More Information About Associate in Criminal Justice

• An associate's degree in criminal justice requires about two years of study
• A criminal justice associate's degree will open doors to entry level positions in the field.
• Getting a criminal justice associate's degree online is a better option for someone already working in the field.

How does someone earn an associate's degree in criminal justice?

An associate's degree is an undergraduate degree that usually requires 60 semester credit hours, or two years, to complete. Offered at community colleges and junior colleges, usually a student is required to take a number of general education requirements, such as science, English, social sciences and math. Though many associate's degrees are used to transfer to a four year degree, an associate's in criminal justice is specialized to train professional criminal justice workers. An associate's criminal justice program prepares people for entry-level positions within the field. After getting some experience, graduates can be promoted upward to supervisory positions and mid-management positions.

The job outlook for law enforcement professionals in the near future is excellent. Crime is a major issue in many communities. Police department jobs, such as detectives and officers, will continue to be in constant demand. In the greatest demand, however, are jobs in probation and parole sectors and in private security jobs. With an associate's degree there is the opportunity to get a foot in the door and get real-life work experience a field of interest. The more highly paid positions will be hard to get into right away with only an associate's degree. To become more highly competitive for management positions and other leadership positions, working toward a more advanced degree might be a good choice after completing an associate's degree.

Getting an associate's online lets students have the freedom to take classes from home. Also, online classes allow students to have a job, or pursue other interests, while earning their degree. Some programs offer their classes exclusively over the internet while others split class time between internet collaboration and in-person collaboration. Checking with a specific program to find out how they run their programs is the best way to learn which ones are best. While online learning does allow more freedom and flexibility than a traditional, on-campus, program they also require much more self discipline to succeed. Most online classes have a prescheduled list of assignments and due dates, which students are expected to complete on their own. There is usually less teacher-student interaction in online learning, so a student must possess the self-motivation to succeed and complete the course independently.

The levels of work available in the field of criminal justice vary widely and so do their respective salaries. A law enforcement officer (or a police officer) makes between $37,600 and $53,300, with an average yearly salary of $45,300, depending on location. Police sergeants generally make an average of $57,700 a year, with a range between $50,700 and $64,500. Police chiefs make between $81,500 and $91,600. Social workers in the criminal justice field make anywhere between $37,800 and $44,900 a year. These are not all the positions available in the field, but these give a good range for average salaries.

• Bryant and Stratton College Online Bryant & Stratton College Online offers Associate Degree training in less than two years in Accounting, Business, or Criminal Justice fields. Courses are provided via online distance learning to accommodate busy working adults and demanding schedules. ( More Info )
• Liberty University Online With more than 40 online degrees offered, Liberty University is a convenient, flexible, and affordable way to earn an accredited degree from a solid, Christian perspective. ( More Info )
• California Coast University Online Established in 1973, California Coast University has enabled working adults without the time or access to a physical school with the opportunity to complete degree training programs that can open new career doors. Flexible distance-learning classes ensure that students will earn an undergraduate or graduate degree in Business Administration, Management, Psychology, and Health Care Administration in as much or as little time as they have available. ( More Info )
• Florida Tech University Online Florida Tech University Online offers students a state-of-the-art learning system that allows students to work their studies into their busy work and family lives. Associate's, bachelor, and master's degrees can be earned online in a wide range of fields including Business Administration, Criminal Justice and Computer Information Systems. ( More Info )
• Iowa Central College Formed in 1966, Iowa Central College is a community college offering Associate Degree training in Business, Information Technology, and Criminal Justice fields via campus course study and online education. The main campus is located in Fort Dodge, Iowa with flexible course schedules and additional programs via online learning resources. ( More Info )
• Kaplan University - Criminal Justice Programs Kaplan University Online offers associate, bachelor, and master degree programs in Criminal Justice. In addition, they offer certificate programs in Crime Scene Technician and Terrorism/National Security Management. ( More Info )
• Saint Leo University Saint Leo University is one of the largest regionally accredited online university to offer associate, bachelor, and master programs in the U.S. Saint Leo University offers degree programs in the fields of Accounting, Business, Healthcare Management, Criminal Justice and Computer Information Systems. ( More Info )
• Virginia College Online Programs Virginia College Online Programs offers online degree programs in Accounting, Business Administration, Healthcare Management, Criminal Justice and Homeland Security. ( More Info )
• LA College Online Since 1981, LA College has been providing a quality education that is career-focused. During the first years, the school focused on courses that prepared students for data processing and computer skills. In 2006, however, the American Way Education, LLC acquired the facility and added several courses and online degree programs for students worldwide. ( More Info )
• Anthem College Online Anthem College Online offers career-oriented Bachelors and Associate Degree programs in the fields of Business and Criminal Justice. ( More Info )
• Everest University Online Everest University Online offers distance learning opportunities through online virtual classrooms and individual attention from instructors. Specialization and practical career methodologies are emphasized to ensure successful employment following graduation. Tailored curriculum enables students to pursue advanced positions with marketable skill sets and Associate, Bachelor, and Master Degrees in Business, Criminal Justice, Paralegal, Healthcare, Computer Information Systems, and Homeland Security fields. ( More Info )
• Everest College Phoenix-Online Through online education from Everest College Phoenix-Online, students can earn their associate's and bachelor's degrees from the comfort of home. All degrees are practical and career-oriented so that students can move directly from school into a paying job. Online degrees offered at Everest College Phoenix include Accounting, Business, and Criminal Justice. ( More Info )
• American InterContinental University Founded in 1970, American InterContinental University (AIU) offers curricula that provide students with career preparation in business, design and media arts, engineering, education, and information technology. AIU is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award Associate, Bachelor's and Master's degrees. ( More Info )
• Lincoln Online Lincoln Online is the online division of Career Education Institute. Lincoln Online offers Associate of Applied Science Degrees in Health Information Technology and Criminal Justice. Lincoln Online is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS) and licensed by the State of Georgia's Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission. ( More Info )