The Top Criminal Justice MBA Online Programs

Online MBA criminal justice programs prepare students to work in higher levels of correctional administration instead of basic law enforcement. Students will build decision-making skills through the use of case studies, designed to prepare them for issues common in the criminal justice field. Graduates will not only have a strong understanding of business management principles, but they will also have the specific skills required to manage criminal justice institutions such as police departments and juvenile rehabilitation centers.

Students who attend accredited online criminal justice MBA schools study the core parts of the criminal justice system, which include the legislative, judicial and corrections areas. Most coursework is in corrections, the part of the criminal justice system that is responsible for supervising and punishing people convicted of crimes. Criminal justice MBA schools online teach how to evaluate existing policies and how to implement new policies within a variety of state and federal criminal justice environments.

How can I tell if an online MBA criminal justice degree is right for me?

An online Master of Business Administration in Criminal Justice is often pursued by students who are interested in law enforcement, community safety and working with the public.

Some additional characteristics that are common in many online MBA criminal justice students include:

• A proclivity for getting information
• An ability for analyzing data or information
• A capacity for making decisions and solving problems
• An aptitude for resolving conflicts and negotiating with others
• An inclination for evaluating information to determine compliance with standards

How long does it take to earn an MBA online criminal justice degree?

A criminal justice MBA degree online takes approximately the same time to complete as any other online MBA. To earn this degree it normally takes 2 years of full-time education. But, some colleges offer part-time or accelerated programs that give students the flexibility to earn the MBA at their own pace.

What are the prerequisites and admission requirements for MBA criminal justice schools online?

Accredited online MBA criminal justice programs generally require students to have an undergraduate degree before enrolling in the MBA program. An undergraduate degree in related fields like paralegal, business administration, public policy, and crime scene investigation may be preferred by some schools that have an MBA criminal justice online program.

In addition to requiring students to have a bachelor’s degree, many online MBA in criminal justice programs base admission on the following criteria:

• Academic transcripts
• Graduate Management Admission Test scores (GMAT)
• References or Letters of Recommendation
• Work experience

What courses will I take in criminal justice MBA programs online?

Typically, the first-year of a top criminal justice MBA online program consists of courses in statistics, marketing and research, accounting, finance and business management. The first-year of the best online MBA programs is designed to equip students with the skills and knowledge required to handle management issues that come up in all industries, including ones concerning ethics or liability.

The second year of a criminal justice MBA online program focuses more on legal education. Common MBA criminal justice online courses can include criminal justice policies and procedures, research methods, forensic science, parole and probation and criminal justice processes and institutions. Some of the best online MBA in criminal justice programs also offer seminars and internship opportunities in actual law enforcement facilities.

Students enrolled in online criminal justice MBA programs often complete internships in order to supplement their education. Such an internship can be important in that it not only gives students a chance to practically apply the business and criminal justice skills they are learning in an actual business setting, but it can also serve as an introduction into a particular business or company.

What are the best online MBA in criminal justice books I should consider reading?

Some books students wanting to pursue criminal justice MBA careers may find insightful include:

1. Work in Criminal Justice: An A-Z Guide to Careers in Criminal Justice (Debbie Goodman, Ron Grimming) – This is an outstanding book for anyone interested in the different career opportunities offered in the criminal justice field.

2. Doing Justice, Doing Gender: Women in Law and Criminal Justice Occupations (Susan Martin) – The author of this book provides an in-depth look at gender barriers in law enforcement workplaces.

3. Lead by Example: 50 Ways Great Leaders Inspire Results (John Baldoni) – This text explores ways that managers can keep their employees motivated, happy and productive through effective leadership, an important skill for any management professional.

4. The Collapse of American Criminal Justice (William Stuntz) – This is an extremely argumentative book on the failures of the American criminal justice system through a historical perspective.

5. Popular Justice: A History of American Criminal Justice (Samuel Walker) – A good background book for MBA students in criminal justice, this volume offers a detailed and informative conversation on how the criminal justice system has evolved in America.

What are my future job prospects if I pursue criminal justice MBA jobs?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, job prospects for MBA online criminal justice graduates are quite promising. A graduate holding an online Master of Business Administration in Criminal Justice can anticipate a decent income, especially if their program has high online criminal justice MBA rankings. The police and detective sector is expected to add 58,700 jobs between 2010 and 2020. The following list details potential salary averages within the criminal justice field:

• Correctional Administrator -$62,000
• Fish and Game Warden-$52,000
• Administrative Service Manager-$77,890
• Police Chief-$59,000

The expected job growth for police chief positions is low at only 7% over the next decade, according to the BLS. Wardens have an even lower growth rate at 5%. The poor job growth is primarily a result of lower government spending by government funded agencies. However, administrative service managers will earn the highest criminal justice MBA salary with an expected growth of 15% over the next ten years. Job growth in the criminal justice sector varies from year to year as it is dependent on government budgeting.

Many employers prefer graduates who have graduated from AACSB accredited criminal justice MBA programs. Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business accreditation generally indicates that a business school provides a quality education.

What are the top online schools to pursue an online Criminal Justice MBA degree?

• Saint Leo University Online
• Liberty University Online