Earning your criminology degree can set you up for a career in several law enforcement-related professions. An online criminology degree program may offer a more convenient method of completing your studies. Learning about popular online criminology programs can help you find the option that best matches your needs and availability. In this article, we discuss what an online criminology degree is, the courses you are likely to study while pursuing it, your career outlook upon graduation, and online criminology degree programs to consider.
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What is an online criminology degree?
An online criminology degree is a credential earned upon completing an online course in criminology. You may choose to pursue online study to fit your degree into your existing schedule, or to earn your degree from a school located too far for you to attend in person. Completing your course earns a degree that demonstrates your knowledge and value to potential employers.
What do you study in an online criminology degree program?
During an online criminology degree program, you’re likely to learn about topics related to the field in which you may work, including:
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Current trends in crime as well as projections for the future and techniques for following developments in crime trends
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The elements that can contribute to the potential for crime, including both societal and individual factors and decisions
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Investigative techniques that allow you to follow clues on an investigation to determine the truthful accounting of events
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Decision-making techniques to help you choose the best course of action in an investigation
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Interrogation methods to elicit accurate and useful information from witnesses or suspects during an investigation
Career outlook for a criminology graduate
Completing your criminology studies can provide you with the opportunity for several career paths, each with its own career outlook. Indeed salary research found an average salary of $32,790 per year for corrections officers, while the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects a 7% decline from 2020 to 2030 in available positions.
If you pursue a career as a law enforcement officer, Indeed shows average salaries of $48,059 per year while the BLS projects 7% growth from 2020 to 2030, which aligns with average projections across all industries. Those working as private investigators earn an average of $44,383 per year with the BLS projecting 13% growth from 2020 to 2030.
9 schools to earn an online criminology degree
If you are interested in earning your criminology degree online, you may consider applying to one or more of these online programs:
1. Arkansas State University
A Bachelor of Arts in Criminology from Arkansas State University’s online program consists of 120 credit hours, with up to 90 credit hours of the degree transferable from another program if you have already completed them. Courses in the program include political science, criminology, and sociology. This provides a diverse education for students to understand the many factors that contribute to criminal behavior and how they interact with the criminal justice system.
2. Arizona State University
The online Bachelor of Science in Criminology and Criminal Justice from Arizona State University consists of 40 classes, each running for 7-1/2 weeks. Students learn about the causes of crime, the consequences of those crimes, and the role of criminal justice agencies in managing and reducing crime within a community. Course of study during the program includes introductory courses on criminal justice, corrections and policing, as well as classes in criminology, research methods and criminal justice crime control policies and practices.
3. Ashland University
Ashland University offers an online criminal justice degree for students interested in pursuing a career in law enforcement, corrections or a related industry. Subjects covered by classes in the program include Ethics in Criminal Justice, Restorative Justice, Victimology, Terrorism, and Criminal Justice Policy. It provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the law & crime within a society.
4. Ball State University
A Bachelor of Science in Criminology from Ball State University shows a potential employer that you have completed intensive study in the field. The online format caters to individuals with full-time responsibilities seeking a convenient method of completing their bachelor’s education, however is available to all students. Completing a degree program at Ball State University includes the successful completion of upper-division electives, which provide enhanced knowledge on topics of interest to a student, such as Race, Gender, and Crime; Juvenile Justice and Delinquency; Human Resources in Criminal Justice and Policing in a Free and Diverse Society.
5. Carlow University
Carlow University offers a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology with a focus on psychology and social justice. It offers cross-disciplinary study of crime through all levels from perpetrators and victims to societal and structural contributions. Courses in the core program include Introduction to Criminal Justice; Race, Class and Justice; Introduction to American Government; Introduction to Psychology and Lifespan Development. Optional electives for specialization include Juvenile Delinquency, Prisons and Society, Forensic Psychology, and Law Enforcement in the 21st Century.
6. Florida State University
An online bachelor’s degree provides flexibility for students interested in earning their degree from Florida State University who are unable to attend in part or full time in person. The online degree program includes an internship requirement, which you may complete locally at a university-approved organization. Courses in the online program include Criminology and Criminal Justice classes as well as Computer Science classes to help prepare graduates for the expectations of a modern employee in the criminal justice system.
7. Purdue University
Purdue University offers an online Criminal Justice degree through its Purdue University Global program. The program features a curriculum which provides a foundation of criminal justice knowledge supplemented with concentrations in a student’s chosen field, such as Crime Scene Investigation, Homeland Security, Law Enforcement or Forensic Psychology. The program concludes with a Capstone project in which students demonstrate the knowledge and skills they have learned and the critical thinking capability to apply it to real-world scenarios.
8. South New Hampshire University
Students interested in studying criminology at South New Hampshire University can complete the Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice with a concentration in Criminology and Crime Analysis. During their studies, students learn to evaluate how societal trends and technology impact criminal justice, how to effectively communicate to diverse groups of a society, research-based solutions to criminal problems and examination of human behavior and criminological theory. The course encompasses 120 class credits, with up to 90 credits available as transfer credits and 12 credits provided to students who meet previous law enforcement training requirements.
9. University of Florida
The online Bachelor of Arts in Criminology is part of the University of Florida’s Liberal Arts and Sciences College. It aims to provide students with the education they require for careers in the law enforcement system or juvenile corrections system. Core courses within the program include Advanced Principles of Criminal Justice, Criminal Theory and Law and Society. A degree program includes six Criminology and Law elective courses, allowing students to cater their education to match their post-graduation career plans.
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