University of Phoenix criminal justice overview: The programs

The University of Phoenix Online offers only two criminal justice and law enforcement programs, one undergraduate and the other graduate.

The Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Administration is a four-year program that encompasses the subjects of policing, criminal law, and corrections, besides providing a broad outlook on the study of crime and justice in American society. The course is designed to groom professionals working in the field of criminal justice for administrative, supervisory, and leadership positions that demand a higher level of skill and responsibility. As a student of the BS degree in criminal justice administration, you will be educated in how to deal with human relations and resolve social conflicts, besides learning how to use the latest technology to detect, solve, and fight crime. Your work in a position of importance and reliability will involve working with subordinates, peers, and superiors. This program will inculcate in you the competence needed for interpersonal communication, administrative decision-making and personnel management. Professionalism on the job and the moral ethics that govern the profession are also dealt with in the curriculum.

The undergraduate course is a good stepping-stone for professionals in the criminal justice field who are seeking to advance their careers or branch into a diverse specialization. The course includes subjects like Organized Crime, Contemporary Issues in Criminal Justice, Skills for Professional Development, Introduction to Criminal Justice, Criminology, Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, Interpersonal Communications, Introduction to Policing, Criminal Court Systems, Introduction to Corrections, Juvenile Justice, Ethics in Criminal Justice, Cultural Diversity in Criminal Justice, Research methods in Criminal Justice, Organizational Behavior and Management, Criminal Justice Administration, Criminal Justice Administration, Criminal Justice Policy Analysis, Managing Criminal Justice Personnel, Futures of Criminal Justice, and an Interdisciplinary Capstone Course. Each course carries three credits.

The Master of Science in Administration of Justice and Security prepares undergraduate students and professionals in the criminal justice field for administrative roles in criminal justice and security programs. Promotions and transitions across the various areas of criminal justice like law enforcement, corrections, security, and court operations are easily facilitated if you have a master's degree in a related discipline. This program will train you in problem-solving techniques in security and justice organizations.

The degree includes courses such as Survey of Justice and Security, Organizational Administration and Behavior, Management of Institutional Risk, Ethics in Justice and Security, Criminological Theory, Legal Issues in Justice and Security, Critical Incident Management, Cyber Crime and Information Systems Security, Public Policy Issues, Concepts of Physical and Personal Protection, Forensic Science and Psychological Profiling, and Program Development and Evaluation. Each course carries three credits.

The problem is: while the courses sound good what you will really get is more of management education rather than more of criminal justice education. If you are opting for UoP, be ready to expect a management orientation rather than a criminal justice orientation. The sharp focus on criminal justice is missing.