5 Things to Know About Criminal Justice Degrees

July 24, 2012 | Filed under: The List | Posted by: kcooper

A degree in criminal justice offers a plethora of career opportunities in a growing field. You have the option to attend a traditional university or take classes online. With growing legitimacy and ever-expanding quality, online education is becoming a more viable option and increasing educational opportunities for a wide range of people; there are numerous online schools which offer criminal justice degrees. Below are some things to know about the field.

There are a Wide Variety of Career Paths

While you may associate criminal justice with being a cop or crime scene investigator, this degree can help prepare you for a wide variety of jobs. Other career options include corrections officers, forensic psychologists, bail officers, airport security officers, criminologists, federal jobs such as DEA agents or FBI agents, drug counselors, parole officers, penologists, victim services specialist, youth pleaders and social workers to name a few. Some careers may require additional schooling or certification.

Criminal Justice Jobs are In Demand

The various career fields related to the study of criminal justice are expected to grow by at least 10 percent through 2018, with social worker growth expected to grow by at least 25 percent. This is encouraging news in a time when many people are unable to find work in the degree field for which they paid quite a pretty penny for.

There are Many Different Kinds of Criminal Justice Degrees

Because this field of study can be applicable to so many different career paths, there are many specialties within degree programs that allow you to focus on your specific area of interest. Some examples include psychology, administration and law.

The Type of Job Will Depend on Education Level

Like many other fields of study, there are degrees that range from associate’s to doctoral. Depending on your particular field of interest, you may need to undergo more advanced study to break into the field or advance through the ranks.

Most law enforcement agencies require potential officers to have at least an associate’s degree. Most other occupations require a bachelor’s degree at minimum, such as probation officers, FBI agents, administrative positions in courts. A master’s degree qualifies you for even more complex employment roles such as caseworkers, officers of the court and instructors. Most pursuing criminal justice at the doctorate level are interested in teaching criminal justice classes at the university level.

The Jobs Are Not As Glamorous as on Television

While the plethora of crime series showcases well-dressed, seemingly affluent crime scene investigators, most jobs in this field are not going to make you rich. The average starting salary is around 30,000. But, in certain fields and with certain educational background, there is potential for lucrative salaries. Detectives can average 100,000 a year. While there may be pockets of well-paid positions, this is not the type of field to enter if money is your main driving force in seeking a certain career path.

Kelli Cooper is a freelance writer who covers a wide range of topics. She enjoys helping her clients get more exposure for their websites. If you are interested in learning about criminal justice and schooling options, visit criminaljusticeschoolsonline.net/florida/

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Posted by kcooper on July 24, 2012. Filed under The List. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry