Online Criminal Justice Degrees: Requirements and Tuition
While the rise of technology has made it easier for students to complete their education without ever setting foot on campus, it also means that you have more options than ever before. Online criminal justice degrees are a great way for students to get all the benefits of traditional programs without sacrificing any aspect of their education or career path. If you’re considering an online degree program in criminal justice, here’s what you need to know:
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Online vs. On Campus Degree Programs
Online degree programs are flexible, convenient and accessible. Students have the option to choose from a variety of online universities, ranging from community colleges to large institutions. Some schools offer bachelor’s degrees in criminal justice, while others provide associate degrees or certificates. Online programs can be a great option for students who are unable to attend classes on campus.
Accreditation for Online Criminal Justice Programs
Accreditation is important for any degree program. It ensures that students will receive a quality education and that the school is abiding by certain standards. However, accreditation is especially critical for criminal justice programs because those who work in this field need to be able to trust the quality of the education they’re receiving.
Online Criminal Justice Programs
Online criminal justice programs have become increasingly popular over recent years as more people look toward online degrees as an alternative to traditional on-campus programs. Although there are several advantages to online learning, it’s important that you ensure your online criminal justice program has been accredited by an organization like the Council on Accreditation or WASC Senior College and University Commission before enrolling in it.
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Types of Online Criminal Justice Degrees
When you’re researching online criminal justice degrees, it’s important to know that there are various types of online degrees available. These include associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees. When choosing an online criminal justice program, it’s important to consider your educational goals and career aspirations.
A wide variety of colleges and universities offer online criminal justice degree programs in a variety of specializations ranging from corrections to policing and security management to homeland security administration. You can also choose between traditional classroom models or fully-online learning options when looking for schools offering these programs.
Earning Potential with an Online Criminal Justice Degree
If you earn an online criminal justice degree, you can expect to make a decent living. The average salary for a criminal justice professional is $54,000 per year, while the average salary for someone with an associate’s degree is $34,000 per year and someone with a bachelor’s degree can expect to earn $59,000 per year. Those who pursue their education further may find themselves in even higher positions of authority and earning more money as well. While salaries vary depending on where you live and what industry you’re working in (if not all three), graduates who have earned graduate degrees typically earn up to $63,000 per year.
Online Criminal Justice Degree Specializations
If you’re interested in criminal justice, you can get a Bachelor of Science degree in the major. This can help prepare you for entry-level positions at the federal, state and local levels of law enforcement like police officer or detective. In addition to this specialization, other online criminal justice specializations include:
- Forensic science
- Criminology
- Criminal Justice Administration
Resources for Criminal Justice Students and Professionals
As a criminal justice student or professional, there are many resources available to you. These include things like career opportunities, how to get started in the field and how to find scholarships. Resources for students and professionals include:
- Employment data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics that show the best jobs for graduates with criminal justice degrees. You can also see what job titles have the highest salary potential based on their education level. This information makes it easier for you as an aspiring criminal justice professional because it shows what types of jobs are available and which ones will be most rewarding based on your skillset and interests.
- Advice from experienced professionals who have been through this journey before, as well as tips from fellow college students who are pursuing their own careers in criminal justice fields like law enforcement or corrections administration.
Learn more about the benefits of this dynamic, challenging field and how you can make a difference with an online criminal justice degree.
- Learn more about the benefits of this dynamic, challenging field and how you can make a difference with an online criminal justice degree.
- Explore the different types of online criminal justice degrees.
- Find out which specializations are available to you.
- Learn more about the resources available to students pursuing an online criminal justice degree.
Universities offering Online Criminal Justice Degrees
American Public University
American Public University offers an online criminal justice degree program that is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. The campus is located in Charles Town, West Virginia and is a public institution within the American Public University System.
Colorado Technical University
Colorado Technical University offers a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice. This is an online degree program that can be completed in as little as 18 months. Students who are interested in the criminal justice field will benefit from taking this course, which offers the flexibility of being able to complete it on their own time and space.
The program is offered in four formats:
- Online
- Hybrid
- Traditional (in person)
- Self-paced
Liberty University
Liberty University is a private, non-profit, non-denominational Christian university located in Lynchburg, Virginia. Liberty University offers undergraduate and graduate programs at its main campus as well as selected offsite locations throughout the United States.
Liberty University offers a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice that can be completed either online or on campus at the main campus in Lynchburg, VA. The program requires 120 credit hours to complete and includes classes such as “Criminal Law”, “Introduction to Drugs”, “Sociology of Crime”, and “Investigative Process”. Students may also get credit for prior coursework if they have already taken certain classes from community colleges or other accredited institutions before transferring those credits over to Liberty University. Students must have completed 30 hours of liberal arts courses before applying for this program; however if you do not have any prior college experience then you will need to take some additional prerequisite classes first (such as English composition).
Florida Coastal School of Law
Florida Coastal School of Law is one of the top online criminal justice degrees. They are based in Jacksonville, Florida and have been offering online courses since 1998. The school offers both undergraduate and graduate programs, including a Master’s degree in Criminal Justice Administration.
If you are looking for an online criminal justice degree, Florida Coastal School of Law should be your first stop!
Southern New Hampshire University
Southern New Hampshire University offers a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice, a Master of Science in Criminal Justice, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Criminal Justice. The school was established in 1932 as the first private university in New Hampshire. It currently has over 20,000 students enrolled worldwide. SNHU is regionally accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) and has been awarded accreditation status for its Criminal Justice program by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).
Kaplan University
- Kaplan University is a for-profit university.
- Kaplan University offers online degrees in Criminal Justice.
- Kaplan University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (since 1975). The Higher Learning Commission is one of six regional accreditors recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, which means that it must meet standards for quality and integrity set forth by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). CHEA also accredits many institutions that are not regionally accredited, so if you’re interested in attending any college or university with an online criminal justice degree program, then it would be wise to check their accreditation status before deciding where to attend school or apply for admission. You can find out more about CHEA here: https://www.chea.org/accreditation/.
Rasmussen College.
Rasmussen College is a private, not-for-profit institution with campuses in Minnesota, Illinois and Florida. All Rasmussen programs are regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
The following programs are available at Rasmussen College:
- Associate’s degree in Criminal Justice
- Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice
- Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA) with a concentration in Criminal Justice
St. Leo University
St. Leo offers a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and a Master of Science in Criminal Justice with a concentration in Homeland Security, to name just two. Additionally, it offers a Master of Arts in Criminal Justice as well.
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Conclusion
If you’re interested in pursuing an online criminal justice degree, we hope this article helped you to learn more about the benefits of this dynamic, challenging field and how you can make a difference with an online criminal justice degree.