Criminal Justice Online Courses

Criminal Justice online courses may vary by the degree level of your program. Those embarking on a quest to obtain a bachelor degree in Criminal Justice have much different requirements than those who pursue masters or doctorate criminal justice programs.

When I went to Boston University for my masters I had a phenomenal time, because the requirements for completion of my degree consisted of nine online courses in criminal justice. Those courses were very informative and focused on my core purpose for attaining a masters level degree, which was to learn as much as possible about criminal justice and leave all the fluff behind.

However, prior to that I was completing my bachelors degree and I really liked that we had other classes besides the core classes, like: English, Humanities, Sciences, and Math. Why? Because if it wasn’t for those courses I would never have completed my bachelor degree, yet even my masters. Also, you become more culturally aware, are able to communicate well, and can expect a greater understanding of other things in life. Expect to take many required prerequisites and electives before online courses for criminal justice will finally turn up. Usually, that adds up to about half of your classes. When you get to the graduate level studies you will have a blast because you will be fully immersed in criminal justice courses online.

So what criminal justice online courses should you expect?

Here’s a list:

• Crime & Punishment – This course teaches you about how crime is perceived and what punishments are warranted for those crimes. Ethical ramifications will be explored on subjects like the death penalty and warehousing of inmates.
• Terrorism – This was one of my favorite courses. Expect to learn way more than the media tells us. Terrorist organizations and individuals are more complicated than we really know. Personal beliefs, religious upbringing, and social changes may lead even the most commendable citizens to become a terrorist.
• Research Methods – You will learn how to structure research questions and master the ethical approach to obtaining research study information in virtually any setting.
• Youth Crime Problems – The title says it all. You will explore a variety of scenarios that youths often are subject to which may lead to a devious lifestyle. Ethics, psychology, and punishment will be exposed in detail.
• History of Criminal Justice – I liked this one very much, also. Yes, this is history but with a very interesting twist. I know for some of us it may have been very boring when you were in high school studying historical events that you had no interest in. If criminal justice is your desired field than you will be delighted with this online course.
• Criminology – A theoretical approach to criminal justice. It is a fun course with philosophical roots. Expand your knowledge with Structural, Process, Social Reaction, and Integrated theories, among others. Makes no sense now? Don’t worry it’s easier than it sounds.
• Victimology – As you may have discerned this criminal justice course is about study of victims and the effect crime has on them. Find out that there is often more than one victim or that certain victims may have contributed to their own victimization.
• White Collar Crimes – This course was very informative, especially considering the many white collar crimes perpetrated by corporate executives tend to carve a path of destruction. Stereotypes like the one mentioned just now are demystified as you learn that white collar crime can even be perpetrated by blue collar workers. This class will change how you view this popular crime.
• Analytical Methods – This is where your knowledge of math will come in handy. Learn to analyze crime from a statistical perspective. Incorporate mathematical formulas to graph progression of crime in a certain precinct. Explore historical data for comparison purposes with the 21st century criminal justice system. Sounds hard? It is a little bit, however it is very doable. Trust me.
• Forensic Investigation – Criminal justice courses like this one are often very fun and engaging. Crime is much different on the other side of the coin. Outsmarting even the most cunning criminals is many times left in the hands of a forensics specialist.
• Criminal Psychology – This course establishes theories and practical understanding of crime, criminals, and their victims with psychological principles. Many of the criminal justice courses above may have this component embedded in the syllabus, so don’t worry if you don’t see this course readily available, as you will be learning Criminal Psychology throughout your program.

Online courses in Criminal Justice are not created equal

I know this list has not exhausted every online course in criminal justice, however if you know of more please feel to share in the comments section below.

Be aware that you may not see these classes in your program with the exact same names. Whenever I try to establish factual information about the course I inquire with the educational institution for more information. That way I can get an electronic document or a mailed pamphlet with the description of all the courses I need. In addition, you may not be taking all these classes while completing your bachelors or masters in criminal justice. You will usually see a mix of all of these courses, plus or minus, other courses in criminal justice.

I hope this helps you. If you are looking for more information on the different courses, programs, and schools just browse or search this site. Information is being updated on continual basis.