Where Can I Earn a Criminal Justice Degree in New York City?

Learn about criminal justice degree programs in New York, New York. Get information about available programs and career requirements to make an informed decision about your education. Schools offering Criminal Justice degrees can also be found in these popular choices.

Career Info for Criminal Justice Professionals in New York, New York

With a criminal justice degree, you can choose from a number of career paths within the legal system, such as corrections, administration, investigations or governmental positions. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), police and detectives will see a seven percent increase in employment from 2010-2020 (www.bls.gov). Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists, on the other hand, are expected to experience an employment growth of 18%.

In 2011, the BLS estimated that there were more than 8,000 detectives and criminal investigators employed in the New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island area who earned a mean annual wage of roughly $84,000. That same year, there were roughly 17,000 correctional officers and jailers in the area who earned about $63,000, annually. There were also nearly 3,000 bailiffs who earned an annual salary of about $60,000. Police and sheriff's patrol officers earned an estimated mean annual wage of approximately $71,000.


Associate's Degree Program for Criminal Justice Professionals in New York, New York

CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College

  • Program: Associate of Arts in Criminal Justice
  • Program Length: Two years, full-time
  • Tuition: $3,918 per year for residents and $6,078 per year for non-residents (2011-2012)
  • School Type: 2-year, public; approximately 24,000 undergraduate students
  • Address: 199 Chambers Street, New York, New York 10007
  • Phone: (212) 220-8000

The Associate of Arts degree program at CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College includes both general education studies and specialized core courses. General education courses cover topics such as English, statistics, sociology, modern foreign language and ethnic studies. Core major courses include the study of criminology, corrections, criminal law and corrections.


Bachelor's Degree Programs in New York, New York

CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice

  • Program: Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice
  • Specializations: Law and due process, crime and society, corrections
  • Program Length: Four years, full-time
  • Tuition: $5,459 per year for residents and $11,369 per year for non-residents (2011-2012)
  • School Type: 4-year, public; approximately 15,000 students (about 13,000 undergraduate)
  • Address: 899 Tenth Avenue, New York, New York 10019
  • Phone: (212) 237-8000

Part of the City University of New York (CUNY), the John Jay College of Criminal Justice is dedicated primarily to research and the advancement of criminal justice and related studies. In the undergraduate school, you can earn either a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) or Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Criminal Justice. The B.S. degree places a greater focus on criminal justice institutions, particularly law enforcement agencies, courtrooms and correctional facilities. The B.A. program allows you to choose a concentration from a list that includes law and due process, crime and society and corrections.

Pace University - New York

  • Program: Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice
  • Program Length: Four years, full-time
  • Tuition: $35,032 per year (2011-2012)
  • School Type: 4-year, private, not-for-profit; approximately 13,000 students (8,000 undergraduate)
  • Address: 1 Pace Plaza, New York, New York 10038-1598
  • Phone: (212) 346-1200

Undergraduate criminal justice studies at this school are geared toward preparing you for a career in the courtroom, law enforcement or private-sector security. In the course of earning your Bachelor of Science degree, you'll be encouraged to take part in two internships that can give you practical experience as well as college credit. Your curriculum includes studies in criminal law, public policy and law enforcement organizational structures. Electives can cover topics such as criminal profiling, terrorism, the penal system and private security.

Saint Joseph's College - New York

  • Program: Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice
  • Specializations: Juvenile justice, mental health, law and justice, community corrections, technology and the criminal justice system
  • Program Length: Four years, full-time
  • Tuition: $18,425 per year (2011-2012)
  • School Type: 4-year, private, not-for-profit; approximately 6,000 students (5,000 undergraduate)
  • Address: 245 Clinton Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11205-3688
  • Phone: (718) 940-5300

The core curriculum for the criminal justice major at Saint Joseph's College includes courses in forensic bioscience, ethics, psychology and sociology. Required courses include the subjects of criminal justice administration, corrections, law enforcement, criminal procedure and criminology. Internships are available, as are multiple areas of focus. For instance, you could specialize in mental health by completing courses in multiple areas of psychology, such as abnormal, forensic and counseling psychology.


Master's Degree Program in New York, New York

CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice

  • Program: Master of Arts in Criminal Justice
  • Specializations: Criminology and deviance, criminal law and procedure, police administration, correction administration, computer application in criminal justice, study of drug and alcohol abuse, investigative techniques, juvenile justice
  • Program Length: Two to three years, full-time
  • Admission Requirements: Bachelor's degree
  • Tuition: $8,210 per year for residents and $15,360 per year for non-residents (2011-2012)
  • School Type: 4-year, public; approximately 15,000 students (about 13,000 undergraduate)
  • Address: 899 Tenth Avenue, New York, New York 10019
  • Phone: (212) 237-8000

At the graduate school of John Jay College of Criminal Justice, you can earn a Master of Arts in Criminal Justice on either a thesis or an examination track. This program can be used as either a stepping stone to a doctoral program or as a terminal degree. Required core courses include the study of research methods, computer science, policy analysis and issues in criminal justice. There are multiple specializations available, each with specific required courses. For example, if you choose to focus on criminology and deviance, then you will be required to complete courses in terrorism, victimology, deviant behavior and cybercriminology.


PhD Program in New York, New York

CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice

  • Program: PhD in Criminal Justice
  • Specializations: Forensic science and policy, oversight and administration
  • Program Length: Seven years, full-time
  • Admission Requirements: Master's degree in criminal justice
  • Tuition: $8,210 per year for residents and $15,360 per year for non-residents (2011-2012)
  • School Type: 4-year, public; approximately 15,000 students (about 13,000 undergraduate)
  • Address: 899 Tenth Avenue, New York, New York 10019
  • Phone: (212) 237-8000

In the doctoral program at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, you can choose from two specializations: forensic science or policy, oversight and administration. Part-time enrollment is available if you have a master's degree in criminal justice, and you're currently employed in this field. You can expect a core curriculum involving the study of criminological theory, criminal justice process and policy, statistics and research methods. Each specialization has specific required courses and a dissertation requirement.

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