Founded in 1851 to serve the Northwest Territory (yes, territory), Northwestern University has set as its goal to be a pioneer in education, heralding in great programs and top-notch schools , such as Northwestern’s Medill School of Journalism, the Kellogg School of Management, the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences and the Feinburg School of Medicine.

Located near Chicago, Northwestern University is a private school, accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The college offers a number of degrees in more than 130 undergraduate and 70 graduate and professional programs.

Northwestern’s notable alumni include the likes of actor Charlton Heston; John Paul Stevens, associate justice of the United States Supreme Court; and Rahm Emanuel, White House chief of staff.

Graduate level education is evolving so quickly it could be called revolutionary.  Online criminal justice masters degrees are the newest wave of distance learning graduate programs becoming available.

How is online grad school different?

Online graduate school offers students some distinct advantages–and some specific challenges, also.  One of the advantages of pursuing your online master’s degree is that your coursework usually won’t conform to the usual type of class schedule–with the exception of assignment due dates, making your schedule will be up to you.  Of course not all people find that to be an advantage–if you are a very disorganized person who isn’t good at prioritizing time, then online criminal justice master degrees may not be the right choice.  Of course, then again, if that’s the case, there might not be any master’s degree programs that are a good choice!

Online programs are a great option for parents, or for those who want to study part time but have unpredictable or unconventional work schedules.  Some for some students the classroom, face-to-face experience is important, but for others, it’s not as vital–and online study has come a long way and is getting more dynamic and interactive all the time.  Video chat sessions, for example, are a part of many online criminal justice masters degrees. Some also offer limited residency requirements–each semester you visit for a week or a few days, for workshops and to meet with professors and bond with fellow students.

Choosing between online criminal justice masters degrees

You’ll want to choose a specialty, and this is another great advantage online degrees offer.  Depending on where you live, your on-campus options are limited–either very limited, or moderately limited.  But with distance learning, you can specialize in almost anything, because you’re not constrained by geographical limitations.

Do you NEED a degree to get a job in a criminal justice related field?

Many times, no, there are entry level positions in some professional criminal justice jobs that don’t require a degree–but they tend to have many more applicants than available positions.  Also, to move up in the criminal justice system, you will need to get a degree.  And having a criminal justice degree from the start can help you find entry level jobs with more room for advancement.

Who should consider a criminal justice degree?

Criminal justice is a huge and varied professional field.  Depending on whether your aspirations are legal, in law enforcement, in administration or politics, your criminal justice oriented degree can take you far.  You’ll want to choose a concentration that will give you and advantage in the particular type of work you plan to pursue.

You can also think beyond the immediate necessary qualifications you’ll need.  You may be planning on going into the police academy–which you’ll almost certainly need to do to enter the police force–but that doesn’t mean getting your criminal justice degree won’t advance your career.  Getting a criminal justice degree before you start out as a police officer, with perhaps a concentration in investigative law enforcement, will make you a better officer to begin with.  It’ll also give you a step up on your resume–departments are often “bottom heavy” but need to hire new recruits to train for future professions.  Being a little overqualified can make you a much more attractive candidate.

Your criminal justice degree is also a great choice if you want to go into criminal law, or see yourself in politics–security and law enforcement are ever more important issues.  It’s also a great degree to have if you are consider getting your license as a PI.

• Virginia College was established in 1983, in Birmingham, Alabama
• Virginia College is nationally accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Schools and Colleges.
• Career placement assistance
• Cost of textbooks encompassed in tuition fee

Learn more about Virginia Collage now.

About Virginia College Online

At Virginia Collage, you don’t have to jeopardize your family and work commitments because of education. The school has tailored its degree programs to meet the needs of adult learners. Thanks to qualified instructors who are experts and leaders in their teaching fields, Virginia Collage provides learning opportunities through rigorous curricula in business and business-related fields, management, administrative, technical and professional programs which are tailored to prepare you for direct entry into the job market. The programs are also designed in such a way that they will enhance your opportunities for advancement in the corporate hierarchy.

Do you want to enhance or prepare for a law enforcement career? Whether you are already employed in the CJ field, or are interested in starting an exciting career in the field, or simply have a strong urge to improve the community in which you live in, the Criminal Justice degree programs offered at Virginia Collage are meant for you. The CJ Associates and Bachelor’s programs are designed to help you succeed in various criminal justice posts such as police officer, courtroom administrator, parole or probation officer, juvenile delinquency case manager, private security officer, police detective or corrections officer, while preparing you for a masters degree in the same.

Virginia College Online Degree Programs

• Associate of Science – Accounting Specialist
• Associate of Science – Administrative Office Management
• Associate of Science – Criminal Justice
• Bachelor of Science – Business Administration
• Bachelor of Science – Criminal Justice
• Bachelor of Science – Health Services Management
• Master of Science – Business Administration
• Master of Science – Criminal Justice
• Master of Science – Cybersecurity

Virginia College Online Tuition and Financial Aid

In addition to the affordable cost of tuition at Virginia Collage that starts at just $100 per credit hour, financial aid is available in form of student loans, Pell grants, and scholarships.

Learn more about the Online Degrees of Virginia Collage.

• Ohio University Athens was established in 1804

• The university is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges & Schools

• Paul Newman was just one of the famous alumni of Ohio State

• OU developed the Ohio University’s Ecohouse, a project designed to actively engage students in learning about sustainability

• There are 11 schools that make up OU

Learn more about Ohio University Athens Online

About Ohio University Athens Online:

OU is a long established and well-known institution that has a long list of talented and successful past students. Formerly known as the American Western University, OU is founded on the principles of faith, courage and virtue.

With eleven schools to its name, it is hardly surprising that a degree for OU is respected. The Bachelor of Criminal Justice is one of these prestigious degrees and offers students who already have an associates degree in the same are the chance to expand and cement their skills.

Students of the Bachelor of Criminal Justice, many of whom come from a technical background, broaden their knowledge into humanities and social application of their knowledge, leading them into fields like forensic science, corrections or even as a preparation for law school.

Learn more about Ohio University Athens Online

Ohio University Athens Online Degree Programs:

Bachelor of Criminal Justice
Bachelor of Nursing
Bachelor of Specialized Studies
Bachelor of Technical & Applied Studies
Associate of Arts
Associate of Science
Associate in Applied Business
Experiential Learning Program
(Portfolio-based Assessment)

Ohio University Athens Online Tuition and Financial Aid:

The Bachelor of Criminal Justice is available online and fees begin at $136.00 per quarter credit, one of the most reasonable fee structures around. Financial aid options are available, as are payment plans and loans.

Learn more about Ohio University Athens Online

Want to learn more? Take 2 minutes and get the complete scoop from Criminal Justice Degrees.

Those interested in how to become a correctional officer should note that a high school diploma is required with a bachelor’s degree needed to pursue a career in federal and other high level corrections employment areas.

Another consideration in how to become a correctional officer is that correctional officers need specialized training in firearms, riot control tactics and criminal justice elements. Any additional training in how to become a correctional officer is determined by what type of facility and in what department within that facility the officer will be employed. For instance, a minimum security facility requires no further specialized training than that listed above, while a maximum security facility requires more highly trained officers within its ranks. Most correctional officer programs take between two to four years to complete depending upon the level of occupation as listed above.

Today, many colleges and universities offer online programs in how to become a correctional officer. Degrees can be earned entirely online which allows busy adults to maintain their full-time employment and family commitments while going to school. Students attend class and study at their own pace and on their own schedule which is practical and convenient. Some coursework may include:

Weight Training and Conditioning, Inmate Growth and Development, Psychology of Corrections, Corrections I 7 II, Working with Institution Populations and Judiciary Law. Coursework will vary depending upon which type of concentration a person chooses.

Need more info? Take a couple minutes and get the details you need (pre-reqs, term start dates, program details, etc.) from Criminal Justice Degrees.

Correctional officers may need to take continuing education units in order to maintain and further their careers. Continuing education units are hours of further education that all licensed professionals are required to take each year in order to become familiar with new techniques and keep their level of expertise high.

The licensing board within the state that the officer is employed determines how many hours each year an officer must take in order to keep his or her license current. Salaries vary according to location and level of employment, however compensation generally falls somewhere between $45,244 and $60,376.

Need more info? Take a couple minutes and get the complete scoop from Criminal Justice Degrees.

Why enroll in a Criminal Justice College? 

Students who graduate from a criminal justice college may find rewarding careers in police work, in courts, or in jails and prisons. Students pursuing these types of careers may attend a criminal justice college to obtain a bachelor’s degree or an associate’s degree in criminal justice or even social work.

Depending on the community, you can take part in accelerated officer training programs to gain employment on the police force. A bachelor’s’s or master’s degree from a criminal justice college is ideal for those who want to become the head of a criminal justice department. Other positions include parole officers, correctional officers, social workers, and state and federal level law enforcement officials.

Enrolling in a Criminal Justice College 

Criminal Justice Colleges available online typically offer  basic associate’s degrees, as well as bachelor’s and master’s degrees in criminal justice. Online criminal justice school requirements vary by school. Typically to enroll, students must be U.S. citizens or a national or permanent resident of the U.S. 

Interested in learning more about Criminal Justice? Read more about it here: Criminal Justice College.

Salaries are wide-ranging. Some examples include a police officer who’s average salary can range between $37,600 and $53,300. A police sergeant may make an average of $57,700 a year, with a range between $50,700 and $64,500 and a Police chiefs earns between $81,500 and $91,600 a year. A Social worker working in criminal justice makes anywhere between $37,800 and $44,900 a year. A criminal justice college can put students on a rewarding path toward enforcing the law and keeping the peace in our communities.

Criminal Justice Course Examples: 

• Criminal Justice
• Global Issues in Criminal Justice
• Law
• Leadership/Executive Management
• Policing Criminal Justice
• Corrections
• Law Enforcement
• Private Security

To learn more about the fields of security and criminal justice, click here: Criminal Justice College.

There are a lot of different courses that you can choose from: ATF Agent, Bailiff, CIA Agent, Coast Guard, Compliance Officer, Corrections Officer, Court Reporter, Court Clerk, Crime Scene Investigation, Criminalist, Customs Agent, DEA Agent, FBI Agent, Forensic Psychology, INS Agent, Paralegal, Private Security, Police Detective, Police Officer, Probation Officer, Private Investigator, Secret Service Agent, Sheriff, and US Marshall.

Criminal justice degree jobs can be found in different areas near you so you will not have to worry of finding the school that is right for you.

Online Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice will serve as a foundation for individuals who will eventually become part of the police department. Our community needs protection from syndicates, terrorists just to name a few and we need officers to protect the members of each family. This kind of approach teaches our students to minimize the number of crimes in our society plus attaining a peaceful community.

Online Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice will guarantee students that they can also learn from this online learning method and individuals will have the opportunity to go out and apply it. Moreover, it is a combination of online learning and real application to what they have learned using the online approach.

To become a criminologist, you need to have a formal education or training. There are criminology colleges offering a wide range of field of criminology courses for all those interested in taking part of this industry. They can choose classes from forensics, law enforcement, crime history, and crime investigation. After completion of criminology degree program, most graduates train and gain experiences through internship programs. This is a big help for them to work with the professionals in their industry, where they gain hands-on experiences. Criminology colleges also offer an online criminology degree, for those who want to acquire this study and yet have busy schedules. An online degree in criminology gives you time flexibility. It gives you the edge on online research and the time you need for other valuable aspects of your life.