ONLINE CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SERVICE DEGREES
College of Law and Public Service
Why Study
Public Service and Criminal Justice?
At National University, our online public service and criminal justice degrees empower you to serve your community, influence justice systems, and lead with integrity.
Whether you’re drawn to policing, corrections, legal studies, or public administration, our programs are built for ANDers ready to make an impact without pausing their life.
Flexible learning options
Choose online, hybrid, or on-campus classes that fit your busy schedule
Skills that open doors
Build transferable skills in ethics, leadership, negotiation, and legal-process analysis
Built for working professionals
Accelerated courses tailored for professionals and career changers ready to take the next step
Growing career opportunities
With evolving public safety needs and legal frameworks, now’s the time to prepare for roles in law enforcement, justice administration, and public service
Criminal Justice & Public Service Programs by Degree Level
The College of Law and Public Service offers career-relevant programs at the certificate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels, designed with input from industry experts and practitioners to ensure you build real-world skills that employers value.
Criminal Justice and Public Service Degrees that Build Career-Ready Skills
Advance your career with courses aligned to current justice systems, legal studies, and public service:
Criminal Justice Administration & Leadership – Develop management, ethics, and oversight skills for law-enforcement, corrections, or security roles
Legal Studies & Pre-Law – Build foundational knowledge of the law, court systems, and legal practice to prepare for work in legal support or future law school
Public Administration & Policy – Learn how to lead and manage justice, public-safety, or non-profit operations at the local, state, or federal level
Forensic & Crime Scene Investigations – Acquire practical investigative skills to support forensic teams, law enforcement agencies, and criminal-justice research
Homeland Security & Emergency Management – Gain strategic, analytical, and leadership competencies to respond to national security and emergency-preparedness challenges
*Source: The career outcomes data presented is sourced from Lightcast, which provides insights based on real-time job postings, public datasets, and analytics. Lightcast derives its data from sources such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW), and the Occupational Employment Statistics (OES). While accurate and reliable, this data reflects general labor market trends and may not represent individual outcomes or specific local conditions. For more details on Lightcast’s methodology, visit their Data Overview.
Why NU for Criminal Justice & Public Service?
National University offers a holistic approach to student support, ensuring nothing stands between ANDers and success.
Financial Support
1:1 assistance for navigating the financial aid process, generous transfer credit policy, needs-based tuition reduction grants, and scholarships. See if you’re eligible to apply for our Public Safety Promise Scholarship. Doctoral programs are excluded from the tuition discount.
Academic Support
4-, 8-, and 12-week online classes, unlimited free tutoring, individual coaching, writing center, and 150+ academic degree programs, credentials, and certificates.
Career Support
NU Mentoring Network for individual student and alumni career guidance, professional development opportunities, access to job listings, and customized career support.
Wellness Support
Free virtual mental health counseling, access to wellness resources, and Student Wellness Center offering 1:1 support for life challenges.
Community Support
Web-based student networking platform, student clubs and community service events, flexible online options to balance work and family.
Hear From NU Students and Alums
Earning my degree means to me that I have become the first in my family to be a graduate student as well, complete the goals I have set for myself, and never give up.”
Raquel C.
Master’s of Public Administration, Class of 2023
Envision, strategize it, stay consistent and claim it.”
Sina A.
Master’s in Public Administration, Specialization in Organizational Leadership, Class of 2022
My doctoral journey with NU was truly amazing. The program was enriching, and I felt consistently supported by faculty, advisors, tech staff, and my dissertation committee.”
Tiffany M.
Doctor of Business Administration, Class of 2025
Join the NU Navigator Community
Nationwide
Students in all 50 states and 20 countries
Proven Impact
250,000+ alumni
worldwide
Accessible
Millions in scholarships to
help you succeed
Trusted Nonprofit
One of the largest nonprofit universities in U.S.
Featured Blogs
public administration
Learn what public administrators do and how an MPA degree prepares you for leadership in government and nonprofit sectors.
criminal justice
Find out key facts about about Criminal Justice degree programs and career options.
Law enforcement
Discover the wide range of opportunities available in law enforcement.
Institutional Accreditation
FAQs About Online Criminal Justice Degrees
Our degree programs are built with input from experienced practitioners and feature practical scenarios, case studies, and leadership training. You’ll complete projects, apply evidence-based strategies, and engage in community-oriented learning to graduate ready for impact.
Tuition varies by degree level, number of credits, and transfer credits applied. NU offers scholarships, military tuition discounts, and tailored financial-aid assistance to make your education more affordable.
An online bachelor’s degree provides you a foundation in law, policing, courts, corrections, and public administration. You’ll complete interactive coursework, collaborate with peers, and apply your learning to real-world justice and legal contexts to prepare for career advancement or further study.
Careers in the public service field include forensic science researcher, crime scene Investigator, police officer, criminal justice administrator, and roles in homeland security and emergency management.
Yes, National University offers integrated Bachelor’s (BS) in Criminal Justice Administration (CJA) to Master’s (MS/MA) transition programs, allowing high-achieving BS students to take up to two graduate-level courses as electives, fast-tracking their advanced degrees at NU by counting them towards both Bachelor’s and Master’s requirements. These pathways prepare students for leadership roles in law enforcement, corrections, and other justice fields, providing a streamlined route to specialized master’s degrees.
Ready to talk about achieving your educational goals?
