Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Degree Online

Is a Criminal Justice Degree Right for You?

Students who pursue criminal justice degrees will learn about law, court systems, and the effects that society and relationships have on humans and the way that they behave. Criminal justice students research and study the foundations of law enforcement, public safety, the legal system, the behavior of criminals, and social work, amongst a wide area of other important concepts and topics associated with criminal justice. As the need for public safety and corrections continue to grow, so will the need for trained individuals working in this field. It is important for students within this field to have strong communication skills, an excellent eye for detail, and a desire to understand the human mind.

Advice for Earning Your Criminal Justice Degree Online

Online criminal justice programs offer students the opportunity to complete course work on their own time and from the convenience of their homes. Students can choose to earn an associate, bachelor's, or graduate degree. Regardless of the degree you choose to pursue, you should ensure that the learning institution in which you enroll is accredited, either regionally or nationally. Employers often require that their employees have a degree from an accredited college or university because it is one way to tell if a university offers a high-quality education. It also ensures that the school has policies and procedures in place to ensure students learn the skills they need to excel in the workplace.

Required Courses

During your studies as a criminal justice major, you will learn the development of policies and procedures within the criminal justice field. You will also explore the techniques used in the field and how to apply them to every day scenarios. These skills will assist you in learning to think clearly when faced with common problems. Most criminal justice degree programs focus on several aspects of the justice system, including the study of the agencies and institutions that exist within the system, such as corrections, probation and parole, law enforcement, and judiciary. Common courses in criminal justice degree programs include an introduction to criminal justice, criminology, criminal procedure, criminal law, information systems, crime prevention, sociology, ethics, and research methods in criminal justice.

Common Career Paths

The need for laws, governing bodies, law enforcement, and corrections will continue to grow, as they are essential to promoting public safety. Graduates of criminal justice degree programs will be ready to enter the workforce in a number of fields, including immigration, probation, security services, and forensics. Jobs can be found at the local, state, Federal, or private sector level. Common careers include (but are not limited to):

• Police Officer

  Police officers work in law enforcement to ensure that people and their properties are protected. While the specific job duties of police officers depend on their departments and the size and type of their organization, police officers generally work to uphold the law and ensure public safety in their communities. When a law has been broken or an illegal act has been committed, police officers work to apprehend individuals to either cite them or use the necessary steps to ensure justice is reached. They patrol their jurisdictions and enforce traffic laws, investigate suspicious activity, respond to calls from individuals, resolve problems and conflict within their communities, and write reports to keep records of incidents that they may need to testify at a later date in court. On any given time during their shift, police officers may need to identify, pursue, and arrest individuals that have been suspected of crimes.

  The employment outlook for police officers looks to be favorable as job growth is expected to increase by 9% over the next several years, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The BLS also reported that the median annual wages of police officers was $51,410 in 2008.

• Probation Officer

  Probation officers work with individuals who have been convicted of crimes, but were placed on probationary periods instead of being sent to prison. During this period, those offenders are to keep out of trouble and meet various requirements. Probation officers are the specialists trained to supervise and work with them and monitor their activities to ensure that they keep out of trouble and do not commit more crimes. To monitor these individuals, probation officers must meet with them on a regular basis in places that include the office of the probation officer or the offender's home or place of employment. Probation officers also work with the courts on a regular basis, as they investigate the backgrounds of the accused, write presentence reports, and recommend appropriate sentences for the accused. They also may be required to testify in court with their findings and recommendations.

  The employment outlook for probation officers looks to be good, as the employment of probation officers is expected to grow by 19% over the next several years, which is much faster than the average occupation, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The BLS also reported that the median annual wages of probation officers was $45,910 as of 2008.

• Social Worker

  Social workers help other people by improving their living conditions and other aspects of their lives. Social workers must have a strong desire to help people because they work with individuals from various backgrounds, and who may be troubled. They work directly with individuals to help them cope with a wide range of problems, including disabilities, diseases, unemployment, poverty, drug and substance abuse, and other personal problems. They often also work with families that have domestic conflicts as well.

  The employment outlook for social workers appears to be favorable as growth in the field is expected by 16%, which is faster than the average occupation. Larger job growth is expected in social workers that specialize in mental health and substance abuse and public health. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wages of social workers was $39,530 in 2008, with medical and public health social workers earning median annual salaries of $46,650 that same year.