Careers in Crime: Earning a Criminal Justice Degree Online

Criminal justice majors can work in police departments, law firms, homeland security, or courts. It is a bachelor's degree that will provide you with a broad foundation to begin building your career. An excellent criminal justice career at an accredited university will prepare you for any number of careers. People with a background in criminal justice can become probation or parole officers. A probation officer tracks down offenders who have been released from prison or are on probation. Probation officers help offenders get education, counseling, and jobs so that they can stay out of trouble and integrate into society. A high level of communication skills is required in this field, as probation officers prepare reports about their clients and submit them to judges.

Most probation and parole officers work for the state or federal government. Officers earn up to $28,000 per year. A degree in criminal justice covers the basics of law, crime, and public policy. Many students use this degree to go on to law school. Criminal justice is an excellent foundation for a career in the field of criminal law. Perhaps you can become the next district attorney or a high-profile defense attorney.

You don't have to go to a traditional university to get your degree. With the widespread use of the Internet, taking college classes online can be as accessible as your local library. You can sign up and take classes right from your computer. Most online universities require that you have a high school diploma or GED. If you don't have one, you can get one online.

It is convenient. This is the biggest advantage for students who want to earn a criminal justice degree online. You can take classes according to your own schedule. The curriculum of an online college may be the same as a traditional university, but everything is offered on the web. You can take exams, discuss assignments, and watch lectures all on the Internet. There is no need to sit in a classroom.

If you are in doubt about whether you can afford to attend college, there are millions of dollars in grants, scholarships, and loans available to you. The largest source of such financial aid is the U.S. government. There are also scholarships available, especially for students who want to study criminal justice. Many of these scholarships are awarded by police and law enforcement organizations. If you would like to learn more about scholarships, there are websites that can help you find scholarships that match your qualifications.