Criminal justice is a broad field, encompassing jobs such as policing and correctional facilities, as well as legal areas and social work in specific job settings. A degree in criminal justice provides a basic understanding of criminal justice areas with a focus in a specific area. Once you have a criminal justice degree, you can seek work in your area of focus, while using continuing education to further your professional skills over time.
Associate Degree Programs
Associate degree programs generally involve four semesters of full-time education or the equivalent to complete. The exact course breakdown for an associate degree in criminal justice varies from institution to institution, but generally speaking, approximately half of the course credits will be criminal justice courses, with the rest being general education courses. These courses are designed to provide a basic overview of the criminal justice system, and graduates with these degrees are able to apply to entry-level jobs in correctional facilities, police and sheriff's departments and juvenile justice centers.
Bachelor's Degree Programs
In order to obtain a bachelor's degree in criminal justice, you will need to qualify for and complete a four-year program at an accredited college or university. Generally speaking, you will need to complete 120 credit hours to obtain a bachelor's degree, of which anywhere from 45 to 60 hours will need to be in the criminal justice area, depending on the specific institution. The jobs that require a bachelor's degree are similar to those that require an associate degree, but generally start with higher salaries and more responsibility.
Continuing Education Seminars and Courses
Many colleges and universities offer courses to post-degree professionals. These courses are intended to help current workers keep their information current and increase their professional skills. The courses vary from institution to institution and the content varies as well, depending on the career focus of the individual. For those who don't want to commit to an entire semester-long course, many schools also offer seminars, which are short intensives on specific topics.
Professional Journals and Organizations
Another way to keep up-to-date on information related to criminal justice is to subscribe to professional journals that are geared to your specific area of work. Reading professional journals gives you information about new laws and changes in best practices in your job area that help you perform better. Similarly, there are professional organizations that you can join that give you access to others in your job area all over the country, allowing you to network with others like you and learn from their experiences. Some of these organizations will host conferences on a regular basis. Conferences provide a way to learn about new developments in your field, hear discussions on specific issues that affect your field and are a good way to maintain your skills.
- Kaplan University: Associate of Applied Science in Criminal Justice
- Ashworth College: Criminal Justice Associate Degree
- Lamar University: Criminal Justice
- Criminal Justice: Careers
- John Jay College of Criminal Justice: Adult, Continuing and Professional Education
- Ball State University:Research, Community Involvement, and Professional Development
- Criminal Justice: Beyond the Classroom
- Southern Criminal Justice Association: Conference
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