Criminal Justice
Looking to get your start in criminal justice? Look no further than Peru State College. Our bachelor’s in criminal justice program brings you a continuously updated social-science curriculum backed by state-of-the-art training facilities that include a 180-degree training simulator, a crime scene apartment and simulated jail cell, and a criminalistics lab.
Grow your leadership, critical-thinking and decision-making skills as you gain in-depth knowledge of law enforcement; corrections; courts; juvenile justice; criminology; victimology; research methods to study crime and criminal and abnormal behavior; and society’s response to these dynamics.
Students accepted into the Corrections Leadership Program receive scholarships while they are completing a degree and working at the Tecumseh State Correctional Institution (TSCI). Additional scholarships are available.
If you’re interested in a flexible option, Peru State’s bachelor’s degree in criminal justice is also offered 100% online with three concentration options: Administration, Legal Studies and Counseling.
Earn your degree at a college that’s nationally recognized for affordability.
Learn from expert faculty with professional experience in corrections, law enforcement and related occupations.
Receive personalized attention with a 19:1 student-
to-faculty ratio.
Get real-world experience through hands-on, experiential learning informed by industry leaders.
Enjoy a generous transfer policy (up to 90 hours*) and opportunities for scholarships and financial aid.
Tailor your education to your interests with a choice of three concentrations.
Why Earn a Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice Degree?
Our bachelor’s in criminal justice program can help you get your start in a wide range of careers in the fields of law enforcement, corrections, juvenile justice, social services, security or private police, courts, law and more.
As a student in our program, you’ll learn about the criminal justice system and how to perform crucial functions and procedures — everything from writing incident reports and presenting research on criminal justice topics to analyzing court cases and implementing effective solutions for emergency situations. You’ll develop applied skills as you participate in and document criminal justice activities in our cutting-edge training facilities. And you will graduate as a capable and confident criminal justice professional who is ready to protect, serve and make a meaningful difference for the people in your communities.
Earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice 100% online
At Peru State College Online, the online criminal justice courses throughout the 120-credit-hour program are taught by renowned faculty, with real-world, criminal justice experience themselves.
Our faculty members have worked or work in policing, corrections, parole and probation, and make it their priority to stay on top of current criminal justice and administrative practices. Through our continually refreshed curriculum, you are ensured solid knowledge essential to launching or enhancing your career.
Rest assured, your instructors are experts in online teaching, as well, and strive for a smooth, interactive experience for you and your classmates. By keeping the online classroom smaller than you would typically find with a physical campus, the faculty is able to respond quicker, and focus on meaningful interaction with students one-on-one and as a group.
Our online testing practices are also quality-designed to help you perform at your best, with proctored exams giving way to a more personalized, less stressful experience.
Getting excited about your degree path with us? Our online criminal justice courses form the basis of a quality education designed for your ultimate success.
Benefits of a Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice
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If you have a passion for justice and law, then a career in criminal justice can be a rewarding choice for you. Graduates of our bachelor’s in criminal justice program enjoy many benefits, including: Diverse job opportunities. With a bachelor’s in criminal justice, you can pursue a wide range of careers in the criminal justice system, from law enforcement to corrections to the courts. Whether your interests lie in solving crimes, protecting property, providing social services or even creating or upholding laws, a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice can help you start on your path. Exciting work. Criminal justice work is exciting. Occupations in this field involve working with all kinds of people and may take you to all sorts of interesting places, such as crime scenes, police stations, prisons and courtrooms, as you protect and serve the people in your communities. Upward mobility. The criminal justice field offers ample opportunities for promotions and salary increases whether you wish to climb the ladder in a single discipline or leverage your skills to branch out into other roles. And if you think you might like to one day take your education further and pursue an advanced degree — for example, to qualify for senior leadership positions or roles in teaching or research — then a bachelor’s in criminal justice can be a solid foundation on which to build. The ability to make a difference. A career in criminal justice is a great way to give back and help make the world a better place. The field is full of jobs that offer opportunities to protect people and property, help victims of crime, rehabilitate offenders and pursue justice for society. |
Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice Degree Careers
Students who complete a criminal justice degree at Peru State College are prepared to pursue careers such as:
- Police officer
- Deputy sheriff
- State trooper
- Probation/parole/division officer
- Correctional officer
- Border patrol officer
- Federal agent
- Investigator/Detective
- Private security officer
- Child abuse/neglect investigator
- Drug and alcohol specialist (PLADC)
- Case worker
- Advocate
- Dispatcher
- Court clerk
Typical Salaries for Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice Degree Graduates
A bachelor’s in criminal justice degree from Peru State College can prepare you for a multitude of careers with median annual salaries like these:
Corrections Officer
$47,920*
Private Investigator
$59,380*
Probation Officer
$60,250*
Police Officer or Detective
$66,020*
Criminal Investigator
$67,000**
Federal Agent
$93,970*
*Salary info based on data compiled by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
**Salary info based on data compiled by Payscale
Why Choose Peru State for Your Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice Degree?
At Peru State College, we are fiercely committed to quality learning — and proudly so. For more than 150 years we’ve been devoted to academic excellence, continually improving, growing and putting student success first. As a student in our bachelor’s in criminal justice program, you will enjoy:
- A relevant and rewarding education at an institution with state-of-the-art facilities
- Expert faculty, many of whom have professional experience in policing, corrections, parole and probation
- A 19:1 student-to-faculty ratio to ensure you receive personalized attention
- Contemporary coursework that is reviewed and updated on a continual basis
- Cutting-edge facilities that include a 180-degree training simulator, a crime scene apartment and simulated jail cell, and a criminalistics lab
- Diverse scholarship opportunities, including Foundation Scholarships offering more than 175 scholarships to students funded through the private support of alumni and friends
- Career services, including resources and knowledge to help you explore career paths, write resumes and cover letters, prepare for job interviews, find job and internship opportunities, research salaries and more
- A variety of professional, social, academic, cultural, spiritual and volunteer-based organizations to help you meet new friends and explore your interests
Additionally, Peru State College’s online degree programs are nationally recognized for affordability. Check out the 100% online bachelor’s in criminal justice program and its three concentration options: Administration, Legal Studies and Counseling.
Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice Degree Curriculum
The bachelor’s in criminal justice program is thoughtfully designed to provide students with a challenging and relevant curriculum that includes 11 core courses in topics such as policing, corrections, criminology, victimology, juvenile delinquency, homeland security, criminal procedures and research methods.
In addition to the core coursework, students will choose one of three 24-credit concentrations to tailor their education according to their goals and interests:
Justice Administration: Choose eight courses from a selection that includes Organization and Administration of Justice; Human Resources Management; Employee Training and Development; Team Design and Performance; Information Systems Management; and Organizational Ethics.
Justice Counseling: Choose eight courses from a selection that includes Techniques of Counseling; Assessment, Evaluation and Casework Management; Child Abuse and Neglect Detection; Comparative Justice and Human Services Systems; Ethics in Criminal Justice; and Diversity Issues in Counseling.
Legal Studies: Choose eight courses from a selection that includes Legal Environment and Contract Law; Commercial Law; American National Government; State and Local Government; American Constitutional Law; and Public Administration.
Frequently Asked Questions
Completing your bachelor’s in criminal justice degree at Peru State College can help you qualify for roles in law enforcement, social services, corrections and probation, and more. Popular careers for our criminal justice graduates include:
- Police officer/detective
- Deputy sheriff
- Probation/parole officer
- Correctional officer
- Dispatcher
- Case worker
The median annual salary for professionals holding a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from a U.S. higher education institution was about $63,000 as of February 2023, according to Payscale.
Most students complete our bachelor’s in criminal justice program in four years or less. Full-time students with eligible transfer credits may be able to complete the program sooner.
The bachelor’s in criminal justice program at Peru State College offers a choice of three concentrations: Justice Administration, Justice Counseling and Legal Studies. Each concentration is uniquely designed to help you prepare for a range of potential careers, allowing you to maximize your personal and professional satisfaction as you make a lasting impact on people and communities.