Criminal Justice Degrees

A Criminal Justice Degree is basically the study of laws relating to criminal behavior. These programs aim to educate and train individuals in preventing and controlling crime from taking place.
 criminal justice degrees also include analysis of the crime, a study of the reasons for criminal behavior, and the laws and regulations against it. Thus, these programs evaluate the laws against criminal behavior in detail and trains people in implementing these laws in order to curb crime.
Who should opt for this program?
This program is for all sorts of people in law related field such as police, lawyers, the judiciary and those who are interested to work with the CIA or the FBI. People who usually opt for the criminal justice degree are sharp, analytical and inquisitive by nature. Most also tend to be idealists, whose idea of joining this program is the provision of truth and justice where it is deserved.

Criminal Justice Program Degrees
Associate degree:
It is a two year degree program. It teaches the fundamental criminal justice skills required besides also focusing on liberal arts and sciences to a certain extent.

Bachelor’s degree:

This is a four year bachelor’s degree and offers a more in depth training for students. People with an associate degree can transfer their credits to this program and complete this degree in a shorter period of time than usual. This bachelor’s degree prepares students for a master’s degree in criminal justice and/or entry level careers with law firms and other justice providing departments.

Master of Science degree:
This degree offers a specialized knowledge in the context of law enforcement. It teaches students the scientific part of criminal justice like history of law enforcement and sociology behind the crime.

Masters of Arts degree:
Here the student can advance their knowledge from what is learned during the course of earning their bachelor's degree. It is also ideal for people already working in the field of criminal justice.

Some courses taught in criminal justice program:
Criminal justice
Law enforcement
Multicultural issues in criminal justice
Juvenile delinquency and justice
Family Law
Criminology
Victimology
Judicial Process
Terrorism

What are some possible careers in criminal justice?
There are various career choices after completing Criminal Justice Program degree. To an extent, the level at which you will start working will depend on the highest criminal justice degree you have completed. Some career choices that you can pursue with a criminal justice diploma or degree include work in law enforcement agencies, probation, the court system as well as works in the private sector.

The law enforcement agencies included in this category are: local law enforcement which includes the county police and juvenile justice centers, state law enforcement including state police, crime labs and state crime commissions. Federal law enforcement includes department of defense and custom agencies. Lastly private sector law enforcement includes insurance companies and private detectives. All of these departments look for keen and motivated individuals who have completed a criminal justice program.