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Criminal Justice Online Degrees

Online Criminal Justice Programs can help you advance your career in the field that you love! If you believe in equality in justice and personal responsibility and in public and personal safety then an Online Criminal Justice Degree might be the right degree for you!

Browse through Online Criminal Justice Degrees by subject and request free information. Learn how flexible an Online Criminal Justice Program can be! Compare Accredited Online Criminal Justice Degree Programs that best suit your personal and professional goals!
Criminal justice degrees are available online or on-campus, at the associate, bachelor's and master's level. While on-campus courses allow direct interaction with other students of criminal justice, online degrees allow you to fit your studies into your current schedule and still enjoy the opportunity to work closely with fellow students and instructors.
Criminal justice has become the most popular subject in the country for associate degree programs. This is due to the rising demand for law enforcement professionals--and more stringent educational requirements for those professionals. An associate degree in criminal justice can help you begin your career as a police officer, corrections officer, or private security guard.

General Information About Criminal Justice Degree Programs

Criminal Justice is the study of processes put in place by the government in order to prevent, deter and control crime. An effective criminal justice system is a prerequisite for a functional, free society. Without ways to regulate or reduce crime, laws would have little meaning and society would suffer. Criminal Justice agencies include law enforcement, the courts and the prison system. Those pursuing the Criminal Justice Degree have professed an interest in helping to manage crime or enforce the law. The practice of criminal justice can take a variety of forms, including service as a corrections officer or probation officer, the study of forensics or criminology, service as a police officer or detective, or work in security administration or immigration. Those interested in criminal justice on a Federal level may opt for a career in the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Criminal Justice Degree Study Options

Students in the field of criminal justice can pursue an Associate of Science in Criminal Justice. When earned at an accredited college or university, this general degree will help students qualify for careers in the police force, law enforcement, security, corrections and other related fields. Students can opt for an Associate of Arts in Criminal Justice, which will provide in-depth information on how law enforcement and law enforcement agencies such as correctional institutions and courts function. Students looking for a more challenging education in criminal justice than may be provided by the associate's degree may opt for a bachelor's in criminal justice. Successful completion of the course requirements for this degree prepares students for entry level positions in areas of law enforcement, such as probation and criminology.
Advanced Criminal Justice Degrees

While a bachelorís in criminal justice can be rewarding and provide new and important insights into the criminal justice system, those pursuing a career in crime management or law enforcement will often wish to pursue a higher degree in criminal justice.
What do professionals in the field of criminal justice do?

Criminal justice professionals work to withhold justice within the community they live. As far as a specific job, there are many within this field. However, criminal justice workers work in the police force, in courts, or in jails and prisons. This field is not to be confused with the field of criminology, which is a more scientific investigation of crime. In criminal justice, professionals approach crime and injustice through a detailed, programmatic approach, to make sure the law is used rightly for criminals.
What career opportunities are opened in the field of criminal justice?

Those working in the criminal justice field have the opportunity to choose a number of different specialized fields. With the population growing and many different cultures living together, crime rates are not likely to go down and good employment opportunities are expected. Positions in this field include police officers and detectives who help to provide safe communities, parole officers who oversee rehabilitation of convicts just getting out of prison, correctional treatment specialists who work in jails and prisons, social workers who help in court hearings and rehabilitation, and state and federal level law enforcement professionals.

What degrees are needed to work in criminal justice?

Usually a bachelors degree in social work, criminal justice, or a related field is required to work in the criminal justice field. However, to become part of a city police force, depending on the area and an individuals experience, there are accelerated officer training programs that allow someone to bypass college and go straight into law enforcement. In these cases, however, there is less chance for advancement. There are also associate's degrees available, which give an overview of what it's like to work in the field of criminal justice. For those desiring to become the head of a criminal justice department, having a bachelor's or, even better, a master's degree is best.