Online Criminal Justice Degrees and Certificate Programs
Criminal justice degrees and criminal justice certificate programs focus on law enforcement: corrections, homeland security, customs, forensics, police work and public safety. You can earn a criminal justice degree online or through studying at a traditional on-campus program.
Results per page
Criminal Justice Degrees: Careers and Jobs in Criminal Justice
Online criminal justice degrees and criminal justice certificates are very popular today because they offer you the opportunity to start or advance your criminal justice career while continuing to work. For example, acquiring your online Bachelors in Criminal Justice allows you to work full-time during the day – perhaps in a related job, such as personal security – and study criminal justice in the evenings. Completing a criminal justice degree program presents you with financial advantages as well; the U.S. Department of Labor Statistics estimates that professionals with even an associate’s degree earn over $6,000 more annually than someone with only a high school diploma, and having a more advanced criminal justice degree brings even higher wages.
Earning a criminal justice degree online can lead you to a secure job that you enjoy. There are dozens of criminal justice degrees for you to choose from, but some of the most popular – and the careers they can qualify you for – include:
- Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Criminal Justice - This two-year degree (assuming full-time study) prepares you for a career in law enforcement. The amount of additional training required for entry-level corrections officer or police officer positions varies from state to state; some require only the Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice, while others also require academy attendance.
- Bachelor of Science (BS) in Law Enforcement - Having this degree increases your ability to acquire higher-level law enforcement jobs; advancing to detective, sheriff, or warden is much easier if you have a BS in Law Enforcement.
- Master of Science in Criminal Justice (MSCJ) Administration - Requiring between one and two years of postgraduate study, an MSCJ Administration degree prepares you to analyze, understand and correct problems within the criminal justice system. Combined with sufficient experience, this criminal justice degree can qualify you for top-level law enforcement jobs.