"The associate of 'applied science' is different than a standard associate of science degree, and it's considered a good ticket to entry-level positions in criminal justice."
MAJOR SCHOOLS
SPECIALIZING IN
ONLINE DEGREES

Strayer offers several associates and bachelor degrees in criminal justice specialties, as well as diploma and masters degree level programs in business and finance, marketing, advanced technology, human recources and hospitality.
Strayer University Online

Anthem is an 100% online school focused on associates and bachelors degrees in criminal justice, business management and paralegal.
Anthem College Online

Walden's School of Public Policy and Administration provides bachelors and masters degree programs in many areas of criminal justice, including homeland security, law and public policy and computer security. One of the best known e-learning schools, with more than 40 degree programs in other specialties such as engineering, human services and business.
Walden University

Virginia online's degrees are mainly in accounting, business administration, criminal justice, health services and paralegal across the associates, bachelors and masters levels.
Virginia College Online

AIU Online offers many specialized MBAs and undergrad business degrees, as well as bachelors degrees in computer systems, organizational psychology and other specialties, with associates degrees in criminal justice, human resources, healthcare administration and more.
American Intercontinental University Online
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Criminal Justice Degrees For Entry Level Positions
Click To A Select List Of Online Criminal Justice Degree Schools
The degree you’ll want to choose to start a criminal justice or law enforcement career will depend on how much education you have already, whether or not you have any experience in police or legal work already, and whether you’re looking for an entry-level position or going for a much more senior, specialized job. The good news is that there are lots of jobs available in police departments and enforcement agencies. The bad news is that the field is so complex today that it takes some work to get a clear picture of what your education and job objectives are in this area. The choices in law enforcement, private security and corrections are so varied it’s a bit mind-boggling.
An interesting side note is that criminal justice degrees now attract students who want “pre-law” training as a first step toward becoming lawyers. Particularly if you want to become a criminal lawyer, a degree in criminal justice can be more valuable than a standard liberal arts degree in getting you accepted into law school.
Associates Degrees
Associates degrees are designed to accomplish two things: A) to get you qualified for an entry level position with enough training to be considered a specialist who will be paid relatively well and B) to give you the basic course requirements you can use for credit later on, when you want to get a bachelors degree in criminal justice to move up the career ladder.
You’ll typically find two types of associates online degrees (or classroom based degrees) in criminal justice: an “associate of applied science” or an “associate of science.”
Associate of “Applied” Science The associate of applied science is something a bit closer to a certificate type program. It can give you expertise that will get you a job quickly, but it generally won’t give you the liberal arts credits you can use later on if you want to trade up to a bachelor’s degree. Associate of applied science degrees generally take from 18 months to 2 years to complete, and are offered in a very wide variety of specialties, including
- Applied Science in Criminal Justice
- Law Enforcement
- Criminal Investigations
- Private Security
- Corrections
- Counter Terrorism & Homeland Security
The applied science degree will give you a basic understanding of the legal system and law enforcement standards, in addition to teaching you the technical skills needed by law enforcement agencies nowadays. It can get you started in a job as a probation officer, victim advocate, detention officer, dispatcher, criminal investigator or corrections officer, evidence technician or fingerprint technician to name a few. The employers who could hire you include government law enforcement agencies and police departments, forensic labs, hospital labs and corrections departments.
Next, job opportunities with an associate of arts degree in criminal justice.
Criminal Justice Degree Programs
SAINT LEO UNIVERSITY
A Florida-based school with a Catholic heritage. The school stresses the affordability of it's online programs.
- Graduate Certificate in Criminal Justice Management
- MS Criminal Incident Management
- MS Criminal Justice
- MSCJ specialized in Forensic Science
Get free information on Saint Leo University
ANTHEM COLLEGE
Anthem College online is an Arizona-based school with career-oriented bachelor of science and associate of science degree programs in criminal justice. Training includes basic criminology, analytics and management.
Get information on Anthem College Online
UNIVERSITY OF THE ROCKIES
A private school, originally known as the Colorado School of Professional Psychology, that offers some interesting degrees focused more on criminology than direct police work, including:
- Doctor of Psychology, Criminology & Justice
- MA in Psychology, Criminology & Justice
- Graduate Certificate in Criminology & Justice Studies
Get free info on University of the Rockies
KEISER UNIVERSITY eCAMPUS
Teaches basic tools and analytic skills to help students enter and then advance in the criminal justice system. Florida-based school that ranked #11 among U.S. online colleges by the Online Education Database for 2009.
- Degress in Homeland Security, Paralegal, Legal Studies and Criminal Justice
Get info on Keiser University eCampus
STRAYER UNIVERSITY
Baltimore-based school operated as a for-profit, which has 70 brick and mortar campuses in addition to it's online program. Designed to prep grads for work in private sector security, law enforcement, homeland security, cyber security and other fields.
- Associates of Arts in Criminal Justice, Diploma Programs in Security and Homeland Security
Get info on Strayer Online
Get info on Strayer Campuses
BELLEVUE UNIVERSITY
Once a small college in Nebraska, this school now has 11 campuses and a large online program. Accelerated programs are offered at all levels.
- BS in Criminal Justice Administration
- Master of Science in Justice Administration and Crime Management
Get free information on Bellevue University
VIRGINIA COLLEGE
Private school with an extremely wide array of online degree offerings.
- Associate's Degree Criminal Justice
- Bachelor's Degree Criinal Justice
- Master Program Criminal Justice
Get free information on Virginia College
AIU ONLINE
Basic criminal justice degrees online, and also some unique specializations including "special populations" and forensic science. Illinois based institution that also has brick and mortar campuses abroad
- Associates In Criminal justice Administration, Bachelors in Forensic Science and Law Enforcement
Get info on AIU
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MORE ABOUT LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE DEGREES:
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Basics Of An Associate Of Arts Degree In Criminal Justice
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