10 Criminal Justice Courses With Certificates

Are you interested in a career in law enforcement or the criminal justice system? You may already have a bachelor's degree but don't want to pursue further higher education. Graduate criminal justice programs have high tuition rates and rigorous coursework, so you may want to consider other ways to obtain the training necessary for a career in law enforcement.

Enrollment in an affordable online criminal justice degree program can help but it's not the only way to advance your career. Online programs and courses that offer criminal justice certificates are available � and there are many free online criminal justice courses as well. These courses teach aspiring criminal justice professionals critical thinking and decision-making skills.

Online Criminal Justice Certificate Programs

Institutions with accreditation provide the following online criminal justice certificate programs. These certificate programs help prepare people for career opportunities, such as police and correctional officers. These flexible programs don't require full-time study to complete.

Students who study these programs will learn about various things, such as:

• the criminal justice field
• criminal investigation
• juvenile justice

These online courses with certificates will help you pursue your criminal justice career goals and may be accepted as transfer credits by some institutions.

1. Hot Topics in Criminal Justice � Vanderbilt University

Vanderbilt University offers the Hot Topics in Criminal Justice course through the Coursera platform. It includes a shareable certificate with your LinkedIn account and resume. People with no experience in criminal justice should take this course as no prior experience is required.

Financial aid is available for this course. The program typically takes 18 hours for students to complete but can be done at your own pace. Some of the modules included in this course include:

• Mass Incarceration
• Insanity & Neuroscience
• Police Surveillance

2. Introduction to International Criminal Law � Case Western Reserve University

Case Western Reserve University provides the Introduction to International Criminal Law course through Coursera. It includes a shareable certificate to boost your resume and portfolio. The program has two assessments and eight modules.

Students usually finish this course after 12 hours of study. You can split it into three weeks with four hours of study each week. Notable modules include:

• Peace Versus Justice
• Terrorism and Piracy
• Unique Modes of Liability

3. Justice � Harvard University

Harvard University offers the Justice course on edX through its HarvardX online learning platform. The course introduces moral and political philosophy and provides a deeper understanding of social and criminal justice. Although the course is free, the optional certificate costs $209.

This self-paced program takes about 12 weeks of study to complete. The Justice course is great for people with little to no criminal justice background. Topics covered here include:

• the modern justice system
• affirmative action
• same-sex marriage

4. Introduction to Criminology � University of Hull

The University of Hull offers the Introduction to Criminology course through FutureLearn. Students will learn about criminology and its connection with other fields, such as psychology and sociology. A digital certificate is available at the end of this course.

Students usually study for about three hours weekly and finish the program in three weeks. Enrollment is free but limited, and full access requires a payment of $109. Course topics include:

• legal definitions of murder
• motivations and theories of murder
• theories of victimization

5. Love as a Force for Social Justice � Stanford University

Stanford University presents the Love as a Force for Social Justice course through Coursera. This beginner course introduces students to the concept of using love as a force for social justice. Students will explore love through the lens of biology, psychology, religion, and sociology.

The program is self-paced and takes about 27 hours to complete. You can purchase a shareable certificate at the end of the program. There are 11 modules, including:

• Love and Monotheistic Religions
• Love and Social Justice
• Love in our Future Lives

6. Feminism and Social Justice � University of California, Santa Cruz

The University of California, Santa Cruz (UC Santa Cruz) offers the Feminism and Social Justice course through Coursera. This beginner-level program only takes eight hours to complete and comes with a digital certificate.

There are five modules and four assessments. Students learn about feminism's working definition and the role of protesting in social justice. Modules include:

• What Is Feminism?
• Free Angela!
• The #metoo Movement

7. Human Rights and International Criminal Law � University of Padova

The University of Padova provides the Human Rights and International Criminal Law: An Introduction course through FutureLearn. Although this program is introductory, graduate students and new international law professionals should attend.

Students can complete this course in four weeks with six hours of study weekly. Participants learn about how international criminal law addresses sexual and gender violence, as well as the connection to children's rights. Topics here include:

• parallel development of human rights law (HRL) and International criminal law
• a gender-sensitive human rights perspective on ICL
• children's rights and ICL prosecutions

8. Community Organizing for Social Justice � University of Michigan

The University of Michigan offers the Community Organizing for Social Justice course through Coursera. This self-paced course takes seven hours to complete and emphasizes the core concepts of social justice.

Students can expect to work through six modules with an assessment at the end of each section. You can acquire a paid shareable certificate at the end. Some modules in this program are:

• Strengthening Diversity
• Intergroup Dialogue
• Strategy

9. Forensic Mental Health and Criminal Justice � Monash University

Monash University supplies the Forensic Mental Health and Criminal Justice course through FutureLearn. Students taking this course learn about forensic mental health aspects of criminal justice, such as knowing if someone is fit to stand trial.

The course takes four weeks to complete if you study for two hours weekly. The one-time cost for this course and certificate is $134. Topics discussed in this program include:

• defense of insanity
• mental health's role in capital punishment cases
• insight into forensic psychiatry assessments

10. Challenging Forensic Science � University of Lausanne

The University of Lausanne provides the Challenging Forensic Science: How Science Should Speak to Court course through Coursera. This certificate program has five modules and takes 16 hours to complete.

You may purchase a shareable certificate after completing the program. Some prominent modules include:

• DNA Is Not the Magic Bullet
• The Wonderland of Certainty
• Trials by Numbers or Numbers on Trial

FAQs About Online Criminal Justice Courses With Certificates

Here are some frequently asked questions about online criminal justice courses with certificates.

Do I Need To Take a Test or Exam To Become a Criminologist?

A specific test or exam is not required to become a criminologist. However, becoming a criminologist involves earning a degree. Students take several assessments in a criminology degree program, such as midterms and finals.

What Are the Prerequisites for Enrolling in an Online Criminal Justice Certificate Program?

Typically no prerequisites are associated with enrolling in an online criminal justice certificate program. Many of these programs are beginner-friendly; however, some online certificate programs are advanced and require students to have professional experience or higher education.

Should I Pursue a Graduate Certificate or a Master's Degree in Criminal Justice Administration?

Whether you should pursue a graduate certificate or a master's degree in criminal justice administration depends on several factors. Some of these factors include:

• your career goals
• your financial situation
• time commitment

Regardless, both can lead to career advancement and new opportunities. Evaluate which is feasible for you to study and which would benefit your career more.