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Tennessee Criminal Justice Degree

A Tennessee criminal justice degree can help you get hired for your desired job in criminal justice. Graduates with a degree in criminal justice can find employment in Tennessee in a wide range of fields, including law enforcement, corrections, paralegal and many others.

Requirements for law enforcement vary from city to city, with most requiring that candidates have a high school diploma or equivalent and be at least 21 years old upon successful completion of a training academy program.

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The mean wage for a police officer in Tennessee is $22.53 per hour, above the statewide mean wage of $19.54. Tennessee is also home to the internationally recognized Knoxville, Memphis and Nashville police departments. Read More +

With higher volumes of applicants for law enforcement and public safety positions, some departments have adopted a progressive hiring stance to ensure that the best candidates are accepted. Additional education in criminal justice or related fields can provide applicants with a competitive edge in pursuing these positions and can translate to higher starting pay. For example, in Nashville, police officers with either an associate’s or bachelor’s degree receive additional educational incentive pay of up to 6% of their salary. The current starting salary for an entry level Nashville police officer with bachelor’s degree is approximately $40,000 a year.

In addition to local law and public safety jobs, the Tennessee Department of Human Resources and the US government are among the largest employers in the state and many graduates of criminal justice programs in Tennessee find employment with state and federal government agencies, including the FBI, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Public Safety, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and many other organizations. Salaries and benefits for these positions are competitive and most positions require at least a bachelor’s degree.

To learn more about Tennessee criminal justice degrees, we recommend the following accredited campus-based and online criminal justice programs for those interested in pursuing associate’s, bachelor’s and master’s degrees in the growing field of criminal justice.

Tennessee’s Criminal Justice Employment Outlook

As of late Spring 2010, Tennessee’s unemployment has stabilized at 10.8%, nearly 1 percentage point above the national average, and it will regain prior peak employment levels by the fall of 2013. Government related employment, which is a good proxy for Tennessee criminal justice jobs, has excellent prospects with prior peak employment levels already reached by mid 2010. Tennessee must maintain government jobs to offset the weaker non-government picture. According to the Tennessee State government site, high demand criminal justice occupations in Tennessee include: Police and Sheriff Patrol (500 openings / 88% of individuals in these positions report having some college or a bachelor’s degree), Correctional Officers (390 annual openings / 60% of individuals in these positions report having some college or a bachelor’s degree), Detectives / Investigators / Forensic Techs (130 annual openings), Security Guards (975 annual openings) and Paralegals (200 annual openings / 88% of individuals in these positions report having some college or a bachelor’s degree). According to Sunshine Review, Tennessee’s state budget is in a moderate deficit but seems under control despite relatively high overall unemployment; it appears they have a reserve fund and good budgetary controls that have allowed them to avoid government cuts. Thus, there are many good Tennessee criminal justice jobs for those willing to invest in the right degree for the roles profiled or other criminal justice careers.

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Online Criminal Justice Degrees, Schools, Certificates and Programs

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Kaplan University
Popular Degrees:

  • A.A.S. in Criminal Justice
  • B.S. in Criminal Justice/Forensic Psychology
  • B.S. in Criminal Justice/Corrections
  • M.S. in Criminal Justice/Corrections
  • B.S. in Criminal Justice/Crime Scene Investigation
  • B.S. in Criminal Justice/Computer Crime

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Everest University Online
Popular Degrees:

  • Associate's in Criminal Justice
  • Bachelor's in Criminal Justice
  • Associate's in Homeland Security
  • Bachelor's in Homeland Security
  • Associate's in Criminal Investigations

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Keiser University

    Popular Degrees:
  • Associate of Arts in Criminal Justice
  • Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice
  • Associate of Arts in Homeland Security
  • Bachelor of Arts in Homeland Security
  • Master of Arts in Criminal Justice
  • Bachelor of Science in Public Safety

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Post University
Popular Degrees:

  • Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Criminal Justice
  • Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Legal Studies
  • Legal Nurse Consulting Certificate
  • Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Management for Registered Nurse
  • Forensic Accounting Certificate

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Virginia College
Popular Degrees:

  • Associate of Science - Criminal Justice
  • Bachelor of Science - Criminal Justice
  • Master of Science - Criminal Justice
  • Master of Science - Cybersecurity

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Rasmussen College
Popular Degrees:

  • Associate of Applied Science in Criminal Justice
  • Associate of Science in Criminal Justice - Corrections
  • Associate of Science in Criminal Justice - Law Enforcement
  • Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice - Homeland Security
  • Associate of Science in Criminal Justice - Psychology

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Strayer University
Popular Degrees:

  • Bachelor of Science in Information Systems - Homeland Security and Information Systems
  • Associate in Arts in Criminal Justice
  • Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice - Computer Security and Forensics
  • Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice - Criminal Justice Administration
  • Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice - Homeland Security and Emergency Management
  • Bachelor of Business Administration - Legal Studies

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University of Phoenix
Popular Degrees:

  • Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Administration
  • Master of Science in Administration of Justice and Security
  • Associate of Arts in Criminal Justice
  • Bachelor of Science in Psychology
  • Bachelor of Science in Organizational Security Management
  • Master of Public Administration

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Walden University
Popular Degrees:

  • Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration - Homeland Security Policy and Coordination
  • Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.) - Homeland Security Policy
  • M.S. in Psychology - Terrorism and Security
  • B.S. in Criminal Justice - Computer Information Systems and Security
  • M.S. in Forensic Psychology - Psychology & Legal Systems
  • Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration - Homeland Security Policy and Administration
  • B.S. in Psychology - Criminal Justice
  • PhD in Public Policy/Admin - Terrorism/Mediation/Peace

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Test Drive College Online
If you are thinking about online college but you’re not sure if it's for you, you should apply for Test Drive College Online. It is the only program that provides students with the opportunity to "try" online learning by taking a real college course online at no cost or obligation. Plus, the credits you earn may save you up to $2000 in tuition when you apply them toward a full degree. Get Started!


Criminal Justice Schools in Tennessee

Chattanooga State Community College (Chattanooga, TN)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate of Science | Criminal Justice

Columbia State Community College (Columbia, TN)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate of Applied Science | Corrections
Associate of Applied Science | Law Enforcement

Cumberland University (Lebanon, TN)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Bachelor of Arts | Criminal Justice

Daymar Institute (Clarksville, TN; Murfreesboro, TN; Nashville, TN)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate Degree | Criminal Justice
Associate Degree | Police Studies
Certificate | Criminal Justice
Diploma | Criminal Justice

Dyersburg State Community College (Dyersburg, TN)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice
Bachelor of Science | Law Enforcement

East Tennessee State University (Johnson City, TN)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Bachelor of Arts | Criminal Justice
Bachelor of Arts | Criminology
Master of Science | Criminal Justice
Master of Science | Criminology

Freed-Hardeman University (Henderson, TN)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice

ITT Technical Institute (Chattanooga, TN; Cordova, TN; Knoxville, TN; Nashville, TN)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice
Associate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice (online program)
Bachelor of Applied Science | Criminal Justice
Bachelor of Arts and Sciences | Criminal Justice (online program)
Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice

King College (Bristol, TN)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Bachelor of Science | Forensic Science

Lane College (Jackson, TN)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Bachelor of Arts | Criminal Justice

LeMoyne-Owen College (Memphis, TN)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice

Lincoln Memorial University (Harrogate, TN)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Bachelor of Arts | Criminal Justice

Martin Methodist College (Pulaski, TN)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice

Middle Tennessee State University (Murfreesboro, TN)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Bachelor of Arts | Criminal Justice Administration
Master of Arts | Criminal Justice Administration

Miller-Motte Technical College (Chattanooga, TN; Clarksville, TN)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice

Nashville State Community College (Nashville, TN)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate of Applied Science | Police Science | Crime Scene Investigation
Associate of Applied Science | Police Science | Police Administration
Certificate | Police Science Academy

Remington College (Memphis, TN; Nashville, TN)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate Degree | Criminal Justice
Associate of Science | Criminal Justice (online program)
Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice (online program)

Roane State Community College (Harriman, TN)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice
Technical Certificate | Homeland Security

South College (Knoxville, TN)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate of Science | Criminal Justice
Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice

Southwest Tennessee Community College (Memphis, TN)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate of Applied Science | Corrections
Associate of Applied Science | Police Science
Associate of Science | Criminal Justice

Tennessee State University (Nashville, TN)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice
Master of Criminal Justice | Criminal Justice

The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga (Chattanooga, TN)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice

The University of Tennessee-Martin (Martin, TN)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice
Master of Science | Criminal Justice

Thompson Institute-Philadelphia (Nashville, TN)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Diploma | Criminal Justice

University of Memphis (Memphis, TN)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Bachelor of Arts | Criminology and Criminal Justice
Master of Arts | Criminology and Criminal Justice

University of Phoenix (Cordova, TN)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate Degree | Criminal Justice (online program)
Associate of Arts | Criminal Justice (online program)
Bachelor Degree | Criminal Justice (online program)
Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice Administration (online program)
Bachelor of Science | Organizational Security and Management (online program)
Master of Science | Administration of Justice and Security (online program)
Masters Degree | Criminal Justice (online program)

Volunteer State Community College (Gallatin, TN)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate of Science; Associate of Applied Science | Law Enforcement/Criminal Justice
Bachelor of Science | Homeland Security
Technical Certificate | Law Enforcement/Criminal Justice