Criminal Justice degree careers

Graduates of online criminal justice programs work across a diverse and broad spectrum of careers. Online programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels are designed to train new criminal justice professionals, provide the ongoing education required in most criminal justice-related occupations, and offer advanced degrees for students seeking a career change or advancement to management. Some occupations that fall under the career umbrella of criminal justice include law enforcement and corrections officers, detectives, criminal forensic investigators, paralegals and legal assistants, homeland security specialists, and officers in state and federal law enforcement organizations.

Online criminal justice degree programs are offered by public and private colleges and universities, community colleges, and law enforcement academies and schools. Many programs have added courses and components that reflect the increasing popularity and interest in crime-scene investigation and forensic science. These comprehensive associate, bachelor’s and graduate degree programs are designed specifically to meet the needs of busy adults with work and family obligations. Coursework and examinations are delivered via an online format powered by tools including live video lectures, taped instructional videos, multimedia presentations, subject-matter chatrooms and conferencing. Undergraduate and graduate certificates specifically benchmark a graduate’s expertise in a methodology, specialty or research niche. Because criminal justice is considered a social science, employers and recruiters may favor the intensive, field-specific training offered in a criminal justice certificate over a generalized interdisciplinary liberal arts degree.

Note: flexible online classroom programs in criminal justice may require firm residency components such as on-site training, laboratory and field work, courtroom practice or supervised internships.

Online Certificates and Associate Degrees in Criminal Justice

Community colleges, state colleges and private schools have created self-paced, accredited online programs that build a practical and fundamental knowledge base for many career-focused students. Online criminal justice programs that lead to an associate degree (AA, AS or AAS) typically take two years of full-time study to complete and are comprised of a 60-credit hour curriculum divided into general education core classes and beginning studies in criminal justice. Some associate degree programs lead to “terminal degrees” preparing students with the minimal requirements for direct entry into their careers.