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The criminal justice field ensures that laws are enforced, disputes are resolved and those who break the law face consequences or opportunities for rehabilitation. An important part of criminal justice involves managing and providing support for the people and agencies that carry out this work. That is criminal justice administration. Let’s look at what to expect when you pursue a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.

The knowledge students may develop while studying for a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice administration is important for understanding key components of the criminal justice system, such as criminology, community policing and change management.

Additionally, this field is broad and versatile, which means graduates aren’t limited to a single career path. Some graduates might find careers where they apply administrative practices, uphold ethical standards or analyze criminal justice policies and procedures. They may also integrate research and theory into administration and design strategies for serving diverse populations.

A bachelor’s degree in criminal justice administration might appeal to students who are motivated to serve their communities. It may also attract those with strong written and oral communication skills, as well as individuals who have empathy, excel at building connections and enjoy working with diverse populations.

Additionally, this degree program may be well-suited for people who are skilled at resolving conflicts and who approach problems with curiosity, attention to detail and critical thinking.

Students pursuing a bachelor’s in criminal justice administration might study criminology, community policing, change management and other related subjects while developing leadership and administrative abilities they can use in the field.

Students in this program typically focus on building a foundation in the principles, concepts and theories of the justice system. The program is designed to give students both a broad perspective on the justice system and practical skills to operate within it. 

Criminal justice administration is the study and practice of managing law enforcement agencies, criminal courts, corrections, and their operations. It combines organizational management principles with criminal justice methods in overseeing their activities.

Students may learn about law enforcement history and theory, command leadership, budgeting, labor relations, legal responsibilities, public relations, and strategies for responding to incidents. These are necessary for guiding police and related organizations to ensure effective administration and establish trust between agencies and the communities they serve.

A criminal justice bachelor’s degree may cover the following subjects:

• Ethics in criminal justice
• Theories of criminology and victimology
• Interagency communication
• Research
• Grant writing and funding
• Policy analysis and program evaluation
• Criminal justice problem-solving methods

Such a program may help students develop a strong foundation in criminal justice principles, concepts and theories. Students typically learn:

• Basic management, plus administrative and financial skills relative to criminal justice agencies
• Criminology, community policing, change management and more
• Career-relevant skills that help prepare for administrative responsibilities in law enforcement, criminal courts and corrections

Online programs may offer students convenience and flexibility while they juggle work and other responsibilities. Online programs typically allow students to access materials  24/7 so learning can fit within their schedules, as long as they meet their assignment due dates and collaboration requirements.

Some of the jobs for individuals with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice administration include:

• First-line supervisors of police and detectives, like police captains, sergeants, commanders and supervisors
• Loss prevention managers

Graduates in this field can be prepared for administrative responsibilities in multiple areas of the justice system. This might include supervising and managing functions across law enforcement, corrections or the criminal court system, ensuring coordination among key components of the justice process.

When searching for a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice administration, students may consider several key factors, such as:

• Institutional accreditation: They may want to check if the school is institutionally accredited. Institutional accreditation is a process of external quality review to evaluate an institution against its own mission and the accreditor’s criteria for accreditation and confirm that it accomplishes what it claims.
• Faculty: Some schools have faculty who have worked in the areas they teach.
• Career relevance/skills-based learning: Some schools offer skills-tagged curriculum, which aligns individual courses to career-relevant skills for a program’s respective field or fields.
• Student support: Outside of the classroom, students might check on a school’s services that support them, such as a career department that can help with creation of resumés, writing and math resources, new student orientation, alumni associations and an online university library.

Are you interested in learning more about how to pursue a degree in this field? ���۴�ý offers a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice administration that includes 24/7 access to learning materials and resources.

Reach out to UOPX to request information about our degree programs.

The University’s Criminal Justice programs are educational degree programs. These programs do not prepare students to become certified peace officers.