Criminal justice employees work together to keep the streets safe and see that justice is served. From the police officer who initially responds to the call to the forensic psychologist who helps the jury understand what goes on in the criminal’s mind, they all play an important role in the process.
Whether you want to work in the courtrooms helping to put the perpetrators behind bars of if you’d rather work in the lab evaluating the evidence, it all starts with a major in criminal justice. Here is what you need to know about this exciting and important major.
Associates Degree
Not all criminal justice careers require a degree, but a two-year degree can still help you get your foot in the door. Having an associate’s degree can also help you advance in your field. Police officers and detectives, corrections officers and court clerks are all in positions where an associate’s degree in criminal justice would be helpful. Other careers that can benefit from this degree include ATF agent, bailiff, court reporter, customs agent, INS agent and paralegal.
Most local universities and colleges are now offering classroom studies in criminal justice. However, you can also get your degree online if that works better with your schedule. Here are a few of the online universities where you can get an associates degree in criminal justice.
- University of Phoenix
- Strayer University
- Keiser University
- Everest University
- Saint Leo University
- Columbia College
- Florida Tech
- Indiana Wesleyan
Bachelor’s Degree
The more exciting fields in criminal justice require a bachelor’s degree. In addition to having a clear understanding of the laws that are being upheld and the constitutional rights of the accused, you may also need to have extensive coursework in science or other areas.
A criminalist who helps decipher the evidence must have a bachelor’s degree in physical, biological or forensic science in addition to having criminal justice coursework. A forensic scientist must have a four-year degree in one of the sciences and should also have training in criminal justice.
Crime scene investigators, who collect the evidence and do the initial evaluation of the crime scene, must have course work in anatomy, chemistry and forensics in addition to a degree in Criminal justice. Agents working with the Secret Service, FBI and CIA are required to have a four-year degree, if not a master’s degree. Probation officers are required to have a bachelor’s degree in a social science such as criminal justice, psychology or sociology.
There are online universities that can provide you with the training you require to complete a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. Many online colleges also have local campuses in select cities, allowing students to also complete the labwork that will be necessary for some of the science classes. Here are some of the universities that offer online bachelor’s degrees.
- Saint Leo
- Everest University
- Columbia College
- Boston University
- Virginia College
- Walden University
- Colorado Technical University
- University of Phoenix
- Indiana Wesleyan
Master’s Programs
Some careers in Criminal justice require even more education. The FBI prefers master’s degrees over bachelor’s degrees. A criminologist works closely with police and the courts, helping to provide explanations for why the criminals do the things they do. They are required to have a two-year master’s degree. While the master’s should be in criminology, the bachelor’s degree can be in criminal justice.
Forensic psychology is an exciting career field where you can get into the heads of the perpetrators and help other parties understand them. These people work closely with attorney, police and the offenders. They must have a bachelor’s in psychology as well as a master’s degree and ultimately a doctoral degree. Along the way they should also take coursework specific to criminal justice if they want to work within the system. Here are some of the agencies that offer this coursework over the Internet.
- Everest University
- Columbia College
- Saint Joseph’s University
- Boston University
- Colorado Technical University
- Virgina College
- Walden University
- University of Cincinnati
- Michigan State University
Choosing an Online School
It is vital that you choose an institution with a good reputation and a solid program. Before signing up with any university, find out what their accreditation is. You should only pursue a degree with a college that is fully accredited by the National Educational Association or one of the six regional agencies. These agencies include the:
- Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
- New England Association of Schools and Colleges
Commission on Institutions of Higher Education (NEASC-CIHE)
- North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
The Higher Learning Commission (NCA-HLC)
- Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Commission on Colleges
- Western Association of Schools and Colleges
Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (WASC-ACCJC)
- Western Association of Schools and Colleges
Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities (WASC-ACSCU)
You should also find out what type of support is offered for students. See how the professors are contacted and what kind of computer support is available. Find out if there is interaction with other students and see if the college has any kind of online community that can assist you with problems.
You should also look into the costs of each institution and their reviews by former students. The most expensive colleges do not always provide the highest quality education, so make your decision based on other factors. Any college will have some negative reviews associated with it, but the bulk of the reviews should be positive and indicate a great learning experience.
Finally, getting the degree in criminal justice will not be easy. It will require hard work and studying. There will be long nights involved, but you will learn a great deal. At the end of the journey you will have a degree and be prepared to enter the exciting and important field of criminal justice.
