Criminal Justice Bachelor Degree Programs

Online Bachelor Degree in Criminal Justice Programs

An online criminal justice bachelor degree takes between two to four years to complete and can help you advance in your current career or start a brand new career in law enforcement, homeland security, crime scene investigation, corrections, immigration, forensic science, probation, private detectives and related legal professions.

Some bachelors degree in criminal justice programs are designed to pick up after the associate's degree is already earned, and therefore may take less than four years to complete.

Graduates of a criminal justice bachelor degree program have far great job prospects and earning potential, than those with an associate degree. In addition, criminal justice bachelor degree holders stand better opportunities to qualify for jobs in state and federal agencies.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2008-09 Edition, applicants with a bachelor's degree and several years of law enforcement or military experience, especially investigative experience, have the best opportunities for jobs in Federal agencies.

Online Criminal Justice Bachelor Degree Schools

The following institutions offer accredited online criminal justice bachelor degree programs.

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 online bachelor degrees in criminal justice and certificates:

• B.S. in Criminal Justice
• Bachelor of Science Criminal in Justice/Crime Scene Investigation
• Bachelor of Science Criminal in Justice/Computer Crime
• Bachelor of Science Criminal in Justice/Juvenile Justice
• Bachelor of Science Criminal in Justice/Homeland Security and Counterterrorism
• Bachelor of Science Criminal in Justice/Crime Analysis
• Bachelor of Science Criminal in Justice/Law Enforcement
• Bachelor of Science Criminal in Justice/Corrections
• Bachelor of Science Criminal in Justice/Forensic Psychology
• Bachelor of Science Criminal in Justice/Fraud Examination
• Bachelor of Science Criminal in Justice/Private Security
• Crime Scene Technician Certificate

Capella University is one of the largest accredited online schools. Capella offers the following online criminal justice bachelor degrees online:

• B.S. in Public Safety - Criminal Justice
• B.S. in Public Safety - Emergency Management
• B.S. in Public Safety - Homeland Security
• B.S. in Public Safety - Security Management

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 online criminal justice bachelor degree programs:

• Bachelors in Criminal Justice
• Bachelors in Homeland Security
• Bachelors in Legal Studies

Everest University is 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 online bachelors in criminal justice degrees:

• B.S. in Homeland Security
• B.S. in Criminal Justice
• B.S. in Paralegal

Utica College is an accredited college that offers the following online bachelor degree programs in criminal justice:

• Bachelors in Economic Crime Investigation
• Bachelors in CyberSecurity - Information Assurance
• Bachelors in CyberSecurity - CyberCrime Investigation

Virginia College offers the following criminal justice bachelor degree online program:

• Bachelor's in Criminal Justice

ITT Technical Institute offers the following online criminal justice bachelor degree programs:

• B.S in Criminal Justice
• B.S in Criminal Justice - Cyber Security

National Univeristy offers the following online bachelor degree in criminal justice program:

• Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Administration

Online Criminal Justice Degree Programs

Students aspiring for an online bachelor degree in criminal justice or criminology can specialize in: Forensic Psychology, Law Enforcement, Private Security, Fraud Examination and Investigation, Corrections, Crime Analysis, or Crime Scene Investigation. The bachelor degree program provides instruction in current criminal justice issues such as law enforcement operations, the courts and correctional institutions, private investigations, and victim and juvenile counseling. In addition to learning about theory and practice, students also gain exposure to the latest applied technologies and interact with practitioners in criminal justice. Having a bachelor degree in criminal justice also provides a strong foundation for those interested in going to law school.

Criminal Justice Salaries

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2008-09 Edition, in 2006, police 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 made $78,547-$99,698. Salary.com reports that correction officers typically earn $31,900-$37,800, while highway patrol officers earn $41,000-$50,000, on average, depending on their location. These salaries have been growing in recent years and vary by location.

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