Which Schools Have Law Enforcement Programs in Alabama?

Career Information for Law Enforcement Professionals in Alabama

The field of law enforcement encompasses police and sheriff's patrol officers, detectives and criminal investigators and corrections officers. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), although only a high school diploma or the equivalent is required to work as a police officer, detective or corrections officer, many agencies require that candidates have completed at least some college-level coursework in a criminal justice degree program. There is no licensure or certification required to work in the field of law enforcement; most police officers and detectives must pass rigorous on-the-job training from their agency's academy prior to working in the field.

Salary Information for Law Enforcement Professionals in Alabama

According to the BLS in May 2011, about 11,000 police and sheriff's patrol officers were employed in Alabama, and they had average annual earnings around $40,000. The agency also reported that, at that same time, around 1,000 detectives and criminal investigators in Alabama earned an average annual salary of approximately $60,000. The BLS also stated that, in May 2011, about 6,000 correctional officers and jailers in the state earned an average of approximately $34,000 a year.

Bachelor's Degree Programs in Alabama

Alabama State University

• Program: Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Studies: Law Enforcement
• Field of Study: Law enforcement
• Program Length: 4 years, full-time
• Tuition: $8,082 for Alabama residents and $14,394 for non-residents per year (2011-2012)
• School Type: 4-year, public; approximately 5,500 students (5,000 undergraduates)
• Address: 915 South Jackson Street, Montgomery, AL 36104-0271
• Phone: (334) 229-4400

Courses in this program include introductions to corrections, criminal justice, criminal law and ethics. The law enforcement concentration requires additional courses in police administration, security, criminal investigations, deviant behavior and patrol administration. The curriculum also includes internships with local law enforcement agencies. The program is geared towards encouraging you to engage in research and continue your studies at the graduate level.

Auburn University at Montgomery

• Program: Bachelor of Science in Justice and Public Safety
• Areas of Study: Law enforcement, corrections, juvenile justice
• Program Length: 4 years, full-time
• Tuition: $7,580 for Alabama residents and $21,440 for non-residents per year (2011-2012)
• School Type: 4-year, public; approximately 5,000 students (about 4,000 undergraduates)
• Address: 7440 East Drive, Montgomery, AL 36117-3596
• Phone: (334) 244-3000

In this program, you complete a core set of courses, three courses in one of the specializations and one class each from the other two specializations. Core classes cover topics like investigative methods, criminal law and procedure, ethics and evidence. Classes offered in the specializations cover subjects like supervision, law enforcement administration, community corrections and family law.

Troy University

• Program: Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice
• Program Length: 4 years, full-time
• Tuition: $6,412 for Alabama residents and $12,052 for non-residents per year (2011-2012)
• School Type: 4-year, public; approximately 26,000 students (about 21,000 undergraduates)
• Address: University Avenue, Troy, AL 36082-0001
• Phone: (334) 670-3100

The Department of Criminal Justice and Social Sciences at Troy University offers a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice program that educates you about the fundamentals of the criminal justice and correctional systems. It also prepares you for graduate study in criminology, criminal justice or other fields. Your undergraduate program may include courses in law and criminal procedures and homeland security, as well as elective courses in areas such as corrections and the court system.

University of Alabama at Birmingham

• Program: Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice
• Program Length: 4 years, full-time
• Tuition: $6,264 for Alabama residents and $14,256 for non-residents per year (2011-2012)
• School Type: 4-year, public; approximately 18,000 students (about 11,000 undergraduates)
• Address: Administration Building, Suite 1070, Birmingham, AL 35294-0110
• Phone: (205) 934-4011

Through its Department of Justice Sciences, which is part of the College of Arts and Sciences, the University of Alabama offers a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice degree program. This program provides an overview of the criminal justice field and allows you to concentrate in an area of interest. Core courses in this program cover topics like criminal justice ethics, research methods and criminology. Before graduating, you complete a field experience with a criminal justice agency.

Master's Degree Programs in Alabama

Troy University

• Program: Master of Science in Criminal Justice
• Program Length: 3 years, full-time
• Tuition: $5,220 for Alabama residents and $10,440 for non-residents per year (2011-2012)
• Requirements: Bachelor's degree in criminal justice, Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores
• School Type: 4-year, public; approximately 26,000 students (about 21,000 undergraduates)
• Address: University Avenue, Troy, AL 36082-0001
• Phone: (334) 670-3100

The Master of Science in Criminal Justice degree program offered by Troy University can be completed with a thesis or non-thesis option. Required core courses in the program include the study of administration, criminal law, administration of justice and courts. You can choose from a variety of elective courses, such as juvenile justice, civil liberties, organizational theory and corrections. If you opt for the non-thesis degree program, you complete a project.

University of Alabama at Birmingham

• Program: Master of Science in Criminal Justice or Forensic Science
• Program Length: 3 years, full-time
• Tuition: $5,922 for Alabama residents and $13,428 for non-residents per year (2011-2012)
• Requirements: Bachelor's degree in criminal justice, Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores
• School Type: 4-year, public; approximately 18,000 students (about 11,000 undergraduates)
• Address: Administration Building, Suite 1070, Birmingham, AL 35294-0110
• Phone: (205) 934-4011

At this university, you can pursue a Master of Science in Criminal Justice (MSCJ) or a Master of Science in Forensic Science. If you enroll in the MSCJ program, you may complete either pre-doctoral training that prepares you for Ph.D. studies or a practitioners' program designed for professionals working in the field. Regardless of your intentions after graduation, you complete core courses in research methods, statistics and criminal justice policy.

The master's program in forensic science focuses on the scientific side of the legal field, but also prepares you for studying toward a Ph.D. or medical degree. Coursework in this program covers topics like forensic toxicology and anthropology, death investigations and biological testing methods. You also conduct research and complete an internship.