What is criminal justice online, and can
an online degree help me?
This article is worth reading if you are:
1. Interested in entering the criminal justice field.
2. Working in the field, want to further opportunities in
the field.
3. People wanting additional information about the field;
Salary information, demographics and statistics.
_________________________________________________________
The four C's of Criminal Justice
If you have an interest in pursuing a criminal justice
career then an
online criminal justice degree can
offer tremendous flexibility and credibility for an
education. The path to a criminal justice degree has never
been easier. An online degree offers the best opportunity to
develop the credentials, knowledge and skills needed. By
utilizing the internet format as an educational platform you
have the best of all worlds or the four Cs of education;
convenience, credibility, cost, and career choice.
The convenience of an online
criminal justice degree creates opportunities which
otherwise would not exist. Instead of attending classes at a
designated time and place, traditional brick and mortar,
distance learning makes classes available 24/7. Classes can
be accessed via computer or even a smart phone at anytime or
place. The only requirement is an internet connection. It
gives the nontraditional student, working person or parent
the best of all worlds. Although attending an online school
requires your commitment you now have the ability to easily
integrate your busy schedule with a credible education. You
gain the benefits of no travel time, no additional expense
for transportation and control over your schedule. Instead
of commuting to a classroom your classroom travels with you.
The credibility of an online education
far exceeds the days of correspondence courses and often
surpasses traditional education. Considering an online
criminal justice degree generates many obvious
questions. Will employers regard an online education with
authority? Will courses transfer to other schools? Will an
online education curriculum provide a rigorous learning
environment along with the credentials and knowledge needed
for professional advancement? Answering any questions of
credibility comes with understanding accreditation.
Accreditation works to enhance and
validate an online education. Accreditation of an
institution of higher education is conducted on a voluntary
basis by a non governmental accreditation agency.
Importantly the government does evaluate these agencies to
establish reliable authorities. Evaluation criteria for a
school can include an assessment of the mission goals and
objectives of the institution, an analysis of support
services, quality of faculty and curriculum and overall use
of resources. Institutions which provide financial aide are
scrutinized even closer.
The preceding is a general overview of
the accreditation process. In order to fully asses the
strength of a school the actual accrediting agency needs to
be scrutinized. The school and accrediting agency need to be
verified with the US Department of Education, Council for
Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or Commission of
Distance Education and Training Council (DETC). These
appropriate regulatory agencies can answer many questions
about a school.
Costs for an online criminal
justice degree can be significantly lower than
traditional institutions and cover a wide spectrum with each
institution. Keep in mind most institutions are for profit.
Assessing costs includes not only tuition but inclusive of
all fees and supplies. Some institutions do not fully
disclose these expenses upfront and they can be significant.
The price for an online associates degree can range from
$18,000 to $40,000. Importantly, controlling and minimizing
the expense of an education reduces debt load after
graduation and affords an opportunity to continue with
advanced degrees.
A career and potential income will
depend upon your choice of degree and choice of specialized
field. Criminal justice comprises many potential career
paths all starting with fundamental educational
requirements. Since 9/11 greater emphasis and concern has
been placed on national and international security.
Consequently the criminal justice field has grown
exponentially and career paths are many. Selection of degree
level will enhance earning power and allow for
specialization. Degrees can range from an associates degree
to a PhD. Incomes can range from $28,000 per year to in
excess of $100,000 per year. Jobs can vary from parole
officers to criminal justice administrators. Employers can
range from local police forces, Homeland Security, FBI,
Immigration, ATF, DEA, forensic laboratories, the judiciary
system and innumerable government entities.
There is a fifth C not mentioned
earlier, commitment. Selection of an online criminal
justice degree will place a greater responsibility on
the student to hold themselves accountable for their
progress. Many institutions have programs in place to gauge
each student’s progress. Ultimately each student has the
power to make online education work for them. Essentially
the first and most important assessment is that of each
student. Do they have the discipline and determination to
capitalize and exploit the many advantages of online
education?
Finally I hope the benefits of the
four Cs of an online criminal justice degree are clearly
outlined and help with the decision making process. With the
advent of the information age our lives and society have
truly benefited. Your decisions of today can greatly enhance
your career and life of tomorrow.
