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Maryville University Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice online

Gain a comprehensive understanding of the criminal justice system, law enforcement, legal procedures, and the principles of criminal law.

About the program

  • Explore career-relevant concepts: Learn the fundamentals of criminal justice, criminology, psychology, and criminal law.
  • Match your degree to your career goals: Develop skills to prepare you for roles such as police officer, corrections officer, criminal investigator, detective, and more.
  • Benefit from our Early Access program: Earn up to 12 credit hours that can be counted toward your undergraduate and future graduate degrees.

About Maryville University

Maryville University provides access and opportunity to those who are brave enough to make their dreams a reality. The high-quality, student-centered educational experience it offers is practical and future-focused, and benefits from close partnerships with well-known businesses. Learners receive personalized, comprehensive support and learn from accessible and experienced faculty who are also active industry practitioners.

Tuition and fees

Tuition and fees are subject to change, and may increase each academic year. Tuition does not include student fees, technology platform licensing, or support services. Learners are also responsible for travel and accommodation costs related to any in-person immersions or residentials, if applicable.

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Curriculum

The online Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice is a 128-credit program that offers two tracks to help you tailor your studies to your career goals. Choose the police academy track to acquire the skills and knowledge needed for success in future police training. Or, opt for the non-police-academy track, which combines seminar courses with internship opportunities at social and protective service agencies.

Develop your understanding and appreciation of the dynamics related to criminality, the law, and its enforcement through:

  • Criminal justice/criminology core courses: Dive deep into topics such as criminology theory, criminal law and procedures, multicultural policing, and more.
  • Social science research courses: Learn how to craft research, analyze results, and present findings.
  • Criminal justice/criminology electives courses: Broaden your understanding of criminal justice by choosing between electives that cover topics such as criminal investigations, family violence, and domestic and international terrorism.
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Admissions

The process for admission and enrollment is straightforward and hassle-free, with guidance from a dedicated admissions advisor. No application fees or entrance exams are required, and you can choose to start in the fall, spring, or summer. 

Maryville University is transfer-credit friendly and will even request transcripts on your behalf. Applicants who don’t meet the GPA requirements may be considered for provisional admission for certain programs. 

To apply to the program, you must have a high school diploma or GED with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale. To complete an application, you’ll need to submit:

  • Online application (no fee)

  • Official high school transcript (Maryville will request transcripts for you)

  • English proficiency scores (International applicants may be required to submit scores that meet a certain threshold.)


Early Access program

MVU Field placements

Maryville’s Early Access program allows you to earn up to 12 credits toward your master’s degree during the last leg of your undergraduate degree. Once you’ve completed 90 credit hours or more of your bachelor’s degree (with a GPA of 3.25 or better), you may be eligible to get a head start on your master’s degree. Through Early Access, you can take graduate-level courses that count toward your undergraduate and graduate degrees. Graduate-level Early Access courses are billed at the undergraduate tuition rate, so you can save time and money.

Contact an admissions advisor to learn more.

Frequently asked questions

Maryville’s online criminal justice bachelor’s degree can help you become a capable and qualified criminal justice professional. Graduates can choose from a wide range of career paths and pursue additional education as needed. Popular roles available to criminal justice graduates include:

  • Police officer

  • Homicide detective

  • Criminal investigator

  • DEA special agent

  • Air marshal

  • Probation officer

  • Corrections officer

  • Customs and border-protection officer

  • Fish and game warden

  • Computer forensics investigator

Some criminal justice careers require police academy training (an option through this online program), work experience, advanced degrees, or specific certifications. But any way you look at it, a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice can be a valuable stepping stone in your career in criminal justice.

Most online students complete this online criminal justice degree in four years. Qualified learners may be able to satisfy the general education requirements through transfer credits to complete the program sooner.

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