People with associate’s degrees in criminal justice will find that the education helps them in a number of entry or lower level positions in the field. Law enforcement officers have not traditionally been required to have college-level education in order to apply. That seems to be changing slowly. While civil service exams are still involved, police and sheriff’s deputy applicants in some departments may need an associate’s degree in criminal justice or a related field. Entry level correctional officers may encounter the same requirement, depending on the jurisdiction. A recent internet job posting for a Wisconsin correctional officer (prison guard) required an associate’s degree in criminal justice.
A bachelor’s degree in criminal justice will open the door to a variety of opportunities in the field. Another recent job posting from Virginia was for the director of an inter-agency gang task force. The job description included knowledge of regional gang activities and interdiction efforts, the ability to respond to night and weekend incidents. In addition, the applicant was charged with multi-agency coordination – not always an easy task among law enforcement organizations. At the same time, the applicant had to be capable of community outreach, grant writing and funding solicitation from legislative bodies. That’s a complex set of responsibilities: the educational requirement was a bachelor’s in criminal justice.
Positions within police departments can require criminal justice degrees. Specialized inspectors such as the “Criminalistics Supervisor,” a position recently posted by the Lakewood Colorado Police Department, require a bachelor’s. This particular position is overseeing a team of forensics technicians to assemble as complete a position as possible from a crime scene. As law enforcement becomes specialized and more technology is employed, higher levels of education become the standard.
There are a number of federal inspector’s jobs that require master’s degrees. Federal civil service rankings often have college level education requirements that can serve as substitutes for service in the next lower civil service rank. What is surprising is the number of agencies that have need for people with criminal justice educations. The Small Business Administration, The Drug Enforcement Administration, various branches of the Department of Justice have divisions that require oversight – these are a few of the listings you’ll find in federal job postings. Nearly every cabinet level department has an enforcement division, and people with graduate degrees in criminal justice will fit into many of them.
State departments of fish and game have enforcement divisions, as do environmental agencies. Graduate students in criminal justice have studied the psychology of enforcement practices in large social settings. Some of those principles are applicable for crime categories such as violations on federal wildlife preserves or illegal dumping of pollutants. White collar violations require investigations, by investigative bureaus which require oversight. It is in that sort of niche that a Master of Science/Criminal Justice Administration would fit admirably.
You don’t have to dig too deeply into the internet search engines to find a remarkable number of career choices open to people with criminal justice degrees, of any level. It’s just a matter of patience, coupled with a little perseverance.
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Westwood College isn't your typical institution of higher learning. With our career-focused education, students can earn a bachelor's degree in just three years and some associate degrees in as little as 20 months.
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With convenient class locations as well as online learning, University of Phoenix makes quality higher education highly accessible. Whether you’re seeking an associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree, we can help you reach your goal while you work – and much sooner than you might expect.
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At ITT Tech we are committed to helping men and women develop the skills and knowledge to pursue many opportunities in fields involving technology, criminal justice, and business.
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Whether you want to change or advance your career, Kaplan University will help you get the education you need for the life you want to live. Offering online flexibility, the personal attention of a campus-based experience, reduced costs, financial aid assistance, and a quicker path to your degree, Kaplan University is a smart choice for working adults.
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As an accredited university, Capella University takes online education to a higher level. We believe that real, life-changing learning happens in an environment of academic excellence, challenge, and personal connection.
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Founded in 1970, American InterContinental University offers a wide range of Associate, Bachelor's and Master's degree programs. Our institution of higher learning is focused on helping students acquire industry-current knowledge and skills as they pursue, build and advance their careers in many of today's most in-demand fields.
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Programs at Argosy University are geared to your lifestyle. Depending on the program you select, you may be able to choose from day, evening and weekend schedules. Many of our classes are accessible online providing outstanding instruction and resources no matter where you are or what time of day it is.
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Tags: criminal justice, Degrees, graduate degree, graduate degrees, Law and Social Sciences, law enforcement, Masters Degrees, prison guard
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on Monday, August 25th, 2008 at 8:25 pm and is filed under Law and Social Sciences.
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