Online Criminal Justice Degree Programs and Schools

Graduate and undergraduate degree programs available online in criminal justice, forensic science, law enforcement, corrections, homeland security, law, justice administration, and more.

Criminal Justice Careers

The purpose of our country's criminal justice system is to keep society safe. Because criminal justice embodies every level of law enforcement, there are many career paths to follow. These include:

Criminal Justice Career Training

Depending on your career goals, your career training in criminal justice should include earning a certificate, associate's degree, bachelor's degree, or master's degree. Certificate programs include crime scene technician, terrorism and national security management, and criminal justice. Earning a certificate in criminal justice usually requires one year of study.

If you pursue an associate's degree, you can study for law enforcement, corrections, private security, court reporting, or paralegal careers. Associate's degrees can usually be completed within two years. A bachelor's degree program will allow you to receive further training and education in any of the programs offered at the associate's level. In addition, with a bachelor's degree in a criminal justice-related field, you could qualify for jobs as a social worker, probation officer, and correctional treatment specialist. A bachelor's degree can usually be completed in four years. Earning a master's degree in criminal justice or related field might increase your chances to find advanced positions in law enforcement, including FBI agent, police chief, and college instructor. The completion of a master's degree usually requires two years of study once you finish your bachelor's degree.

Most criminal justice schools will allow you transfer credits from one degree program into a higher degree program. For instance, if you earn an associate's degree, it can often be applied toward a bachelor's degree program, and possibly reduce your length of study in half. Online degree programs are available at all levels of study, allowing you to maintain your current work schedule while you are taking classes.

Criminal Justice Earnings and Opportunities

Your criminal justice salary will depend on your field of work and possibly your level of education. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), 2007 median salary for police and sheriff's patrol officers was $49,630. For first-line supervisors and managers of police and detectives, 2007 median salary was $72,620. Detectives and criminal investigators earned a median of $59,930 in 2007. For all of these workers, the BLS forecasts at least an 11 percent increase in employment from 2006 through 2016.

For correctional officers, the BLS predicts a 16 percent increase in employment from 2006 through 2016. Correctional officers' 2007 median salary was $36,970, while their supervisors earned a median salary of $55,720. In 2007, security guards earned a median salary of $22,570, while probation officers and correctional treatment specialists earned a median salary of $44,510.

Online Degrees in Criminal Justice

Online degree programs in law and criminal justice from accredited universities and colleges:

Online Degrees in Law Enforcement

Online degree programs in policing and investigation from accredited universities and colleges:

Online Degrees in Security and Corrections

Online degree programs in homeland security, corrections and loss prevention from accredited universities and colleges:

• Criminal Justice