Earn Your Criminal Justice Degree with Online Study
Criminal justice careers are one of the more recent career fields to become available through online study; it is now possible to earn even a Ph.D. in criminal justice online, something that was once reserved for those with lots of money for graduate study and time to fulfill a college residency requirement.
Like the medical field, criminal justice has seen an explosion of specializations ranging from police work to homeland security. Depending on the specific job and the level of education, careers in criminal justice could range from about $24,000 per year to over 6 figures.
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Capella University Online offers a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) in Public Safety with a Criminal Justice specialization. Coursework includes public safety theory, corporate security, labor relations, the penal system, the development of public policy strategies, and more. Students review and discuss the complex issues surrounding criminal behavior and crime prevention and intervention. |
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According
to the Higher Education Survey Report of 2006, Kaplan
University is America's #1 ranked online university. They
have 10 different Bachelor's
Degree programs in the Criminal Justice field plus programs
at the Associate and Master's Degree levels. |
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| American InterContinental University has campuses around the world. Their online Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice will provide you with a superb foundation in some of the most intriguing aspect of the field. |
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| Colorado Technical University Online offers Associate, Bachelor, and Master degree programs with a concentration in Criminal Justice through their online academic division, Stonecliffe College Online. In these programs, students are provided a well-rounded education and learn about forensics, homeland security, security management, criminal procedures, crime scene analysis, evidentiary laws, and more. |
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| Everest University offers a Bachelor's Degree program in Criminal Justice and a Master of Science Degree in Criminal Justice. The Bachelor’s program provides students with a broader understanding of our criminal justice system, including various concepts and theories. The Master’s degree program includes advanced coursework in law, ethics, criminology, applied research methodology, statistical methods, and more. |
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| The University of Phoenix has 17,000 instructors, 142 campuses and an exceptional range of online courses. Students have access to courseware 24/7 and support from the best instructors in the country. Criminal justice courses include the Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Administration and a Master of Science in the Administration of Justice and Security. |
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You can find a job in a criminal justice field with any level of college education beginning with an associate degree—a paralegal, for example. However, most criminal justice majors have at least a bachelor’s degree, and those who want the higher salaries go on for masters’ and doctoral degrees.
Ideas for Criminal Justice Careers
You may be wondering just what you could do with a criminal justice degree—other than becoming a police officer, lawyer or judge. It may surprise you to know that many politicians have degrees in criminal justice; since serving in a political arena requires an understanding of laws and how they are administered, developed and passed, the criminal justice degree makes an ideal springboard for getting into politics.
A concentration in law enforcement could allow you to become an insurance fraud investigator, an immigration officer, or a crime scene investigator. You could be a probation officer, a forensic psychologist, or even a CIA agent. The following list provides additional ideas for making use of a degree in criminal justice.
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Court reporter
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Private detective
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Security or private body guard
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Disputer resolution attorney
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Homeland security investigator
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Legal nurse consultant
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FBI agent
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Public administrator
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Mediator
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Law office manager
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Legal secretaries
Program of Study
The actual courses you will take will depend on the university you choose and the particular area of specialization. Assuming, however, that you will at least complete a bachelor’s degree, any criminal justice degree program will require courses in U.S. law enforcement, criminology, criminal investigation, and community relations. You will also take psychology classes in which you will study behavior that leads to criminal activity. You will study criminal justice theories, administration, and operations, practices and processes with regard to legal standards. Many programs require you to attend actual courtroom proceedings and write follow up reports. You will also write analytical essays and may have the opportunity to engage in online, interactive debates about past and current legal issues.
Criminal justice is a vast field with almost as many possibilities as a business career, so it is impossible to determine exactly what you will be doing and what salary you will make. However, those with bachelor and advanced degrees make very attractive salaries. A high level paralegal, for example, can make $80,000 while a mediator might make well over $100,000 per year.
