Associate Degree in Criminal Justice Programs

An associate degree in criminal justice will prepare you for an entry-level position or advancement into a bachelors or masters in criminal justice degree program.

Career opportunities in criminal justice are on the rise. This demand is driven in part by post 9-11 events, a growing population, and a more security-conscious society.

If you're considering an online criminal justice associate degree, know that you'll be poised to benefit from a hiring boom that is anticipated to grow well past the end of the decade. Some of the most in-demand positions will go to individuals with certificates or degrees in criminal justice, homeland security, criminology, and crime scene investigation.

Schools Offering Online Associate Degree in Criminal Justice Programs

Keiser University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Your diploma from one of Keiser's online programs is identical those that on-campus students receive. Keiser University offers the following associate degrees in criminal justice online:

• Associate A.A. in Criminal Justice
• Associate A.A. in Homeland Security
• Associate A.A. in Paralegal Studies
• Associate A.S in Fire Science

Everest University accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS) to award associate's, bachelor's, and master's degrees. Everest also offers tuition assistance, and includes the following criminal justice associate degree online courses:

• Associates of Science in Homeland Security
• Associates of Science in Criminal Investigations
• Associates of Science in Criminal Justice
• Associates of Science in Paralegal

Kaplan University was ranked #1 in 2006, for quality and value, in an independent survey of students and graduates of for-profit schools. Kaplan University is accredited by the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education by the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement (NCA CASI) and offers the following following online criminal justice associate degrees and certificates:

• A.A.S. in Criminal Justice
• AASCJ/Corrections
• AASCJ/Law Enforcement
• AASCJ/Private Security
• Crime Scene Technician Certificate

Virginia College offers the following criminal justice associate degree online:

• A.S. in Criminal Justice

Herzing University offers the following online associate degrees in criminal justice:

• A.S. Criminal Justice
• A.S. Legal Assisting/Paralegal

ITT Technical Institute offers the following online associate degree in criminal justice:

• A.A.S in Criminal Justice

A Career in Criminal Justice

Having an associate degree in criminal justice gives you an opportunity to start a career in law enforcement, homeland security, crime scene investigation, corrections, immigration, forensic science, probation, private detectives, and other related fields.

Many graduates of criminal justice programs find work in federal, state, and local governments, forensic laboratories, medical examiner's offices, hospitals, insurance companies, universities, arson investigation units, homicide investigations, and laboratories. Others who graduate with criminal justice certificate programs and degrees find employment as independent forensic science consultants, fingerprint technicians, print examiners, forensic investigators, evidence technicians, or in private investigation.

Criminal justice associate degree online prepares learners to meet the challenges of these lucrative jobs through a flexible online learning experience that encourages group participation, interaction, and team-work.

What Do You Study in an Online Criminal Justice Program?

Online associate degree in criminal justice programs cover the criminal justice system, introduce law and legal procedures, and discuss criminal evidence and criminology. Crime Scene Investigation programs offer the fundamentals of crime scene investigation science and theory. An associate degree program in Homeland Security focuses on the issues of security, intelligence operations, emergency services, and crisis management.

How Much Does a Career in Criminal Justice Pay?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2008-09 Edition, in 2006, police officers and sheriff's patrol officers earned an average of $47,460 while police and detective supervisors made $69,310 on average. Criminal investigators' pay was $58,260, on average, during the same period. In 2006, police chiefs earned $78,547-$99,698.

Needless to say, these salaries have been growing over time and vary based on location. If you're looking to get into a high paying career in criminal justice, you should consider pursuing a bachelor's, master's, or certificate program in criminal justice after completing your associate's degree.

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