Middle Tennessee State University has been ranked among college and universities across the country having one of the best Bachelor of Criminal Justice degree programs in 2019, according to the website TheBestSchools.org.

TheBestSchools.org, which tries to connect prospective students with available online degree programs, states that it reviewed all accredited online Bachelor of Criminal Justice degree programs in the U.S. to select the Top 50 programs in the nation.

Ranked No. 37, MTSU’s program offers an online bachelor of science degree in criminal justice administration through the College of Behavioral and Health Sciences with support from University College.

The website says top programs were selected based on curriculum quality, faculty excellence, rankings, awards, and each school’s reputation for providing quality online degrees. MTSU is one of only two Tennessee universities on the list, the other being Bryan College (No. 40) in Dayton, Tennessee.

At MTSU, students can choose between two concentration areas: law enforcement and homeland security. Students who do not select an official concentration can focus on courts, disaster and emergency management, penology, or security management.

Ranking evaluators noted that MTSU “maintains an extensive internship program for criminal justice students who receive on-the-job training in different criminal justice sectors, including at probation and parole offices, juvenile and drug courts, and various state and federal agencies.”

The university also participates in the Tennessee Transfer Pathway program, which helps students maximize their transfer credits. And MTSU’s prior learning assessment program allows incoming students to earn college credits for relevant experience and knowledge.

TheBestSchools.org is a member of both the American Council on Education and the National Association for College Admission Counseling.

MTSU Department of Criminal Justice Administration is chaired by professor Lance Selva. For more information, go to https://www.mtsu.edu/programs/criminal-justice/index.php or call 615-898-2630.

— Jimmy Hart (jimmy.hart@mtsu.edu)