Criminal Justice Schools in New Jersey [2022 Guide]

New Jersey City University's criminal justice program has a unique dual time schedule setup. Classes are delivered at 9:00am and 7:00 pm on the same day, and students can choose which one to attend. This provides working students with a more flexible schedule to accommodate their professional responsibilities. The program includes both classroom learning and field work, and students learn about crime, police administration, courts, and criminal law. Electives offer further training in specific areas of interest, from international crime justice to crime and the movies. The school also houses a career library where students can research graduate schools, careers, employers, jobs, and cooperative education internships.

At Monmouth University, students in the criminal justice program are taught by professionals in the field: researchers, psychologists, lawyers, and law enforcement officials. The program provides an experiential education, with a mandatory one-semester internship that gives students the opportunity to bring their newly-learned classroom skills into the real world. Another focus of the curriculum is computers and the technology used in modern criminal justice work. Prospective students considering graduate school after earning their bachelor's may wish to pursue an accelerated program, which awards a bachelor's and master's degree in criminal justice after five years of study.

Fairleigh Dickinson University's criminal justice program covers the history of social order and control, crime, the U.S. government, criminal law, terrorism, and political systems. Students also learn about human and civil rights and public policies. Instructors are experienced in the field and come from many backgrounds, with political scientists, forensic psychologists, judges, federal agents, and other professionals leading courses. Many students in the program join the Criminal Justice Club, which brings together like-minded peers for social, academic, community, and volunteer activities. Members raise money for community organizations through fundraising activities, and take field visits to criminal justice agencies from prisons to police training academies.

Students interested in earning both a bachelor's and master's degree in criminal justice can pursue Rowan University's dual degree program. The ñ4+1î program combines a bachelor's program in law and justice studies with a master's program in criminal justice, allowing students to graduate with both degrees after five years of study. In both the 4+1 and traditional bachelor's programs, students complete an internship in a criminal justice agency, as well as classes in criminal law and theories of crime. The school also offers a criminal justice preparation club for those who aspire to careers in the field.

Rutgers University _ Newark provides its criminal justice students with an understanding of contemporary justice issues and an appreciation for the ethical concerns related to the field. In addition to traditional undergraduate and graduate programs, the school has an accelerated path that combines a bachelor's and master's program. Students complete undergraduate liberal arts coursework in their first three years, and master's-level professional studies for the remainder of the program. Rutgers' criminal justice school has its own academic services department, where students can receive advising on degree programs, course selection, and graduation requirements. Several scholarship and fellowship opportunities are available to students in the criminal justice programs.

Founded in 1965, Branchburg's Raritan Valley Community College serves 7,800 students with more than 90 options in associate degrees and undergraduate certificates. In addition to campus programs, RVCC also offers 125 online and hybrid courses, including general education studies required for two-year degrees. The 63-credit associate of arts degree in criminal justice prepares students for entry into law enforcement professions or serves as the first two years toward a four-year transfer degree in criminal justice. Students learn law enforcement-related computer programs and gain practical experience with participating agencies within the New Jersey criminal justice system.

As the only higher education institution in Salem County, Salem Community College grants associate degrees and undergraduate certificates in more than 40 programs of study. More than 1,500 students each semester enroll in programs offered at the Carneys Point campus, the Salem Center, and the Paul J. Stankard Glass Education Center in Albany. Criminal justice students can complete associate degree programs in corrections, cyber security, emergency management or law enforcement. The 62-credit associate of science degree in law enforcement includes a general education component that qualifies graduates for transfer into four-year CJ programs.

Camden County College provides students with two-year degree and certificate programs from the main campus in Blackwood, Camden City, and Cherry Hill. CCC also operates the Regional Emergency Training Center located in Blackwood. The criminal justice department offers a 61-credit associate in science degree that can serve as a career-oriented program or prepare students for transfer to a four-year degree program at institutions including Rutgers University, Rowan University, Temple University and Seton Hall University. The curriculum includes studies in technology, policing and juvenile justice. Graduates are qualified for law enforcement entry roles with municipal, regional, state, and federal agencies.

Founded in 1966, Cumberland County College serves its 4,000 students in offering 125 associate degree and career-training programs. After completing their associate degree, students can go on to pursue bachelor and master's degrees through the Shirlee and Bernard Brown University Center that maintains partnerships with major universities. The justice studies department at CCC offers curriculum leading to five distinct associate of science degrees, three academic certificates, and one criminal justice career certificate. Associate degree specializations include studies in criminal justice, homeland security, emergency management, forensics, and corrections. The associate programs require a minimum of 50 credits for graduation.

Passaic County Community College, founded in 1971, has grown to offer more than 60 associate degree and certificate programs at four campus locations in the county. More than 13,000 students participate in PCCC's campus and online programs. Articulation agreements with four-year institutions make for a smooth transfer process for students continuing past their two-year degree. Criminal justice students can pursue a two-year AAS degree or a 30-credit certificate. Students planning to transfer to a baccalaureate program may choose a 61-credit associate in arts in liberal arts degree: criminal justice option.