Copyright

What Universities Have Criminal Justice Degrees in Mesa, AZ?

Learn about criminal justice programs in the Mesa, AZ, area. Get information about degrees available and admission and program requirements to make an informed decision about your education. Schools offering Criminal Justice degrees can also be found in these popular choices.

Studying Criminal Justice in the Mesa Area

Career Information for Criminal Justice Students in the Mesa Area

Criminal justice students who find jobs in the Mesa area may work for organizations like the Arizona Attorney General's Office, the Maricopa County Juvenile Court and the Arizona Department of Corrections. The type of work you perform may depend on the type of degree you obtain. You can find both undergraduate and graduate degree programs in criminal justice near Mesa.

Salary and Job Outlook for Criminal Justice Professions in the Mesa Area

Once you complete your degree program in criminal justice, you may decide to work as a corrections officer. In order to work as a corrections officer in Arizona, you must pass physical, written and oral exams and undergo a background check. Once you pass these exams, you will also need to train at the Correctional Officer Training Academy (COTA) before you begin work. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), in May of 2011 there were 8,680 correctional officers and jailers employed in the Mesa-Phoenix-Glendale region. The BLS also reports that these professionals earned an average annual salary of approximately $42,000. Nationwide, the agency projected that job opportunities for correctional officers and jailers would increase at a slower-than-average rate of 5% between 2010 and 2020.

If you would rather look into a career with a greater potential for job growth, you could explore the possibility of working as a private investigator. In order to work as a private investigator in Arizona, you must obtain a registration certificate sponsored by a state-licensed private investigation agency. The BLS projected that jobs for private investigators and detectives would increase 21% between 2010 and 2020. The agency also determined that in May of 2011, there were only 170 private investigators and detectives employed in the Mesa-Phoenix-Glendale region. These investigators earned an average annual salary of around $45,000.

Criminal Justice Bachelor's Degree Programs Near Mesa

Arizona State University

  • Program Name: Bachelor of Science in Criminology and Criminal Justice
  • Program Length: Four years, full-time
  • Tuition: $4,862 per semester for residents, $11,489 per semester for nonresidents (full-time 2012-213 academic year; includes fees)
  • Prerequisites and Requirements: High school diploma or its equivalent; high school coursework including four years of English, four years of math, three years of lab science, two years of social science, two years of foreign language and one year of fine arts; top 25% of class; 3.0 GPA; SAT score of at least 1040 for residents; SAT score of at least 1110 for nonresidents or ACT score of 22 or higher
  • School Type: 4-year, public; nearly 56,600 undergraduates, almost 13,900 graduate students (across all campuses)
  • Address: 411 North Central Avenue, Phoenix, AZ, 85004
  • Phone: (602) 496-2369

Arizona State University's (ASU) School of Criminology and Criminal Justice houses a nationally ranked bachelor's degree program with a curriculum that includes courses in area such as crime control, statistical analysis and criminological theory. The program offers emphases in pre-law, social services, criminology and courts. In the courses, you can expect to participate in practical application as well as theory.

Criminal Justice Master's Degree Programs Near Mesa

Arizona State University

  • Program Name: Master of Science in Criminology and Criminal Justice
  • Program Length: Two years, full-time
  • Tuition: $5,259 per semester for residents, $12,533 per semester for nonresidents (full-time, 2012-2013 academic year; including fees)
  • Prerequisites and Requirements: Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution, undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher, GRE test scores, personal statement, resume, two letters of recommendation
  • School Type: 4-year, public; nearly 56,600 undergraduates, almost 13,900 graduate students (across all campuses)
  • Address: 411 North Central Avenue, Phoenix, AZ, 85004
  • Phone: (602) 496-2369

Arizona State also offers a master's degree in criminology and criminal justice. This program focuses on independent research and analytical techniques. The program is designed to prepare you to work as a criminal justice researcher or to advance into a Ph.D. program in the field. The program requires you to complete 24 credit hours of coursework, in addition to six credit hours devoted to work on your master's thesis.

Criminal Justice Ph.D. Programs Near Mesa

Arizona State University

  • Program Name: Ph.D. in Criminology and Criminal Justice
  • Program Length: Up to six years, full-time
  • Tuition: $5,259 per semester for residents, $12,533 per semester for nonresidents (full-time, 2012-2013 academic year; including fees)
  • Prerequisites and Requirements: Master's degree, juris doctor degree or a bachelor's degree and an outstanding academic record, GRE test scores, personal statement, resume
  • School Type: 4-year, public; nearly 56,600 undergraduates, almost 13,900 graduate students (across all campuses)
  • Address: 411 North Central Avenue, Phoenix, AZ, 85004
  • Phone: (602) 496-2369

Arizona State University also features a Ph.D. program in criminology and criminal justice. In order to complete this program, you must complete 72 credit hours of coursework in addition to 12 credit hours of dissertation work. At the end of the program, you will be required to take a comprehensive exam and submit a dissertation. Graduates of criminal justice Ph.D. programs often work as university faculty members, criminal justice agency administrators and researchers.

To continue researching, browse degree options below for course curriculum, prerequisites and financial aid information. Or, learn more about the subject by reading the related articles below:

  • 1. Degree Options:

Popular Schools