Criminal Justice Degrees

Yes, criminal justice is considered a social science, as it explores human behavior, societal structures and the impact of laws and policies. While not all of our programs are classified as social science degrees, our criminal justice, legal studies and public administration programs draw on social science principles to help you prepare for careers in law enforcement, public safety and legal fields.

Public administration professionals focus on leadership and managing public agencies, policies and programs. Criminal justice professionals study the legal and justice systems, exploring their impact on individuals and communities. While both fields involve leadership, public administration is more policy-focused, while criminal justice centers on law enforcement and legal processes.

A legal studies program focuses on law, public policy and justice administration. Whereas a major in criminal justice examines how law enforcement agencies, court systems and the corrections system are organized, as well as how they function and what issues are prevalent within these systems. Students who plan to attend law school may benefit from either a legal studies program or a justice studies major.

When applying to a criminal justice graduate program, you’ll need strong critical thinking, research and communication skills. A solid grasp of criminological theories and the justice system is important, along with the ability to apply this knowledge practically. Program requirements can vary by college but GCU’s criminal justice graduate programs typically require a bachelor's degree, GPA and transcripts to apply. Time management, organizational skills and a commitment to ethical decision-making are also key for handling the demands of the program.

At GCU, you can choose between a master’s in criminal justice with an emphasis in legal studies or in law enforcement. Although neither degree requires any math courses, both programs have a course in research methods that involves statistical analysis.

Yes, online criminal justice degree programs are generally respected, particularly those offered by accredited institutions like GCU. Our university is institutionally accredited and our online programs meet the same rigorous academic standards as our on-campus counterparts. The skills and knowledge acquired by graduates are often more important factors than the specific mode of delivery.