of what federal agents with the U.S. Dept of Ed's Inspector General work).

Well that is definitely good to know, it expands my options for a graduate degree as well. I was told there was a moratorium on it when I last took an online course, but I was allowed to receive the aid since I was an in-person degree candidate anyway, and was in my 4th year. Maybe it was just the school I was attending. At any rate, it's great news that my info is outdated! :D

PS...I just looked it up in regards to BU, and they DO in fact offer it! The info they mailed me made no mention of it, I am very excited to be wrong about this!!