Fairly recently our nation was confronted with a heightened need for criminal justice and homeland security authorities. After September 11, 2001, increased protection at federal buildings, as well as state level and local government agencies created an extensive acceleration in criminal justice and homeland security occupational prospects.

The main work associated with homeland security workers is to stop terrorist attacks inside the USA. Created subsequent to the September 11 attacks and actually set up in early 2003, the Department of Homeland Security overall is accountable for border and transportation stability, emergency preparedness, information analysis, and infrastructure protection.

A Threatening World Contributes to Career Opportunities

Reacting to the requirement for more qualified staff, online and campus college degree courses have addressed this requirement and now provide criminal justice and homeland security diplomas.

The job marketplace is excellent for those looking to go after a career switch to the fascinating service of criminal justice. Criminal justice employment opportunities offer a broad spectrum of job options, and the career path is increasing almost each day.

The occupational options in these types of fields have escalated, as have their corresponding earnings. You can find a variety of jobs to take into consideration in the quest for a criminal justice degree.

Government Administration Positions

Transportation Security Administration is one – a fast growing field where the staff requirements are increasing rapidly. These job opportunities don’t call for a college degree, although getting one helps for work placement.

The only strategy to improve your position in this field however, would be to earn an associate’s diploma or higher. According to the Bureau of Labor studies, the typical beginning income is just less than $40,000.

The Bureau of Diplomatic Security employs agents for U.S. law enforcement. These types of occupations definitely require a college education Starting incomes are in the $32k territory and may go as high as the mid-forties. The amount of money may differ according to training, the kind of work given, and a person’s degree of experience.

Prerequisites and Pay

Law enforcement careers at the state and federal level usually require a 4-year college degree. The typical salary within this field of criminal justice is slightly more than $50K. Local law enforcement agencies don’t normally mandate degrees; nevertheless the prospect of pay increases is significantly curtailed for people who have not received one.

Criminal Justice and Hi-Tech

The development of technological innovation used in criminal justice and homeland security has even created a niche for properly educated staff. Trained employees are needed for the fight against both computer and biological threats to our nation.

In this area of high specialization, a college diploma is not always sufficient. A candidate will need to have targeted training in addition to a college degree to fulfill the requirements for these fields. Ongoing education is crucial to earning promotions in criminal justice.

The regrettable, yet ongoing international provocations against the U.S. will continue to keep the growth rate of criminal justice professions and homeland security steady. Having the right education for your preferred career, you will be able to serve your community and the country in a vocation of criminal justice.

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Criminal Justice Career Options

Think about the specific criminal justice career that is of interest, and make sure the schools being considered provide courses that serve the specific area of interest. For example, not all criminal justice programs offer training in forensic investigation or juvenile detention management.

Students are encouraged to review program concentrations and course offerings to find those programs which are good educational matches.

Think About Criminal Justice Career Geographic Options

Students should make sure they are willing to be flexible about where they live. While criminal justice jobs are available across the country, the majority of job openings are in large cities. If a student is not interested in living in an urban setting, a criminal justice degree may not be the right career.

Students interested in careers in small towns or rural areas, particularly those in which they already reside, should consider online criminal justice programs which allow for internships to be completed at home. Such programs provide opportunities to make professional contacts in a local area which may lead to employment.

Degree in Criminal Justice Coursework Considerations

Consider the academic rigor of a criminal justice degree, and make sure the coursework can be handled. Most undergraduate programs require that students take a general education load of courses in English composition, humanities, social and physical sciences, and mathematics.

Additionally, both undergraduate and graduate criminal justice degrees typically offer the following core major courses: law enforcement, criminology, penology, comparative criminology and criminal justice, forensic science and justice administration.

Criminal Justice Degree Schedules

Ensure that personal schedules allow for the pursuit of a degree in criminal justice. While a standard undergraduate degree takes four years to complete, graduate degrees typically take two years.

Students with prior undergraduate credits can transfer into some programs and receive credit reductions. For example, Florida State University allows students to transfer credits from previous schools, thus reducing the total amount of time it takes to earn a bachelor's degree in criminal justice.

Degree in Criminal Justice Internships

Students need to decide whether or not they would like their criminal justice degree program to provide internship opportunities, and consider only those programs which fit their educational interests. Internships can provide invaluable professional experience which not only provides students with hands-on skills, but makes students more attractive on the job market when looking to launch a criminal justice career.

However, some students may find the rigor of an academic program coupled with the demands of an experiential internship to be too much. Such students should focus on a degree in criminal justice which does not require an internship.

Criminal Justice Degree Online Options

Nontraditional and working students who are unable to attend campus-based programs should consider an online degree in criminal justice and determine if online learning – which requires a high degree of self-management and independence – is a good educational fit.

Students who decide that they have personalities suited for work with criminals and criminal investigation have literally hundreds of programs from which to choose. For more information on criminal justice degree options, see also:

The Best Online Criminal Justice Degrees

Top-ranked Criminal Justice College Degrees

Accredited Life Experience Degrees