Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice Degree Programs in Alabama (A-M)

Whether you’ve chosen to become a police officer, prison guard, criminal profiler, or forensics investigator, bachelor’s in criminal justice degree programs in Alabama can train you.

Located in the Deep South, Alabama has 52,419 square miles to patrol and over 4.86 million lives to protect. Criminal justice graduates can find jobs across Alabama’s 67 counties and in state government, such as the Attorney General’s office. According to the FBI, four Alabama cities rank in the top 100 for crime: Birmingham, Huntsville, Mobile, and Montgomery, so demand is high in criminal justice. The BLS reports that 42,490 Alabamans work in protective service occupations for an overall annual yearly wage of $36,080.

Future law enforcement officials can review the first half (A-M) of undergraduate criminal justice schools in Alabama below.

Alabama A&M University

College of Business and Public Affairs

Noted for alumni like Congresswoman Laura Hall and Mayor Kenneth Gulley, Alabama A&M University is a public, historically black space-grant institution in the Alabama Cooperative Extension System that’s teaching around 4,500 undergrad Bulldogs upon 880 suburban acres in Normal. As the highest ranked HBCU in the Washington Monthly master’s rankings, AAMU is declared the South’s 102nd best regional university by the U.S. News. Founded in 1968, the College of Business and Public Affairs offers one of the bachelor’s in criminal justice degree programs in Alabama with 65 percent retention.

Bachelor of Sciences in Criminal Justice

Housed in Drake Hall, the Bachelor of Sciences in Criminal Justice at AAMU selectively admits 53 percent of applicants interested in becoming acquainted with the social sciences to analyze complex criminal behaviors. Leading to the PAME II exit exam, the 41-credit major integrates courses like corrections, political science, sociology, and criminal law. Undergrads can also join the Pre-Law Society, pledge Pi Sigma Alpha, study overseas in Argentina, declare a minor like International Relations, and become University Echoes Student Ambassadors.

Accreditation

• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)

Contact

4900 Meridian Street N.

P.O. Box 908

Normal, AL 35762

(256) 372-5339

craig.patton@aamu.edu

Program Link

Alabama State University

College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

Led by President Dr. Leon C. Wilson, Alabama State University is a public, historically black land-grant AASCU member tracing back to 1867 that’s now educating around 5,300 undergrad Hornets upon 172 urban acres in Montgomery ideally near the Alabama Supreme Court. Picked as America’s 35th best HBCU by the U.S. News, ALASU was placed the 122nd best bang for the buck in Washington Monthly’s Southeast rankings. The College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences splits into six departments for bachelor’s education with a 16:1 student-faculty ratio.

Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice

Currently charging $8,720 per year in-state, the Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice gives ALASU undergrads a basic understanding of the legal processes involved with maintaining safe social conditions. The 120-credit curriculum allows students to specialize in Law Enforcement, Corrections, or Juvenile Justice. Coursework leads to a professional internship with agencies like the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office. Majors could also select the Sociology Minor, join the Air Force ROTC, research in the Center for Leadership & Public Policy, and study in Guam.

Accreditation

• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)

Contact

1300 Carter Hill Road

Montgomery, AL 36104

(334) 229-6845

perhunmwunsee@alasu.edu

Program Link

Amridge University

College of General Studies

Affiliated with the Churches of Christ, Amridge University is a small private, nonprofit liberal arts institution endowed for $174,505 to train around 750 students “Where Traditional and Online Education Merge” from its nine-acre urban headquarters off Interstate 85 in Montgomery. Graded “B” for value on Niche, Amridge was placed the Southeast’s 125th best bang for the buck according to Washington Monthly. Offering another of the bachelor’s in criminal justice degree programs in Alabama, the College of General Studies charges an annual net price of $12,992 with military discount incentives.

BS in Criminal Justice

Along with an AA in Criminal Justice, Amridge delivers the 128-credit BS in Criminal Justice to provide the human relations knowledge requisite for leading in today’s public safety and law enforcement services. With an 11:1 student-faculty ratio, the four-year curriculum includes online and hybrid courses like terrorism, criminal evidence, white collar crime, and psychological profiling through Canvas. Students benefit from access to the Online Library, Career Services Department, financial aid opportunities like the Public Service Tuition Award, and study abroad trips from South Africa to Vietnam.

Accreditation

• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)

Contact

1200 Taylor Road

Montgomery, AL 36117

(334) 387-3877

admissions@amridgeuniversity.edu

Program Link

Athens State University

College of Arts and Sciences

Linked to Tennessee Wesleyan College, Athens State University is a public, upper-division AASCU member founded in 1822 by the Methodist Church that’s now enlightening over 3,500 Bears in junior and senior courses on Athens’ Beaty Street with a $3.1 million endowment. Consistently given the “Military Friendly School” title from G.I. Jobs magazine, Athens State is ranked in the top 5 percent nationally for non-traditional students by College Factual. Unlocking a median starting salary of $39,700, the College of Arts and Sciences offers bachelor’s in criminal justice degree programs in Alabama.

Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice

Featuring a 23:1 student-faculty ratio, Athens State’s Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice focuses on studying the U.S. system that enforces laws, adjudicates suspected perpetrators, and corrects those convicted. Offering an optional Juvenile Justice Studies Option, the 124-credit curriculum spans courses from public administration to homeland security before a senior research project. Undergrads could also intern with the Alabama State Troopers, join the Criminal Justice Student Association, get inducted into Alpha Phi Sigma, and win the ASIS North Alabama Chapter Scholarship.

Accreditation

• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)

Contact

300 N. Beaty Street

Athens, AL 35611

(256) 233-8100

quanda.stevenson@athens.edu

Program Link

Auburn University at Montgomery

College of Public Policy & Justice

Established by the Alabama Legislature’s Act 403 in 1967, Auburn University at Montgomery is a public, co-educational SACS-accredited branch that’s located on 500 suburban acres in Alabama’s capital with an extension adjacent to Maxwell AFB to enroll around 4,800 Soaring Warhawks. Named the 155th best master’s institution for “contribution to the public good” in Washington Monthly, AUM has a 20-year net ROI of $134,000 according to PayScale. The College of Public Policy & Justice is acclaimed for America’s 96th top public affairs programs by the USNWR too.

B.S. in Justice and Public Safety: Criminal Justice Track

Auburn Montgomery stands out among bachelor’s in criminal justice degree programs in Alabama by conferring a B.S. in Justice and Public Safety with two tracks for Criminal Justice or Legal Studies and an optional ABA-approved Paralegal Certificate. The 13-course major spans topics from investigative methods to geographic information systems and dispute resolution. Students work with faculty who were once Auburn Chief of Police, Montgomery County Chief Deputy, Semi Valley Deputy Chief of Police, and more. Students can also join the Alpha Phi Sigma Honor Society or become CPPJ Student Ambassadors.

Accreditation

• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)

Contact

Clement Hall Room 320G

7430 East Drive

Montgomery, AL 36117

(334) 244-3986

atucke24@aum.edu

Program Link

Concordia College Alabama

Social & Behavioral Sciences Division

Sitting atop a 57-acre suburban campus in Selma on the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage, Concordia College Alabama was opened in 1922 as the United States’ only private, historically black Lutheran institution given SACS accreditation to educate around 650 Hornets. Crowned the 107th best baccalaureate university by Washington Monthly, CCAL is ranked the 43rd “Best HBCU School” and 304th “Best Christian College” on Niche. Accepting 53 percent of applicants with an average SAT score of 860, the Social & Behavioral Sciences Division has three degree offerings.

Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice

Costing $10,320 annually before financial aid, the Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice at CCAL is another of the bachelor’s in criminal justice degree programs in Alabama that equips undergrads to apply legal theory to practice for improved public safety. Rooted in social and behavioral sciences, the 55-credit major offers courses like criminal psychology, juvenile justice, Christian ethics, and policing before the capstone internship. Students may also volunteer with at-risk teens through C.I.T.Y., join the Army ROTC, take the Honors Program, study abroad in Cairo, and earn the Leadership Scholarship.

Accreditation

• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)

Contact

1712 Broad Street

Selma, AL 36701

(334) 874-5700

asullivan@ccal.edu

Program Link

Faulkner University

College of Arts and Sciences

Named after the Baldwin Times publisher James H. Faulkner in 1942, Faulkner University is a private, nonprofit Christ-centered institution endowed for $19.1 million to enlighten around 2,200 undergrad Eagles from 74 urban acres in Montgomery and online. Graded B+ for diversity as the 77th “Most Conservative College” on Niche, Faulkner was deemed the 221st best bang for the buck in Washington Monthly’s Southeast rankings. With 57 percent acceptance, the College of Arts and Sciences is also recognized by the U.S. News for America’s 20th best online criminal justice education.

Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice

Taught from a Biblical perspective, the Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice at Faulkner started over 20 years ago to support undergrads choosing law enforcement professions or preparing for ABA-accredited law schools. The 123-credit curriculum builds on the social sciences with courses like criminology, constitutional law, interrogation, and corrections face-to-face in Montgomery. Some transfer from the A.S. in Criminalistics program. In the Spring, seniors complete supervised internships with legal agencies, such as Vestavia Hills Police Department or Montgomery Municipal Court.

Online Bachelor of Criminal Justice (BCJ)

Returning adults seeking more flexible bachelor’s in criminal justice degree programs in Alabama should consider Faulkner’s Online Bachelor of Criminal Justice (BCJ), which transfers 66 credits into the 54-credit curriculum. Through accelerated eight-week courses, online students propel their careers forward with knowledge in law enforcement, corrections, and private security. For just $315 per credit, the program conveniently begins six times annually for students age 23 or older who hold a minimum 2.0 GPA. Graduates could continue for the Online Master of Justice Administration.

Accreditation

• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)

Contact

Greer Hall Room 304-E

5345 Atlanta Highway

Montgomery, AL 36109

(334) 386-7529

pcalvert@faulkner.edu

Program Link

Jacksonville State University

School of Human Services & Social Sciences

Self-proclaimed the “Friendliest Campus in the South,” Jacksonville State University is a public, doctoral-granting research institution established in 1883 that’s teaching over 8,600 Gamecocks from 73 countries in the Anniston-Oxford Metropolitan Area’s suburbs. Placed in the top 15 percent for public affairs education on College Factual, JSU is crowned the South’s 98th best regional university and 41st top public college. Also ranked for the 33rd best online graduate criminal justice courses, the School of Human Services & Social Sciences offers another of the bachelor’s in criminal justice degree programs in Alabama with 71 percent retention.

Criminal Justice Major (B.S.)

Delivered by PhD-level faculty trained at Texas A&M, SUNY Albany, University of Alabama, and more, the Criminal Justice Major (B.S.) specializes the well-balanced JSU core for thorough understanding of the nature of crime and legal responses. Within the 128-credit curriculum, students select one of three concentrations: Corrections, Forensic Investigations, and Law Enforcement. Courses from homicide investigation to police administration are supplemented with a 12-week internship. Majors may also practice in the Center for Applied Forensics, receive the Ernst Selig Scholarship, and join Lambda Alpha Epsilon.

Accreditation

• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)

Contact

Brewer Hall Room 139

700 Pelham Road N.

Jacksonville, AL 36265

(256) 782-5347

rpdavis@jsu.edu

Program Link

Judson College

Division of Social Sciences

Named after missionary Ann Hasseltine Judson in 1838, Judson College is the United States’ fifth oldest private, nonprofit women’s institution affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention under President David E. Potts’ leadership to educate under 400 ladies on a 118-acre rural campus in Marion. Graded “A+” for safety on Niche, Judson was ranked sixth nationwide for commitment to community service in Washington Monthly magazine. The Division of Social Sciences charges an average net price of $14,289 yearly for six bachelor’s majors.

Criminal Justice Major (B.A. or B.S.)

Unlike most bachelor’s in criminal justice degree programs in Alabama, Judson’s Criminal Justice Major confers a B.A. or B.S. to undergrads to learn the theoretical concepts of the legal system for careers controlling, deterring, or mitigating crime. The 30-hour major integrates courses like penology, law enforcement, criminal procedure, and domestic violence. Students could intern at Marion City Police Department, join the Beta Rho Chapter of Alpha Phi Sigma, and volunteer with Big Brothers/Big Sisters. Alumni have excelled with the U.S. Secret Service, Alabama Legislature, and more.

Accreditation

• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)

Contact

302 Bibb Street

Marion, AL 36756

(334) 683-5245

civie@judson.edu

Program Link

Miles College

Division of Social & Behavioral Sciences

Boasting alumni like Congressman Bennett M. Stewart and federal judge U.W. Clemon, Miles College is a public, co-educational SACS-accredited UNCF member founded by the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church that’s now enrolling nearly 1,900 undergrads on its 76-acre suburban campus in Fairfield. Chosen for America’s 352nd “Best Greek Life” on Niche, Miles is ranked the 213th best baccalaureate institution in Washington Monthly. Searching bachelor’s in criminal justice degree programs in Alabama could lead to the Division of Social & Behavioral Sciences, which has an 87 percent placement rate.

Criminal Justice Program

Leading to a Bachelor of Science, Miles’ Criminal Justice Program uses a liberal arts core to train well-rounded, competent professionals for the legal system and concomitant fields. The 126-credit curriculum includes face-to-face courses in Fairfield for studying criminology, public policy, forensic evidence, juvenile delinquency, gang violence, and constitutional law. Upper-classmen must complete 122 practicum hours with a culminating research paper. Students could also join Alpha Phi Sigma, participate in the Public Policy Leadership Academy, minor in International Relations, and declare the Pre-Law track.

Accreditation

• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)

Contact

5500 Myron Massey Boulevard

Fairfield, AL 35064

(205) 929-1681

dmishra@miles.edu

Program Link

According to USA Today, criminal justice is America’s sixth most popular major chosen by over 71,370 students yearly. Building background knowledge on legal processes can open protective service occupations, which are poised to grow by 4 percent through 2024. In addition to finding jobs like private detective, border patrol agent, security manager, or correctional treatment specialist, you could use your criminal justice coursework as a stepping stone into ABA-accredited law schools. Follow your vocational calling to serve the “Yellowhammer State” with these bachelor’s in criminal justice degree programs in Alabama.

Don’t forget to check out the second half (N-Z) here.