

Earn your online criminal justice associate degree from Saint Leo University, and learn the tools you need to help your community become a safer place. As a student in Saint Leo’s criminal justice program, you’ll learn the fundamentals of law enforcement, including investigation procedures and the court system. Take advantage of the flexible hours our online criminal justice programs provide our students while learning these life-changing skills.
The associate of arts in criminal justice provides a foundation for a career or for future study in the field of criminal justice.
At Saint Leo, you’ll hear about the latest techniques from faculty members who've served more than 25 years as crime scene investigators, local and federal agents, chief deputies, detectives and FBI advisers. Saint Leo’s online professors are leading experts on all the skills you need to get your foot in the door: interrogation, non-verbal communication, hostage negotiation, and international sex and organ trafficking. As an approved educational partner by the FBI National Academy Associates, we will help get your career off to the right start.
Students who pursue their degrees at Saint Leo’s main campus near sunny Tampa Bay, Florida, join a community of enthusiastic learners just like them.
Crminial Justice students enjoy plenty of engaging learning opportunities both inside and outside the classroom, as well as exciting departmental events.
Saint Leo University’s online learning experience provides a well-rounded education with the flexibility to tailor your course of study to meet your individual needs. We know our students have lives outside school, and we seek to meet them where they are. Online students can count on receiving excellent academics as well as opportunities for hands-on learning.
Taking online classes has afforded me the opportunity to learn while maintaining a job. They give me some flexibility to study at times that work more cohesively with my schedule and allow me to utilize resources such as the library 24 hours a day.
Bentley Streat | Hayes, VA
You may also choose to pursue your degree through one of our education centers, which merge a traditional in-person education with the flexibility to match your lifestyle. Education centers offer eight-week academic terms as well as evening and weekend classes.
No matter which learning experience you choose, you will receive plenty of professional development opportunities, industry knowledge from expert professors, and support from the Saint Leo community. All this together means that you will be ready for a successful career or continued studies upon graduation.
Earn your police standard certificate with training at the Pasco-Hernando Police Academy. Intern with the U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Customs, Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. District Court and Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
Testify and sit on a jury for a courtroom role-playing assignment. Stand in the death chamber of the Florida state prison. Examine fingerprints in a forensics lab.
Online graduates pursue entry-level positions in law enforcement agencies, correctional facilities, government agencies, private security companies and other security-related jobs in the private and public sectors.
Career | Growth | Salary |
---|---|---|
Corrections Officer | 4% (Slower than average) | $55,690 per year |
Paralegal | 12% (Faster than average) | $52,920 per year |
Police | 7% (As fast as average) | $67,290 per hour |
From the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2020.
Saint Leo University’s College of Education and Social Services couples a transformative liberal arts tradition with highly specialized training in the education and social services fields. Through close faculty mentorships, practical field internships, and applied learning experiences, we prepare students for careers in education, social work, criminal justice, and human services. Our faculty remain active in their respective fields as researchers and practitioners, giving students close access to a wealth of real-world knowledge and experience.
With the ever-changing needs of today's students, we provide flexible degree programs. These include programs at University Campus and education centers with evening and weekend options, as well as online offerings. These degree programs are grooming the next generation of educators and social service specialists—a new breed of professionals with the talent and resolve to make a difference in the world.