So you went on Google, Yahoo, or MSN and searched for “Criminal Justice Degree,” “Criminal Justice Programs,” or “Criminal Justice Schools.” You got the results, and based on the first one to three pages, you saw “Online Criminal Justice” in the title or you were taken to a website that claimed to offer all the Criminal Justice Programs. Hence the assertion that most criminal justice degree programs are offered only online.

The truth is that most Criminal Justice degree programs are offered in a traditional setting of a college or a university, not online. The problem lies with for-profit companies that advertise programs for online / private colleges and universities, not the search engines. In essence, the search engine index is manipulated to show the most relevant results. Take a look for yourself:

As you can see, the first 7 listings seem to affirm that most criminal justice programs are only offered online. You can see that by the yellow circles around the term “online.” This is also true for tens and tens more (in some cases hundreds of results). However, you can also see the search results marked with a question mark. These first page results offer information on criminal justice degrees and programs online as well as offline.

The Problem

The problem is that the offline or traditional schools being presented are arbitrary. In all cases the list of colleges and universities is not extensive, offering 1 – 5 schools that are private, for-profit, and known only via TV, radio, print, and online advertisement. It is a list of schools that offer a bounty fee for sending a lead their way.

For example, If you are looking for a criminal justice college or university in the state of Massachusetts you would like more options than Bay State College. What about Boston University, Northeastern University, & University of Massachusetts for starters? How can you make an educated decision about the future of your educaiton if you are provided with limited options. You can’t!

The Solution

I would love to tell you it’s my blog. Which it is, of course! But the panacea is learning to search better. Instead of doing a broad search for Criminal Justice Degrees perform a search for Criminal Justice Degrees in New York, even adding a city to it: Criminal Justice Degrees in Albany New York <– now that’s bound to get you the result you want!

If you don’t know where you would like to study you can use terms like Best or Top before your search term: Best Criminal Justice Degrees. This will give you a broad list of results but it should provide you with a list of best degree programs. Of course the list may be compiled on a hunch, it may be arbitrary, or just plain silly. This is where my expertise comes in, and thus, I hope you will be able to find what you’re looking for at the Criminal Justice Online Blog. It’s a work in progress. So, if you would like more info that’s not yet available on my site just shoot me an email.

What High School classes are needed to get into a Criminal Justice college or university degree program?

If you are planning on a Criminal Justice degree in college than you may want to consider taking specific classes while still in high school. But I know, and so do the colleges and universities nationwide, that 99.9% of high schools don’t directly offer courses related to the CJ field. This is okay! You don’t have to worry about getting into a Criminal Justice degree program if you don’t have the opportunity to take the classes in high school.

If you have an opportunity to pick courses, pick those that directly relate to Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement… duh! You know that! But, here are other topics that may help you choose your high school classes:

• politics
• current issues
• psychology
• sociology
• political science
• international affairs
• public policy
• international relations

Most importantly, make sure to keep your grades as close to an “A” as possible. Try to join organizations, teams, and after-school groups (this will look very good on your college app).

Get to know your teachers and keep contact with them (even after your freshman or sophomore years — these first teachers in high school can be very helpful to your cause). When it’s time to apply to a Criminal Justice school you can ask them for letters of recommendation, to check your application, or the entrance essay to the program.

Just so you know, not all schools require letters of recommendation or an entrance essay. This is usually needed for Master and PhD level programs.

If you are in your junior and senior year, you should start looking for Criminal Justice programs, as you should apply to more than one school. You would be surprised how many high school students never get into college because of this very reason.

Your chances of getting into a Criminal Justice program may be higher if you complete these steps. Most of your peers don’t even think that far ahead. So with that in mind, you should be just fine in your quest of getting into some of the best Criminal Justice, Homeland Security, Forensic Science, Public Administration, and Foreign Policy degree programs.

The Criminal Justice Online blog has the info on schools and even offers search options in your quest of pursuing the best college education. So stick around and good luck!

If you are thinking about going to Law School you may wonder how long does it take to get a Law Degree? Well, that all depends on how long do you want to be in Law School. Joking aside, here are the details.

Bachelor what?

First things first, you must obtain a bachelor degree. Granted this is a criminal justice blog, the bachelor degree program doesn’t have to be in criminal justice. But in the end, you must have one. The degree can take anywhere from 2 and 1/2 years to 4, or more. Read my post on how long does it take to complete a degree (it applies to all degree types – not only Criminal Justice, Homeland Security, Political Science, or Public Safety degrees).

Thus far, you have a minimum of 2.5 years of education, and the national average of 4 years, before you can even dream of being in Law School.

Now onto Law School

Generally, a law degree takes 3 years. Three years of your life which you will have to devote entirely to school. No girlfriends, no boyfriends, no social life, no liberties, nothing. You don’t believe me? You will!

Law schools are adamant that you complete your degree in a timely manner and rarely do they allow you to take longer to complete your Juris Doctor. Some individuals may take four years to complete a JD degree, but that is usually with prior permission from the college or university granting the Law Degree.

So a law school degree can take anywhere from 5 and 1/2 years to 7 years – from scratch. Well, you know by now that the graduate level program takes 3 years by itself. This applies for nearly all law school programs, including the ones from: Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Columbia, and other elite law schools.

Some Useful Advice… You’ll need it!

So if you are just graduating from high school or are beginning your quest of obtaining a bachelor degree you have the best odds. Why? Because if you have your BA or BS completed and your GPA is not high enough than your chances of becoming a Lawyer may dwindle. Therefore, you better have a high GPA, amongst other factors, if you want to make it through the Law School application process.

Here are some points you should take to heart before you go to Law School:

• High GPA in your undergraduate studies – try to keep it 3.5 or above if you want to compete for a place in the best Law Schools in the country <– critical!
• Make relationships with your professors while taking your undergrad classes. You’ll need them when the time comes for letters of recommendation <–critical!
• Try, if you can, to participate in extracurricular activities, like: sports teams or academic groups while earning your BA or BS degree. This will look good on your resume.
• Study for the LSAT, also known as the Law School Admission Test. Use multiple study guides, books, or prep courses. When you take this aptitude test you will need to get the highest score possible, as usual <– critical!
• Write an original personal statement; one that is based on your core values and is written with an eloquent tongue. <– critical!
• Don’t complete your degree online. The handful of the Law degree programs on the Internet are not regionally accredited and ABA accredited. This probably will change in the future, but for now, don’t waste your time and money!

If you have seen this: <– critical!… that means it is a core component of the law school application and should be given an extreme level of attention. I am not kidding!!

If your GPA or LSAT are not high enough you may still have a chance of getting into the top 10 law schools (if you want). Your personal statement essay and letters of recommendation may be the true deciding factor (that depends on the school). Realistically, chances of getting into top law school programs are very slim, even with a perfect application. So I highly recommend applying to Tier 2 Law Schools, besides the Tier 1 or the Top Ten. That said, I wish you good luck in your future endeavors!

If you are thinking about majoring in criminal justice before law school all the power to you. However, you should know that law schools don’t necessarily look for a criminal justice major when looking over the applications.

In one of my previous posts I tackled the criminal justice versus law school question in a different manner. Its nature is a little different from this particular question, but it may provide answers to those that are interested in law school, criminal justice, and the legal field.

Personally, I applied to the top-notch law schools in the country. With a high LSAT score, great letters of recommendation, an honest personal statement, and 3.96 undergraduate GPA I was able to get into some of the top 10 schools in the country, law schools that is. I had a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration prior to applying.

After months of deliberating and questioning my personal motives I chose the criminal justice route, instead of the law school one. I was more interested in the sociology, psychology, and “the way things work” aspects of the criminal justice system. To this day I remain happy with my decision.

Should you major in criminal justice?

Well, a criminal justice major would not hurt if you plan to practice “public” sector law. Criminal law and immigration law are just two examples, where a criminal justice bachelor major would be feasible ( but is not required ).

Some people say that a business degree or a political science degree will do the trick. The fact is that law schools want to accept individuals of diverse backgrounds, including myriad types of college degrees.

Zack touched on what possible majors may work best, and although not exhaustive, I must agree that some degrees can PREPARE you better for law school than others, hence making them more marketable when compared to a Criminal Justice degree:

• Accounting
• Business
• Economics
• English
• Finance
• History
• Philosophy
• Political Science

However, these are not the only baccalaureate programs that will get your foot in the door and you should consider the fact that many law school hopefuls don’t make it past the first year of law school, yet alone the application process itself. What it boils down to is: Do you want to fall back on a degree you had no interest in or would you take your stab at law school and fall back on a degree that you know can bring you enjoyment even if you never make it through law school. Think about it.

If you are not sure what to major in, and you like law enforcement and criminal justice, then I would recommend majoring in criminal justice or related degrees. Keep in mind that a criminal justice degree is not the only option for you.

If you are not sure and don’t know if you like criminal justice, yet you would like to go to law school after your bachelor degree, I highly recommend majoring in something you like. However, the stronger the subject matter of your undergraduate degree, the stronger are the chances that you will get into the law school of your choice (Zack’s assertion of a solid degree that will prepare you applies here). A degree in basket weaving won’t help. So, you must choose wisely.

If you have any more questions about law schools, the criminal justice system, or just want to leave a comment you can do so below… in the comments section, of course. Good luck!

Throughout my career as a student I often heard this question: why are some online criminal justice programs longer than others? In fact, why are there such differences in online programs anyway? Can’t I just complete my degree program in one year if I would like?

Well, all these questions are valid, and the time factor can be explained in many ways. As you may know, I have my own take on it.

One thing a potential student needs to understand is that online learning is a fairly new phenomenon. Yes, it has been around since the 1990s, and distance education has been around for decades, but the online academic environment is still within its infancy. In my opinion, the educational institutions have a lot of factors to consider when it comes to the time of an online degree program.

• Can a student handle the workload which is often far more accelerated than in a traditional university or college?
• Can the student successfully complete the program within an asynchronous learning environment? This means, can the student complete the degree by means of self learning and self motivation?
• Does the school have enough resources to offer a more accelerated program? This includes: professors, instructors, assistance, tech support, student support, and many other behind the scenes individuals.
• Can the degree program be squeezed into a shorter timeframe? Can one really learn the content of the program in a shorter time span and be able to successfully recall all the details? Majority of the schools just don’t want to “stuff a cow into a pig.”
• The school’s reputation is also very important. I know that the educational institutions which are online and off do not want to give off the perception of a fast degree drive through education.

Over time, I have noticed that the same educational institutions, many well known around the world, have started creating programs around the student’s needs. A four-year degree, what seems as an eternity to me, can now be completed in around a year and a half.

Many schools who participate in the online education arena started to ask students, in forms of interviews and surveys, about their personal needs in their educational pursuit. Also, in order to stay competitive and profitable these colleges & universities structure their educational content so it can be completed in an accelerated or delayed pace. Yes, some individuals would like to take their time in completing their degree program.

So, here are some points from a new school of thought about online education in criminal justice, or any other field for that matter:

• The schools make it known that the accelerated learning program is no walk in the park. The student obliges and says “bring it on” plus one more class at a time.
• Majority of the students are working professionals or stay at home parents (this will soon change as high school graduates are flocking to the Internet to sift through colleges). The need for an alternative educational venue, away from the traditional concept, is a much-needed boon for some. So is the ability to complete the degree program in a “timely fashion.”
• Your concept of a “timely fashion” is different from mine or anyone else’s. Schools started getting the hint after many students were bored with the one class at a time scenario. So, they made it two classes at a time, and now, you can find yourself taking up to four classes at a time in select educational institutions. What you can do in three years I can do in one. Why should I suffer? Right?

No matter if you embark on a criminal Justice program online, or any program for that matter, you should understand that the length of the program is something you should consider heavily before applying. This isn’t so you can complete a four-year degree in a one year time span. It is so you don’t fall behind in your studies and personal life.

Taking on too many courses at one time can be very detrimental to your way of living and your academic performance. In my opinion, if you cannot allocate 15 to 20 hours per week on school work, then you should not take any extra courses beyond the number that is recommended. If you can contribute that much time, then you can probably request extra courses by speaking to your academic advisor or dean.

One caveat, and a reason why some online criminal justice programs are longer or shorter than others, is that even if you take extra courses you might have to wait to take the next one anyway, as the courses are often offered on a cyclical basis. When you request information from the school you can ask if there is a possibility to complete the program sooner. You can mention “with prior approval” so you don’t get the usual “our programs are accelerated as it is” line.

Good luck on your educational pursuit. Let me know how it’s going.

One of my readers asked me a very good question: can I change my Criminal Justice program to something else? That reader specifically wanted to know that if he started a Criminal Justice degree program online that he would be able to switch his degree choice to something else, like: Business or Nursing. This question is often asked when people pick a degree path, but later decide to switch to a different program. Financial savings and precious time must be considered when proceeding with any changes. So, without any further delay, the answer is: that all depends.

For those taking their associate & bachelor level classes in a Criminal Justice online program you will be pleased to know that a change of the degree path is attainable. This depends on certain factors which may or may not be in your control. Not all schools may grant a change to your area of study. You must understand the following to proceed with any changes to your degree program:

• Why is it that you are taking Criminal Justice in the first place?
• If you switch, will this solve your dilemma?
  • Will you find the degree program that you can really feel like it will be rewarding to you?
  • Perhaps, you might want to postpone schooling altogether. Maybe switching is just a gut reaction and not a calculated move?
• You have better chances of switching your path in the beginning of the program, rather than later.
  • Switching earlier may equal zero time & monetary loss. This is due to you taking non-core classes, such as: English, Math, Psychology, Arts, History, & etc, which you most likely will have to take in your other chosen degree path anyway.
  • Switching later may cost you some or a lot of time & money. This is because you have probably taken most of the non-core classes and even some or most core requirements.
• Certain colleges & universities frown upon the shifting of a degree path. This is normal offline and online. They may be reluctant to grant you this change as they don’t want to have you risk your time & money, and their reputation.
  • Academic administrators know that if you switch late, or often, it can become costly
    • To you: time & money
    • To the university: if you don’t finish your degree they risk monetary loss. They also can’t provide a spot to the students that do want to complete their Criminal Justice degree.
    • To the loan companies: sudden changes in student’s behavior may be indicators of troubling repayment, or in extreme cases non-payment.
  • Educational institutions rely on positive feedback and statistics that provide rankings to the general public, potential students, academicians, businesses, venture capitalists, and other interested parties. Therefore, flip flopping is something they would want you to avoid, thus they can preserve their good name.
  • If your school is reluctant, make sure to state your intentions clearly. Speak with the person in the highest academic position, like: the dean of your program, the professor in charge of your program, or even with the president. This is only recommended to those that have a clear idea of what their intentions of switching are. These need to be backed up by practical reasons, documentation, and most importantly, sincerity.
• Some universities and colleges may have a zero tolerance policy on switching. Thus, you will be out of luck if you try to. Find out if your school will allow you to change your degree track in the midst of your education. Do so before you apply to the program.
• You need to make sure that the program you want to switch to is offered at your college or university. Simple, isn’t it? You need to know that all schools can’t offer every degree program online. It wouldn’t be feasible to have Med School entirely online. Right? Find the details out before you apply.
• Changing your Criminal Justice program along with a new school is much harder, especially if you want to have all or most of your credits transferred.
  • Most private schools may accept a lot of your public college or university credits. However, it isn’t that easy to do it the other way. Public universities, for the most part, have stricter guidelines when it comes to credit acceptance from private institutions. So choose your move wisely and make sure to call your admissions rep in the new school and plead with him or her to accept as many credits as possible. You may be lucky enough to negotiate some credit transfers from a CJ program.
  • Often, you might have to start from scratch. That’s if you choose to move to a new school. Again, find all the details before you make the move.
• Lots of things that you must understand and lots of options you have to weigh. But, in the end, just ask
  • For direction
  • For details
  • For honest counsel
  • For some sanity

If you are taking graduate Criminal Justice classes in order to complete your degree, in all probability, you won’t be able to switch your path as the courses are very concentrated on Criminal Justice; not humanities, not English, not math, not anything else. In the end, you are out of luck. You should either finish the program or quit promptly before you incur significant time and financial losses.

In all, if you feel that Criminal Justice is not your “cup of tea,” you should switch or postpone your education altogether. There is nothing wrong with that, but make sure that the decision you make is yours. That it is calculated and rational. That it will satisfy you, not others. And, that this move will cost you as little time and money as possible. Good luck!

Yes, it’s true. Contrary to the popular belief, Criminal Justice programs online may only take in the select few. The concept of scarcity still prevails, so you better hurry in making your decision about applying. Online colleges & universities are operating in much the same way like their brick and mortar counterparts. In fact, some of the most prominent universities are venturing into the online world in order to reach more of those who are seeking education, but perhaps can’t do it on standard terms.

So what’s all the fuss about? Well, the truth is that not all colleges & universities want to have a class size composed of thousands of students. It expands their resources which often may dilute the quality of the education you will receive. When you apply for a Criminal Justice degree granting program, Criminal Justice certificate course, or a even a single class you must consider that there are potentially many more people doing the same. This means you need to distinguish yourself from the rest and act now. No, not later, NOW!

How do I make myself to be a top candidate for Criminal Justice degree granting schools?

It’s easy!

1. Type up your application, answering every possible question in detail
2. Send in everything the school requests from you – no excuses.
3. Promptly follow up with the admission counselors – usually done via email or over the phone
4. If writing an admission paper make sure to follow the directions provided
5. Be genuine & state you intent when writing or during the interview process – take time to prepare for both
6. Again – just be yourself – this is key

When applying for associate & bachelor courses or programs you will have great odds of getting in if you follow the six simple steps above. You must be aware that your high school grades may play a role in your application process, as well as any college grades or GPA you may have acquired over time. In most cases the application process is seamless and won’t interfere with your current lifestyle, at least not much. You can expect the process to last a week to several weeks, maybe more in some instances.

If a masters or doctorate degree in Criminal Justice is in your stars than you have to step up your game. The steps above are there to guide you, but chances are that limited number of candidates will be accepted. At this level it is a different ball game and you should expect to play with the pros. Your undergraduate GPA is often considered and your GRE score (if applicable) is equally important. However, even if you don’t have a pristine educational record the required essay is where you get to shine the most. Most often the essay is about you and/or your life experiences. The questions may vary but the premise is the same: tell us about yourself. It is this important piece of your application that gets the faculty to determine who you are, what your intentions are, and if you fit in the program.

My advice is to follow this blog for updates, tips, and all-around advice about how to get into a Criminal Justice program. Click around or search to find precisely what you need. You will find it here, as I have done everything, and then some, to get into The Top 3 Criminal Justice Universities. These universities are world renowned for their academic and scientific achievements, and most importantly for you, in the field of Criminal Justice:

• University of Cincinnati
• Michigan State University
• Boston University

Three application, three “Congratulations!” letters. I ended up going to Boston University. For some of you these three schools are very well known and some of you may care less. In the end, it does matter where you graduate from. Your income and position may depend on it. I know you will follow my blog so you too can get a chance of getting into some of the best online schools. Yes, I think you’ve made a great choice!