7 Free Online Criminal Justice Courses 2025

Criminal justice is a social science field specifically focused on criminal law and the criminal justice system. Many colleges and universities offer criminal justice degrees, but free online courses can help you determine if this field is right for you or help you learn new topics.

Various platforms offer these courses from beginner to advanced levels, including criminal justice courses with certificates. Keep reading to discover some of the top free online criminal justice courses.

Free Criminal Justice Online Courses

Whether you want to become a law enforcement officer or just want to brush up on your criminal justice knowledge, free online courses are a great way to dip your toes into the field. Many are free to audit, while others are made free with financial aid options. We've highlighted several excellent free criminal justice online courses below.

1. An Introduction to Crime and Criminology

An Introduction to Crime and Criminology is a beginner-level course offered through The Open University, a public research institution in England, via the OpenLearn site. This course explores criminal behavior and the general public attitude toward crime.

Students conclude the program with a quiz, and if they pass, they will receive a statement of participation and a digital badge. The course is completely free, although you will need to create an account through OpenLearn.

2. Criminal Justice 101: Intro to Criminal Justice

Study.com is an education platform offering various online courses, test prep materials, and study tools. One of these courses is the Criminal Justice 101: Intro to Criminal Justice course, which includes 16 chapters that cover fundamental topics like:

• types of crime
• the criminal justice system
• criminal law
• juvenile justice

This self-paced course isn't completely free, but Study.com offers several subscription options and allows new members to learn for free for 30 days. It also offers scholarships to help cover the cost of online learning.

3. Forensic Science: DNA Analysis

If you want courses from the top universities around the world, edX is a great option. This open learning platform offers courses from numerous institutions, including the Forensic Science: DNA Analysis course from the University of Cambridge.

This course covers topics in DNA analysis and crime scene investigation, using real case studies to highlight the importance of both. The course is free to audit, but if you'd like unlimited access to course materials, graded assessments, and a sharable certificate of completion, the cost is $299.

4. From Crime to Punishment: An Introduction to Criminal Justice

FutureLearn is a British company offering a range of courses from highly rated universities. The From Crime to Punishment: an Introduction to Criminal Justice course highlights the criminal justice systems in England and Wales.

It examines the definition of crime, criminal investigations, the trial process, and sentencing. Auditing the course is free, or students can pay $79 for the full course or $349.99 for a one-year subscription to the platform.

5. Hot Topics in Criminal Justice (Coursera)

Coursera, like edX, is an American-based online learning platform offering courses from the top universities and companies. Vanderbilt University offers the Hot Topics in Criminal Justice course through this platform.

The course covers a broad range of topics, from forensic psychology to public policy to law enforcement accountability, and students progress through the seven modules at their own pace. The program is free to audit, but financial aid is available to those who want the full learning experience.

6. Human Rights and International Criminal Law: An Introduction

Human Rights and International Criminal Law: An Introduction is another course offered through FutureLearn. This program examines the intersection of human rights law, international criminal law, and general social justice.

Though FutureLearn hosts the course, the educator is the University of Padova, a centuries-old public institution in Italy - the course is, however, offered in English. Like other FutureLearn courses, students can audit the course for free, pay a one-time fee for full access, or choose the subscription option to access thousands of courses.

7. Introduction to International Criminal Law

For those who want a course focused specifically on the fundamentals of international criminal law, Coursera offers Case Western Reserve University's Introduction to International Criminal Law. It includes eight self-paced modules on international crime, public safety, and special problems facing criminal justice on a global scale.

This is an excellent primer for those considering careers in counterterrorism or homeland security. The course is free to audit, and, like others on Coursera, students may qualify for financial aid if they're interested in the full course.

Our Selection Criteria

To choose the programs for this list, we looked at online courses that:

• examine core topics in criminal justice and criminology
• have free options or financial aid
• are aimed at beginners
• come from reputable online learning platforms

FAQs About Free Online Criminal Justice Courses

Below, we've answered a few frequently asked questions about free online criminal justice courses.

Can I Take Criminology Classes Online?

There are several criminology courses offered to online learners and a few of the courses listed above touch on aspects of criminology as well. Criminology focuses more on the behavioral and societal drivers behind crime, rather than the criminal justice system.

Can Free Online Courses Be Applied Toward a Degree?

Some free online courses can be applied toward a degree. For example, Study.com and Coursera often offer college credit for their courses. Additionally, some colleges will accept credit for online courses, even if the platforms do not specifically offer this.

The type of credit you can earn depends on the course. For example, an introductory course may be transferable into an associate or bachelor's degree, while an advanced course may offer credit toward a master's degree. Note that not all courses are worth college credit.

Are There Prerequisites Before Enrolling in a Free Online Criminal Justice Course?

For the courses listed above, there aren't any prerequisites � they are designed specifically for beginners without experience in criminal justice.

Intermediate and advanced courses may recommend prerequisite courses or prior work experience. You can usually find prerequisites listed on the course page.

Find Free Online Courses and Enroll Today

Learn everything you want to know about criminal justice through the free online courses. Check out the programs featured on Learn.org to discover more options. Contact the individual learning platforms for more information on their courses and financing options.