There are several choices among accredited Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice degree programs in Florida.
Florida was a popular destination for retirees for decades and still is, but in more recent years Florida’s state and local governments have been actively pursuing business growth which in turn has resulted in significant non-retiree population growth throughout the state. People continue to move to Florida today, though now for more varied reasons than only retirement. In 2016 alone, Orange County grew by more than 80 people per day. As business continues to grow within Florida’s highly positive business climate, population is expected to continue to increase at rapid rates.
Though population growth carries many positive effects on economic growth, it also increases the need and opportunity for those trained in criminal justice. The increased need for corrections and law enforcement officers in areas of significant population growth is obvious. What may be less obvious is the increased need for those trained in criminal justice who choose to work in other areas. Some of these other areas include grant writing, juvenile detention, probation supervision, juvenile group homes, court advocacy, outreach and others.
Florida offers a broad range of educational opportunities in criminal justice, and we continue our list of bachelor’s in criminal justice degrees in Florida below. For the first article in our series, see: Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice Degree Programs in Florida (A-E)
Flagler College – St Augustine
Department of Social Sciences
Located in history St. Augustine, the nation’s oldest continually occupied European settlement in the country, Flagler College is a private institution that was founded in 1968. With its undergraduate enrollment of 2,702, Flagler College is a small school that focuses on providing quality education for its students. It maintains a student – faculty ratio of 15.2 to 1. U.S. News and World Report includes Flagler College in its 2017 rankings of Best Colleges in the Regional Colleges South, Tier 2 division. Flagler College offers one of the high quality Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice degree programs in Florida.
BA, Criminology
Flagler College students in the Criminology program learn about and analyze the criminal justice system as well as the law that guides and directs it. Students gain a firm foundation in law and criminal justice theory, then take their study further in the form of studying various causes and consequences of crime. Students engage in assessment of and debate in social responses to crime, critiquing both general and specific aspects of their study. Students completing the criminal justice program at Flagler College are prepared to enter law enforcement or appropriate social services.
Contact
74 King Street
St. Augustine, Florida 32084
Phone: 904-829-6481 or 800-304-4208
Email Address: admissions@flagler.edu
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University
Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice
Florida A&M University is a public institution that was founded in 1887 and is the only public historically black university in Florida. Located in Tallahassee, the campus is urban yet is situated on 419 acres. Current undergraduate population is 8,128. Regardless of its heritage as a historically black institution and its mission to provide high quality education for African-Americans, the school accepts students without regard to race, ethnicity or nationality. U.S. News and World Report names the school on its list of Best Colleges among National Universities, Tier 2. Florida A&M University offers one of the most attractive Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice degree programs in Florida.
Bachelor of Criminal Justice
Students enrolled in Florida A&M University’s criminal justice program study theory, criminal law, corrections, law enforcement and juvenile justice, then engage in research in one or more of these areas. Included in the program are legal studies, corrections and juvenile justice as well as minority and gender studies. The school offers an array of internship opportunities as well. No student is required to complete one or more internships, but the school encourages every student to take advantage of the opportunity. Program graduates are qualified to begin work in a variety of areas within criminal justice or pursue further study either in criminal justice or law.
Contact
Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice
403 Perry Paige
1740 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd
Tallahassee, Florida 32307
Phone: (850) 599-3316 or (850) 599-8826
Email Address: sociologycj@famu.edu
Florida Atlantic University
School of Criminology and Criminal Justice
Located on Florida’s East Coast in Boca Raton, Florida Atlantic University is a public university serving the Southeastern portion of coastal Florida. The school was founded only in 1961, yet today it has a total undergraduate population of 25,471. Situated on a campus of 850 acres, Florida Atlantic University is large in physical size as well as in student population. U.S. News and World Report includes Florida Atlantic University in its 2017 listing of Best Colleges among National Universities, Tier 2. Its School of Criminology and Criminal Justice maintains a clear focus on criminal justice and offers one of the best Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice degree programs in Florida.
Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice
This degree program offers students a broad understanding based in liberal arts to lead to knowledge associated with the nature of crime and its causes. Students study these topics within a framework focusing on law and the legal system as it applies to both adults and juveniles, as well as the decision processes most often used within various criminal justice agencies. Graduates of this program will be prepared to enter into careers in several areas of criminal justice or to enter into graduate study in criminology, criminal justice, public administration or other graduate programs.
Contact
777 Glades Road, SO 208
Boca Raton, FL 33431
Phone: 561-297-3240
Email Address: No email address provided.
Florida Gulf Coast University
College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Justice Studies
Florida Gulf Coast University is another public university that is relatively new but has experienced significant growth in its 26 years. Located on Florida’s West Coast in Ft. Myers, Florida Gulf Coast University was founded in 1991. It enjoys a 700 – acre suburban campus and has an undergraduate population of 13,717. U.S. News and World Report ranks Florida Gulf Coast University at number 82 among Regional Universities in its 2017 edition of Best Colleges. Florida Gulf Coast University offers one of the leading Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice degree programs in Florida.
Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice
Though most bachelor programs in criminal justice offer Bachelor of Arts degrees, Florida Gulf Coast University provides graduates with a BS degree in the discipline. The program leads each student through an extensive overview of the larger criminal justice system and its several components including law enforcement, the judiciary, corrections, juvenile justice, probation, parole and even international justice. This program also is offered online as a four-year degree for Florida Gulf Coast University students or those with Associate degrees from a Florida public community college who seek to complete upper level courses to attain their Bachelor degrees in Criminal Justice.
Contact
10501 FGCU Blvd. South
Fort Myers, FL 33965-6565
Phone: (239) 590-1000 or (800) 590-3428
Email Address: No email address provided.
Florida Institute of Technology – Online
College of Psychology and Liberal Arts
Founded in 1958 as an academic training center serving those in the space industry, Florida Institute of Technology – Florida Tech – is a private institution in Melbourne on Florida’s Space Coast near the Kennedy Space Center. Florida Tech has 3,586 undergraduate students, nearly half of whom are enrolled in the university’s College of Engineering. Though the school’s primary focus is on STEM – science, technology, engineering and math – topics, it also offers solid liberal arts programs and two distinct Bachelor programs. Either is an excellent choice among Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice degree programs in Florida.
Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice
This program is rich in both theory and practicality in all aspects of criminology and criminal justice, including homeland security, victimology and even organized crime. It seeks to provide explanation of crime and behavior in a multidisciplinary manner and examines the various systems we use to address crime.
Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice – Homeland Security
This program also provides a strong foundation in criminal justice while focusing primarily on the issues of Homeland Security. Florida Tech recommends the program not only for those with no criminal justice experience but also for those currently working as a Homeland Security professional or even a military veteran seeking to build on the foundation provided by service experience.
Contact
150 W. University Blvd.
Melbourne, FL 32901
Phone: (321) 674-8000
Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice
Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice – Homeland Security
(Related article: Top 50 Most Affordable Schools for an Online Master’s in Homeland Security 2017-2018)
Florida International University
Steven J. Green School of International and Public Affairs, Department of Criminal Justice
Florida International University has two campuses, both of which are in the Miami area. The Department of Criminal Justice offers a Bachelor degree in criminal justice completely online. The university was founded in 1972 and now has more than 41,038 students. It is a public institution that enjoys much respect in many areas. One its most recent recognitions is as the third best online criminal justice degree programs in the entire country. The school provides one of the leading public university Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice degree programs in Florida for both Hispanic and non-Hispanic students.
Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice
Florida International University has an extensive criminal justice program and offers both undergraduate and graduate criminal justice degrees. The Bachelor program can stand alone or students may elect to combine it with an accelerated Master program. The undergraduate degree program focuses on the basics of theory and practice to prepare students to enter into criminal justice professions or continue with graduate study.
Contact
Modesto A. Maidique Campus
11200 SW 8th Street, PCA-257
Miami, Florida 33199
Phone: (305) 348-5890
Email Address: No email address provided.
Florida Memorial University
Department of Social Sciences
Florida Memorial University is a small private university that is located in Miami. Founded in 1879, the school has 1,399 undergraduate students and an attractive student to faculty ratio. U.S. News and World Report ranks Florida Memorial University as number 23 in its 2017 list of Best Colleges among Regional Colleges South. It offers one of the leading Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice degree programs in Florida.
Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice
Florida Memorial University seeks to prepare individuals for careers including leadership roles in crime and delinquency prevention and correction through the study of justice systems and theories, corrections philosophy and criminal law. This degree program also prepares students for continuation in graduate or law schools.
Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice (Criminology)
This undergraduate degree program is similar but provides additional emphasis on theory. Graduates may choose to enter into or continue in the criminal justice field in law enforcement, parole and probation, juvenile justice, correctional institutions or with any government or private investigation or security organizations.
Contact
15800 N.W. 42nd Avenue
Miami Gardens, FL 33054
Phone: 305-626-3600
Email Address: admissions@fmuniv.edu
Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice
Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice (Criminology)
Florida National University – Main Campus
Undergraduate Degree Programs
Florida National University was founded in 1988 for the purpose of serving international, Hispanic and military students. It is a very small private institution that measures its campus size in square feet rather than in acres. It was Florida National College until 2012, when it gained approval to offer a broader choice of degrees including additional undergraduate degrees. It offers one of the most flexible Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice degree programs in Florida.
Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice
The purpose of Florida National University’s Bachelor of Science Criminal Justice program is to provide students with well honed analytical and critical thinking skills as well as to enhance students’ communication skills while preparing them for advancement within criminal justice careers or for pursuing graduate programs.
Contact
4425 W. Jose Regueiro (20th) Ave.
Hialeah, Florida 33012
Phone: (305) 821-3333
Florida Southern College
School of Arts and Sciences
An old school founded in 1883, Florida Southern College is a private school located in central Florida. Its Lakeland location is between Orlando and Tampa, on a suburban campus of 113 acres. With 2,319 undergraduate students, Florida Southern is a small school that takes full advantage of its relatively small size. The student to faculty ratio is only 13 to 1. U.S. News and World Report places Florida Southern at number 20 in its 2017 edition of Best Colleges, Regional Universities South. The school offers students attractive opportunities in the form of international study, collaborative research and internships. In Criminal Justice, several instructors are practicing criminal justice professionals. Florida Southern College offers one of the most comprehensive and unique Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice degree programs in Florida.
BS Criminology
The goal of Florida Southern College in its criminology program is to study crime and those things that cause it, along with assessing various social policies and programs that have been intended to address crime and its causes. Students at Florida Southern College have many opportunities not available to students at most other schools. As example, students taking the course titled “A Comparison of the American and British Criminal Justice Systems” travel to England to do so. Because several faculty members also are active practitioners in criminal justice, they have intense interest in research that can help to inform both theory and practice. Undergraduate students have opportunity to participate in collaborative research in several areas. Undergraduate criminology students also have opportunity to gain practical experience through internships.
Contact
111 Lake Hollingsworth Drive
Lakeland, FL 33801
Phone: 863.680.4111
Email Address: No email address provided.
Florida State University
College of Criminology and Criminal Justice
Founded in 1851 and located in Florida’s capital of Tallahassee, Florida State University is one of the oldest schools in the Florida university system. It also is one of the largest, and in all respects. It has 32,706 undergraduate students on the campus that encompasses 476 acres. The magnitude of the respect that Florida State University enjoys matches the size of its large campus and large total student enrollment. In its 2017 edition of Best Colleges, U.S. News and World Report ranks Florida State at number 92 among National Universities. The school warns that prospective incoming freshmen need to ensure that they apply early if they will be seeking housing on campus. The demand for that housing each year always surpasses supply. The College of Criminology and Criminal Justice is home to the Center for Criminology and Public Policy Research and the Institute for the Prevention of Financial Fraud. It also maintains an association with the Pat Thomas Law Enforcement Academy through which students can earn their Bachelor degrees concurrently with gaining their State Officer Certifications. Florida State University offers some of the leading Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice degree programs in Florida.
Criminology
Students in this program can earn either a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts in Criminology. Students also have internship opportunity in which they work 40 hours a week for a criminal justice or criminology agency, complete limited academic work and then finish the semester with 15 credit hours. Students are not required to complete an internship. Students also can choose to secure a minor or a second major in another department if they choose not to participate in the Criminology Internship Program.
Computer Criminology
This undergraduate program focuses on cybercrime and includes classes in computer programming, discrete math, Computer Networks, Computer Security, Network Security and Cryptography, Data Structures, Algorithms and similar topics. The program includes two capstone courses: Criminal Justice System Responses to Cybercrime and Cybercrime Detection and Forensics. The program soundly addresses the increasing problems of cybercrime and gives students the technical knowledge to be effective.
Online Bachelor’s Program: Online Bachelor’s Degree in Criminology
Any student can choose to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminology fully online. The program requires no on-campus attendance so students do not have to live in Florida State’s geographical area. The program greatly benefits working adults and other nontraditional students.
B.S .to M.S. Program
Undergraduates who have completed at least 90 credit hours with sufficient grade success can apply for Florida State’s combined Bachelor’s – Master’s Degree Program. The program allows undergraduates to apply the same 12 credit hours to two different programs, reducing the time required to complete either outside of the program. Students accepted into the program still must apply to the graduate school in their senior undergraduate year.
3+3 Program
This program is similar to the B.S .to M.S. Program in that it is a dual program that leads to two degrees on completion. The difference is that the advanced degree secured through the 3+3 Program is Juris Doctor from FSU’s College of Law. The school describes this program as being quite rigorous! It operates in the same manner as the B.S .to M.S. Program: students can apply after completing 90 undergraduate hours if they have a cumulative GPA of 3.6. Those who are accepted can complete both undergraduate and Juris Doctor degrees in six years instead of seven.
Contact
Eppes Hall
112 S. Copeland Street
Tallahassee, Florida 32306-1273
Phone: 850-644-4050
Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts in Criminology
Bachelor of Science in Computer Criminology
Florida Technical College
Bachelor Programs
Florida Technical College is a small school that maintains six campuses in the north central part of the state. It focuses on vocational pursuits that are more technical and practical than they are theoretical, and most of its students are nontraditional. Of its 2,977 enrolled undergraduates, fully 61 percent are over the age of 25. It offers a Homeland Security Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice degree programs in Florida.
Bachelor of Science Degree: Criminal Justice with Emphasis on Homeland Security
Florida Technical College offers only one criminal justice bachelor degree. It is a four year degree that prepares graduates for occupations such as security management specialists, immigration enforcement agents, border patrol agents and Secret Service agents.
Accreditation
The school’s website states that the criminal justice program at one of its six campuses is under review by its accreditor, Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS) because that campus’ graduate placement rate is under 60 percent. There are no questions about the academic soundness of any of the programs and the review applies only to the program at a single campus.
Contact
FTC Deland
1199 South Woodland Blvd.
Deland, Florida 32720
Phone: (844) 402-3337
Herzing University – Winter Park
Undergraduate Degree Programs
Herzing University – Winter Park is a small, for-profit school offering degrees in various areas of business and health sciences, degrees that are useful in assisting those completing them to enter desired areas of work or to progress within fields in which they already have practical experience. Winter Park is only one of several Herzing campuses throughout the country. This particular campus is near Orlando and the school operates from what primarily is a commuter campus. It also offers online programs. Herzing University – Winter Park has one of the most targeted Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice degree programs in Florida.
Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice
Herzing University’s degree in Criminal Justice prepares graduates for careers in the criminal justice areas of law enforcement, corrections and security. The degree program prepares students with solid understanding of how the legal system operates including the judicial process for juveniles and adults. Students also closely study criminality and evidence forensics.
Contact
1865 FL-436
Winter Park, FL 32792
Phone: (407) 641-5227
Email Address: No email address provided.
Hodges University
Nichols School of Professional Studies
Hodges University is a small, private two-campus institution serving Florida’s West coast. Though it certainly accepts traditional students, it concentrates on serving the needs of nontraditional students and focuses on adult education. Many of Hodges University’s students are working adults who return to school. Hodges University strives to accommodate those students’ needs whenever possible and offers flexible class scheduling and online classes. Hodges University offers one of the most accommodating Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice degree programs in Florida.
Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice
Hodges University offers a broad and balanced criminal justice curriculum that incorporates comprehension, analysis and application into theoretical and practical study of criminal justice and the justice system, as well as synthesis and evaluation. Graduates are prepared to work in several areas of criminal justice or to go further into graduate study.
Contact
Naples Campus:
2655 Northbrooke Drive
Naples, FL 34119
Phone: 800-466-8017
Ft. Myers Campus:
4501 Colonial Blvd.
Fort Myers, FL 33966
Phone: 800-466-0019
Criminal justice study always has included law enforcement, corrections and the judicial system but it is rapidly expanding into areas such as forensic analysis, cybercrime, immigration and newly emerging types of criminal activity. A bachelor degree in criminal justice can be a terminal degree or the first step toward graduate study and higher levels of leadership. These programs are some of the best Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice Programs in Florida.
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