Criminal Justice and Security FAQ

The College of Criminal Justice and Security prepares you for professional- and management-related careers in criminal justice and security as well as other related fields. You’ll study multidisciplinary, comparative management, social science and criminal justice theory as well as application. This will help you to understand, predict, and explain criminal justice and security concepts, as well as contribute to the development of public and private policy within communities.

The College of Criminal Justice and Security degree programs are designed to help you develop interpersonal communication skills, management and leadership skills in the administration of criminal justice and security to advance your career. The unique learning culture bridges the gap between theory and practice, preparing you to apply your new knowledge and skills on the job.

The Alpha Phi Sigma National Criminal Justice Honor Society is a nationally recognized criminal justice honor society. It helps students distinguish themselves among peers and speaks to the academic quality that University of Phoenix offers.

As a student at University of Phoenix, you may be eligible for membership in the Eta Theta Chapter, which is one of more than 360 university chapters across the country. The Eta Theta Chapter can connect you to local and national criminal justice contacts. You’ll also have access to the Docket, the official publication of Alpha Phi Sigma and you’ll be able to stay up-to-date on national honor society events, conferences, scholarships and other annual awards.

To see some scholarship resources, please visit the Center for Scholarship Excellence. From there, you’ll be able to browse internal and external scholarships that may be available to you. You’ll also be able to review scholarship tips and more.

The College of Criminal Justice and Security is a college of University of Phoenix, which is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association. 

The interactive simulations in the Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Administration degree program provides an innovative, interactive multimedia approach to learning within the criminal justice field. This leads to a dynamic, engaging learning environment that appeals to different learning styles to include auditory, visual and kinesthetic. Try a demo of the online simulations.

The ideal student for the Master of Science in Administration of Justice and Security program would be someone who is academically prepared through a comprehensive undergraduate degree program in the fields of criminal justice or security. The prospective student would be employed by a criminal justice or security agency and looking to advance in the field. He or she would be community oriented and have enthusiasm for criminal justice and an overall quest for knowledge.

There are many trends that the curriculum of the College of Criminal Justice and Security are meeting. The following are examples, which include one example per degree program or concentration.

• All Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Administration concentrations are developing the next generation of leaders.
  
• The Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Administration with a concentration in Management is providing managerial and administrative skills associated with law enforcement, the criminal courts and corrections.
• The Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Administration with a concentration in Human Services is training the next generation of law enforcement and corrections leaders to gain new skills when interacting with the public and within institutions, including case management, negotiation, mental health interventions and advocacy.
• The Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Administration with a concentration in Institutional Healthcare is helping to manage the pressing needs related to rising and aging prison populations across the nation.
• The Bachelor of Science in Organizational Security and Management is teaching students the necessary skills to meet the expected growth rate of 10% by 2018 (bls.gov).
• The Master of Science in Administration of Justice and Security is addressing the interdependencies between private/public security and the criminal justice system, with an emphasis on leading change within these fields.
  

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, job growth in the criminal justice and security field is projected at an average of 10% by 2018.

Safety and security are top priorities for both public agencies and corporations today and will continue to be at the forefront of organizations’ priorities in the future. Tomorrow’s leaders in criminal justice and security—whether they represent law enforcement, criminal courts, corrections, public services or organizational security—will influence how information is shared across agencies and how best to ensure the safety and security of people and assets. This is why a well-educated work force is needed in fields related to criminal justice and security—and why it has now become an urgent national priority.