Students interested in studying the justice system may wish to explore bachelor’s in Criminal Justice degree programs in Alabama where several schools offer comprehensive degree programs.
Criminal justice studies is an excellent area for study for anyone who wishes to be part of the criminal justice system but who is interested more in the social sciences aspect of justice rather than the scientific part of the justice system that may include chemistry, forensics, and study of various sciences. Studying criminal justice offers students the opportunity to explore the fundamentals of crime, how society defines criminal behavior, and the most effective system of punishment.
Here is the second half of our list of criminal justice bachelor’s degrees in Alabama. For the first half of our list, see: Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice Degree Programs in Alabama (A-M)
Samford University
Evening Studies
Samford University is a Christian school in Alabama and is affiliated with the Alabama Baptist Convention. Formerly known as Howard College the university was founded in 1841. The university is a nationally ranked school in a variety of academic programs, and the school is routinely cited as an affordable school by publications like “The Princeton Review” and “Kiplinger’s Personal Finance.” The motto of the school is “For God, For Learning, Forever,” and the school’s official colors are blue and red. Students who participate in sports play as the Bulldogs and are part of the NCAA Division I – Southern Conference of collegiate sports teams.
Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice
Designed for working adults, the criminal justice degree program at Samford University helps students obtain career advancement, as well as employment within the field. Students learn a variety of fundamentals of the criminal justice system and how those fundamentals impact real world criminal justice applications. Some of the program goals of the criminal justice program include gaining a thorough understanding of the polices common in the criminal justice realm, as well as how justice is delivered within the system. Graduates should be able to apply the theoretical concepts in criminal justice in real world applications, as well as exhibit the skills necessary to communicate and engage in critical thinking and problem solving. Graduates may find work as a police officer, deputy sheriff, or law enforcement communications officer.
Accreditation
- Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
Samford University
800 Lakeshore Drive
Birmingham, AL 35229
Phone: (205) 726-2011
Email: evenings@samford.edu
Spring Hill College
Department of Sociology & Criminology
A private, Roman Catholic liberal arts college, Spring Hill College is affiliated with the Jesuits and has been an educational institution since 1830. The school was founded by a Catholic bishop in Mobile named Michael Portier who went to France to find teachers and educators for the new school. Located in the Spring Hill neighborhood of Mobile, the school was the first Catholic-affiliated institution in the south and was the fifth such college established in the country in the 19th century. Around 1,400 students attend school at Spring Hill’s 400-acre urban campus. The school features 32 buildings, as well as an 18-hole golf course on its campus.
Bachelor of Arts in Sociology Criminology Concentration
Students who enroll in the criminology concentration at Spring Hill College will gain knowledge in four distinct areas including a general sociology background, the origins of the criminal justice system, the way society responds to crime and criminal behavior, and the methods society uses to ensure criminal activity has punishable consequences. Some of the jobs the school suggests may be appropriate for graduates of this bachelor’s in criminal justice degree program in Alabama include investigator, researcher, professor, law enforcement officer, and crime analyst.
Accreditation
- Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
Spring Hill College
4000 Dauphin Street
Mobile, AL 36608
Phone: (251) 380-3054
Email: admit@shc.edu
Troy University
College of Arts & Sciences
Troy University is a public school located in a town of the same name in Alabama. The school was founded in the 1800s and was known as Troy State Normal School and was part of the university system in Alabama. The school has more than 19,000 students attending classes on various campuses. The university used to feature several independently accredited campuses, but those campuses were merged in 2005. The merger was designed to reduce overlaps and increase efficiency. In addition to the merger, the school also changed its name from Troy State University to Troy University. The change was the fifth time school administrators had modified the name of the school.
Criminal Justice Major
With a major in criminal justice, students at Troy University may enroll in the general criminal justice program or the specialized degrees offering concentrations in digital forensics and homeland security. Ike other bachelor’s in criminal justice degree programs in Alabama, students will take classes like criminology, introduction to criminal justice, and classes on topics like corrections, constitutional law, and criminal procedure. Some of the jobs a graduate may pursue after receiving a degree include ATF agent, transportation security officer, victim services officer, or private investigator. A wide variety of jobs exist within traditional law enforcement organizations, as well as private companies offering various criminal justice services.
Accreditation
- Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
Troy University
600 University Avenue
Troy, AL 36082
Phone: (800) 414-5756
Email: ask@troy.edu
The University of Alabama
Department of Criminal Justice
The University of Alabama was founded in 1820 and houses the only law school in the state attached to a public school. As a public research university, The University of Alabama offers an education to a student body of more than 36,000 students. Located in Tuscaloosa, the urban campus covers a large 1,970 acres. Students who participate in sports play as the Alabama Crimson Tide in NCAA Division I games. The school’s colors are crimson and white and boasts a vibrant history within major historic events like the civil rights movement of the 1960s.
Criminal Justice, BA
The university describes its criminal justice program as one that is suited to anyone who is interested in general criminal justice topics, as well as focused areas like terrorism, computer fraud, crime scene analysis, and social control strategies. Students must declare their major and intention to seek a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice by their fourth semester of study. The major requires classes like Intro Criminal Justice, Research Methods, Statistics, and Survey Criminal Theories. Students are allowed 18 credits of general electives and must also complete at least six credits of electives at the 400 level. The criminal justice program at the university is one of the most popular offerings at the school.
Accreditation
- Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
The University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487
Phone: (205) 348-6010
Email: admissions@ua.edu
The University of Alabama at Birmingham
Department of Justice Sciences
The University of Alabama at Birmingham is a relatively new school in its current form as it was established as an autonomous institution in 1969. As one of three universities within the University of Alabama system, the school offers classes to a student body of more than 18,500 students. Popular fields of study at the university include business, medicine, dentistry, engineering, and education. The university boasts one of the largest medical centers at an institution of higher learning in the United States, and the school is also the largest employer in the state with around 18,000 people working for the university system and the health system
Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice
The university describes its degree program as one that offers excellent value to students who wish to enter fields like forensics, private security, corrections, and cyber-crime. Some of the program outcomes include an appreciation for ethics in criminal justice, fluency in procedure and operations within the field, and familiarity with common theoretical concepts. The university reveals that modern employers value employees with a background in criminal justice since the degree can help in many industries and government entities. From work in a traditional law enforcement venue to a job within an advanced cyber-crime unit, criminal justice is a diverse and interesting field in which to work.
Accreditation
- Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
The University of Alabama at Birmingham
1720 2nd Avenue South
Birmingham, AL 35294
Phone: (205) 934-4011
Email: mearwood@uab.edu
University of Mobile
College of Arts and Sciences
The University of Mobile is a private school affiliate with the Alabama Baptist Convention. The school is a small institution with around 1,500 students and describes itself as a Christ-centered, liberal arts institution. The school was established in 1961 and has grown to a size covering around 880 acres. It gained official accreditation from the SACS in 1969. The campus is located about ten miles north of the center of Mobile and is considered suburban in nature. Students interested in sports at the University of Mobile play as The Rams with the official colors of garnet, black, and gray. The school’s mascot is named Mac the Ram.
Bachelor of Science in Government & Law – Criminal Justice Track
Students with an interest in working for the government may wish to explore the criminal justice track within the Bachelor of Science in Government & Law program. Students explore the way political life impacts human life and society in classes like Introduction to American Politics, Political Theory, and Civil Liberties. Within the criminal justice track, students complete classes like Criminology, Introduction to Criminal Justice, and Criminal Law. The degree program can lead to employment in a variety of areas like international politics, traditional criminal justice organizations, and the law. After completing a bachelor’s degree in government and law, students may wish to explore enrolling in law school.
Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science in Psychology – Criminal Justice Track
Psychology is an ideal pairing of knowledge alongside criminal justice, and students with an interest in areas like abnormal psychology, personality counseling, and statistics as they related to psychology may wish to consider the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in Psychology and the available criminal justice track. Essential psychology classes a student will need to complete in the major include Cognitive Psychology, Introduction to Counseling, and Elementary Statistics. Within the criminal justice track, the student will take classes like Introduction to Criminal Justice, Social Psychology, and The Court System and Judicial Processes. A psychology degree with a specialization in criminal justice may allow a student to seek work in many areas in the public and private sectors.
Bachelor of Science in Psychology – Criminal Justice Track
Similar to psychology, a major in sociology with a focus in criminal justice may offer a student the best combination of skills and knowledge necessary to analyze social interaction and how it impacts the criminal justice system. Some of the classes a student will take in the program include Social Research Methods, Marriage and the Family, and Introduction to Sociology. Students will continue on to a variety of criminal justice classes in areas like Criminology and Introduction to Criminal Justice. To complete the degree program, students will also need to complete a senior internship and several credits of study in selected topics.
Accreditation
- Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
University of Mobile
5735 College Parkway
Mobile, AL 36613
Phone: (800) WIN-RAMS
Email: jbiskner@umobile.edu
University of Montevallo
College of Arts & Sciences
The University of Montevallo was established in 1896 as a public, liberal arts university. The school’s motto is “Unconventional Wisdom,” and the school has just over 3,000 students attending classes at its rural campus in Montevallo. The school is the only public liberal arts college in the state and is also a member of the well-regarded Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges. The school has received a variety of accolades from publications like “U.S. News & World Report,” which ranked the school as the number one public master’s-level university in the state of Alabama. The school’s historic campus is considered a valuable architectural treasure within the state of Alabama.
Sociology, Criminology Concentration BA/BS
Like other bachelor’s in criminal justice degree programs in Alabama, the program at the University of Montevallo is a sociology program that offers a concentration in criminology, or criminal justice. Sociology is the study of human society and how societal behavior impacts civilization. Criminal justice is a natural extension of the study of society. Students with a concentration in criminal justice may be able to consider a variety of types of employment, from government jobs to jobs within private companies. A graduate may choose to become a police officer or investigator, as well as work for private companies in security, cyber-crime, and other fields related to criminal justice.
Accreditation
- Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
University of Montevallo
University on Main, Station 6177
Montevallo, AL 35115
Phone: (205) 665-6177
Email: parkers@montevallo.edu
University of North Alabama
Department of Criminal Justice
The University of North Alabama is a public school in Florence and its founding in 1830 marks it as the oldest four-year university in the state. The school is also one of the first schools to become a coeducational institution of higher learning. The school covers 130 acres and was once known as LaGrange College. Around 7,500 students attend classes at the University of North Alabama, and the official school colors are purple and gold. Popular majors at the university include those in business, education, nursing, and health. The school has been ranked as a “top-tier public university” by “U.S. News & World Report.
Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice
The criminal justice program at the University of North Alabama focuses on crime and justice, as well as the ethics involved in the industry. To obtain a degree in criminal justice, a student must pass an exit exam during their last year of study. Students are also assigned an advisor who will help them at designated times during the degree program. The undergraduate program is designed to help people who are already in the work force who wish to advance their careers, as well as new students who are attending college for the first time and are searching for bachelor’s in criminal justice degree programs in Alabama.
Accreditation
- Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
The University of North Alabama
1 Harrison Plaza
Florence, AL 35632
Phone: (256) 765-5045
Email: jtcollins@una.edu
University of Montevallo
College of Arts & Sciences
The University of South Alabama was established in 1963 and is a public school located in Mobile Alabama. The nickname of the university is simply, “South,” and nearly 17,000 students attend classes at the campus. The school was once an extension of the University of Alabama and was the only major university for many years in the region. The school is the second largest employer in the city and has an economic impact on the region of more than a billion dollars. The hospitals owned and operated by the university are also quite busy and treat somewhere around 250,000 patients each year.
Criminal Justice (BA)
Like many bachelor’s in criminal justice degree programs in Alabama, students must complete 120 credits to receive their bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. The bachelor of arts program requires 42 semester hours in criminal justice, as well as a variety of general courses in other subjects. In addition to completing all required classes, criminal justice majors must also take a capstone seminar and successfully pass a final exam. Before a student can take the final classes he or she will take in the major, all core classes must be completed with a passing grade. The university encourages students to enroll in a minor that is a good match for criminal justice.
Accreditation
- Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
University of South Alabama
307 North University Blvd. #130
Mobile, AL 36608
Phone: (251) 460-6101
Email: admissions@southalabama.edu
University of West Alabama
Department of Behavior Sciences
The University of West Alabama is a rural school covering around 600 acres. More than 5,000 students attend classes at the university which was founded in 1835. The school was originally a church-supported school, but it was eventually transformed into a public university. The official colors of the school’s teams are red and white, and students play in NCAA Division II games. Students play with a mascot named Luie the Tiger. The school hosts a variety of popular lectures, concerts, and theater productions each year. The university even has official men’s and women’s rodeo teams that compete in the Ozark Region of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association.
Sociology: Criminal Justice Track
The University of West Alabama houses its criminal justice program within a sociology degree, much like other Alabama-based criminal justice degree programs. In addition to a series of common core courses the student must complete, the degree also requires comprehensive classes covering areas of criminal justice like Social Problems, Minority Relations, The Criminal Justice System, and Principles of Sociology. Students who graduate from the program can work with a variety of types of professionals like the police, correctional facilities, and the courts system. Graduates of the university’s program often go into traditional law enforcement roles, but there are many other areas in which a student may transition after graduating like cyber-crime, government work, and private security.
Accreditation
- Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
University of West Alabama
100 US-11
Livingston, AL 35470
Phone: (205) 652-3400
Email: admissions@uwa.edu
Criminal justice is a field that has undergone significant change and advancement in the past few decades with the emergence of cyber-crime, terrorism, and the school to jail pipeline as important topics for modern Americans. From explorations of significant theories of criminal justice to the practical application of procedures and logic used in the field, students will find a degree prepares them for work in virtually any facet of modern society from government jobs to public work to employment with private companies.
Students in the south and in Alabama have a vast array of educational options available in schools that range from small religiously-affiliated institutions to giant state schools. Students with an interest in the criminal justice system should explore each of the bachelor’s in criminal justice degree programs in Alabama.
