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If you’re considering pursuing a criminal justice degree online, now is a great time to take advantage of all the benefits of e-college. There’s no need to worry about rescheduling your life around college classes because online degree programs are geared toward busy adult learners who need flexible course schedules.
If you’re ready to pursue your career goals, here are five careers in criminal justice that may interest you:
Police Detective – $64,518
Police detectives must painstakingly take the steps necessary to collect evidence and solve crimes. For instance, a police detective may have to interview dozens of people to investigate a crime scene and spend many hours evaluating evidence. Unlike the characters portrayed on television, individuals who work as police detectives may interview every individual within half a mile from a crime scene to collect information. In some cases, police detectives may work on the same case but investigate different aspects of that case.
Private Investigator – $62,400
Private investigators work with a variety of cases and are experts in surveillance as well as investigations. For instance, a private investigator may be responsible for spousal surveillance, e-mail tracing, or conducting background checks. Private investigators may also be required to work systematically to find criminal evidence located within a computer’s hard drive. They are not restricted to field work, however; they may find employment with businesses – as well as individuals – to conduct research and surveillance in personal, business, and criminal matters.
Substance Abuse Counselor – $59,850
Employment opportunities in this career are expected to grow faster than average through 2014. If you’d like to help individuals overcome drug and alcohol problems, you may want to consider a career as a substance abuse counselor. Substance abuse counselors work one-on-one to help individuals change behavior that leads to substance abuse. They also conduct individual, family, and group counselor sessions to repair damaged relationships and help addicts maintain sobriety. In some cases, counselors are required to conduct programs to educate the public about substance abuse, gambling addiction, and eating disorders.
Insurance and Fraud Investigator – $56,449
An insurance and fraud investigator works with insurance companies to ensure that claims are legitimate. For instance, he may conduct surveillance to determine if a disability claim is valid. If an individual asserts to have a disabling condition that prevents him from working, an investigator may use covert surveillance to observe his activities. Therefore, he must be proficient in the use of surveillance equipment, such as surveillance cameras and video equipment.
Legal Secretary – $54,000
Also known as paralegals or legal assistants, legal secretaries may be required to do legal research for attorneys but may not disperse legal advice to clients. They are also responsible for scheduling hearings, filing motions, and performing routine office work, such greeting clients, answering the phone, and filing documents. However, legal secretaries are not confined to working in law offices. They may also work non-profit agencies, government agencies, or corporations.
A career in law enforcement offers a wide range of career choices. If you are seriously considering earning a criminal justice degree online, you may want to investigate a number of specialties available in this field. Whether you enjoy covert surveillance or working in the heat of the action, you can enroll in a degree program and get started today.
