Criminal Justice Online Degree Programs

Criminal justice online degree programs prepare learners to apply the principles of criminal psychology, evidence analysis, and their interpersonal skills to prevent or solve crimes, and supervise convicts on probation, on parole, or in prison.

Entry into the world of criminal justice should not be taken lightly. Many criminal justice jobs and careers are dangerous. They require exceptional honesty and integrity, as well as attention to detail and excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills.

Accredited Criminal Justice Degree Online Programs

Criminal justice online degree education is available by distance learning in these and more areas of study:

What can I expect from a criminal justice degree program?

Criminal justice degrees introduce you to the principles of criminal psychology, social work, criminal investigation and procedures, and legal and ethical issues in criminal justice. You can earn an associate's degree in criminal justice, a bachelor's degree in criminal justice, a master's degree in criminal justice, or a PhD in criminal justice. Bachelor's and master's degrees in criminal justice offer areas of specialization such as computer crime, organized crime, white collar crime, homeland security, juvenile justice, forensic psychology, corrections, and crime scene investigation.

Online Criminal Justice Degree Programs - Education & Training

A criminal justice online degree provides working people access to a high-quality criminal justice education at the learner's convenience. You should be careful to make sure that the criminal justice online degree program you attend is accredited to ensure that your degree will be accepted by employers and other colleges and universities, and to protect yourself against fraudulent degree programs and diploma mills.

Distance learning is a common method of delivery for criminal justice online degree programs. Graduates have the opportunity to choose from a wide variety of exciting criminal justice jobs and careers.

Your associate's degree in criminal justice will help you find employment as a police officer, correctional officer, private detective, retail store loss prevention specialist, or gaming surveillance officer.

A bachelor's degree in criminal justice will be important if you wish to advance to a supervisory level. Many police officers and other law enforcement personnel return to school after a few years of work experience for exactly this reason. Federal law enforcement officers, especially agents of the FBI, must have earned a bachelor's degree as a condition of employment. Many federal law enforcement officers also earn a law degree.

A master's degree in criminal justice will increase your competitive edge when applying for supervisory positions in criminal justice. Many federal criminal justice jobs and careers require education beyond the bachelor's degree. It may also lead to opportunities to work as a government criminal justice policy analyst.

A PhD in criminal justice opens up opportunities to become a college professor of criminal justice, police administration as well as law.

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Careers and Salaries with a Criminal Justice Degree

Your criminal justice degree will open doors to you in a wide variety of careers. Both private companies and government entities hire criminal justice graduates. Private companies are concerned about reducing shoplifting, eliminating theft of office supplies by office employees, and providing tight security on the jobsite. International corporations often have concerns about abduction attempts against professionals and executives who must travel to countries with lax law enforcement or weak governments. These companies often recruit, train, and equip their own criminal intelligence and security officers. If you have a knack for finance or accounting in addition to detective work, many companies hire forensic accountants to prevent or detect embezzlers.

In the public sector, many criminal justice graduates find employment with the Department of Homeland Security. Border Patrol officers and Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers patrol the borders and ports of entry into the US, guarding against smugglers, human traffickers, illegal immigrants, and terrorists. Secret Service officers protect important members of the Federal Executive Branch, and track down and break counterfeiting rings. Game wardens, National Park Rangers, and Postal Inspectors are other criminal justice jobs and careers available to you after graduation.

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, opportunities for you to enter a career in criminal justice should remain open for at least the next decade. Changes in sentencing laws, increased need for national security, and the rising population all contribute to the growing need for criminal justice professionals.

Salaries for graduates vary depending upon the degree you earn, the industry you choose, and where you live. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2008), most criminal justice professionals average earnings fall between $45,000 and $55,000. However, supervisory officers can average over $75,000.

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