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Many high school graduates want to become police officers but must wait until the minimum age of 21 to enter the academy. Although they may work as clerical staff or dispatchers until minimum age requirements are met for the policy academy, many prefer to earn a criminal justice degree first. The good news is that once they graduate from college as well as from the academy, their starting pay will be higher than those who do not have a degree.
Graduates with criminal justice degrees may also consider work as probation officers, secret service agents, wardens, and other higher-level administrative positions. Below you will find a breakdown of degree programs, as well as jobs you may qualify for once you’ve completed your degree.
Online Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice
You can earn an Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice in about two years if you attend full-time. Full-time students take an average of 12 credit hours per semester, sometimes more. If you want to take classes at the upper level of a course load, you could possibly earn your degree in as little as one and-a-half years, depending on the program requirements. It will take part-time students longer than average to earn their degrees.
Graduates of associate’s degree programs are eligible to work as patrol officers with their local police departments and sheriff departments. According to the 2008-09 edition of the Occupational Outlook Handbook, the median salary for police and sheriff patrol officers was $47,460 in May 2006. However, the middle half of officers’ salaries vary by $12,000 below and $12,000 above that number.
Online Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice
If you’re interested in working in a supervisory capacity in law enforcement, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice is the next step you’ll want to take in your college career. A bachelor’s degree will qualify you for higher-paying positions and can prepare you for the next level of education in criminal justice–a master’s degree.
The median salary for an individual who has earned a bachelor’s degree is approximately $70,000. Of course, that salary varies depending on your job and years of experience. The 2008-09 Occupational Outlook Handbook reports that supervisors in Federal Government agencies have a median salary of $85,170.
It’s important to note that median salaries do not reflect entry-level positions. There is significant variation is salary ranges, depending on whether the agency is at the local, state, or Federal level.
It takes about four-to-five years to earn a bachelor’s degree online if you take 12 or more credit hours each semester. Part-time students can expect to be in college for much longer, so it takes a long-term commitment to complete this degree.
Online Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice
Once you’ve completed your bachelor’s degree, you are eligible to earn your Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice. This degree is appropriate for individuals who want to become a police chief, and FBI agent, or even a college instructor.
The median salary varies, but individuals who work in the highest administrative positions can earn up to $100,000. The length of time it takes to complete a master’s degree can vary but if you attend full time, you can expect to complete this degree in one and-a-half to two years.
Earning an online criminal justice degree can lead to a rewarding and lucrative career. Whether you enroll full time or part time, the end result will be a career that will make a positive, lasting impact on your community.
