The Criminal Justice degree program delves into criminal behavior and law enforcement responses, the court system and corrections. It examines the impact of crime on victims, offenders and the public. With this criminal justice major, you'll go beyond the classroom, gaining practical skills in the field and developing advanced communication, research and analytical skills applicable to diverse careers.
This is a non-licensure program.
Modality
Hybrid Criminal Justice Bachelor's Degree Program Overview
A degree in Criminal Justice from Cambridge College opens the door to diverse professional opportunities, including law enforcement, corrections, juvenile justice, cybercrime and more. Many jobs are in high demand and offer competitive salaries and benefits.
Available at our Boston campus, courses are taught in a hybrid format through a mix of on-campus, remote (Zoom) and online (asynchronous) class options.
Criminal Justice Program Highlights and Learning Outcomes
Gain a broad understanding of the criminal justice system while developing specialized skills in your area of interest. Combining classroom instruction and hands-on learning, the Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice at Cambridge College offers a flexible, affordable undergraduate degree option for adult learners. As a Criminal Justice student at Cambridge College, you’ll gain a fundamental understanding of:
- The underlying causes of crime and criminal behavior and how the criminal justice system is structured
- Differing views of national, state and local laws, policies and enforcement practices
- Law enforcement's role in society, its officers' structure and training and specializations such as community policing, state police, environmental police and federal law enforcement
- The role of federal and local courts and defense, prosecution and judicial professionals
- The role of corrections, correctional facilities and sentenced populations and correctional policies
Advantages of Cambridge College's Criminal Justice Program
- Experiential learning: Gain real-world experience and develop your professional network through various field placement and student research opportunities with local criminal justice agencies.
- World-class faculty. Work closely with caring, dedicated faculty who bring diverse criminal justice experience to the classroom.
- Flexible hybrid course options: Balance work and family time with the help of convenient evening and weekend-intensive classes. Our programs are specifically designed to meet the needs of adult learners – 83% of our students are age 25 and older. Courses are taught in a mix of on-campus sessions, scheduled remote sessions and self-paced online sessions to give you flexibility in class formats.
- Convenient location: Attend in-person classes at our Boston campus which is a 5-minute walk from the Orange Line and offers free parking for students.
- No SAT or ACT tests required: Get started on your criminal justice degree quickly and efficiently. We offer an easy online application and do not require SAT or ACT tests for admission to our undergraduate programs.
- Diverse students: Gain diverse perspectives by collaborating with students from around the world at one of America's most ethnically diverse colleges.
Criminal Justice Tuition Information
*See curriculum sheet for a breakdown of credits and credit ranges.
Criminal Justice Degree Concentrations
A concentration can be a pivotal element in your Criminal Justice Bachelor's degree, providing unique skills and perspectives that can enrich your career.
Course List
With a major in Criminal Justice, you’ll have the opportunity to take classes such as:
- Crime and Criminal Justice
- Forensic Psychology
- Women and Crime
- Criminal Justice Field Education
Criminal Justice Degree Salaries and Careers
The criminal justice field offers high job security as these professionals are always needed. Because criminal justice encompasses many fields, salaries can vary significantly depending on your specialization, training and location. These are average salaries for a small selection of careers in criminal justice, based on May 2022 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics:
- Corrections officer or jailer: $49,6101
- Police officer or detective: $69,1602
$69,160
Media Annual Salary for Police Officers and Detectives2
1 Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Correctional Officers and Bailiffs, at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/protective-service/correctional-officers.htm (visited November 21, 2023).
2 Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Police and Detectives, at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/protective-service/police-and-detectives.htm (visited November 21, 2023).
Jobs in Criminal Justice
A degree in criminal justice opens the door to a wide range of professional options, from law enforcement and corrections to forensics and academia. Graduates of the Cambridge College Criminal Justice program go on to positions in:
- Court probation
- Case management in juvenile and adult judicial processes
- Community-based alternative sentencing programs
- Youth diversion programs
- Pre-release and community reintegration services
- Drug treatment, victim advocacy and domestic violence services
- Corrections on county and state levels
You'll be prepared for roles like:
- Lawyer
- Criminal investigator
- Criminologist
- Corrections officer
- Jailer
- Forensic psychologist
- Police officer
- Detective
Graduates will also be well prepared for study at the Police Academy or graduate study in criminology, criminal justice, forensics, public administration, law enforcement, legal studies, human and social sciences and law.