There are very few careers in today’s economy that offer as much employment security as law enforcement. A criminal justice degree creates an excellent foundation for anyone who is seriously considering a career in the industry. Many states require its officers to have a minimum of an associate degree, often offered at the community college level.
Criminal justice degrees are also well established at most traditional four-year universities. Major universities do not operate as criminal justice schools per se, but most colleges have a criminal justice program as a subset of the Sociology department. Always remember that criminal justice originates from a social need, as opposed to a legal need. This validates the broad application of criminal justice degrees, as many of the individuals working in the myriad government agencies have begun or upgraded their employment paths in this manner.
The curriculum in the bachelor degree programs tend to be more comprehensive and will often supply a better understanding of the process and the underlying social compact theories that impact the need for the combination of enforcement agencies. This is not to imply that many individuals have not been very successful by combining two-year criminal justice degrees with previous experience in the industry.
With the explosion of the internet, we have also seen an increase in the number of online schools that deal specifically with the academic area and may offer a better “hands on” training than the purely academic universities. For the student who is intent on this type of career, the streamlined programs may be more appropriate.
Another consideration for online criminal justice training is the opportunity to study at home, within the limits of the student’s personal time. Many students also work while “attending” classes and the latitude to study at home without the distractions that formal schools present can be a very important feature. The students are often already working in the criminal justice field at the entry level and doing professional upgrade to establish a better opportunity for advancement. Normally, promotions in this arena are done within the rank and file of the particular agency, though that is not always the rule.
For an individual to begin their criminal justice career in a managerial position they are normally only considered if they have at least a bachelor’s degree. But, that is not always the case. This area of education is commonly filled with non-traditional students. A non-traditional student is someone who does not enter college immediately upon high school graduation. There has been a general and steady increase in non-traditional education since the implementation of the NAFTA treaty, normally due to the current bleak employment landscape.
This scenario is also another reason for anyone to pursue this endeavor. Regardless of the national employment climate, there is a pressing need for workers in the law enforcement field. Many people do not want the pressure or danger that may be associated with this type of career, which lessens the competitive nature of any discipline. Every established community in America, regardless of size, has a need for trained individuals who understand the law in terms of authority and the rights and liberties of every citizen.
For the individual who has already been trained in legal protocol through the agency in which they work, like a local police department requiring each of its ranking officers to have a basic training certificate, a criminal justice degree serves to enhance the capability of the individual. It helps to establish a proven track record, along with the proof of an individual’s personal drive and seriousness. The ability to complete a long-term project simply for the improvement of personal qualification is often the most impressive accomplishment of any student.
Employment in the criminal justice system is regularly considered to be a government occupation, though that may not always be the case. There are many private corporations around the world who hire special company agents specifically for the purpose of internal control. Private sector specialists are prized employment opportunities and generally stem from previous experience in the field.
Regardless of public or private sector, there are few careers more noble or exciting.