College of Social & Behavioral Sciences # Associate criminal justice degrees [Apply now](/application/quick-app/personal-info) ## Prepare for a career in criminal justice Gain insight into criminal justice and corrections with an associate criminal justice degree. Learn skills you need to prepare for a career path in the criminal justice system. Explore agencies at the federal, state and local levels to support and protect your community.  _The best part?_You get to learn from experienced law enforcement faculty including corrections, parole and probation, lawyers, judges, chiefs of police, detectives and administrators who are ready to bring their knowledge to the next generation of criminal justice students like you. And with all our courses being 100% online and only 5 weeks long, you’ll have the flexibility to build the leadership skills you're looking for, on your terms. ## Let's get started [Request Info](https://www.phoenix.edu/request/request-information)[Apply Now](https://www.phoenix.edu/application/quick-app/personal-info) ## Find the criminal justice associate degree for you 12 The number of times a year you can start your degree based on your schedule. 60 The number of credits required to complete an associate criminal justice degree with UOPX. 2 > years The program length for an associate criminal justice degree with UOPX is two years. [See start dates](/admissions/class-start-dates.html) ## Skills you’ll develop with core associate criminal justice degree courses --- ### ASSOCIATE OF ARTS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE - Enforcement - Sociology - Communication [See the A.A. in Criminal Justice](/online-criminal-justice-degrees/criminal-justice-associate-degree.html) ## Earn career-relevant skills in weeks – not years Get value from your education before you even graduate. Update your professional profile with learned skills when you complete every 5- or 6-week course in our associate, bachelor's and master's programs. [Learn more](/online-degrees/skills-aligned-learning.html) ## Outlook for workers with an associate criminal justice degree ### Associate of Arts in Criminal Justice BLS CATEGORY: Corrections Officers and Jailers JOB GROWTH: -7**%** [Bureau of Labor Statistics ](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/protective-service/correctional-officers.htm)job growth for protective service occupations is projected to be **decline**between ((edu.BLSyears)). JOB TITLES: - Corrections Officer (CO) - Juvenile Corrections Officer - Correctional Sergeant - Community Corrections Officer - Security Officer - Detention Officer [Request info](https://www.phoenix.edu/request/request-information)[Apply now](https://www.phoenix.edu/application/quick-app/personal-info) ## Online associate criminal justice degree course requirements --- ### Associate of Arts in Criminal Justice You’ll take**6**core courses with program-specific knowledge in law enforcement and criminal justice to help you gain confidence and skills needed to thrive in criminal justice. These core courses include topics like: cultural diversity in criminal justice, introduction to police theory, practices, corrections and more.  [See all courses](/online-criminal-justice-degrees/criminal-justice-associate-degree.html#courses) ## Tuition and financial aid ### Affordable, locked-in tuition [Learn about tuition](/tuition-financial-aid.html) ### Ways to pay — and save. Explore your options. From grants and scholarships to transfer credits and federal financial aid, there are a variety of ways to pay for school and save on tuition for your criminal justice degree. > Financial Aid Federal Financial Aid is money from the U.S. Department of Education to help you pay for your college tuition and expenses. [More about financial aid](/tuition-financial-aid/federal-financial-aid.html) > Military or Veteran Benefits See if you qualify to use veterans’ education benefits or tuition assistance to help pay for school. [More about military benefits](/military.html) > Employer Tuition Discounts Check if your employer provides tuition assistance, benefits, or reimbursement programs toward your degree. [More about employer tuition benefits](/tuition-financial-aid/employer-tuition-benefits.html) > Transfer Credits Your prior eligible credits can cover a portion of your criminal justice associate degree to help you graduate sooner. Have previous relevant work and life experience evaluated for potential credit. If you have military or law enforcement training such as[Peace Officer Standards and Training](https://www.phoenix.edu/content/dam/edu/degrees/doc/post-academy-training-crg.pdf)(POST) or[basic corrections academy training](https://www.phoenix.edu/content/dam/edu/degrees/doc/basic-corrections-academy-training-crg.pdf), you can have relevant experience evaluated for potential college credit. [More about transfer credits](/tuition-financial-aid/transfer-credits.html) > Credit for Prior Learning Explore savings opportunities to earn college credit for skills you’ve gained through work and life experiences. Have previous relevant work and life experience evaluated for potential credit. If you have military or law enforcement training such as[Peace Officer Standards and Training](https://www.phoenix.edu/content/dam/edu/degrees/doc/post-academy-training-crg.pdf)(POST) or[basic corrections academy training](https://www.phoenix.edu/content/dam/edu/degrees/doc/basic-corrections-academy-training-crg.pdf), you can have relevant experience evaluated for potential college credit. [More about credit for experience](/tuition-financial-aid/prior-learning-assessment.html) --- ## Student experience “Remember why you decided to take this step, and that will be your new chapter. Never settle. You’ve got this!” **—Jtrenae H.**_AACJS, 2022_ Over 1 million alumni have earned their degrees while balancing work, school and life.**So can you. ** > Manage Time with Flexible Courses [More about time management](/life-as-a-phoenix/time-management.html) > Use Robust Student Resources [More about student resources](/student-resources.html) > Learn Online [More about classes](/student-resources/going-to-class.html) ## How to apply for your online associate criminal justice degree Once you’ve selected your degree program, choose your start date from our calendar, apply for free and register before the deadline (usually one week before the program starts). Then you’ll speak to an enrollment representative to begin class. - No application fee - No SAT, GMAT or essay required - Our[risk-free trial](/cmp/risk-free.html)lets eligible students try out University of Phoenix for three weeks with no financial obligation [See admissions requirements](/admissions.html)[Explore start dates](/admissions/class-start-dates.html) ## Meet your college deans Our college deans focus on developing a career-relevant curriculum. They bring industry experience to the classroom and lead a faculty of academic professionals with one goal in mind—to help you earn the skills you need to pursue your career. ### Christina Neider, EdD Associate Provost, Colleges [Learn more](/about/academic-leadership/associate-provost-christina-neider.html) ### Franzi Walsh, DBA Associate Dean, College of Social and Behavioral Sciences [Learn more](/about/academic-leadership/associate-dean-franzi-walsh.html) ## Institutional accreditation University of Phoenix has been[continually accredited](/about/accreditation.html)by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC),[hlcommission.org](https://hlcommission.org)since 1978. ## Associate criminal justice degree FAQs Expand AllCollapse All ### How long does it take to get an associate criminal justice degree? Associate degree programs typically take two years to complete. However, your time to completion will be impacted by other factors, including eligible transfer credits and any breaks in your studies at the University. You may be able to save time and money on your associate criminal justice degree by [transferring eligible credits](/tuition-financial-aid/transfer-credits.html) from an accredited institution or applying to have your relevant [work and life experiences](/tuition-financial-aid/prior-learning-assessment.html) evaluated for potential credit toward your degree.    ### Can I get my associate criminal justice degree online? Yes, all our courses are available 100% online. Where most colleges expect you to take several courses at once, here you take one course at a time over five weeks in an innovative, virtual, asynchronous learning environment. You and your peers will engage in discussions, assignments and learning activities. Plus, you’ll learn from faculty who bring their own real-world experience and practice the same knowledge and skills they teach, all while learning industry-relevant skills necessary to promote your career growth. What’s more? Throughout the course of your learning experience, our academic counselors and finance advisors are always there to answer your questions. ### Can I get a bachelor’s after I get an associate degree in criminal justice? You can continue your education by pursuing a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. If you’re looking to build knowledge and career-relevant skills, an online bachelor’s degree can help you take that next step in your career. ### Can transfer credits be used for an associate degree in criminal justice? You may be able to save time and money on your associate criminal justice degree by [transferring eligible credits ](/tuition-financial-aid/transfer-credits.html)from an accredited institution or applying to have your relevant [work and life experiences](/tuition-financial-aid/prior-learning-assessment.html) evaluated for potential credit toward your degree. Speak with an enrollment representative to start the process of evaluation by the University to see if your prior college credits can apply to your program and to request your transcripts. - [Criminal Justice vs Criminology](/articles/criminal-justice/criminal-justice-vs-criminology) — Online Degrees | February 09, 2026 • 6 Minutes - [What Is Victimology?](/articles/criminal-justice/what-is-victimology) — Online Degrees | December 12, 2025 • 8 minutes - [What’s a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice](/articles/criminal-justice/what-is-a-bachelors-degree-in-criminal-justice) — Online Degrees | October 13, 2025 • 5 minutes Load More...