Top Online Criminal Justice Schools

Earn Your Degree Online in Criminal Justice

Accelerate your career with an online degree in criminal justice. Find certificates, associate, bachelor's and master's degree programs that emphasize fairness in the apprehension, prosecution, defense and incarceration of those charged with criminal offenses.

Degrees in Criminal Justice
Most criminal justice positions require a minimum of a bachelor's degree to qualify for employment, but some entry-level positions can be obtained with a certificate or an associate degree. If you're ready to seek justice for citizens and retribution for victims, choose an online degree program in criminal justice from the list below.

• Associate of Arts in Criminal Justice

• Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Administration
• Bachelor of Science in Organizational Security and Management

• Master of Science/Administration of Justice and Security

Police work is a highly competitive field, but for qualified individuals, it is a growing field with excellent career potential.

Interested in Becoming a Police Officer?

Police officers are government employees responsible for preserving the peace, protecting life, maintaining order and enforcing the law. They experience danger and high conflict while detaining and arresting suspected offenders. Police officers encourage a safer community and serve the public through their work.

Degrees for Police Officers

While many police officers only possess a high school diploma or equivalent, there is a large competitive edge with a degree in criminal justice or law enforcement. Not only does an advanced degree increase the chances of being hired, but many law enforcement agencies pay higher salaries to those candidates with advanced degrees.

Police Work Preparation

Every time they go to work, police officers put their lives on the line to serve and protect the public. Preparing to work as a police officer involves a rigorous selection process and special training in one or more of the following areas:

• Confronting dangerous criminals
• Collecting evidence
• Enforcing traffic laws
• Resolving reported disturbances
• Recovering stolen property

Police work is a highly competitive field, but for qualified individuals, it is a growing field with excellent career potential.

Launch a Career in Corrections

Correctional officers guard and process approximately 12 million inmates every year, supervising the prisoners who are incarcerated in locked institutions and assuring the security and safety of the institution itself. Coursework in criminal justice and the determination to ensure the security of these locked facilities are essential to exel in this career.

Degree Programs for Corrections Officer

Corrections officers are required to have a minimum of three year’s experience in a similar role or hold a bachelor’s degree to work in the Federal Bureau of Prisons. In order to better understand the psychology of criminal behavior and best manage institutional inmates, a degree program with a focus in corrections will put you one step ahead of other candidates.

Corrections Work Preparation

A correctional officer must maintain order, supervise and guard the inmates who are incarcerated in the institution. They will often search cells for contraband, enforce discipline and monitor the activities of inmates. Working as a correctional officer requires special training in one or more of the following areas:

• Escorting prisoners and facility visitors
• Inspecting security devices
• Ensuring safety within large facilities
• Maintaining notes

Due in part to an increasing prison population, opportunities for correctional officer positions should grow over the next several years according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

Interested in Becoming a Security Officer?

With positions as diverse as security consultants and private security personnel, security officers play a large role in crime prevention. Security guards help serve and protect the community by patrolling their assigned areas. A career as a security officer may be right for you if you have an interest in private or public security.

Degree Programs for Security Officers

Those who want to focus on industrial security, institutional security, computer security or loss prevention will want a degree in criminal justice for a strong resume. Although requirements vary by location, most states will require armed security guards to get licensed. Security officers who hold associate or bachelor’s degrees in criminal justice will find greater job security.

Security Work Preparation

The duty of a security guard is to protect their assigned areas. Because trained guards handle a variety of security risks, special training in the following areas will increase placement opportunities:

• Basic detention procedures
• Self-defense and emergency management
• Interviewing victims or witnesses
• Filing reports

The U.S. Department of Labor describes the job opportunities for security guards as growing "faster than average," with a projected 175,000 additional jobs to be added in this sector over the next decade.

Interested in Becoming a Criminal Investigator?

Criminal investigators solve crimes and conduct investigations for various governmental agencies. Duties will vary depending on the department, but they may include anti-terrorism, homicide, robbery, narcotics, fraud and juvenile crimes. Most detectives start as patrol officers in the police department and work their way up through the ranks.

Degree Programs for Criminal Investigators

While most criminal investigators gain experience from police work, applicants who hold a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice will have a much greater chance of employment as a detective. Once candidates gain acceptance into the police department, they must train at the police academy for 12 weeks to one year.

Detective Prep Work

Criminal investigators are plain-clothes officers who conduct investigations and solve crimes. Because of the high-stress working environment, special training in the following areas is necessary:

• Interviewing and observing suspects
• Gathering facts and evidence
• Examining data and information
• Participating in arrests and raids

Whether you´re looking to become a crime scene investigator or a private investigator, a degree program in criminal justice is a great way to jump start your career.

Is a Career as a Criminal Justice Calling?

Interested in a career that emphasizes fairness while pursuing, arresting or trying suspects? If so, a career in criminal justice could be the right one for you. From positions in the federal government to on-the-street law enforcement, there are many opportunities for people who want to protect and serve the public. Read on to see if you have what it takes.

Careers in Criminal Justice

There is a high demand for individuals with degrees in criminal justice, but keeping the peace, assisting victims with retribution and enforcing justice in the legal system comes in many forms. Explore a wide variety of criminal justice careers below.

Law Enforcement

• Analyst: Collect facts, evidence and other material related to crime and put them in order to develop a case, explain a problem or describe crime trends.
• Police: Serve the community by enforcing federal, state and local laws while preserving the peace.
• Probation: Evaluate the progress of convicted offenders' efforts at rehabilitation and monitor compliance with the terms of their sentences, reporting their findings to the court.
• Records: Help law enforcement agencies identify, capture and process suspected criminals.
• Sheriff: Uniformed law enforcement officials who works at the county level of state government.

• Bailiff: Tasked with providing general security for the courthouse and its staff, maintaining appropriate courtroom decorum and taking charge of juries when the court is not in session.
• Court Clerk: Responsibilities include maintaining the records of the court, issuing licenses and assisting officers of the court in research.
• Court Reporter: Create verbatim transcripts of courtroom proceedings and other events.
• Paralegal: Work under the direction and authority of attorneys performing work of a legal nature without engaging in actions that are restricted by law solely to attorneys.
• Records: Process, file and distribute court records.

• Corrections Officer: Supervise prisoners in various locked facilities and maintains security in these institutions.
• Prison Personnel: Manage prison, administrative and custodial staff.
• Records: Review, process and file judgments, sentences and records of inmates.
• Warden: Supervise prisoners in various locked facilities and maintains security in these institutions.

• Business Support and Security: Patrol assigned areas of businesses while remaining vigilant of criminal activity.
• Home Security: Patrol assigned areas of estates and individuals while remaining vigilant of criminal activity.
• Private Investigator: Hired by people to investigate private matters, such as a cheating spouse or missing person.
• Records: Process, file and distribute records for businesses and employers.

• Child Protective Service: Arrange and deliver personal, psychological or social services intended to protect children and families at risk.
• Community Safety: Reduce crime in the community through special training, monitoring and patrolling.
• Home Security: Patrol assigned areas of estates and individuals while remaining vigilant of criminal activity.
• Human Services Worker: Work to help improve the overall quality of life for individuals in group homes, halfway houses, community centers and various programs.
• Records: Process, file and distribute records in the area of public safety.
• Victims Advocate: Actively promote the health and welfare of victims' rights.

• Agent (ATF, CIA, DEA, FBI, ICE): Work in federal law enforcement to safeguard the country and gather intelligence.
• Customs Agent: Enforce immigration and customs laws, safeguard U.S. commercial aviation and protect federal facilities.
• Secret Service: Provide personal protection, guard U.S. financial systems and investigate financial crimes.
• Treasury Agent: Collect taxes from businesses according to laws and determine tax liability.
• U.S. Marshal: Serve warrants issued by Federal courts, seize and dispose of property under court orders and arrest people wanted by the law.

• Animal Control Officer
• Bailiff
• Border Patrol Agent
• Corrections Officer
• Court Clerk
• Crime Scene Investigator (CSI)
• Customs Agent
• Detective
• Dispatcher
• Federal Bureau of Investigation Agent (FBI)
• Fingerprint Specialist
• Forensic Scientist
• Game Warden
• Highway Patrolman
• Homeland Security Agent
• Immigrations Officer
• Law Enforcement Officer
• Parole Officer
• Police Officer
• Prison Warden
• Private Investigator
• Probation Officer
• Secret Service Agent
• Security Guard
• Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT)
• State Trooper
• US Marshal
• Victim's Advocate

Detectives can be promoted in the same way as police officers, including to the ranks of sergeant, lieutenant, captain, deputy chief and chief. Whether you're looking to become a private investigator or crime scene investigator, starting a degree program in criminal justice can be a great first step toward advancing your career.