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Welcome to Criminal Justice Degree Tips
Hi, I'm Mary White, one of the hundreds of writers here at LifeTips.com. Enjoy these 97 Criminal Justice Degree Tips! If you’re a business, why not hire the expert writers at LifeTips? And if you’re a writer, apply for freelance writing gigs.
Criminal Justice Careers For The Government
One of your options in pursuing a degree in criminal justice is to work for the government. The options within this context are:
Local government -- generally requires a minimum of an associates degree
State government -- generally requires minimum of bachelors degree
Federal government -- generally requires a minimum of an online criminal justice masters degree
While these indicated government branches and degree levels are quite typical, there is no fixed degree or job experience that is set in stone for a particular career, nor is a degree a guarantee that you will instantly find the job you are seeking. Search jobs, apply for internships, call and ask to schedule an informational interview as your near graduation from your criminal justice program. Some other suggestions include interviewing local police officers at the station in order to get your name and your interest out there right away. If you take these early steps, you will experience more confidence, less stress and more overall success when you start your government job search upon graduation.
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Education Connection Tip: Doctoral Degree Online
Education Connection Tip: Doctoral degree programs are usually the level of education sought following a masters degree in the same field. If you have already obtained your Master of Arts in Criminal Justice and are seeking a higher level of education, several online options are available for you to consider (in less frequent cases, it is also possible to obtain a joint master/doctoral degree online).
One primary benefit of obtaining an online criminal justice doctoral degree is that you will have increased mastery over your own research time. Additionally, the class load relevant to PhD programs is often less group focused and, again, more focused on research; so you will be less likely to lose valuable "in class" time in an online degree program than you would with other degree programs, such as bachelor or master degrees (and you would still have online library access, because you would be paying for your online university's access to complete your research).
There are also a few limitations to online PhD's, however. First of all, you will have less in-person interaction with key academic staff, such as the members of your dissertation team. Secondly, you may have fewer options in terms of internship/job and, most importantly, in-classroom teaching opportunities (most people who are seeking PhD's plan to teach on a college level at some point, and this in-class experience can prove invaluable for practice and potential job connections). There are a few things you can do to plan ahead, however, so that you do not run into these difficulties:
Call the university ahead of time and ask for the name of an academic contact person with whom you'd most likely conduct your research.
Contact this person and ask questions related to how often he/she would be available to converse and if there would be any opportunity to meet in-person.
Find out about online teaching opportunities (if this interests you) or other contacts with local schools or institutions in which you might gain this experience.
Inquire about research tools and resources
Inquire about other PhD students in your field that may live in the same area as you
Talk to current students or recent alums and inquire about their experiences with the program
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Careers With An Associates Degree In Criminal Justice
The term "criminal justice" has now become a very broad term for a variety of specialized career interests. There are associates degrees in criminal justice, crime scene technology, and terrorism/security management.
Note, that if you decide to embark on an associates degree program (rather than a bachelor's, master's or PhD program) that your job options may be more limited to state and local jobs. While this sound inhibiting at first, these types of jobs often offer excellent benefits packages, as well as ample vacation time and opportunity for educational advancement at no additional charge to you.
The recommendation is that since you have a great wealth of curriculum focus options that you make a list of what draws you to the field of criminal justice, complete further research on the specific tasks associated with each emphasis, and make an educated decision on what tasks, time-schedule and level of commitment are most amenable to your lifestyle and needs. Weigh the pros and cons. Consider your monetary and familial duties. Consider your energy level and desire for commitment. After you have a more detailed picture of your needs, you can look further into areas of special interest within the field.
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Education Connection Tip: Other Criminal Justice Careers
Paralegal-Even though people used to become paralegals without a formal education in the field, increased competition has led to a necessity for higher education. It is highly recommended that you obtain a legal assistance degree from an online associates or bachelors program in criminal justice, or a university based department.
Private Security-Educational needs in the area of private security will vary dependent upon which level of security you are interested in and prior experience. Some people enter private security jobs with no education, while others attend legal studies programs (under the umbrella of criminal justice).
Crime Scene Investigation-This focus can vary in terms of educational and experiential expectations. It is necessary to be aware of state laws relative to forensics, as well as be physically comfortable maneuvering oneself in a variety of possibly hazardous settings (a lot of crimes occur in less than Utopian environments)!
Private Investigator-One can be a private investigator in a variety of job settings. For example, some private investigators work as independent practitioners, others work for investigative agencies and others get in to the field of corporate investigations.
Financial investigation is also an option (if you are interested in this area of expertise, you will also have to become a certified public accountant (CPA).
While this list does not include every possible career opportunity in the field of criminal justice, it does provide an overview of different types of careers to consider. If you are interested in any of these job options, it is suggested that you research your area of interest and try to visit the related agency or office nearest you so that you get a better understanding of what the actual career would be like.
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Associates Degree in Criminal Justice: More Areas of Specialty
It would be impossible to list in a few tips the broad spectrum of career opportunities and specialties within the field of criminal justice. Associate's degree programs offer a wide variety of special interest or curriculum focused options. Some areas to consider, which haven't already been outlined above are:
criminal justice administration
paralegal studies
forensics
homeland security
legal administrative assistant (secretary)
Jobs in the area of law can be fulfilling, offer great benefits and not involve some of the "dramatic" or even traumatic things you may experience or witness if you choose to have a more hands-on emphasis. That being said, however, those areas of focus may not provide you with the excitement and intensity you may be seeking by obtaining a degree in criminal justice.
As with all degree/career pursuits it is highly suggested that you really research what you are getting yourself into prior to making a decision to commit your time and money (and life) to this endeavor.
Go to the library and read about your options
Talk to the career counselors at the school that interests you
Ask if you can converse with any current or former students with that area of focus (it is very common that students will work with admissions personnel on such matters)
Do some online research
And remember, that every bit of information you receive will be subjective, so that you will ultimately have to really practice self-awareness and examination to make the balanced decision that is right for you.
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Education Connection Tip: Online Degrees: What to Expect
Education Connection Tip: If you want to earn a degree in criminal justice online, you may benefit from knowing some of the things you can expect to experience:
Online degrees generally work differently than on land degrees, in that you don't take 3 or 4 classes at a time. It is common to enroll in only one class per five or six week term.
Online degrees generally offer more flexibility in terms of WHEN you do your work, but can require as much as 20 hours per week of online time and work time.
While some classes can be completed or logged onto at any time, others will require that you be at your computer at a certain time each week (or even several times per week). It is important to find out that information prior to enrolling in a course.
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Criminology And Criminal Psychology
Criminologists often work in university settings,either conducting research and/or teaching. If you are interested in working on this level, however, it will be necessary to obtain a PhD in Criminology. Other potential areas of work could include working for independent agencies or government agencies. Areas of study generally include information on psychology, sociology, and deviant behavior patterns.
Criminal psychologists are almost always expected to obtain a doctorate in the field. This role is generally a support role in helping criminal investigation teams (through direct practice or research) to understand the thought-processes and behavioral patterns of criminal behavior. Even though criminal psychologists require certification and a significant amount of educaition, there is no guarantee that you will make a significant amount of money upon graduation.
Education Connection Tip: If you are interested in obtaining an associates degree, a bachelor degree or even a master degree in criminal justice, consider an online program. An online degree in criminal justice is recommended for consideration if you:
Have a full-time or part-time job that is in the field and it would benefit you to keep that job during your education.
Do not have the financial or time ability to quit your job while attending school
Have a family and would prefer to work from home (although, keep in mind, that working from home with little ones can be very difficult).
Want to speed up the amount of time in which you obtain your degree.
Already have some background in the field-or contacts, and have heard of an accredited or highly recommended online program.
Are willing to take the necessary time to research quality of programs
Are very aware of your career goals prior to degree obtainment, so that you can select an online program that will best enhance your overall learning (and job search) experience.
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Law Enforcement
One can obtain a job in law enforcement, depending on what kind of time commitment, salary and area of interest he/she has, with everything from a high school diploma to a PhD.
For example, it is possible to become an entry-level police officer on the local level if you are 20-years-old and have a GED. You will still have to pass medical, physical and written exams. If you want to be a state or federal police officer or detective, however, a minimum of a bachelors degree in criminal justice is required.
On the other hand, if you are interested in being an FBI agent, you will not only require a minimum of a bachelors degree (masters degree in criminal justice preferred), but a minimum of three years of related work experience. It's also good to remember that the FBI doesn't appoint investigators over the age of 36.
There are numerous other specialty areas within law enforcement field such as security management, private investigation and law enforcement agents. In order to decide what area of law enforcement is right for you, take an honest inventory of your mental, emotional and physical needs, strengths and limitations. Each area of focus will require a certain amount of physical and emotional pliability in order to feel successful.
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Paralegal Studies
Paralegal programs are part of the criminal justice degree and are available at both online and on campus. While it was once an option to obtain a paralegal job without formal training in the area, this is no longer the norm. It is expected that in order to be considered for a job as a paralegal that you acquire the necessary education prior to applying for a position.
Most paralegal programs will include legal studies and legal research curriculum. If you have a more specialized area of interest, such as real estate law or corporate law, for example, those programs are available as well.
Prior to choosing a paralegal program or school, you should look for certain requirements such as accreditation, certification and career support, and potential internship opportunities. Internship opportunities often lead to full-time employment upon graduation, or at the very least, offer initial contacts in the field.
You can obtain an associates degree in paralegal studies (as long as certification is acquired post-graduation), or a bachelors degree to further your career growth possibilities. No matter what course you decide to take, review at least three different programs thoroughly prior to making your decision. The school admissions office should be readily able to offer detailed curriculum options and internship information before you even apply.
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Criminal Justice Careers: Local Government
If you are seeking a criminal justice career with the local government, you will most likely require a minimum of an associates degree in the field (that is, if you haven't already obtained on-the-job training). Some of the local level criminal justice employment opportunities to consider include a local level corrections officer, a park police officer, a county police officer, a juvenile justice officer, or working for the sheriff's department. Take the following into consideration as you research career opportunities in law enforcement/criminal justice:
Visit local government facilities and interview people in the field. This will give you an accurate depiction of what it is like to work in these areas, to get a feel for these environments and to inquire what level of education is required for both entry level and promotional opportunities.
Research the jobs that interest you. Find job descriptions, average salary, and get contact information to conduct interviews with people in the field.
Go to the library and check out books related to this type of employment and see if the specific areas and duties assigned are of interest to you.
Sit in on a couple of classes (per professors approval) prior to starting your criminal justice degree) to get a "feel" for what to expect.
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Criminal Justice Salaries
As you may have already gathered, the field of criminal justice offers such a broad range of job opportunities that it is impossible to make a blanket statement about what an average salary for a criminal justice professional would be. Basic research suggests that salaries can range from the high $20,000 (for some local level jobs) to the $100,000 (for some federal government positions and/or specialties, such as medical examining).
For information on different salary ranges, research salaries online, at the library, and talk to professionals in the field. Make sure you note in your research whether you are inquiring about the starting level salary or the ceiling level salary for that area of expertise. An additional suggestion is to consider not only salary, but also potential benefits (like educational stipends, retirement, health insurance, career growth, etc.).
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Bachelors Programs in Criminal Justice: On Campus
If you are interested in obtaining a bachelors degree in criminal justice there are colleges in every state that will offer you this opportunity. You have the option to choose from Samford University's program in Paralegal Studies (in Birmingham, Alabama) to the State University of New York's Albany-based program in Criminal Justice to San Diego State University's program. The search options become not only a question of which specialties and schools that you find appealing, but also what kind of living environment is appealing, practical (socially, financially, job friendly), and what your time-line is. This will ensure that you obtain a degree from the criminal justice program that meets the majority of your needs and wants.
It is suggested that you select your top three schools in different parts of the country and really hone in your application process and your detailed research process to those schools. Select these three schools based on those same principles: quality of program, financial reality, potential for job opportunities, and social climate. Make a list of your most important expectations and needs and try to find a school that supplies those requirements first.
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Three Top Schools in Criminal Justice
According to US News and World Report the three most reputable and/or successful programs in criminal justice are at Syracuse University, Drury University, and University of Louisville. Each of these programs offers a different flavor of the criminal justice field, and each is in a very different part of the country. Specialties exist within each program; for example, you can obtain a certificate in Terrorism: Issues and Analysis online through Drury University, but would have to attend the school in Springfield, MO.
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Criminal Justice Certification
Criminal justice certification programs take less time to finish than an associates degree or higher. These certification programs can be completed online and often offer credits that can be transferred if you decide to further your degree in the future.
Just as with the regular degree programs in the field, certification programs tend to be focused in a particular area of criminal justice. Terrorism, Security Management, and Crime Scene Technician are examples of focus areas.
Other certification programs, such as the the University of Wisconsin (Madison) Criminal Justice Certification Program, are part of an overall bachelors degree in the field and require a certain amount of credit hours to be obtained prior to participation in the program (and, of course, more money).
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How Do I Know If I Am Interested in Criminology?
Criminology can be a confusing field to understand. Here are some basic components of the field to give you a quick idea of if this area of criminal justice would be a good fit for you.
Criminology was formerly lumped in with the sociology field. Since the expansion of criminal behavior has become a common topic in communities and the media, the study has become more and more specialized. Criminologists study behavioral theory, specifically related to criminal behavior. Research of behavioral patterns among populations is common, as is theoretical based writing and discussion. Cause and Effect relationships are a very integral part of the research. In effect, criminologists study sociological and psychological patterns, but stick to specific populations. Criminal psychologists tend to focus more on the psychological patterns, whereas criminologists tend to focus more on the sociological patterns.
