Get a fast start in criminal justice with an associate degree
| Accreditation | Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission |
|---|---|
| Transfer credit | Transfer up to 45 approved credits |
| Admissions | Rolling admissions: start your degree when it’s right for you |
| Degree pathways | Pathways into a bachelor’s degree option, with future master's degree options in social work or business administration |
| QuickPaths | Transfer credit, stackable credentials, and adaptive learning technology build a faster pathway to a higher education with Herzing University |
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Step into the justice system and shape its evolution
Build a strong foundation for your future in criminal justice. The Associate of Science in Criminal Justice program introduces you to the core components of the justice system, including law enforcement, courts, and corrections, while exploring the causes of crime and the impact on individuals and communities.
You’ll gain insight into ethics, criminology, victimology, and emerging technologies shaping the field today, including Artificial Intelligence (AI).
This program is designed to support your growth as you begin a new pathway to a career in criminal justice. With the right foundation in place, you can move forward with clarity and confidence toward your long-term career goals.
Career-focused curriculum
Discover the crucial knowledge and skills required to succeed in your work and build a foundation for continued career growth.
Flexible schedule
You can take classes during the day or in the evening. We work hard to help you maintain school-life balance, striving to be as flexible as possible for busy non-traditional students.
Virtual services
Access to extensive virtual services, including academic advising, tutoring, support services, technical support and library services.
Lifelong support
We support your ongoing career advancement by providing comprehensive, personalized student services with lifelong career coaching.
Rolling admissions
No application deadlines to worry about. Apply when you’re ready and prepare to get started soon.
Courses & curriculum details
In the AS in Criminal Justice program, you’ll explore the key parts of the justice system and build a strong academic foundation in all key concepts. Coursework covers areas like law enforcement, courts, corrections, criminology, and juvenile justice, along with emerging topics such as AI, automated reporting systems, and predictive policing. You’ll also complete general education courses to support your overall skill development.
You can transfer up to 45 approved credits from prior college coursework and potentially decrease the time needed to complete the program.
All courses are delivered 100% online via the Canvas learning management system.
| Program | Months i | Semester Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Associate of Science in Criminal Justice | 20 | 60 |
iAverage number of months for students to complete program
Program availability varies by location
Required Courses
All courses, 28.00 semester credit hours, are required.
Open Elective Courses
A minimum of 6.00 semester credit hours is required.
Required Courses in General Education
Students enrolled in this bachelor's degree must complete a minimum of 24.00 semester credit hours in general education distributed among the following disciplines. Refer to the General Education section of the catalog for specific information about courses within each discipline. Courses transferred from other accredited colleges may also be used to meet these requirements. EN 104 English Composition I, Semester Credit Hours: 3.00 EN 111 Information Literacy, Semester Credit Hours: 3.00 EN 116 Speech, Semester Credit Hours: 3.00 HU 140 Cultural Diversity, Semester Credit Hours: 3.00 HU 240 Introduction to Humanities, Semester Credit Hours: 3.00 MA 109 College Algebra, Semester Credit Hours: 3.00 SC 270 Environmental Literacy, Semester Credit Hours: 3.00 PS 101 Psychology, Semester Credit Hours: 3.00
Personal and Professional Development Courses
All courses, 2.00 semester credit hours, are required.
Distribution of Contact Hours by Course
Distribution of Contact Hours by Course Course Lecture Hours Lab Hours Internship Hours Total Contact Hours Credits BH 200 45.00 0.00 0.00 45.00 3.00 CJ 105 45.00 0.00 0.00 45.00 3.00 CJ 115 45.00 0.00 0.00 45.00 3.00 CJ 150 60.00 0.00 0.00 60.00 4.00 CJ 160 45.00 0.00 0.00 45.00 3.00 CJ 200 45.00 0.00 0.00 45.00 3.00 CJ 225 45.00 0.00 0.00 45.00 3.00 CJ 250 45.00 0.00 0.00 45.00 3.00 CJ 260 45.00 0.00 0.00 45.00 3.00 PD 121 15.00 0.00 0.00 15.00 1.00 PD 202 15.00 0.00 0.00 15.00 1.00 Electives 90.00 0.00 0.00 90.00 6.00 Gen Ed - Communications 135.00 0.00 0.00 135.00 9.00 Gen Ed – Humanities 90.00 0.00 0.00 90.00 6.00 Gen Ed – Mathematics 45.00 0.00 0.00 45.00 3.00 Gen Ed - Science 45.00 0.00 0.00 45.00 3.00 Gen Ed – Social and Behavioral Sciences 45.00 0.00 0.00 45.00 3.00 Totals 900.00 0.00 0.00 900.00 60.00
Tuition & Cost
Tuition & Cost
The cost of tuition for the Associate of Science in Criminal Justice program is $530 per credit.
You can potentially earn even greater savings by transferring credit from prior college coursework, applying for financial aid, or potential partnership opportunities through your employer.
Our goal is your career advancement. That's why we are always working to improve our curriculum and processes to make our program as affordable as possible while preparing you best for success in your work.
Scholarships & Financial Aid
You may be eligible for multiple scholarships and grants, both through Herzing University and several national scholarship websites.
Military/Veteran Discounts
Veterans, Active Duty U.S. Servicemembers, and spouses may qualify for a 10% tuition discount or tuition reduction to $250 per credit.
Criminal Justice program enrollment prerequisites
Prerequisites to enroll in the Herzing University Criminal Justice associate degree program include:
- Prior education requirement. Completion of high school diploma, GED, or equivalent.
- Entrance testing. Applicants must demonstrate the capacity to succeed in college-level courses via prior ACT/SAT scores, completion of prior college credit, or additional entrance testing.
- Availability of time, personal commitment, and a professional attitude. We exist to help enthusiastic students fully committed to reaching their highest career goals. Our faculty and leadership are dedicated to helping you reach them.
You will need to meet and interview with a Herzing University admissions advisor and complete an enrollment application to be admitted into the program.
If you have any additional questions regarding admissions into the program, please contact our admissions team.
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What can I do with an associate degree in criminal justice
Earning an associate degree can help you better qualify for many different types of job opportunities in criminal justice, including:
- Detective / Criminal Profiler
- Private Security
- Police Officer
- Border Patrol Agent
- Correctional Officer or Bailiff
Education requirements will vary by employer, with some requiring only a high school diploma, some college coursework or a degree.
How can I advance my career?
Continuing your education with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice can help you better qualify for jobs at federal agencies or advance to a higher level of responsibility in your current position.
Because career paths vary so widely, our criminal justice curriculum covers many different topics so you’re prepared well no matter what job you pursue. We exist to provide you an educational path towards the career you’ve always wanted.
Faq
Frequently Asked Questions
Didn't find the answer to your question? Send us an inquiry and we will be happy to answer all your questions!
Course subjects and topics in our bachelor’s degree program include:
- Criminal Investigation, which provides an overview of the investigative process and current issues.
- Criminal Law, which covers key components of criminal law and its enforcement. It also includes an overview of the criminal law process, defenses, and jurisdiction of the courts.
- Ethics in Law Enforcement, which reviews public administration and ethical issues involved with public service.
- Evidence Forensics, which covers the law model and types and current rules of evidence acquisition.
- Crisis Intervention, which provides study in the methods and techniques employed by professionals in the field of crisis intervention.
- Risk Assessment, which helps students learn how to assess and identify threats, analyze targets, and implement approaches to risk assessment.
Criminology is the study of crime, including its causes, consequences and costs. Criminology students study the behavior patterns, backgrounds, and sociological trends of criminals.
Criminal justice is a social science that seeks to identify and explain criminal behavior, as well as how society deals with crime. Criminal justice majors focus more on the legal and correctional systems, the deterrence of crimes, and ethics codes of behavior. Students in a criminal justice program often study a variety of topics including legal studies, psychology, public administration, and sociology.
Though they are different, both criminologists and criminal justice professionals work in the criminal justice sector to lessen crime and improve society.
There is no one-size-fits-all answer. Every job is different and educational requirements will vary by employer. Some will only require a high school diploma, while others (particularly federal agencies) may require an associate or bachelor’s degree.
You may be able to qualify for entry-level jobs without a degree, but advancing your career in criminal justice may become more difficult without any formal college-level education.
With an associate degree in criminal justice, you may be eligible for a variety of jobs, including security guards and first-line supervisors of protective service workers. These jobs are found in a variety of industries, including travel, gambling, and investigation and security services.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), security guards earned an average salary of $42,470 per year ($20.42 per hour).*
With a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, you can be eligible for jobs such as first-line supervisor of correctional officer, first-line supervisor, police officer, or detective. The BLS reports the average wage for detectives and criminal investigators is $99,430 per year ($47.80 per hour).
Yes, absolutely. A degree in criminal justice can help prepare you for a variety of jobs, from law enforcement to public service. The field continues to expand, offering people more career opportunities.
In addition, a criminal justice degree provides a strong base of knowledge for future learning if you so choose. You can potentially pursue a law degree, a Master of Business Administration (MBA), or a Master of Social Work (MSW). With Herzing you may potentially earn dual credit towards an MBA or MSW as part of the bachelor’s degree program in criminal justice.
If you enjoy learning about the law, possess a strong sense of responsibility, and would like to help serve your community, a criminal justice degree may be a great fit. Learn more about our criminal justice degree program today!
You are typically not required to earn a degree to enroll in police academy and work as a police officer. A high school diploma is often the minimal required formal education, with a required background check. Some agencies may require a bachelor’s degree or a certain number of credit hours, especially at the federal level.
While you may not need a degree for your first entry-level job as a police officer, if you plan to continue advancing your career in criminal justice, earning an associate or bachelor’s degree is a good idea.
We strive for a balance of enriching and challenging—but not overwhelming. Our faculty, staff, and student support team is highly accessible and accommodating to help you succeed in your studies and graduate with a degree.
Our goal is to best prepare you for success in your work, and that’s what drives the development of our criminal justice curriculums.
Yes, you can earn your associate or bachelor’s degree in criminal justice online. Look for an institutionally accredited university like Herzing that has a well-rounded curriculum and experienced faculty and staff. Universities that offer student advisors and online support can help prepare you for academic success.
Once you have your associate or bachelor’s degree, you can also pursue additional training or education to help increase your earning potential and further your career.
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Associate of Science in Criminal Justice
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The Student Experience at Herzing
The online program is hard, but I learned that if you want something, you will do whatever it takes to accomplish your goal. My community health course helped me prepare to rebuild parts of my community and now I’m seriously considering pursuing my master’s degree in criminal justice.
Holli Yvette Thomas
Public Safety Student | Online CampusAccreditation & Disclosures
Herzing University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org), an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
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* BLS pay estimates calculate the median annual wage for various occupations. Per the BLS the median wage for an occupation is: "The wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount, and half earned less. Median wage data are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey." Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook 2025. BLS median wage estimates do not represent entry-level wages and/or salaries. Multiple factors, including prior experience, age, geographic market in which you want to work, and degree level and field, will affect career outcomes, including starting salary and earnings as an experienced employee. Herzing neither represents that its graduates will earn the median salaries calculated by BLS for a particular job nor guarantees that graduation from its program will result in a job, promotion, particular wage or salary, or other career growth.
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