by Shaz Slaughter

Created on: January 19, 2009   Last Updated: February 02, 2009

The criminal justice field consists of many different career options and contrary to popular belief not all of those options involve becoming a police officer. Students of criminal justice are able to pursue careers in social sciences, law and behavioral sciences in addition to careers that are more directly linked to law enforcement.

Careers in the criminal justice field are also always needed no matter what state the economy is in and are also careers that are paid well. Salaries in criminal justice have an earning potential starting at $30,000 per year and have been known to go to $80,000 per year or even more in some cases.

Most of the better paying careers in criminal justice will require at minimum an associate degree in biology, computer forensics, legal nurse consulting, law or any of the numerous areas of study involved with criminal justice. Criminal justice associate degrees can be completed in two years or less in some cases and prepares students for entry-level positions such as the court system, corrections, security and law enforcement. Associate degrees in criminal justice are one of the most popular degrees in the United States
and are designed to allow students to easily transition into a bachelor's degree in criminal justice.

A criminal justice bachelor's degree takes about 4 years to earn and provides students with a broad understanding of the criminal justice system for more advanced careers in the court system, law enforcement, corrections, and several other agencies. Individuals with a bachelor's degree earn 34% more than individuals with an associate degree according to the United States Census Bureau.

Individuals that are looking to advance their career in the criminal justice field do so by obtaining a Master's degree which can act as a catalyst for promotion opportunities in combination with work experience and training. A Master's degree will take 6 six years to complete and provides students with the opportunity to apply to elite government agencies such as the FBI, CIA or DEA.

Doctorate degrees in criminal justice are designed for individuals, who have attained a Master's degree and wish to advance their criminal justice careers into academia, governmental research, leadership or private research agencies.

The best part about the criminal justice field is that you can earn any of the previously mentioned degrees on the Internet with any number of regionally and nationally accredited colleges and universities without interrupting your career or your life.

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