What You Should Know About This Degree
Criminology focuses on researching and analyzing social behavior and how it relates to crime. A bachelor’s degree is a good starting point for students who wish to pursue a rewarding career in criminology. Criminal justice addresses law enforcement, courts, police work, and corrections departments. A criminal justice degree prepares students for careers as law enforcement and corrections officers, detectives, and security guards.
The job outlook for this industry is positive, with positions for police and detectives expected to grow by 5% through 2029 and create more than 40,000 jobs.
Some accreditations to look for when you’re checking out programs include the Higher Learning Commission, the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, and the New England Commission of Higher Education.
While certification is not required for many jobs in the criminology field, those who want to go into police or detective work should look into weapons training, physical fitness testing, and security clearance.
What’s Next?
Here are some questions to ask when researching online bachelor’s in criminology programs:
- Are courses offered synchronously or asynchronously? Online criminology and criminal justice courses can be offered synchronously (students must attend live lectures through teleconferencing software) or asynchronously (students can learn at their own pace). Review each program and make sure the class is conducted in a manner that fits your schedule and lifestyle.
- How long does it take to complete this online degree? Most bachelor’s degree programs take four years to complete and include 120 credit hours of coursework, which includes general education courses and degree-specific classes.
Research the admissions process and make sure you understand the procedures and application requirements. Note all the deadlines for the programs that you’re interested in pursuing. Also, you should look into federal loans, scholarships, and employer-based tuition programs to help fund your education.