Criminal Justice (AA) | Online
Earn your Associate of Arts in Criminal Justice at Cairn University and launch a rewarding career in law enforcement, corrections, homeland security, probation, or private security, all from a distinctly Christian worldview.
This fully accredited Criminal Justice AA program combines rigorous academic training with biblical principles of justice, ethics, and restoration. Designed for both recent high school graduates and working adults seeking career advancement, our 60-credit degree can be completed in as little as two years (full-time) and is available both on-campus in Langhorne, PA and 100% online.
Why a Degree in Criminal Justice?
This program addresses the processes of law enforcement, the legal system, and the penal/correctional system. It pointedly addresses issues of diversity, ethics, and biblical anthropology as they relate to the complexities of criminal justice.
Why the Associate of Arts Degree in Criminal Justice from Cairn University?
Biblical Integration
Cairn University is committed to the centrality of Christ and the Word of God and is reflected in the curriculum and instruction.
Experienced Faculty
Students don’t just have professors, they have mentors who invest in them throughout the program and often remain connected long after graduation.
Campus Community
ommunity is about more than simply taking classes together. It is more than having a similar experience.
Flexible and Convenient
Complete coursework anywhere through our asynchronous course design, reinforced by substantive faculty engagement.
Affordable
$425 per credit with financial aid options; SARA approved institution meeting nationwide standards and matching the quality of the on-campus program.
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Get an inside look at our Criminal Justice Program
The AA in Criminal Justice program requires 33 credits from the University core courses, 18 credits from the program requirements, and 9 credits from course electives.
Learn more:
Required Credits: 60
Program Highlights:
- ART 251 – Digital Photography Credits: 3
- or ART 252 – Digital Imagery I – Adobe Photoshop Credits: 3
- CRJ 161 – Introduction to Crime and Criminology Credits: 3
- CRJ 162 – Policing and Criminal Justice Process Credits: 3
- CRJ 261 – Prison and Prisoners Credits: 3
- CRJ 361 – Contemporary Federal Law Enforcement Credits: 3
- POL 221 – The Supreme Court and the Constitution Credits: 3
Graduates are prepared for immediate entry-level positions such as:
- Police officer / Law enforcement
- Corrections officer
- Probation and parole officer
- Security professional
- Youth services worker
- Victim advocate
All Cairn University students must have professed a faith in Jesus Christ as Savior as evidenced by providing a personal testimony that details this faith. By submitting an application, students acknowledge the University’s doctrinal position and standards of conduct as outlined in the Foundational Statements. Below are the admission requirements:
- Application: Submit the Application for Admission along with the $25 non-refundable fee. Apply today using code faithmatters and we will waive the fee.
- Transcripts: Submit official academic transcript(s) for all conferred degrees. Request transcripts to be sent to Cairn through the application portal.
Cairn Online has been approved to participate in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA), which regionally oversees postsecondary online education.
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An Affordable Education
Cairn University strives to keep tuition costs affordable despite providing a rigorous education. Courses are taught by faculty not TAs. The tuition rates are posted on this page.
Cairn University also partners with many organizations and offers tuition discounts. Tuition discounts are also available for those working in Christian schools. Please contact us to find out if your organization has a partnership with Cairn University.
Additional information on scholarships, grants, and loans is available from this page.
Featured Faculty
Chris Lloyd
Assistant Professor, School of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Chris Lloyd served as the Director of the Cairn University Office of Safety and Security from 2009-2022. Prior to this position, Lloyd worked with his alma mater, Villanova University, and Bucks County Community College in various Safety and Security Administrative roles. In addition to his role of Safety and Security Director, Chris Lloyd teaches undergraduate Criminal Justice courses at Cairn, drawing on his education and vocational experience in the field.
Greg Schaller
Chair, Social Sciences Department, School of Liberal Arts and Sciences
In addition to teaching politics courses at the University, Greg Shaller is the president of The John Jay Institute, a one year program that “prepares principled leaders for faith-informed public service.” Greg previously served as associate professor of politics at Colorado Christian University, where he taught from the fall of 2009 until May of 2017. At Colorado Christian, Greg developed a political science major in the fall of 2011, which now has over 45 students in it.
Additionally, Greg is a fellow at the Centennial Institute, Colorado Christian University’s public policy think-tank. His work with the Centennial Institute includes writing for their blog and in their monthly policy review, The Centennial Review. He also assists with the planning and coordination of the Centennial Institute’s Western Conservative Summit, a summer conference which is attended by over 3,000 people annually.
Greg has also taught at Villanova University and St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia. He is pursuing his PhD at the University of South Dakota.
Cairn Online Frequently Asked Questions
Cairn Online courses based on Cairn’s 100+ years tradition of excellence in biblical education. Our on faculty has carefully designed them taking into consideration what works best for the online learner. The modular design and asynchronous delivery enable you to complete your studies while you pursue your career, ministry and spend time with your family.
Courses typically contain seven units and are delivered in 7-week terms*. Each unit contains 5-7 modular activities. Each learning activity includes instructional videos accompanied by reflections, quizzes, discussion forums and other assessments. Courses also utilize adaptive learning technologies such as Cerego for long-term retention of concepts and VoiceThread for enhanced collaboration.
The asynchronous delivery provides flexibility around your daily busy schedule. In most courses, interactive activities are typically due by Wednesday while the rest of the unit’s work is due by Sunday night. The MBA, M.A. in Music and Criminal Justice programs use the 7RD2 process and require the completion of certain activities daily to optimize learning.
Our own Cairn faculty intentionally participate in the course throughout the week to provide you with an incarnational experience.
*Few capstone courses are intentionally offered in 14 weeks to optimize student learning.
All courses are developed by one or more course developers and taught by our own faculty. The instructors are also intentionally involved in the course throughout the week by providing direction in the course activities, participating in the forum discussions, grading the student work and providing substantive feedback. Most courses also offer optional office hours weekly via Zoom or similar video conferencing tools.
The course transfer depends on where you are transferring from, and what program you are transferring to. If you are coming to Cairn Online from another institution, it is very likely you will have some credits that will transfer. Because there are so many options, we encourage you to talk to an enrollment counselor. If you are transferring out, Cairn is a regionally accredited school and some credits should transfer with relative ease. Each college sets their own transfer criteria, so be sure to check their policies for specifics.
Cairn is approved to offer financial aid because of its regional accreditation. There are many options available and typically students qualify for at least one type of federal aid. Many students receive scholarships and grants that make earning their degree even more affordable. Cairn offers a variety of scholarships and discounts in addition to options for loans and grants. Please refer to this page for details.
The Cairn Enrollment Advisor Connect is a unique opportunity for prospective students to engage one-on-one with our dedicated enrollment advisors. This optional, low-pressure conversation is tailored to help you navigate your journey toward enrolling in Cairn’s programs with confidence. We understand you have busy schedules. It enables you to schedule a meeting for a time that is convenient for you.
There are six entry points in the program: September, October, January, March, May, July.
Provided you submit the enrollment materials, applications are typically processed within 2 weeks of submitting your application.
Cairn University delivers an intentionally biblical and Christ-centered education that upholds the authority of Scripture, the importance of truth, and the faithful following of Christ. Faculty and staff teach and serve biblically, personally invest in students, and cultivate an authentic Christian community marked by faithfulness, discipleship, and love. At Cairn, the students’ education, experience, and relationships shape Christian character, cultivate wisdom, and prepare them to think, live, and serve biblically in an ever-changing world.
Cairn University Ranks #2 in Glanzer’s Guide to Christian Colleges and Universities. At Cairn University, we work hard to ensure that everything we do inside and outside the classroom aligns with our commitment to Christian education, clearly articulated in our University mission statement.
All undergraduate programs integrate 30 credits of Bible and theology as part of the core curriculum. Except for those pursuing a BS in Bible, anyone who earns a bachelor’s degree from Cairn has a Bible Minor listed on their transcript.