Criminal Justice Degrees

There are two big reasons why criminal justice degrees are currently so popular. One, they can serve as a launching pad for a wide range of careers. Two, more and more, law enforcement agencies are requiring some college credit in order to qualify for a given position. Criminal justice programs cover everything from research methods and statistics to corrections and criminal law and give students a working knowledge of how the courts, corrections institutions and law enforcement agencies function. Those who earn a degree often go on to accept jobs such as a crime scene investigator, probation officer, correctional counselor, FBI special agent, paralegal, criminal justice professor or police detective.

Featured Online Criminal Justice Programs

Popular Criminal Justice Degrees:

Degrees by Level

Selecting from the various degrees needed is determined by what profession you intend to pursue. Some occupations require a two-year associate degree, while others require the more rigorous course of study offered by a master’s degree program. As you browse the associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree pages on this site, you’ll learn about some of the jobs you’ll be qualified to apply for after earning each respective degree.

Learn more about the different degree levels:

Is a Degree Worth It?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, many entry-level criminal justice jobs will be available through 2014. Most of these jobs require some college credit, if not an associate’s degree. For example, the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that police and sheriff’s patrol officers will be one of the 20 fastest growing, highest earning occupations through 2014. Most of these jobs require only a two-year associate’s degree for employment. While this is good news for those seeking an associate degree, taking the next step toward earning a bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree will only expand your opportunities and earning potential.