At the associate's degree level, classes include the core classes such as English, Communications, Humanities, Math, Social Sciences and Natural Sciences. The classes for criminal justice include Introduction to Criminal Justice, Criminology, Criminal Law, Domestic Violence, Juvenile Cases, Drugs and Alcohol, Ethics, and an Introduction to Corrections. If you specialize in a specific area, classes will include administration, computer sciences and other courses related to the area of specialization.
At the bachelor's level you have the option of taking a Bachelors of Arts or Sciences depending on the area of criminal justice you choose to work in. The classes at the bachelor level will be similar to the associate degree. Classes include Introduction to Criminology, Introduction to the Criminal Justice System, Cultural Diversity in Criminal Justice, Criminal Procedure, Juvenile Justice Systems and Procedures. These are but a few of several classes you may be required to take.
Every school has its own class requirements to achieve a master's degree. Boston University's classes include White Collar Crime, Victimology, Juvenile Crime, Terrorism, Crime and Punishment: A Conceptual and Ethical Inquiry, Forensic, Analytical and Research Method classes. Other classes may include psychology and sociology classes, philosophy and politics.
Classes at the Ph.D. level increase your skills and ability to work within the criminal justice field. The University of Nebraska Omaha has eight core classes with 18 elective classes to select from. Classes include Advanced Statistical Applications, Special Problems in Research and Statistical classes, Academic Writing, Advanced Research Design, Teaching at College Level, Criminal Justice Program Evaluation and Policy Analysis. Elective classes include topics like Police and Society, Corrections, Theoretical Criminology, Law and Social Control, Dissertation Writing and other criminology topics.