Criminal Justice Schools in Connecticut

The University of New Haven offers both AS and BS degrees in criminal justice, a BA degree in forensic psychology, a variety of criminal justice certificates and related minors such as forensic science, fire science and arson/fire investigation. BS students will complete required core courses, and can choose electives with concentrations in corrections, crime analysis, investigative services, juvenile and family services, law enforcement administration and victim services administration, with internship opportunities in their areas of interest. The AS degree can be earned once a student has completed the first two years of either the law enforcement or corrections courses.

Sacred Heart University (SHU) offers a minor, bachelor's or master's degree in criminal justice, along with a five-year accelerated BS-MA degree, which is designed for high school students demonstrating academic performance and an interest in the criminal justice field. BS students will complete an internship with either a public or private agency within the criminal justice system, and master's students will be required to take a comprehensive exam, or produce a thesis if planning to later pursue a PhD. Police, correction, parole and probation officers currently enrolled in the SHU criminal justice master's degree program may be eligible to receive reduced tuition.

Goodwin College has several career-focused degree programs, including associate degrees in criminal justice and homeland security. Criminal justice students can complete general education courses online, while the degree specific courses are on-campus, with day and evening classes available. Students can choose electives concentrated in areas such as homeland security, computer crime, forensics and law enforcement, and are required to complete their degrees with either a research project or an internship, which are chosen and secured by the students themselves. Graduates go on to work in a variety of settings, including law enforcement agencies, corrections, security, customs and border patrol.

The Justice and Law Administration Department at Western Connecticut State University (WCSU) offers a minor in justice law administration and a BS degree with concentrations in law enforcement, corrections, criminology, legal studies and paralegal preparation. The BS typically takes about four years to complete, preparing students to continue to graduate or law school, or for employment in the criminal justice field in areas such as law enforcement, private security, investigation, rehabilitation and paralegal. WCSU resources available to criminal justice students include academic advisement through advisors and faculty, the Ancell Mentor Program, career services for both students and alumni and the Justice and Law Club.

At the University of Bridgeport, students can minor in pre-law or criminal justice, and can also pursue a BA degree in social science with a criminal justice concentration, or a BA or MA degree in criminal justice and human security. These degrees prepare students for careers in the criminal justice field while also providing a foundation for graduate school, depending on students' goals. For completion of the master's degree, students will complete a capstone course, a competency project, an internship and two years of foreign language study. Internships available to students are commonly with local and state city police and federal agencies.