For students just starting out in college, or for those with experience in the security or law enforcement field who need a formal degree, earning a Criminal Justice associate degree online may help to provide the education credential to secure a new job in law enforcement or to advance in the ranks at a current job.
Why Take an Online Criminal Justice Program?
While most community colleges offer on-ground (that's the fancy term for the good old-fashioned physical classroom) associate degree programs in Criminal Justice, for today's 21st-century students, an online criminal justice degree can help to juggle academic responsibilities with real-life work and family conflicts.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that jobs for police officers and detectives will grow at a rate of 10 percent, which makes a criminal justice associate degree a worthwhile investment in time and money.
Criminal Justice Associate Degree Online Programs
Some qualifications to consider before going into the law enforcement or criminal justice field:
- Most police officer jobs require that the officer is 21 or older.
- You cannot have a felony conviction on your record to become a police officer or correction officer, and in some states and municipalities, a misdemeanor can stop a career.
- You must have a high school diploma or GED for some associate degree programs in Criminal Justice.
Consider these five online programs in Criminal Justice:
- Northwestern College
- Rasmussen College
- Florida Tech
- Colorado Technical University
- Lincoln College
In addition to these two-year college programs, many schools provide opportunities for completing the bachelor's degree online after finishing an A.S. or A.A. Consider finding a college that offers this option, to make a smoother transition to the four-year degree if you think you'll go on for additional university work.
Get a Job with an Associate Degree in Criminal Justice
Each of these five colleges provides a full education to earn an associate's degree in Criminal Justice, a starting point for jobs such as:
- security officer
- probation officer
- court worker
- police officer (most require separate police academy training)
- correctional officer
The field of law enforcement provides career opportunities that allow you to work to improve public safety and overall civil society's flow. Earning a Criminal Justice associate degree online is the first step in making a difference in your own life, and in society.
Sources:
United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational outlook Handbook, 2010-2011, Police and Detectives. Accessed August 26, 2011.
Melanie Zoltan - Melanie Zoltan is a former college professor and administrator who has written for About.com, PCWorld, Brain Child, Thomson Gale, and ...
Comments