Criminal Justice Schools in Ohio

Students in the Miami University-Oxford Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice program learn about a range of criminal justice topics, like policing, punishment and corrections, crime and the legal system overall. This comes from a liberal arts understanding, allowing for an integrated knowledge level. Students learn skills like critical thinking, problem solving, communication, technological skills, quantitative literacy and ethics. Students take courses covering direct criminal justice topics like forensic evidence, law and individual rights, criminal behavior and applied research methods in criminal justice. Students learn from four cognate areas: law enforcement, criminal justice administration, corrections and the administration of law and justice.

At the University of Akron Main Campus, students can major in political science/criminal justice. Students are prepared to work in homeland security, law enforcement/administration, intelligence and probation or parole. Students can also opt for the advocacy route to serve victims, at-risk individuals and juveniles. Also, students can choose to go into law school or graduate school. Students learn about topics like constitutional law, terrorism, the judicial process and even political scandals. Students also learn from a liberal arts perspective, as they are required to take general education courses like history, art and English. As the name of the program suggests, there are also political science courses like politics in the Middle East and comparative politics.

One of the hallmarks of the criminal justice bachelor's program is the hands-on field experience-based resources, where students can work with real-world criminal justice cases. Students work in crime labs, police department's, juvenile probation and correctional institutions, as examples. In addition to real-world skills, the program fosters an understanding of theory base and philosophical underpinnings of the organizations with which they work. Upon graduation, students are prepared to work in a number of law enforcement environments, from the police force to the highway patrol to homeland security. Students are allowed to graduate within the normal bachelor's schedule with a major in criminal justice and a minor, or two majors or multiple minors.

The criminal justice program at Xavier University focuses on preparing students for the real world by providing investigative internships, hands-on learning opportunities and student involvement. Students have the opportunity to intern at places like departments of rehabilitation and corrections. In courses, students learn real-world criminal justice skills like blood spatter and hair analysis. There are even hostage negotiation workshops. The school also has a Criminal Justice Society, which sponsors speakers and service activities. In courses, students learn topics like law enforcement, criminology and methods of research in criminal justice. Students are prepared to go into crime scene investigation, law enforcement, rehabilitation or constitutional law.

The Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice at Tiffin University allows students to choose majors in direct types of criminal justice to better specialize for their goals in the future. Examples include corrections, digital forensics, justice administration and law enforcement. There are also further concentrations students can declare in some majors. Graduates can expect to be prepared to work as law enforcement officers, intelligence and security officers, federal agents and other criminal justice-related careers. Students are also expected to complete an internship as part of the on-campus degree programs. The school also has the Center for Cyber-Defense and Forensics, which helps professionals train, allowing students to interact with professionals and obtain certifications through the center.

Sinclair College is located in Dayton, Ohio, near downtown. Easily accessible via public transportation, Sinclair awards an Associate of Applied Science Criminal Justice degree. The degree is offered in corrections and law enforcement concentrations. Other criminal justice credentials awarded at Sinclair are a short term and a one year technical certificate. Curriculum outcomes of the associate's degree program teach students about traditional and developing topics like corrections, police department procedures, juvenile court systems, forensics and criminal justice administration. Advanced criminal justice job training focuses on reducing repeat offenses. The school also operates a police training academy.

The two year criminal justice degree program at Clark State Community College is a contemporary training program that centers on the corrections component of criminal justice. Upon graduating from the program, students can enter careers in the public and private sector. Jobs that align with courses taught in the program include police officer, youth counselor, probation officer and private investigator. Probation and parole, community relations, social justice and criminal law are classes that are built into the curriculum. It's possible to enroll in on campus, hybrid and fully online classes.

Prior work in criminal and civil judicial systems can prepare students for classes in Southern State Community College's two-year criminal justice degree curriculum. Associate degrees are awarded in criminal justice and law enforcement. Both programs are taught during the evening at the college's Fayette campus. It takes 62 credits to graduate with the criminal justice degree. The law enforcement degree is comprised of 65 credits. Areas covered in the programs teach adults about criminal justice systems, crime scene investigation procedures, restorative justice and critical incident management. Applications are accepted online.

The main campus of Stark State College is located in North Canton, Ohio. Introduction to the associate's degree in criminal justice starts with adult learners completing a student success seminar. Computer application training is also provided. Program focused classes include criminal justice, ethics, corrections, cultural diversity and criminal procedure. Minimum credits needed are 61. Police science is a more focused criminal justice concentration offered at Stark College. At least 64 credits are needed to graduate with a degree in police science. Currently employee police officers can gain academic credits if they have completed the Ohio Peace Officer Basic Training Academy.

Training in policing and justice systems is provided through the Lorain County Community College associate of applied science criminal justice degree. It generally takes two years of full-time study to earn the degree in the police science concentration. Strong math and communications skills are a plus. The school operates on a semester basis. After declaring the criminal justice major, students can expect to take classes in topics like criminal justice investigation, police supervision, personal self-defense and traffic accident investigation. Through its university partnerships, students can continue their education at local universities and earn a bachelor's degree in criminal justice.