I get this question a lot: how long does it take to get a degree in Criminal Justice? Well, that all depends on which degree level you are thinking of conquering. Is it an Associates, a Bachelors, a Masters, or a PhD? Are you taking this degree at a traditional college / university campus? Or, is the CJ degree program offered primarily at an online college?
Here’s the answer based on an average of the expected completion time frame:
Associates Degree in Criminal Justice
- Traditional
- 1 and 1/2 years with a maxed-out class load – super-full-time: at or above 16 credits
- 2 years is the norm – usually full time: 12 credits or more
- 2 and 1/2 years, or more – usually part time: below 12 credits
- Online
- 1 to 2 years depending on the school – usually one cannot manipulate the program to go faster or slower – but, there are exceptions to this general rule
Bachelors Degree in Criminal Justice
- Traditional
- 3 to 3 and 1/2 years with a maxed-out class load – super-full-time: at or above 16 credits
- 4 years is the norm – usually full time: 12 credits or more
- 4 and 1/2 to 5 and 1/2 years, or more – usually part time: below 12 credits
- Online
- 2 and 1/2 to 4 years depending on the school – usually one cannot manipulate the program to go faster or slower – but, there are exceptions to this general rule
Masters Degree in Criminal Justice
- Traditional
- 1 and 1/2 to 2 years with a maxed-out class load – super-full-time: may depend on the school, prior permission may be required
- 2 to 3 years is the norm – usually full time: may depend on the school
- 3 and 1/2 to 5 years , or more – usually part time: may depend on the school, prior permission may be required
- Online
- 1 to 2 and 1/2 years depending on the school – usually one cannot manipulate the program to go faster or slower – but, there are exceptions to this general rule
PhD / Doctorate Degree in Criminal Justice
- Traditional
- 2 and 1/2 to 3 and 1/2 – with a Masters degree in CJ or prior permission to take on higher class load, usually the former expedites the doctorate.
- 4 to 5 years is the norm – usually full time: the length of the degree may depend on the school
- 5 to 6 years, or more – usually part time or a class a time: colleges and universities often cap their PhD program at 5 years, prior permission may be required
- Online
- 2 and 1/2 to 4 years depending on the school – usually one cannot manipulate the program to go faster or slower -but, there are exceptions to this general rule
I hope this helps you. Just remember that you can, if you would like to, shorten or lengthen the journey to your degree. Usually it takes a little initiative, but it pays dividends down the road. Good luck!
thanks this really helped
thanks. this helped a lot
nope didnt help i droped out like a dumbie !!!!!
Thank You , this helped clarify quite a bit
Interesting stuff, i think that 2-3 hours of homework per day would also help, reading can consume some time so i would say a nice and relaxed study of 3-4 hours a day will ultimately give you the best end results and your effort will pay offfff, at minimum 2 hours a day should be devoted.
I agree
This helped a lot!!!!! Thanks
thank you sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo much ;)
This is some interesting stuff, I’m still 15 but it doesn’t hurt to be informed ahead of time.
Thanks for the info, hopefully I gef my bs by 2016 (: