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Criminology Degree Online BS in Criminal Justice Concentration

Shelly and Salvador Villa, two SNHU graduates, standing outside their home and smiling

Cost per credit $330

Total courses 40

Term length 8 weeks

Program Overview Why get a criminology degree online?

If questions like "What leads to deviant behavior?" and "How does someone go from antisocial to sociopath?" pop into your brain on a regular basis, you may have found your perfect degree. Southern New Hampshire University's online Bachelor of Science (BS) in Criminal Justice with a concentration in Criminology and Crime Analysis program explores these questions — and many more.

Once enrolled, you'll learn how to use criminology theory to develop crime reduction and prevention strategies from faculty who've served on the front lines. Armed with this specialized knowledge, you can position yourself for success in law enforcement, social services and other related fields.

Skills you'll learn:

  • Human behavior theory comprehension
  • Crime reduction and prevention strategies
  • Technology and societal trend analysis
  • Empathetic practices for diverse populations
  • Laws, regulations and ethical standards
  • Field-relevant communication tactics
Shelly Villa 2019, an online degree graduate, working from a laptop computer.

Courses & Curriculum Online criminology degree classes that dive deep into deviant behavior

Prepare for an intense exploration of the criminal mind, with class topics ranging from theories of crime and punishment to the psychological and social basis of criminal behavior. Your critical thinking and communication skills will be sharpened as lessons open new windows into rehabilitation and recidivism, studies of specific types of crime, and social attitudes and policy.

Degree Courses

Online criminology degree courses

You'll gain a strong foundation in essential criminal justice principals, plus specialized knowledge from 4 concentration-based classes.

Courses may include:

Course ID: CJ 112
In this introduction to the criminal justice program students will begin to understand the major components within various professions at the state, local and federal levels and how they are interconnected. Communication skills, career prospects, and an overview of the core components of the United States government will be reviewed to provide students with a holistic view of sworn and civilian roles within the criminal justice system.
Course ID: CJ 205
Students will explore the historical evolution of policing to better understand its current structure and function within criminal justice. The value of positive community relationships and partnerships will be covered, as well as how sworn and civilian positions work together to maintain public safety. Various types of communication such as internal reports and documentation will be practiced.
Course ID: CJ 207
Students will examine the structure and function of the United States court system through the lens of both sworn and civilian professionals. Students will focus on the different levels of the federal court system, roles and responsibilities of criminal justice professionals and allied organizations, and common processes and procedures in the United States judicial system.
Course ID: CJ 210
Students will examine the function of corrections in the United States criminal justice system to develop an understanding of the structure, function, and relationships with allied professions. Systemic issues impacting incarceration, ideologies of punishment that influence sentencing, and the role of public policy in corrections will be analyzed.
Course ID: CJ 305
Students will analyze how technology is leveraged by criminal justice professionals and used as a tool to commit crime. Legal aspects of using technology in the field as well as positive and negative impacts technology has had on the criminal justice field will be discussed.
Course ID: CJ 306
Students will examine how the role and responsibilities of criminologists in the criminal justice field influence the development of various forms of public policies. Social control, deviance theories, and the relationship between the Constitution and civil liberties and public policies will be covered.
Course ID: CJ 340
Students will explore social, psychological, and criminological theories to better understand what influences criminal behavior. Based on their explorations of criminology, students will practice the application of theory to better understand criminal motivation in addition to the relationship between criminology and law.
Course ID: CJ 346
In this course, students will apply their knowledge of criminological theory to analyze how it contributes to effective prevention of crime within communities. In addition, students will study the relationship between environmental design, evidence-based interventions, and criminological research in preventing crime.
Course ID: CJ 347
Through the examination of the historical evolution of data in policing strategies, students will study the challenges and benefits of data analysis in the deployment of proactive policing strategies. Students will apply their knowledge of data to determine how it is used to prevent crime.
Course ID: CJ 407
In this course, students will examine the various methodologies used in research to analyze the successes and failures of research based policing strategies. Common tools and technology will be used to determine patterns and trends related to criminal activity.
Course ID: CJ 485
Knowledge of criminal justice theory and practice will be applied to develop creative, evidence-informed solutions to identified professional problems. Students will evaluate potential solutions for feasibility before presenting recommendations to various audiences.

Apply for free in minutes

Our no-commitment application can help you decide if SNHU is the right college for you and your career goals. Apply up until 2 days before the term starts!

Upcoming term starts: March 3, 2025 | May 5, 2025

Next term starts:
Jan. 6, 2025

Online Student Experience What’s it like going to SNHU?

Attending college online at SNHU can be a life-changing experience. In fact, 93.2% of online students would recommend SNHU according to a 2023 survey with 21,000+ respondents.

What to expect:

8-week terms

Learn around your schedule

24/7 online support

Online Classroom

What does an online course look like?

You’ll take your courses within SNHU’s Brightspace platform. This is where you’ll find your:

  • Schedule of weekly assignments
  • Discussion boards
  • Grades
  • Instructor announcements
How to Take an Online Class at SNHU
5 ways SNHU makes the admission process "easy-peasy" #shorts

Admission Applying to SNHU is fast and free

No application fee. No test scores. And no college essay. Just a simple form with basic information. It’s another way SNHU helps you reach your goals sooner.

All it takes is 3 simple steps

It's easy, fast and free.

Whether you're applying for an undergraduate or graduate degree, you’ll fill out a form to verify your previous education experience. As part of our admissions process, we'll help you request transcripts from your previous school(s) to see if you can transfer any credits into your SNHU program! (Also for free!)

After reviewing your official evaluation, you can decide if SNHU is right for you! If you choose to enroll, just pick your start date and get ready for classes to begin.

Talk to an admission counselor: 888.327.SNHU | enroll@snhu.edu

Accreditations

SNHU is accredited by the regional accreditor the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE). The university also carries specialized accreditations for some programs.

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Tuition Cost & Savings College can be more affordable than you think

As a nonprofit university, SNHU offers some of the lowest online tuition rates in the country. And when you work with our Financial Services team, we'll explore ways to help you save even more on your education – and customize a payment plan that works for you.

Online undergraduate tuition

Student
Cost per credit
Cost per course
Cost for 120-credit degree*
Full- and part-time students
$330
$990
$39,600
Active-duty military and spouses | Full- and part-time students**
$231
$693
$27,720

*before previously earned credits are applied

Tuition rates are subject to change and are reviewed annually.

**Note: Students receiving this rate are not eligible for additional discounts.

Additional costs: Course materials vary by course.

Transfer credits and lower your cost by:

$9,900 $14,850 $19,800 $24,750 $29,700
Transfer credits and lower your cost by:

If 30 of your prior learning credits ($330/credit) are accepted toward your bachelor’s degree.

Your remaining tuition cost: $29,700

If 45 of your prior learning credits ($330/credit) are accepted toward your bachelor’s degree.

Your remaining tuition cost: $24,750

If 60 of your prior learning credits ($330/credit) are accepted toward your bachelor’s degree.

Your remaining tuition cost: $19,800

If 75 of your prior learning credits ($330/credit) are accepted toward your bachelor’s degree.

Your remaining tuition cost: $14,850

If 90 of your prior learning credits ($330/credit) are accepted toward your bachelor’s degree.

Your remaining tuition cost: $9,900

How we estimate your tuition cost:

We look at the cost per credit multiplied by the number of credits you need to earn for a bachelor's degree. Most bachelor's degrees require 120 credits. SNHU allows you to transfer in up to 90 credits, requiring a minimum of 30 credits to be taken at SNHU. This is only a tuition estimator, and doesn't account for other fees that may be associated with your program of choice.

Career Outlook What can I do with an online criminology degree?

As part of one of the largest and most popular criminal justice programs in the U.S., Southern New Hampshire University's online criminology degree was built to help set you up for success in the field.

With each course, our goal is to help you identify where you belong in a vast array of employment opportunities. Thanks to the degree's versatility, you can put your skills to use in an area you feel truly passionate about, like policing, corrections, human services and homeland security.

Occupations

By earning your online degree in criminology, you'll be well positioned for fast growing career paths in the field, including:

Focus on the public well-being of children, homeless people, older adults or veterans, or help people with substance use or mental health disorders.

Gather facts and collect evidence for criminal cases, observe the activities of suspects and make arrests.

Supervise people placed on probation or develop rehabilitation plans for people on probation or parole.

9%

Increase in roles for social and community service managers through 2032, projected by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).1

$77,030

Median annual pay for social and community service managers as of May 2023, according to the BLS.1

Understanding the numbers
When reviewing job growth and salary information, it’s important to remember that actual numbers can vary due to many different factors—like years of experience in the role, industry of employment, geographic location, worker skill and economic conditions. Cited projections do not guarantee actual salary or job growth.

What SNHU students are saying

Shelly Villa '19, online degree graduate
Shelly Villa '19, online degree graduate
I knew I didn’t have to worry about babysitters or getting to campus or finding parking or anything that comes with going to a traditional school.

Frequently Asked Questions

You can, and there are plenty of reasons you should. Flexibility might be the biggest if you’re working in the criminal justice field full time – especially if you’re doing shift work.

Even if you’re not working full time, online education offers many benefits. That’s one of the reasons so many people opt to become online students. Our online criminology and crime analysis courses follow our undergraduate schedule of six 8-week terms per year. You'll take 1 or 2 courses per term. At SNHU, the majority of your classmates will be working students.

The online criminology and crime analysis degree, like all of our online degrees, gives you the flexibility to create your own schedule. That’s because there’s no set time you need to be in front of your computer to participate in class. Each week, you log in when you can and complete your assignments on your schedule. Then, you simply turn them in by your weekly deadlines – typically Thursday and Sunday nights.

Shelly Villa with text Shelly VillaShelly Villa ’19, a military spouse and mother of four, chose SNHU’s online criminology degree to finish what she’d started after high school. She knew that by attending school online, she could still be there for her daughters.

She also liked the program’s diverse array of classes.

“I had never really thought about the juvenile court system before,” Villa said. “Then I took the class for the juvenile system, and I said, ‘Hey, this is something I’m actually really interested in.’”

What’s motivating you? Whether you want to get into law enforcement, corrections, social services or go on to teach criminal justice, SNHU’s criminology degree is worth a closer look.

Whether your goal is to break into the criminal justice field or you’re looking to advance in your current role, you have lots of options.

Earning your criminology and crime analysis degree online at SNHU can help you grow specialized skills that can make you stand out to employers. By combining a foundation in criminal justice with the data-savvy skills of crime analysis, you'll be positioned for success in a diverse array of career paths, including:

  • Police and detectives: The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) cites 5 main areas of responsibility for detectives and criminal investigators. They interview people to gather information, search records to uncover clues, conduct surveillance, collect evidence for clients, and check for civil judgments and criminal history. The BLS projects 3% growth for this area of law enforcement through 2032.1
  • Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists: Probation officers oversee people on probation. Correctional treatment specialists create rehabilitation plans for those on probation or parole. The BLS estimates about 7,400 openings each year, on average, for these roles through 2032.1
  • Social and community service managers: Whether serving children, the homeless, older adults, veterans or people with substance abuse or mental health needs, these roles focus on public well-being. The BLS projects 9% growth in this category through 2032.1

Kelcey Kennedy '19 '21G went on to earn a master's in psychology after finishing her criminology program to position herself for her dream career.

"I want to be able to work with inmates to rehabilitate them back into society," she said. "Upon completing my degrees, I now have that opportunity."

Many schools offer criminology programs, but only you can decide which one is best for you. You’ll need to consider whether the program fits your budget, schedule and career plans, among other things.

SNHU’s criminology and crime analysis degree is one of the most affordable in the nation. It also offers the flexibility of an online degree. Combined enrollment in our criminal justice college degrees – including associate, bachelor's and master's programs – tops 7,000 students. Our faculty members bring real-world experience from all aspects of law enforcement to the classroom.

The program is also notable for its curriculum, which marries the latest criminology theory with practical crime analysis skills. This prepares graduates with an education that can set them apart in a competitive market.

Southern New Hampshire University also gives you access to online student groups like the Law and Disorder Club. The club hosts networking and educational events like Serial Killer Month, featuring trivia about serial killers, and a Cold Case Mystery Party.

Kristine Ducote with text Kristine DucoteKristine Ducote, one of the founders of the club, said the networking between members and criminal justice professionals is one of the main advantages of joining the club.

“We meet different professionals in the field,” Ducote said. “You start networking (and) it can help you land a job you want or get your career going in the direction you want to go.”

Ducote started the club to help students get more from their programs and, ultimately, land a job in criminal justice.

“I want these students to go out and succeed, and I want them to go out and have what they need before they graduate,” she said. “It’s very important to me because we address issues that really need addressing.”

That depends partly on your career plans and partly on your ultimate educational goals.

Want to use your bachelor’s in criminology to pursue a traditional path in law enforcement as a detective? According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), police and detectives made median annual wages of $74,910 in 2023.1

If you want your criminology degree to lead to work in the prison system as a probation officer or correctional treatment specialist, know that the BLS reported median annual wages of $61,800 in 2023.1

Is working for the public well-being what you aspire to? Social and community service managers made a median annual wage of $77,030 in 2023.1

Is victim advocacy where your passion lies? The BLS reported a median annual wage of $58,380 for social workers who help victims of crimes in 2023.1

Of course, an advanced law enforcement degree can increase your earning potential. SNHU offers the MS in Criminal Justice with 2 concentrations – counterterrorism and homeland security and public administration.

If you're not ready to take on a full graduate program, you can also strengthen your resume – and collect credits you can later apply to your master's degree – with a graduate certificate in counterterrorism or public administration certificate.

The criminology degree is versatile and meaningful. You can take it in several directions, from traditional law enforcement roles to working in the prison system or social services.

As you complete your criminology and crime analysis courses, you’ll develop the skills and knowledge to succeed in law enforcement, social services and related fields. And you’ll gain something just as vital – a better understanding of people.

Ian Moffett, retired chief of the Miami-Dade school system and an adjunct instructor at SNHU, spoke about the importance of empathy in criminal justice after the death of George Floyd in May 2020. Lending his expertise on a panel hosted at SNHU, Moffett said, “Studies show that people with higher education, people who have degrees, have better problem-solving skills. They’re more empathetic.”

Regardless of your career goals, the empathy and communication skills at the core of this program will help you achieve them.

Criminology is a great career choice, especially if you’re passionate about protecting the nation’s citizens from crime or serving the public good.

Laurie Nuzzo, SNHU criminal justice faculty and FBI investigative specialist, said a degree in criminology can help lead to a more fulfilling career. She has many students who believe they’ve learned how to communicate better with people through their studies.

Want to earn your degree, but can't currently commit to requirements of a bachelor's? Most full-time students can complete our associate degree in criminal justice program in two years. Part-time students, many of whom work full time, are encouraged to work at their own pace. Once you've earned your associate degree, you can seamlessly start work on the remaining 60 credits for your bachelor's degree.

SNHU's online Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice with a concentration in Criminology and Crime Analysis is uniquely designed to help prepare you for success as a crime analyst.

Developed by industry experts who understand the demands of today's workforce, this specialized degree offers a perfect path for a crime analyst – whether you're just starting your career or ready to make a change.

Becoming a crime analyst requires the right balance of criminal justice, research and data analytics skills. To this end, a bachelor's degree – while not always required – may be a powerful way to break into the field.

SNHU's online criminology and crime analysis degree is uniquely designed to help grow this very specific skill set. On one hand, you'll get the foundation you need to succeed in a protective service occupation. On the other, you'll gain competence with data analytics – which is itself a high-demand skill in just about every imaginable industry.

Real-world experience and on-the-job training are also helpful. Those with a background in law enforcement, for example, can gain practical knowledge that may position them for successful crime analysis careers.

Plus, those with law enforcement training could transfer their experience for up to 12 college credits at SNHU – saving you time and tuition.

Put simply, crime analysis is designed to predict and prevent criminal behavior. It achieves this goal through the analysis of a wide variety of data, which then informs strategic solutions to help reduce crime and protect communities.

"Crime analysts need to learn quantitative and qualitative techniques, to analyze data and develop crime prevention and intervention models," said Mahmut Cengiz, an SNHU adjunct professor and senior data analyst.

"Crime has a pattern. Crime analysis, instead of relying on law enforcement approximations, uses statistical prediction to identify the most probable areas for urgent police intervention," he said.

1Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, on the internet, at:

  • https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/social-and-community-service-managers.htm (viewed Apr. 19, 2024)
  • https://www.bls.gov/ooh/protective-service/police-and-detectives.htm (viewed Apr. 19, 2024)
  • https://www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/probation-officers-and-correctional-treatment-specialists.htm (viewed Apr. 19, 2024)
  • https://www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/social-workers.htm (viewed Apr. 19, 2024)

Cited projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual job growth.