Associate of Arts in Criminal Justice
Associate of Arts in Criminal Justice
Next session begins JAN 14. Some program start times may vary.
Call 844.YES.UOPX for full schedule and details.
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Overview
Safer communities start with you
Discover the inner workings of police work, the court system and juvenile justice with an Associate of Arts in Criminal Justice. This entry-level program will help you understand the agencies, systems and procedures involved in the criminal justice system. Courses are taught by leaders in criminal justice and security, and content is updated regularly to help students keep pace with the evolving physical, technological and interpersonal skills needed for corrections work.
In this AA in Criminal Justice, you’ll:
- Learn to think critically, and creatively solve problems encountered by criminal justice system personnel
- Study police functions and procedures
- Understand unique issues inherent to juvenile arrest, sentencing and detention
- Learn about sentencing, probation and rehabilitation of prisoners
You can complete your Criminal Justice degree in two years, and you’ll take one 5-week course at a time, so you can balance work and life on the path to your degree.
Courses
Course length:
5 weeks
Total credits required:
60
Max. number of transfer credits:
45
Requirements and prerequisites
You’ll need 60 credits to complete this program. These may be earned through a combination of required and elective courses. Required courses may vary based on previous experience, training or transferable credits.
Transfer credits
Earn your degree faster. Transfer eligible college credits or, if you have military or law enforcement training such as Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) or basic academy training, you can apply to have relevant experience evaluated for potential college credit. Contact an enrollment representative at 844.YES.UOPX for more information.
Core courses
Careers & Outcomes
Job opportunities
An Associate of Arts in Criminal Justice degree can help prepare you to be a:
- Correctional officer
- Jail officer
Networking opportunities
Access powerful networking tools through our PhoenixLinkTM career services platform. Take advantage of personal career coaching. Search and apply for jobs, or make your resumé visible to employers. And connect with employers and alumni through career fairs and mixers. It’s all about connections. And we help you make them.
Learning outcomes
Along with the knowledge and skills related to the University Learning Goals, graduates should gain program-specific knowledge, skills and abilities. Each college or school creates a set of Program Student Learning Outcomes (PSLOs) to describe the knowledge, skills or attitudes students will possess upon completion of the program of study. By the time you complete your Associate of Arts in Criminal Justice, you should be able to perform these learning outcomes.
Program purpose statement
The University’s Criminal Justice programs are educational degree programs. For those interested in pursuing a career in law enforcement, corrections or as a peace officer with any particular local, state, federal, tribal or international agency, there are numerous additional qualifications (and often disqualifications), depending on the position. Before enrolling in a Criminal Justice program, potential students are highly encouraged to check with the relevant agency for a complete list of position requirements. The University makes no representations regarding whether any particular University program will qualify a graduate for any such position.
Accreditation
The goal of accreditation is to ensure that education provided by institutions of higher education meets acceptable levels of quality. Accreditation is your assurance the University meets quality standards.
Institutional accreditation
Regional accreditation is an institution-level accreditation status granted by one of six U.S. regional accrediting bodies. Accreditation by more than one regional accrediting body is not permitted by the U.S. Department of Education.
University of Phoenix is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), hlcommission.org. Since 1978, University of Phoenix has been continually accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and its predecessor.
Download program info
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What sets us apart?
When you choose our Associate of Arts in Criminal Justice, you can:
Develop real-world insights from instructors who work in the criminal justice system, including police chiefs, wardens, judges, prosecutors and detectives.
Transfer eligible college credits or apply to have relevant industry certifications evaluated for potential credit.
We’ve lowered and locked tuition so you can keep the same affordable tuition from the day you start until the day you graduate from your program.
Take the next step
It’s time to let your education prepare you for the next phase of your career. You’ve got the will. And, by taking one course at a time toward an Associate of Arts in Criminal Justice degree, you’ve got the way.
Or call 844.YES.UOPX for more details.
While widely available, not all programs are available in all locations or in both online and on-campus formats. Please check with a University Enrollment Representative.
