Arizona Criminal Justice Programs

While Arizona is a relatively safe place to live, raise a family, and establish roots, it has crime just like anywhere else. According to data compiled by the FBI, between 2011 and 2012, the crime rate in Arizona increased by 3.5%. Currently, Arizona's crime rate is among the top 20 in the nation.

As Phoenix is the by far the largest metro city region in the state, it is also the location of the most crime. Nearly 80% of the state's population lives in and around the city of Phoenix. The Phoenix Police Department currently serves eight precincts and is always looking for good officers to serve and protect. In fact, corrections officers, investigators, forensic analysts, crime scene specialists and other criminal justice professionals are in high demand in Phoenix, Tucson and other major cities throughout Arizona.

As the southern end of the state borders Mexico, Arizona faces many unique law enforcement issues and objectives. DEA, ICE and border patrol agents are a common element of the law enforcement community in the state of Arizona. For those with the right training, education and background, jobs in border patrol, drug enforcement and immigration are plentiful and growing.

While there are few non-education paths to a career in criminal justice and law enforcement, most positions require professional law enforcement training or a college degree in criminal justice or other relevant disciplines (e.g. psychology, engineering, technology, etc.) Earning an associate degree will qualify candidates for entry-level law enforcement careers such as bailiff, correctional officer or police officer. Interested in a career in forensics or investigations? Then you should probably consider earning a bachelor's degrees. Management positions, federal law enforcement careers and specialized positions (forensic accounting, crime scene analyst, technology specialist, etc.) typically require a masters degree.

And don't think that just because you want a career in law enforcement, you have to earn a degree in criminal justice. Criminals are a very diverse group of individuals--and so must be the professionals that apprehend them. Criminal justice and law enforcement agencies today hire individuals with advanced degrees in psychology, computer science, engineering, sociology, linguistics, accounting, political science and criminology.

Below you'll find a comprehensive directory of the accredited colleges and universities in Arizona offering degrees and certificates in criminal justice, law enforcement and related disciplines. If you want to explore some of the other degree paths we outlined in the paragraph above, simply click on the "Career Education" link in the upper right hand corner of this page. Whichever educational path you choose, earning a degree will go a long way to helping you find your first job or qualify for career advancement opportunities.

Criminal Justice Degree Finder
Search our database of online and campus-based criminal justice programs.

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Criminal Justice, Legal and Safety Criminal Justice Corrections Crime Scene Investigation Criminal Justice Administration Criminology Forensic Science and Technology Emergency and Crisis Management Fire Science Fire Services Administration Homeland Security and Terrorism Juvenile Justice Law Enforcement Police Law School Legal Studies Court Reporting - Legal Transcription Legal Administration and Assisting Legal Administrative Assistant - Secretary Legal Office Management and Administration Paralegal - Legal Assistant Public Safety and Personal Safety Security and Loss Prevention Services Computer Crimes Cyber Security Private and Public Investigations Security Services Administration - Management All Degrees Associate's Bachelor's Master's Doctoral Certificates Diplomas Coursework Campus & Online Online Campus

Anthem College (Phoenix, AZ) Programs offered: Associate of Applied Science (AAS) - Criminal Justice Associate of Science (A.S.) - Criminal Justice (online) Bachelor of Science (BS) in Criminal Justice (online)

Arizona Western College (Yuma, AZ) Programs offered: Associate in Applied Science - Paralegal Studies Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) - Administration of Justice Certificate Program - Law Enforcement Occupational Certificate Program - Paralegal Studies

Brookline College (Phoenix, AZ) Programs offered: Associate Degree - Criminal Justice (online) Associate of Arts (AA) - Justice Administration Associate of Arts (AA) - Paralegal Associate of Arts (AA) - Paralegal (online) Associate of Arts (AA) - Paralegal Studies Associate of Arts (AA) - Paralegal Studies (online) Certificate Program - Legal Secretary Certificate Program - Legal Secretary (online) Diploma - Legal Secretary Diploma - Legal Secretary (online)

Brown Mackie College (Phoenix, AZ / Tucson, AZ) Programs offered: Associate Degree - Paralegal Associate of Science (A.S.) - Criminal Justice Bachelor of Science (BS) in Criminal Justice Bachelor of Science (BS) in Legal Studies

Central Arizona College (Coolidge, AZ) Programs offered: Associate of Applied Science (AAS) - Administration of Justice

Chandler/Gilbert Community College (Chandler, AZ) Programs offered: Certificate Program - Crime Intelligence Analysis Certificate Program - Forensic Science Certificate Program - Homeland Security Certificate Program - Justice Studies Certificate Program - Law Enforcement Training Academy

Cochise College (Douglas, AZ) Programs offered: Associate of Applied Science (AAS) - Administration of Justice Associate of Applied Science (AAS) - Intelligence Operations Studies Associate of Arts (AA) - Administration of Justice Certificate Program - Public Safety Communications Officer I

Coconino Community College (Flagstaff, AZ) Programs offered: Associate of Applied Science (AAS) - Criminal Justice Associate of Arts (AA) - Criminal Justice Certificate Program - Basic Detention Academy Certificate Program - Basic Emergency Dispatch Academy

East Valley Institute of Technology (Mesa, AZ) Programs offered: Associate of Applied Science (AAS) - Law Associate of Applied Science (AAS) - Public Safety Associate of Applied Science (AAS) - Security

Eastern Arizona College (Thatcher, AZ) Programs offered: Associate of Applied Science (AAS) - Administration of Justice Associate of Arts (AA) - Administration of Justice Certificate Program - Police Academy

Estrella Mountain Community College (Avondale, AZ) Programs offered: Bachelor of Science (BS) in Forensics Bachelor of Science (BS) in Law Enforcement

Everest College-Phoenix (Mesa, AZ / Phoenix, AZ) Programs offered: Associate Degree - Criminal Investigations (online) Associate Degree - Criminal Justice (online) Associate Degree - Criminal Justice (online) Associate of Justice - Criminal Justice (online) Associate of Science (A.S.) - Criminal Investications (online) Associate of Science (A.S.) - Criminal Justice Associate of Science (A.S.) - Paralegal Bachelor Degree - Criminal Justice (online) Bachelor of Science (BS) in Criminal Justice Bachelor of Science (BS) in Criminal Justice (online)

Fortis College (Phoenix, AZ) Programs offered: Certificate Program - Court Reporting Certificate Program - Paralegal

Grand Canyon University (Phoenix, AZ) Programs offered: Bachelor Degree - Criminal Justice (online) Bachelor of Science (BS) in Justice Studies Master of Science (M.S.) - Criminal Justice Masters Degree - Criminal Justice (online)

ITT Technical Institute (Phoenix, AZ / Tempe, AZ / Tucson, AZ) Programs offered: Associate of Applied Science (AAS) - Criminal Justice Associate of Applied Science (AAS) - Criminal Justice (online) Bachelor of Applied Science - Criminal Justice Bachelor of Applied Science - Criminal Justice (online) Bachelor of Science (BS) in Criminal Justice (online) Bachelor of Science (BS) in Information Systems Security

Mesa Community College (Mesa, AZ) Programs offered: Associate of Applied Science (AAS) - Administration of Justice Certificate Program - Administration of Justice Certificate Program - Forensic Studies

Mohave Community College (Kingman, AZ) Programs offered: Associate of Applied Science (AAS) - Administration of Justice Associate of Applied Science (AAS) - Corrections Officer Associate of Applied Science (AAS) - Evidcence & Crime Scene Investigation

Northern Arizona University (Flagstaff, AZ) Programs offered: Bachelor of Applied Sciences - Justice Systems Policy and Planning Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science (BS) in Interdisciplinary Studies: Criminology and Criminal Justice Bachelor of Science (BS) in Criminology and Criminal Justice Master of Science (M.S.) - Applied Criminology

Ottawa University (Phoenix, AZ) Programs offered: Bachelor Degree - Human Services - Corrections (online)

Paradise Valley Community College (Phoenix, AZ) Programs offered: Associate of Applied Science (AAS) - Administration of Justice

Penn Foster College (Scottsdale, AZ) Programs offered: Associate Degree - Criminal Justice (online)

Phoenix College (Phoenix, AZ) Programs offered: Associate in Applied Science - Paralegal Associate of Applied Science (AAS) - Administration of Justice Associate of Applied Science (AAS) - Forensic Science Certificate Program - Administration of Justice Certificate Program - Crime and Accident Scene Photography Certificate Program - Evidence Technology Certificate Program - Fingerprinting Certificate of Completion - Paralegal

Pima Community College (Tucson, AZ) Programs offered: Associate of Applied Science (AAS) - Administration of Justice Studies Associate of Applied Science (AAS) - Paralegal Associate of Arts (AA) - Administration of Justice Studies Certificate Program - Crime Scene Management Certificate Program - Fraud Examination Post Baccalaureate Certificate Program - Paralegal

Rio Salado College (Tempe, AZ) Programs offered: Associate Degree - Law Enforcement Technology (online) Certificate Program - Law Enforcement Technology

Scottsdale Community College (Scottsdale, AZ) Programs offered: Associate of Applied Science (AAS) - Administration of Justice Certificate Program - Crime Scene Investigation Certificate Program - Crime Scene Technology Certificate Program - Justice Studies Certificate Program - Police Academy Prep

University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ) Programs offered: Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Public Administration - Criminal Justice

Western international University (Phoenix, AZ) Programs offered: Bachelor Degree - Criminal Justice (online) Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) - Criminal Behavior

Yavapai College (Prescott, AZ) Programs offered: Associate of Applied Science (AAS) - Administration of Justice Associate of Applied Science (AAS) - Paralegal Studies Certificate Program - Arizona Peace Officer’s and Standards Training Certificate Program - Paralegal Studies - Legal Nurse Certificate Program - Specialty Officer Post Baccalaureate Certificate Program - Paralegal Studies