There are many colleges offering a degree program in Criminal Justice. A degree in this course is offered at the undergraduate and graduate levels. There are also programs that offer Criminal Justice as a minor.
Studies in the criminal justice system can range from law enforcement and criminology to the court system. Some universities stand out from others on how excellent their programs are. Here is a list of 10 universities with some of the best criminal justice programs in the U.S.
1. University of Maryland
This university is seen as a leader in education and research in their Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice. It was named number 1 out of 32 in a 2009 study by US News & World Report.
2. University of Cincinnati
The School of Criminal Justice at the University of Cincinnati is ranked as the highest in the nation in research studies.
3. Rutgers State University
Rutgers State University at Newark’s Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminal Justice teaches students how technology plays a part in criminal justice programs.
4. University of California Irvine
University CA – Irvine is the only university in California with a criminology department – The Department of Criminology, Law, and Society.
5. University at Albany-SUNY
This university is the first in the U.S. to offer a doctorate degree in criminal justice which studies how the criminal justice system is designed and examines its successes and failures.
6. University of Pennsylvania
This is the only Ivy League university that offers an undergraduate degree in Criminology.
7. University of Missouri – St. Louis
The Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice at the University of Missouri – St. Louis is classified as being second in the U.S.
8. Florida State University
FSU has the oldest Ph.D. program in Criminology and Criminal Justice in the U.S. that emphasizes research and how it affects public policy.
9. Michigan State University
The School of Criminal Justice at MSU is the nation’s oldest continuous degree-granting program in criminal justice. The program incorporates theory and application.
10. Pennsylvania State University – University Park
Ranked in the top five of universities for studies in criminal justice, PSU focuses on statistics, research, theories, and methods associated with crime and control.
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