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ONLINE aacjs DEGREE

Associate of Arts in Criminal Justice

ONLINE aacj DEGREE

Associate of Arts in Criminal Justice

Associate's degree

2 years

Approximate Program Length

60

Total Credits

$398

Cost per Credit

Online

Format

Start when you're ready

Register by: Jun 14, 2023

Learn how the criminal justice and corrections systems operate — and prepare for a career that allows you to support the agencies, systems and procedures involved in criminal justice. Our customizable Associate of Arts in Criminal Justice is transfer-friendly when you optimize your work experience, transfer credits and certifications.

Courses in this program are just 5 weeks long, so they won’t get in the way of your busy life. Plus, There’s no application fee, no SAT test requirements, and we’ll even request your prior college transcripts for you.

  • Enforcement

  • Sociology

  • Communication

Download program and career details

Earn career-relevant skills in weeks – not years.

Learning shouldn’t take years to put into practice. That’s why we’re empowering you to build career-relevant skills with every five- to six-week course.

We’ve worked with labor market researchers like Lightcast to find in-demand skills for occupations and mapped those to our related associate, bachelor’s and master’s degree programs. Showcase new skills in weeks – not years – as you pursue your degree.

Skills-aligned program

Courses

Courses

1

Course at a time

5

Weeks per course

10

Courses per year

Schedule

Your academic counselor will help you schedule your courses for an Associate of Arts in Criminal Justice.

What you'll learn

When you earn your online associate’s in criminal justice, you’ll be equipped with a concrete set of skills you can apply on the job. 

You’ll learn how to:

  • Explain the foundational components of the criminal justice system.
  • Apply interpersonal and collaborative communication skills.
  • Explain societal issues in the criminal justice system.

Program Purpose Statement

The University’s Criminal Justice programs are educational degree programs. For those interested in pursuing a career in law enforcement or 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.

Careers & Outcomes

Careers & Outcomes

What can you do with an Associate's in Criminal Justice?

An AACJS can prepare you to be a:

  • Correctional Sergeant
  • Corrections Specialist
  • Corrections Officer (CO)
  • Correctional Officer
  • Juvenile Corrections Officer
  • Detention Officer
  • Security Officer
  • Jail Officer
  • Deputy Jailer
  • Corrections Corporal
  • Community Corrections Officer

Career Services for Life®

Get career coaching, resumé building and interview prep, for life. While outside career advising can cost over $200 an hour, at University of Phoenix it’s built right into your degree at no added cost.

You don’t have to go it alone.

You’ll have a team of advisors invested in your success from day one — dedicated to helping you build your confidence and a personalized career plan you can stick with.

Tools and resources available 24/7/365

We're a university built for the busy. Build your resumé, prepare for an interview and plan your career — whenever it fits your life, day or night.

Networking & mentorship

Through virtual job fairs and networking with the alumni community, we've made it easy to tap into the experience and connections of your peers and colleagues at the University.

You'll have a team of advisors at University of Phoenix

Tuition

Tuition

Paying for school

Tuition Guarantee

Affordable, Fixed Tuition

$398

Cost per credit

Lock in the peace of mind that comes with fixed, affordable tuition. You’ll enjoy one flat rate from the moment you enroll until the day you graduate from your program. That’s your Tuition Guarantee.

Earn your degree without starting from scratch

On average, students with prior eligible college credits and relevant life experience saved $11k and 1 year on their undergraduate degree.

Up to $1 million in new scholarship opportunities this month.

Our scholarships aren’t just for the chosen few. We’ll help you understand which scholarships you may qualify for, worth up to $3,000.

Credit transfer made easy

Graduate faster by transferring in prior eligible credits from another accredited institution.

COA Components Associates Degree (5-week)
Tuition and Fees¹
Tuition and Fees¹
Tuition and Fees¹
$9,480
Books, course materials, supplies and equipment
Books, course materials, supplies and equipment
Books, course materials, supplies and equipment
$1,416
Transportation
Transportation
Transportation
$1,360
Miscellaneous personal expenses
Miscellaneous personal expenses
Miscellaneous personal expenses
$550
Living Expenses²
Living Expenses²
Living Expenses²
     Food
     Food
     Food
$2,650
     Housing³
     Housing³
     Housing³
$5,120
Federal student loan fees
Federal student loan fees
Federal student loan fees
$50
Dependent care expenses
Dependent care expenses
Dependent care expenses
$0
Disability related expenses
Disability related expenses
Disability related expenses
$0
Total COA
Total COA
Total COA
$20,626

1The tuition component is based on a per credit weighted average for the credential level across the entire University.

2The University allows the same living expense amounts for students in all living arrangements and dependency statuses.

3The living expense component for students receiving Military Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) only includes an allowance for food.

Count on the quality of your education

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 (POST) or basic corrections academy training, you can have relevant experience evaluated for potential college credit. Contact an enrollment representative at 844-YES-UOPX for more information.

Enrollment representatives are ready to help

Need some help?

Our enrollment representatives provide personal support while you make an informed choice about going back to school. Reach us by phone at 844-937-8679 or chat with us 7 days a week.

Student Experience

Student Experience

An education that fits your busy life

Balancing family, work and school

Work toward your degree without giving up what matters most. Start your degree year-round and take one class at a time.

Online learning

Enroll in online classes and attend class whenever it fits your life, day or night.

Around-the-clock support and resources

You have a support team available up to 20 hours a day, 5 days a week. And our academic counselors, who are with you every step of the way, have earned a 5-star rating from 90% of our surveyed students.[1]

[1] Transactional Survey, August 2021-22 (18,645 respondents)

Phoenix provides support and resources for busy students

Accreditation & Faculty

Accreditation & Faculty

Count on the quality of your education

Institutional Accreditation

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.

real-world faculty

28

Average years of industry experience

11

Lieutenants
 

85%

Of surveyed students would recommend their instructors

Doris Savron

Faculty Spotlight

As a faculty member, I'm on your team. I'm your coach and your cheerleader.

Doris Savron
Vice Provost of Colleges, University of Phoenix

You might also want to check out:

Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Administration
 

Bachelor of Science in Correctional Program Support Services
 

Bachelor of Science in Public Administration

 

Bachelor of Science in Social Work

 

Bachelor of Science in Industrial-Organizational Psychology
 

Bachelor of Science in Applied Psychology with a concentration in Media and Technology
 

*While widely available, not all programs are available to residents of all states. Please check with a University Enrollment Representative.

Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projections are not specific to University of Phoenix students or graduates.