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Online criminal justice degrees

There were more than 110,600 detectives and criminal investigators working in the U.S. in 2010, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Demand for workers in the field remains strong. Between 2008 and 2018, job opportunities are projected to grow 17 percent for detectives and criminal investigators, and 9 percent for police officers.

"There's always a need for people in the criminal justice system," Callie Rennison, a professor at University of Colorado Denver told the Mile High City's NBC Channel 9 News on Aug. 23, 2011.

Student Nora Scanlon echoed the professor. "You can go to federal, and federal agencies are hiring. You can go to the state level. State's hiring, local's hiring, nonprofits are hiring. The public and private sector, they are hiring."

It's easy to be optimistic about a degree that leads to a high-growth professional field and prepares students to make a difference in their communities.

Types of online degrees in criminal justice

A prospective college student's career goals should help determine their educational path. Take a look at the four most common training options for majors in criminal justice:

Associate: A two-year degree in criminal justice can serve as basic training in preparation for the police academy, a prerequisite for entry-level jobs or as the first step toward a four-year bachelor's degree.
Bachelor's: Considered common training for many careers in criminal justice, the bachelor's degree prepares students for careers in criminology, forensics, private investigation and more.
Master's: For students who hold a bachelor's degree, a master's degree in criminal justice can usually be completed in one to two years of full-time study. Management or entrepreneurship positions--such as opening a private detective firm--might benefit from this mastery of subject knowledge.
Doctorate: For professionals who want to conduct and advance scientific research in criminology and criminal justice, or teach at the college or university level, a PhD in criminology is generally required.

State and local laws differ greatly. Online education gives students insight into these differences, when interacting with students from across the country. Because criminal justice degrees don't typically come with a hands-on requirement, students can enjoy fulfilling all of their degree requirements online.

Courses common to many programs of study include the following:

Criminology
Judicial process
Ethics in the justice system
Victimology
Private security

From the degree to the field, there are several common career choices for criminal justice grads.

Career outlook

From beat cop to vice squad to FBI, law enforcement is among the most popular career paths for criminal justice grads. Corrections, security and private investigation are also common. Education is an important factor on the job application for many positions in law enforcement, especially state and federal officers.

For 2010, the BLS reported that managers of police and detectives working in the federal government earned mean annual wages of $114,170. State officers earned mean annual wages of $58,200. And security guards--a common entry-level career--earned mean annual wages of $26,870.

Criminal justice at a glance

Growth: Employment of police and detectives is expected to grow at an average pace from 2008 to 2018, or 10 percent. Prospects should be particularly favorable for qualified individuals in local police departments. (BLS)
Inside scoop: Bilingual applicants with college training in police science or with military police experience may have the best opportunities.
Key employers: Local, state and federal governments, colleges and universities

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