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- QUICK LINKS
- Programs
- Courses
- Tuition
- How to enroll
- Career services
844-937-8679
online aacjs degree
Associate of Arts in Criminal Justice
Start your online criminal justice degree
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.
Ignite Your Passion
Start when you're ready
Courses
Browse courses for your online criminal justice degree
Education should hold practical value. That’s why our courses meet rigorous academic standards and provide you with skills and knowledge immediately applicable to your career.
Look for this icon to see which skills you’ll learn in a course.
Requirements: 60 credits
You’ll need 60 credits to complete this associate in criminal justice. Your course schedule may vary based on transferable credits or credits earned through the University’s Prior Learning Assessment.
Schedule
Your academic counselor will help you schedule your courses for an Associate of Arts in Criminal Justice.
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.
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.
Tuition
Transfer credits
Your previous eligible college credits can save you time and money – helping you to graduate faster. That’s why we’ve accepted transcripts from 5,000+ institutions, so you can apply eligible transfer credits from an institutionally accredited university or college toward a degree of your choice.
75%
Of your bachelor's degree could be covered with eligible transfer credits.
Fixed, affordable tuition
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.
| COA Components | Associate Degree (5-week) |
|---|---|
|
Tuition and Fees¹
|
$9,480
|
|
Books, course materials, supplies and equipment
|
$1,416
|
|
Transportation
|
$1,360
|
|
Miscellaneous personal expenses
|
$550
|
|
Living Expenses²
|
|
|
Food
|
$2,650
|
|
Housing³
|
$5,120
|
|
Federal student loan fees
|
$50
|
|
Dependent care expenses
|
$0
|
|
Disability related expenses
|
$0
|
|
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.
Financial aid
You have options when it comes to paying for college tuition and expenses, such as federal grants and loans. Our finance advisors can answer your questions about financial aid and can help guide you through the process.
Federal Student Loan Basics
Careers & Outcomes
What can you do with an Associate in Criminal Justice?
Discover where your degree might take you and make informed choices about your future.
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
Top skills learned in this program:
Enforcement
Sociology
Communication
Ready to get started?
Start your application for free or request additional information.
What you’ll learn
When you earn your online associate 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.
Admissions
Apply for free – no application fee, no obligation.
Starting your degree is a big decision — and we want you to feel great about it. That’s why we remove obstacles from your application.
- No cost to request transcripts
- No SAT/ACT required
- No essay required
- No cost, risk-free trial for eligible students
How to enroll at University of Phoenix
Gabriel G., Enrollment Rep
Receive highly rated 1-on-1 support
You’ll have a support team of real people you can lean on to encourage your success as a student. Start a conversation about your future with one of our enrollment representatives today.
Call us at 844-937-8679 or chat with us 7 days a week.
Receive highly rated 1-on-1 support
You’ll have a support team of real people you can lean on to encourage your success as a student. Start a conversation about your future with one of our enrollment representatives today.
Call or chat with us 7 days a week.
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)
Faculty Spotlight
Professionals dedicated to you
Your success is a top priority for our deans and faculty members. They bring an average of 26 years of experience and hands-on perspective to the classroom, and help bridge the gap between academics and industry knowledge.
Accreditation
Count on the quality of your education
University of Phoenix has been continually accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), hlcommission.org, since 1978.
Criminal justice articles
While widely available, not all programs are available to residents of all states. Please check with a University Enrollment Representative.