Top Law Enforement Schools in the U.S.

University of Maryland

• The top-rated school for the study of law enforcement is located at the University of Maryland, according to the "U.S. News & World Report" rankings. The university offers an undergraduate major in criminology. Students in the undergraduate program must take courses in law enforcement, criminal justice, juvenile delinquency, research methods, and criminal law. At the graduate level, students can pursue a solitary master of arts (M.A.) degree in the field or a joint degree in law (J.D.) in conjunction with the university's law school. At the doctoral level, the University of Maryland offers a Ph.D. in criminology.

  Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice

  University of Maryland - College Park

  College Park, MD 20742-8235

  301-405-4699

  ccjs.umd.edu

Fort Hays State University

• Fort Hays State University's criminal-justice program was ranked highest by geteducated.com in its "best buy" listings of online criminology programs. The school offers a regionally accredited master of arts degree in liberal studies with a concentration in criminal justice that can be pursued entirely online. The cost of the program was $6,975 per year as of the 2009-2010 academic school year. Students take a minimum of 10 hours in liberal-studies core courses and another 18 in criminal justice. Courses include studies in contemporary criminology theories, advanced research methods, and critical issues in criminal justice. The program culminates with an internship, advanced research project, or master's thesis.

  Fort Hays State University

  600 Park Street

  The Graduate School

  Picken Hall 206E

  Hays, KS 67601

  785-628-5578

  fhsu.edu

State University of New York at Albany--SUNY

• The School of Criminal Justice at the State University of New York at Albany was rated the second highest program in the nation in the "U.S. News & World Report" rankings. At the undergraduate level, the school offers a bachelor of arts in criminal justice as well as a minor in the field. The school also offers a combined B.A./M.A. program that allows students to receive both degrees by completing 140 credit hours. Students can also pursue the M.A. degree by itself or as part of a joint-degree program offered in conjunction with the school's department of social work (masters of social work or M.S.W.). At the doctoral level students can pursue a Ph.D., which requires the completion of 60 credit hours.

  School of Criminal Justice

  State University of New York at Albany

  135 Western Ave.

  Albany, NY 12222

  518-442-5214

  albany.edu