Interested in Becoming a Police Officer?
Police officers are government employees tasked with the responsibility of enforcing the law, maintaining order, protecting life and preserving the peace. They have the authority to detain and arrest suspected offenders, which often involves high conflict and danger. Police officers serve the public to encourage a safer community.
Degrees for Police Officers
Though the minimum requirement to become a cop is a high school diploma or equivalent, earning a degree in criminal justice or law enforcement provides a competitive edge in this highly competitive field. Many law enforcement agencies pay higher salaries to police officers with advanced degrees.
Preparing for Police Work
Since cops serve and protect the public, they literally put their lives on the line each time they go to work. The selection process is rigorous, and preparing to work as a police officer requires special training in some of the following areas:
- Confronting dangerous criminals
- Collecting evidence
- Enforcing traffic laws
- Recovering stolen property
- Resolving reported disturbances
Obtaining employment as a police officer is a highly competitive task. According to some estimates, as many as 100 people apply for every law enforcement job opening. Even so, this is a growing field and career chances for qualified candidates are excellent.
Launch a Career in Corrections
Interested in Becoming a Corrections Officer?
Correctional officers, sometimes called prison guards, process and guard nearly 12 million inmates every year. As members of the staff of locked institutions, correctional officers are tasked with supervising the prisoners incarcerated in these facilities and assuring the safety and security of the institution itself. To excel in this career, coursework in criminal justice and the determination to ensure security in locked facilities are encouraged.
Degrees for Corrections Officers
To work in the Federal Bureau of Prisons, corrections officers are required to hold a minimum of a bachelor's degree or three years experience in a similar role. Completing a degree program in criminal justice with a focus in corrections can help you better understand the psychology of criminal behavior and how to best manage convicts during the time of their imprisonment.
Preparing for Corrections Work
The primary task of the correctional officer is to guard and supervise the inmates incarcerated in the institution as well as maintain order. To accomplish this, correctional officers routinely monitor the activities of inmates, search cells for contraband and enforce discipline. Preparing to work as a correctional officer requires special training in some of the following areas:
- Escorting prisoners
- Ensuring safety within large facilities
- Inspecting locks, gates and other points of entry
- Maintaining detailed notes and records based on inspection details
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, opportunities for correctional officer positions should remain solid over the next several years due in part to an increasing prison population.
Interested in Becoming a Security Officer?
Security officers play a large role in the crime prevention field with positions as diverse as private security personnel and security consultants. By patrolling their assigned areas while remaining vigilant of criminal activity, security guards help protect and serve the community. If you have an interest in public or private security, becoming a security officer may be the profession for you.
Degrees for Security Officers
Earning a degree in criminal justice provides a strong credential to a resume, especially for those who focus on loss prevention, industrial security, intuitional security and computer security. Most states require armed security guards to be licensed, but requirements will vary depending on location. Career advancement, managerial promotions and job security are more likely for security officers holding associate or bachelor's degrees in criminal justice.
Preparing for Security Work
Security guards may work armed or unarmed, but their duty remains to patrol and protect their assigned areas. Trained guards handle security risks, so preparing to work as a security officer requires special training in some of the following areas:
- Self-defense and emergency techniques
- Basic detention procedures
- Interviewing victims or witnesses
- Filing reports
With a projection of 175,000 additional jobs added in this sector over the next decade, the Department of Labor describes employment of security guards as growing "faster than average."
Interested in Becoming a Criminal Investigator?
Criminal investigators, also called detectives, investigate and solve crimes for government agencies. Specific duties vary according to the detective's department, which could be homicide, anti-terrorism, narcotics, robbery, juvenile crimes or fraud. To become a detective, in most cases, one must work up the ranks starting from police patrol officer.
Degrees for Criminal Investigators
Most criminal investigators gain entry-level experience from police work, but applicants with a bachelor's degree in criminal justice have the highest chances of employment to become a criminal investigator. Acceptance into a police department is followed by training at an academy from 12 weeks to one year. To excel in this career, focused coursework in criminal justice, law enforcement and police science is necessary, but so is the determination to solve mysteries and uncover facts.
Preparing for Criminal Investigation Work
Detectives are officers in plain clothes who investigate and solve crimes. Trained investigators work in high-stress and confrontational environments, so preparing to work as a criminal investigator requires special training in some of the following areas:
- Gathering facts and collecting evidence
- Conducting interviews and observing suspects
- Examining data and information
- Participating in arrests and raids
Detectives can be promoted in the same way as police officers, including to the ranks of sergeant, lieutenant, captain, deputy chief and chief. Whether you're looking to become a private investigator or crime scene investigator, starting a degree program in criminal justice can be a great first step toward advancing your career.
Interested in Working in Criminal Justice?
Individuals with degrees in criminal justice are in high demand, but enforcing justice in the legal system, keeping the peace and obtaining retribution for victims comes in many forms. Find a wide variety of careers in criminal justice below.
Law Enforcement
- Analyst: Collect facts, evidence and other material related to crime and put them in order to develop a case, explain a problem or describe crime trends.
- Police: Serve the community by enforcing federal, state and local laws while preserving the peace.
- Probation: Evaluate the progress of convicted offenders' efforts at rehabilitation and monitor compliance with the terms of their sentences, reporting their findings to the court.
- Records: Help law enforcement agencies identify, capture and process suspected criminals.
- Sheriff: Uniformed law enforcement officials who works at the county level of state government.
Court
- Bailiff: Tasked with providing general security for the courthouse and its staff, maintaining appropriate courtroom decorum and taking charge of juries when the court is not in session.
- Court Clerk: Responsibilities include maintaining the records of the court, issuing licenses and assisting officers of the court in research.
- Court Reporter: Create verbatim transcripts of courtroom proceedings and other events.
- Paralegal: Work under the direction and authority of attorneys performing work of a legal nature without engaging in actions that are restricted by law solely to attorneys.
- Records: Process, file and distribute court records.
Corrections
- Corrections Officer: Supervise prisoners in various locked facilities and maintains security in these institutions.
- Prison Personnel: Manage prison, administrative and custodial staff.
- Records: Review, process and file judgments, sentences and records of inmates.
- Warden: Supervise prisoners in various locked facilities and maintains security in these institutions.
Private Sector
- Business Support and Security: Patrol assigned areas of businesses while remaining vigilant of criminal activity.
- Home Security: Patrol assigned areas of estates and individuals while remaining vigilant of criminal activity.
- Private Investigator: Hired by people to investigate private matters, such as a cheating spouse or missing person.
- Records: Process, file and distribute records for businesses and employers.
Public Safety
- Child Protective Service: Arrange and deliver personal, psychological or social services intended to protect children and families at risk.
- Community Safety: Reduce crime in the community through special training, monitoring and patrolling.
- Home Security: Patrol assigned areas of estates and individuals while remaining vigilant of criminal activity.
- Human Services Worker: Work to help improve the overall quality of life for individuals in group homes, halfway houses, community centers and various programs.
- Records: Process, file and distribute records in the area of public safety.
- Victims Advocate: Actively promote the health and welfare of victims' rights.
Federal Government
- Agent (ATF, CIA, DEA, FBI, ICE): Work in federal law enforcement to safeguard the country and gather intelligence.
- Customs Agent: Enforce immigration and customs laws, safeguard U.S. commercial aviation and protect federal facilities.
- Secret Service: Provide personal protection, guard U.S. financial systems and investigate financial crimes.
- Treasury Agent: Collect taxes from businesses according to laws and determine tax liability.
- U.S. Marshal: Serve warrants issued by Federal courts, seize and dispose of property under court orders and arrest people wanted by the law.
Other Professions:
- Animal Control Officer
- Bailiff
- Border Patrol Agent
- Corrections Officer
- Court Clerk
- Crime Scene Investigator (CSI)
- Customs Agent
- Detective
- Dispatcher
- Federal Bureau of Investigation Agent (FBI)
- Fingerprint Specialist
- Forensic Scientist
- Game Warden
- Highway Patrolman
- Homeland Security Agent
- Immigrations Officer
- Law Enforcement Officer
- Parole Officer
- Police Officer
- Prison Warden
- Private Investigator
- Probation Officer
- Secret Service Agent
- Security Guard
- Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT)
- State Trooper
- US Marshal
- Victim's Advocate
Detectives can be promoted in the same way as police officers, including to the ranks of sergeant, lieutenant, captain, deputy chief and chief. Whether you're looking to become a private investigator or crime scene investigator, starting a degree program in criminal justice can be a great first step toward advancing your career.
Earn Your Degree Online in Criminal Justice
Accelerate your career with an online degree in criminal justice. Find certificates, associate, bachelor's and master's degree programs that emphasize fairness in the apprehension, prosecution, defense and incarceration of those charged with criminal offenses.
Degrees in Criminal Justice
Most criminal justice positions require a minimum of a bachelor's degree to qualify for employment, but some entry-level positions can be obtained with a certificate or an associate degree. If you're ready to seek justice for citizens and retribution for victims, choose an online degree program in criminal justice from the list below.
Associate Degrees in Criminal Justice
- Associate of Arts in Criminal Justice
Bachelor's Degrees in Criminal Justice
- Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Administration
- Bacehelor of Science in Organizational Security and Management
Master's Degrees in Criminal Justice
- Master of Science/Administration of Justice and Security
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