Many people are very interested in pursuing a criminal justice degree today. They may want to become more involved in protecting this country from security threats, whether it be terrorism or domestic crime. Perhaps they are concerned that social justice is done in this country. They may even be interested in tackling security issues regarding the internet, from hunting down web spies and hackers to taking down internet child pornography rings. Never before has the field of criminal justice been so diverse or qualified criminal justice professionals in greater demand.
A criminal justice degree can enable you to become a police officer, private detective, security guard, paralegal, counselor, or social worker. Some degree holders can play important supporting roles in the fight to protect the United States from terrorism. Not everyone may end up becoming “Jack Bauer,” but there’s a good chance you’ll become a “Chloe” type (referring to the characters on the hit TV show “24”).
What you want to become will also determine the type of criminal justice degree program you pursue. This is especially true of criminal justice associate degrees, which tend to focus on a specific area of the field. There are associate degrees in law enforcement, forensic psychology, crime scene investigation, prosecution, incarceration, and private security. Another excellent area of study is criminal justice administration, which aims to prepare you for work that involves identifying criminals or collecting, maintaining, storing, and disseminating criminal records. One advantage of working toward completing an associate’s degree is that it takes less time to complete than a bachelor’s degree. However, a bachelor’s degree can be very useful. It delves into the psychology of criminals and their victims, often including internships and immersion studies that engage students in real case work.
You now have the option of pursuing a criminal justice degree online instead of going to a university and taking traditional classes. This can be very helpful if you are working full time and cannot afford to take leave to continue your education. You have the opportunity to study for your degree at a pace and time that is convenient for you and will not require you to leave your job or family. There are numerous types of online certificates and degree programs available in the criminal justice field, from associate’s degrees to bachelor’s and master’s degrees.