Online Criminal Justice Associate Degree Explore Criminology
60
Credit Hours
100% online, 8-week courses
Transfer in up to 75% of the degree total
Fight for Freedom and Justice with Our Online Associates Degree in Criminal Justice
If you’re troubled by the injustices in the world and feel led to be part of the solution, partner with us! Conferring Liberty University’s online Associate of Arts (AA) in Criminal Justice could help you join the criminal justice system and fight for what’s right.
There are a variety of ways to get involved in the criminal justice system, and you can help make a difference in the lives of those hurt by crime with a criminal justice AA degree from Liberty. The criminal justice system is composed of three broad areas:
- Law enforcement — You will identify and investigate a crime, find evidence, and then use it to determine motives and the sequence of events in a crime. Throughout the process, you will work to protect the rights of crime victims.
- The court system — You will examine the evidence to determine guilt or innocence and then issue a sentence if the party is guilty.
- The correction system — You can learn about punishment and rehabilitation of the guilty party.
With our online law enforcement degree that focuses on criminal justice, you will be empowered to begin your journey towards protecting the weak and defending justice. Earn an associate in criminal justice, and become a Champion for Christ who fights for the oppressed and defends freedom throughout your career!
Why Choose Liberty’s Online Associates in Criminal Justice?
At Liberty, your success is our success, which is why we have worked hard to create one of the best online associate criminal justice degrees available. Through this program, you can learn the complexities of the criminal justice field. This degree program can help prepare you to pursue a more specific direction for your career — in the workforce or higher education.
Our Helms School of Government faculty members were chosen with you in mind. They have experience as private practice partners, police officers, lawyers, certified public accountants, certified mediators, and more.
Liberty’s online criminal justice associate degree is set apart from other programs. As part of our mission to Train Champions for Christ, our professors teach their courses from a Christian perspective.
What Will You Study in Our Associates in Criminal Justice?
Liberty University’s 100% online associate degree in criminal justice will provide you with a strong foundation of both knowledge and skills. This can prepare you for careers within a wide variety of criminal justice-related fields. You can acquire knowledge to help you successfully lead and manage in criminal justice fields for future promotional opportunities and certifications.
In our associate in criminal justice degree program, you will:
- Be introduced to the American criminal justice system.
- Become familiarized with the criminal correctional system in the United States.
- Examine theories regarding the nature and cause of criminal behavior and society’s response.
- Perform research in the social sciences using both traditional and online venues.
- Review the legal elements that apply to criminal law, procedure, and evidence.
- Study the functioning of courts, judges, lawyers, and law enforcement agencies.
Potential Career Opportunities
Our associate in criminal justice can prepare you to pursue further education or enter any of the numerous career options available in criminal justice. Some criminal justice careers with an associate’s degree include:
- Administration
- Casework
- Corrections
- Homeland defense
- Juvenile justice
- Private/corporate security
- Probation and parole
- Social services
- State and local police and sheriff
- Victim advocacy
Specific positions include a corrections officer, a probation officer, a youth detention counselor, a security officer, and even a crime scene or criminal investigator. Some top-paying jobs with an associate degree in criminal justice are police officer, private detective, and bailiff.
Featured Courses
Degree Information
- This program falls under the Helms School of Government.
- View the Undergraduate Government Course Guides (login required).
Degree Completion Plan
Not sure what to choose?
Speak to one of our admissions specialists to help you choose the program that best fits your needs.
Tuition & Aid
Your success is our success, which is why we are committed to providing quality academics at an affordable tuition rate. While other colleges are increasing their tuition, we have frozen tuition rates for the majority of our undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs for the past 9 years – and counting.
To continue our mission of providing affordable education, electronic textbooks are provided for all undergraduate courses at no cost to you. As a full-time student, this could save you an estimated $800-2,000 per year on textbooks!
Undergraduate Full Time | $390/Credit |
---|---|
Undergraduate Part Time | $455/Credit |
Military Undergraduate | $250/Credit |
Tuition rates may change annually. For the most current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.
All Tuition & Fees
Financial Aid & Scholarships
Admission Information for Our AA in Criminal Justice
Admission Requirements
- Apply online or over the phone with an admissions counselor by calling (800) 424-9595.
- A non-refundable, non-transferable $50 application fee will be posted on the current application upon enrollment (waived for qualifying service members, veterans, and military spouses – documentation verifying military status is required).
- Send official high school transcripts or official GED test scores.*
- Students may be allowed to enroll in up to 12 credit hours with Liberty with the submission of our High School Self-Certification Form (login required – you will first need to claim your Liberty Account).
- Send official college transcripts (mailed as sealed, unopened copies or sent via a direct electronic transcript system).
- Unofficial transcripts can be used for acceptance purposes with the submission of a Transcript Request Form.
- Applicants whose native language is other than English must submit official scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or an approved alternative assessment. For information on alternative assessments or TOEFL waivers, please call Admissions or view the official International Admissions policy.
*Official high school transcript requirement may be waived with college transcripts from an accredited college/university showing at least 12 earned credit hours with an acceptable GPA.
Note: A 2.0 or above cumulative GPA is required for admission in good standing.
Transcript Policies
High School Transcript Policy
Applicants may submit a High School Self-Certification Form in lieu of a final official high school transcript in order to enroll in up to 12 credit hours at Liberty University.
- Applicants may submit a college transcript showing 12 or more credits from an accredited institution and a High School Self-Certification Form in lieu of high school transcripts.
Students must submit official high school transcripts, or official college transcripts showing at least 12 credit hours earned with an acceptable grade point average (GPA) from an accredited institution, in order to register for additional courses.
The official high school transcript, GED requirement, and High School Self-Certification Form can be waived if the applicant has earned an associate degree or higher.
Final transcripts must reflect all coursework and final grades received for grades 9-12, a graduation date, and an overall GPA. (Mailed transcripts must be in a sealed and unopened envelope.)
Unofficial College Transcript Policy
Unofficial transcripts combined with a Transcript Request Form can be used for admission. Official transcripts are required within 60 days of the admissions decision or before non-attendance drops for the first set of matriculated classes, whichever comes first, and will prevent enrollment into future terms until all official transcripts have been received.
Before sending unofficial college transcripts, please make sure they include the following:
- Your previous school’s name or logo printed on the document
- Cumulative GPA
- A list of completed courses and earned credit broken down by semester
- Degree and date conferred (if applicable)
Official College Transcript Policy
An acceptable official college transcript is one that has been issued directly from the institution and is in a sealed envelope. If you have one in your possession, it must meet the same requirements. If your previous institution offers electronic official transcript processing, they can send the document directly to luoverify@liberty.edu.
If the student uses unofficial transcripts with a Transcript Request Form to gain acceptance, all official transcripts must be received within 60 days of the admissions decision or before non-attendance drops for the first set of matriculated classes, whichever comes first. Failure to send all official transcripts within the 60-day period will prevent enrollment into future terms until all official transcripts have been received.
Military Transfers
If you have military-only transfer credits (completed basic training and enlistment), you must request an official military transcript. Please go to the Military Transfer Credit webpage to request your military transcript.
International Applicants
If you are an international applicant, you may be required to have your international transcripts reviewed. Information regarding the transcript evaluation process for international students can be found by visiting NACES.
Applicants whose native language is other than English must submit official scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or an approved alternative assessment. For information on alternative assessments or TOEFL waivers, please call Admissions or view the official International Admissions policy.
Admissions Office Contact Information
Liberty University Online Admissions Verification
1971 University Blvd.
Lynchburg, VA 24515
Ready to Apply?
Submit your application online or over the phone.
Military
Liberty University is dedicated to providing world-class educational experiences to military students across the globe.
Who May Qualify?
- Active Duty
- Reserve/National Guard
- Veterans/Retirees
- Spouses of Service Members and Veterans/Retirees
- Current Department of Defense Employees
Available Benefits:
- Tuition discounts – $250 per credit hour for undergraduate courses
- Additional discount for veterans who serve in a civilian capacity as a First Responder (less than $565 per course)*
- 8-week courses, 8 different start dates each year, and no set login times (may exclude certain courses such as practicums, internships, or field experiences)
- Potential college credit for military training
*Not applicable to certificates.
Tuition rates may change annually. For the most current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the online format benefit students?
Our online criminal justice associate degree is especially designed for professionals who are aspiring, current, or prior law enforcement officials. These learners often have busy schedules that do not permit them to attend residential courses. Flexibility is vital for our students, particularly those who are first responders.
Our online associate criminal justice program empowers you to complete your degree from the comfort of home. This allows you to remain active in your job, family, and community without worrying about taking courses on campus. As a student, you will still be able to focus on your family and career while completing your criminal justice online program on your own schedule.
Can I turn my associate’s degree into a bachelor’s?
Though you cannot “turn” your associate degree in criminal justice into a bachelor’s, you can transfer each of your criminal justice associate degree’s credits into our bachelor’s degree in criminal justice – saving you time and money. Beginning your criminal justice studies with an associate degree is also an excellent way to determine if criminal justice is the right field for you – and if it is, a bachelor’s degree is the next step in your educational journey!
Inner Navigation
- Overview
- What Sets Us Apart?
- Why Choose Liberty?
- What Will You Study?
- Tuition & Aid
- Admission Information
- Military
- FAQs
Have questions?