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	<title>Criminal Justice Degree, College, and Career Blog &#187; My Top Picks</title>
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		<title>Top Criminal Justice Schools in America for 2010 &amp; 2011</title>
		<link>http://criminaljusticeonlineblog.com/archives/top-criminal-justice-schools-in-america/</link>
		<comments>http://criminaljusticeonlineblog.com/archives/top-criminal-justice-schools-in-america/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 30 Jul 2010 01:13:59 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Radek M. Gadek</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Degrees]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[My Top Picks]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Resources]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Universities & Colleges]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[What are the top criminal justice schools in America? It&#8217;s a question I get in my mailbox at least once a weak. The truth is, it&#8217;s not University of Pheonix, Everest College, or Westwood College as you probably found other sites claiming a list of &#8220;10 Best Criminal Justice Schools&#8221; to be. Come on! Here&#8217;s [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><p><strong>What are the top criminal justice schools in America?</strong> It&#8217;s a question I get in my mailbox at least once a weak. The truth is, it&#8217;s not University of Pheonix, Everest College, or Westwood College as you probably found other sites claiming a list of &#8220;10 Best Criminal Justice Schools&#8221; to be. Come on! Here&#8217;s the real deal.</p>
<p>In my opinion, some of the <strong>best criminal justice colleges in the US</strong> include:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://criminaljusticeonlineblog.com/cuny-john-jay-college-criminal-justice/">CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice</a></li>
<li><a href="http://criminaljusticeonlineblog.com/michigan-state-university/">Michigan State University</a></li>
<li><a href="http://criminaljusticeonlineblog.com/northeastern-university/">Northeastern University</a></li>
<li><a href="http://criminaljusticeonlineblog.com/pennsylvania-state-university/">Pennsylvania State University at University Park</a></li>
<li><a href="http://criminaljusticeonlineblog.com/suny-at-albany/">University of Albany (SUNY)</a></li>
<li><a href="http://criminaljusticeonlineblog.com/university-of-california-irvine/">University of California at Irvine</a></li>
<li><a href="http://criminaljusticeonlineblog.com/university-of-cincinnati/">University of Cincinnati</a></li>
<li><a href="http://criminaljusticeonlineblog.com/university-of-maryland-college-park/">University of Maryland at College Park Campus</a></li>
</ul>
<p><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-15802" title="Top Criminal Justice Schools in the US" src="http://criminaljusticeonlineblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/american-flag1.jpg" alt="Top Criminal Justice Schools in the US" width="102" height="68" />These are just my recommendations, and rightfully so, as USNews.com has it&#8217;s own list of Top Criminal Justice Schools in America. Many of the schools I had in mind they listed, too.</p>
<h2>Best Criminal Justice Schools in America for 2010 &amp; 2011</h2>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://criminaljusticeonlineblog.com/american-university/">American University</a></li>
<li><a href="http://criminaljusticeonlineblog.com/arizona-state-university-tempe-campus/">Arizona State University</a></li>
<li><a href="http://criminaljusticeonlineblog.com/cuny-john-jay-college-criminal-justice/">CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice</a></li>
<li><a href="http://criminaljusticeonlineblog.com/florida-state-university/">Florida State University</a></li>
<li><a href="http://criminaljusticeonlineblog.com/george-mason-university/">George Mason University</a></li>
<li><a href="http://criminaljusticeonlineblog.com/indiana-university-bloomington/">Indiana University</a></li>
<li><a href="http://criminaljusticeonlineblog.com/michigan-state-university/">Michigan State University</a></li>
<li><a href="http://criminaljusticeonlineblog.com/northeastern-university/">Northeastern University</a></li>
<li><a href="http://criminaljusticeonlineblog.com/pennsylvania-state-university/">Pennsylvania State University (University Park)</a></li>
<li><a href="http://criminaljusticeonlineblog.com/rutgers-university-newark/">Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey (Newark campus)</a></li>
<li><a href="http://criminaljusticeonlineblog.com/temple-university/">Temple University</a></li>
<li><a href="http://criminaljusticeonlineblog.com/sam-houston-state-university/">Sam Houston State University</a></li>
<li><a href="http://criminaljusticeonlineblog.com/washington-state-university/">Washington State University</a></li>
<li><a href="http://criminaljusticeonlineblog.com/suny-at-albany/">University of Albany &#8211; SUNY</a></li>
<li><a href="http://criminaljusticeonlineblog.com/university-of-california-irvine/">University of California (Irvine campus)</a></li>
<li><a href="http://criminaljusticeonlineblog.com/university-of-cincinnati/">University of Cincinnati</a></li>
<li><a href="http://criminaljusticeonlineblog.com/university-of-delaware/">University of Delaware</a></li>
<li><a href="http://criminaljusticeonlineblog.com/university-of-florida/">University of Florida</a></li>
<li><a href="http://criminaljusticeonlineblog.com/university-of-illinois-at-chicago/">University of Illinois (Chicago campus)</a></li>
<li><a href="http://criminaljusticeonlineblog.com/university-of-maryland-college-park/">University of Maryland (College Park campus)</a></li>
<li><a href="http://criminaljusticeonlineblog.com/university-of-missouri-st-louis/">University of Missouri (St. Louis campus)</a></li>
<li><a href="http://criminaljusticeonlineblog.com/university-of-nebraska-at-omaha/">University of Nebraska (Omaha campus)</a></li>
<li><a href="http://criminaljusticeonlineblog.com/university-of-pennsylvania/">University of Pennsylvania (Ivy League School)</a></li>
</ul>
<blockquote><p><em>sources: <a href="http://www.usnews.com/"rel="nofollow" >US News</a> and <a href="http://criminaljusticeonlineblog.com/">Criminal Justice Degree, College, and Career Blog</a></em></p></blockquote>
<p>This is a list of the Top Criminal Justice Schools in America without the fluff.</p>
<p>No matter what you&#8217;ve heard before, be aware that the name of the school and/or program ranking matters; it can make a big difference between being accepted for a career position or getting promoted. We, as society, have preconceived notions, expectations for high standards, and the understanding of what&#8217;s real and what&#8217;s not &#8211; the people and organizations that will be hiring you or looking over your grad school application will look at the program and the school your graduated from.</p>
<p>And one more thing&#8230; your college grades and GPA matter, especially when applying for highly sought after <a href="http://criminaljusticeonlineblog.com/criminal-justice-careers/">career positions</a>, and of course, graduate study. Just thought you should know.</p>
<p>Wait&#8230; When picking schools that have multiple locations be aware that a program from the one campus location &#8211; for example &#8211; may be OR may not be better than the program from the other campuses. Take University of California (a.k.a. UC). This educational system has quite a few university campuses, but UC Irvine reigns supreme in Criminal Justice/Criminology over UC Davis (example).</p>
<p>Even if you can&#8217;t get into a great college or university, which doesn&#8217;t hurt to apply, remember that when researching your criminal justice schools make sure to take the <a href="http://criminaljusticeonlineblog.com/archives/accreditation-for-criminal-justice-colleges-and-universities/">accreditation</a>, <a href="http://criminaljusticeonlineblog.com/archives/17-ways-to-cut-college-costs/">tuition</a>, and <a href="http://criminaljusticeonlineblog.com/archives/how-long-does-it-take-to-get-a-degree-in-criminal-justice/">time investment</a> into consideration. Now, go share this great resource with someone! Thanks for reading.</p>
<blockquote><p>Do you think there are <a href="http://criminaljusticeonlineblog.com/criminal-justice-colleges/">criminal justice schools</a> that should make the list, but didn&#8217;t? Share them with us and tell us why.</p></blockquote>
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		<title>Is a Criminal Justice Degree Major Hard to Complete?</title>
		<link>http://criminaljusticeonlineblog.com/archives/is-a-criminal-justice-degree-major-hard-to-complete/</link>
		<comments>http://criminaljusticeonlineblog.com/archives/is-a-criminal-justice-degree-major-hard-to-complete/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 04 Feb 2010 09:35:59 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Radek M. Gadek</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Associates]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bachelors]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[My Top Picks]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://criminaljusticeonlineblog.com/?p=15688</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Three common questions from many blog readers: Is a criminal justice degree hard? Is criminal justice a hard major? Is criminal justice hard? These 3 questions lead to a compounded one: is a criminal justice degree major hard to complete? The answer&#8230;
I personally think that a criminal justice degree is a fairly straight-forward major. It [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><p><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-1307" title="Is a criminal justice degree major hard?" src="http://criminaljusticeonlineblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/envelope.gif" alt="" width="81" height="64" />Three common questions from <em>many</em> blog readers: <em>Is a criminal justice degree hard? Is criminal justice a hard major? Is criminal justice hard? These 3 questions lead to a compounded one: is a criminal justice degree major hard to complete?</em> The answer&#8230;</p>
<p>I personally think that a criminal justice degree is a fairly straight-forward major. It is not an easy major? I don&#8217;t think any major is, but for me it was a very rewarding educational experience. I was drawn to the field of Criminal Justice from the start and found it to be challenging, yet attainable.</p>
<h3>But is the Criminal Justice Degree Major Hard for You?</h3>
<p>This answer depends entirely on your own abilities, life goals, and true intentions. There is no &#8220;one shoe fits all&#8221; kind of answer for this.</p>
<p>Where do your interests lie? Are you planning on a criminal justice major because everyone else is doing it? it&#8217;s advertised on TV? or, because you&#8217;re out of options? These probably are not good reasons to take criminal justice in college. But these can be:</p>
<ul>
<li>You like issues that are related to society</li>
<li>You find TV shows like COPS, 48 Hours, and Forensic Files fascinating</li>
<li>You like to think critically and dig deeper to find the answers you seek</li>
<li>You don&#8217;t have a problem working with other people</li>
<li>You want to know more about issues pertaining to all that is &#8220;criminal justice&#8221;</li>
</ul>
<h3>BUT Wait&#8230; There&#8217;s More!</h3>
<blockquote><p>The biggest and really the only reason anyone would want to undertake a criminal justice major is that they would like to do meaningful work in this evolving field. Is that what you want to do: pursue a career in criminal justice? If so, keep reading&#8230;</p></blockquote>
<p>Having a criminal justice degree allows one to pursue some of the most interesting <a href="http://criminaljusticeonlineblog.com/criminal-justice-careers/">criminal justice careers</a>, which aren&#8217;t only limited to a <a href="http://criminaljusticeonlineblog.com/police-officer-careers/">police officer</a> or a <a href="http://criminaljusticeonlineblog.com/fbi-special-agent-career/">FBI Special Agent</a> career path:</p>
<p>The reasons that create the interest in a criminal justice degree should be big enough for you to proceed further. They should be more than a path towards just a &#8220;job&#8221; &#8211; if you think of the degree as a means to a job, you&#8217;ll most likely find that the degree isn&#8217;t as easy to you. It may even be hard.</p>
<h3>My 2 Cents:</h3>
<ol>
<li>Be true to your abilities. If you&#8217;re not strong in a certain subject or subjects, then a degree in criminal justice may be harder to accomplish. Check out the <a href="http://criminaljusticeonlineblog.com/archives/category/courses/">criminal justice courses</a> you may be exposed to. Also, be aware that you&#8217;ll be taking English, Math, and certain Science classes while pursuing your college degree, no matter what major you pick.</li>
<li>Is your life goal to be a police officer or something entirely different? Think about what you really would like to do in the span of your life. Not sure yet? Then, you should be happy to know that most law enforcement career options for police officers, <a href="http://criminaljusticeonlineblog.com/sheriff-careers/">sheriff deputies</a>, <a href="http://criminaljusticeonlineblog.com/state-trooper-jobs/">state troopers</a>, or FBI agents do not specifically require a criminal justice degree. A Bachelor degree in Business, Computer Science, Chemistry, or something entirely different can be as good. It&#8217;s always wise to contact the agency you plan to work for in the future to find out if they have a certain educational preference. Did you know that many law enforcement agencies require only some college credits and not a full degree? And they don&#8217;t have to be derived from criminal justice classes. Aaahhhh&#8230; Now you know : )</li>
<li>Read, research, ask, and repeat&#8230; I mean if you&#8217;re really serious about pursuing a degree in criminal justice and following that up with a career in CJ I highly recommend reading and researching more about anything and everything that interests you. Don&#8217;t take criminal justice courses on a whim, hoping that they are going to solve your troubles. It&#8217;s always good to ask your teacher, professor, or someone you can trust to give you an honest answer about your educational and career goals. A criminal justice degree doesn&#8217;t have to be hard to accomplish. There are other great sites and bounty of information on the Internet; specifically on Government funded websites. If a police officer career is something you&#8217;re interested in then you should ask a police officer about how his or her career is, what it is all about, and how you can get your foot in the door. Hint&#8230; there are police officer forums on the Internet that may be full of interesting information. Interested in a different criminal justice career? Same model applies&#8230; go straight to the source!</li>
</ol>
<p>I hope this helps some of you in answering this seemingly easy, but complicated, question. What have been your experiences with taking criminal justice courses? Are they easy or hard, or totally something different? Let us know by leaving your comment below.</p>
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		<title>What’s the Difference Between Criminal Justice and Criminal Law?</title>
		<link>http://criminaljusticeonlineblog.com/archives/whats-the-difference-between-criminal-justice-and-criminal-law/</link>
		<comments>http://criminaljusticeonlineblog.com/archives/whats-the-difference-between-criminal-justice-and-criminal-law/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 19 Dec 2009 07:12:52 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Radek M. Gadek</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Careers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[My Top Picks]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Resources]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://criminaljusticeonlineblog.com/?p=15569</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Email from Jake in Illinois: What&#8217;s the difference between Criminal Justice and Criminal Law?
I can&#8217;t believe I didn&#8217;t think of answering this age-old question back when I started my blog. However, it&#8217;s never too late to tackle this one so I&#8217;ll give it my best shot.
Criminal Justice vs. Criminal Law
So you&#8217;re thinking about majoring in [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><p><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-1307" title="Difference between Criminal Justice and Criminal Law" src="http://criminaljusticeonlineblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/envelope.gif" alt="Difference between Criminal Justice and Criminal Law" width="81" height="64" />Email from Jake in Illinois: <em>What&#8217;s the difference between Criminal Justice and Criminal Law?</em></p>
<p>I can&#8217;t believe I didn&#8217;t think of answering this age-old question back when I started my blog. However, it&#8217;s never too late to tackle this one so I&#8217;ll give it my best shot.</p>
<h3>Criminal Justice vs. Criminal Law</h3>
<p>So you&#8217;re thinking about <a href="http://criminaljusticeonlineblog.com/archives/i-dont-know-what-degree-major-to-take-on-in-college/">majoring in something</a>. Criminal Justice, Criminal Law, and other criminally interesting degree programs come to mind. So what the heck is the difference between Criminal Law and Criminal Justice? They both have &#8220;criminal&#8221; in them and they both pertain to the criminal justice system. Yes, but they are totally different from one another.</p>
<p>Criminal Justice refers to the universal and policy aspects of the field, including the exploration of policing, courts, corrections, and other daily applications. For example when I studied <a href="http://criminaljusticeonlineblog.com/archives/boston-university-masters-in-criminal-justice-online/">Criminal Justice at Boston University</a>, I had the opportunity to explore the criminal justice system from the perspective of a victim and the criminal ( <a href="http://criminaljusticeonlineblog.com/archives/category/courses/victimology/">Victimology</a> ) or the historic relevance of the death penalty. I learned how today&#8217;s police departments have to adhere to the demands of the communities they serve and how <a href="http://criminaljusticeonlineblog.com/archives/category/courses/terrorism/">terrorism</a> and the proliferation of the Internet changed the policing landscape. You can pick a Criminal Justice major at any academic level. Whether it is an Associate&#8217;s, a Bachelor&#8217;s, or a graduate degree, you&#8217;re sure to find a program you like.</p>
<p>Criminal Law can be studied in depth at the graduate level (after completion of a Bachelor&#8217;s degree). It is a concentration that is available at most law schools in the United States and mainly leads to a career as a lawyer. Criminal Law is not as versatile as Criminal Justice, although both majors are applied to the criminal justice field. When taking Criminal Law you&#8217;ll be focusing on the legal ramifications of crime rather than on the social aspects of it. You will be immersed in a research intensive environment where pristine writing skills are very important and a keen eye to detail is a must. Besides a law degree &#8211; aka JD or Juris Doctor degree &#8211; you can study Criminal Law from a historical standpoint on any academic level, but such programs are seldom seen.</p>
<h3>Criminal Justice and Criminal Law Careers</h3>
<p>With a degree in Criminal Justice you can gear your career seeking efforts towards law enforcement (Police, <a href="http://criminaljusticeonlineblog.com/sheriff-careers/">Sheriff</a>, Federal Agent &#8211; FBI, DEA, CIA, <a href="http://criminaljusticeonlineblog.com/diplomatic-security-special-agent-career/">Diplomatic Security Special Agent</a>, ICE, and etc.). If you have an advanced degree, like a Master&#8217;s or a Doctorate in <a href="http://criminaljusticeonlineblog.com/archives/what%E2%80%99s-the-difference-between-criminal-justice-and-criminology/">Criminal Justice or Criminology</a>, you may seek consulting and academic careers.</p>
<p>A <a href="http://criminaljusticeonlineblog.com/archives/how-long-does-it-take-to-get-a-law-degree/">Law Degree</a> with the Criminal Law concentration is most definitely going to propel you towards a career as a lawyer, perhaps even a judge, but since it is an advanced degree, you will be able to obtain jobs in the law enforcement, consulting, and academic fields as well.</p>
<p>A common term for a lawyer that specializes in Criminal Law is a defense attorney. Defense attorneys are lawyers who represent clients in court in exchange for money. Some defense lawyers work on a pro bono basis, which in layman&#8217;s terms means for free.</p>
<blockquote><p><em>pro bono publico</em> &#8211; a.k.a. pro bono -  is derived from Latin and literarilly means <em>for the public good</em></p></blockquote>
<p>A prosecutor most likely studied Criminal Law in college as well and is the proverbial <em>adversary</em> of the defense attorney. Prosecutors go after the criminals by preparing cases which most often don&#8217;t go to trial. In most court cases, the defense attorney and the prosecutor present the case in front of a judge who will subsequently make the decision on the outcome of the case. If a criminal case goes to trial, you can expect the usual charade that you see on Court TV and your local news, but mostly without all the drama.</p>
<p>For more information on the different careers available to you please see the <a href="http://criminaljusticeonlineblog.com/criminal-justice-careers/">criminal justice careers</a> page where there are many more interesting jobs that didn&#8217;t get listed here. As always feel free to comment and ask questions. Till next time, take care.</p>
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		<title>How Long Does it Take to get a Degree in Forensic Science</title>
		<link>http://criminaljusticeonlineblog.com/archives/how-long-does-it-take-to-get-a-degree-in-forensic-science/</link>
		<comments>http://criminaljusticeonlineblog.com/archives/how-long-does-it-take-to-get-a-degree-in-forensic-science/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 17 Nov 2009 03:54:36 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Radek M. Gadek</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Associates]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bachelors]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Degrees]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Doctorate]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Masters]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[My Top Picks]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://criminaljusticeonlineblog.com/?p=15504</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[How long does it take to get a Forensic Science degree? A great question! The answer depends on which degree level one is seeking to accomplish. Is it an Associate&#8217;s, a Bachelor&#8217;s, a Master&#8217;s, a PhD, or perhaps an MD in Forensic Sciences or similar disciplines? Are you taking this specialized degree program at a [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><p><strong><em>How long does it take to get a Forensic Science degree?</em></strong> A great question! The answer depends on which degree level one is seeking to accomplish. Is it an Associate&#8217;s, a Bachelor&#8217;s, a Master&#8217;s, a PhD, or perhaps an MD in Forensic Sciences or similar disciplines? Are you taking this specialized degree program at a traditional campus or is the Forensic degree from an online college or university?</p>
<p>Here’s the answer based on an average of the expected completion time frame:</p>
<h3>Associates Degree in Forensic Science</h3>
<ul>
<li><strong>Traditional</strong>
<ul>
<li>1 and 1/2 years with a maxed-out class load – <em>super-full-time: at or above 16 credits</em></li>
<li>2 years is the norm – <em>usually full time: 12 credits or more</em></li>
<li>2 and 1/2 years, or more – <em>usually part time: below 12 credits</em></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Online</strong>
<ul>
<li>1 to 2 years depending on the school – <em>usually you can&#8217;t manipulate the program to go faster or slower</em><em> – but, there are exceptions to this rule</em></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Bachelors Degree in Forensic Science</h3>
<ul>
<li> <strong>Traditional</strong>
<ul>
<li> 3 and 1/2 to 4 years with a maxed-out class load – <em>super-full-time: at or above 16 credits</em></li>
<li>4  to 4 and 1/2 years is the norm – <em>usually full time: 12 credits or more</em></li>
<li>5 and 1/2  years, or more – <em>usually part time: below 12 credits</em></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Online</strong>
<ul>
<li>2 and 1/2 to 4 years depending on the school – <em>usually you can&#8217;t manipulate the program to go faster or slower – but, there are exceptions to this general rule</em></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Masters Degree in Forensic Science</h3>
<ul>
<li> <strong>Traditional</strong>
<ul>
<li>1 and 1/2 to 2 and 1/2 years with a maxed-out class load – <em>super-full-time: this may depend on the school, prior permission may be required</em></li>
<li>2 to 3 and 1/2 years is the norm – <em>usually full time: may depend on the school<br />
</em></li>
<li>4 to 5 years , or more – <em>usually part time: this may depend on the school, prior permission may be required<br />
</em></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Online</strong>
<ul>
<li>1 and 1/2 to 3 years depending on the school – <em>usually you can&#8217;t manipulate the program to go faster or slower – but, there are exceptions to this rule</em></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>PhD / Doctorate Degree in Forensic Science</h3>
<ul>
<li> <strong>Traditional</strong>
<ul>
<li>2 and 1/2 to 3 and 1/2 – <em>with a Masters degree in certain desirable science based programs and/or Forensic Science degree: prior permission to take on higher class load may be required, usually having an advanced degree (ie. MS in Forensic Science) expedites the fast track &#8211; not all schools work this way, so it&#8217;s always wise to make sure before you start.</em></li>
<li>4 to 6 years is the norm – <em>usually full time: the length of the degree may depend on the school<br />
</em></li>
<li>6 to 7 years, or more – <em>usually part time or a class at a time: colleges and universities often cap their PhD program at 5-6 year mark, prior permission may be required<br />
</em></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Online</strong>
<ul>
<li>2 and 1/2 to 4 years depending on the school – <em>usually you won&#8217;t be able to manipulate the program to go faster or slower &#8211; but, there are may be exceptions<br />
</em></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p>Just remember that a Forensic Science degree is not a &#8220;walk in the park&#8221; &#8211; it is a science based degree for which not everyone is &#8220;cut out&#8221; for. This degree track will require more initiative than others, but the rewards are vast and if you like to solve crimes through the use of brains, rather than brawn, this is a great route to go. I hope this helps you. Good luck!</p>
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		<title>Verbal Advantage is the Best Vocabulary Builder, Bar None</title>
		<link>http://criminaljusticeonlineblog.com/archives/verbal-advantage-is-the-best-vocabulary-builder-bar-none/</link>
		<comments>http://criminaljusticeonlineblog.com/archives/verbal-advantage-is-the-best-vocabulary-builder-bar-none/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 22 Aug 2009 20:05:59 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Radek M. Gadek</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[My Top Picks]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Resources]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://criminaljusticeonlineblog.com/?p=15403</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Verbal Advantage is the best vocabulary builder, bar none. While in college, I was looking for vocabulary building tools, specifically a GRE vocabulary builder. After a few failed attempts at using different programs, Verbal Advantage came into my sights through a good friend of mine who got me the CD program as a gift.
Lets just [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><p>Verbal Advantage is the best vocabulary builder, bar none. While in college, I was looking for vocabulary building tools, specifically a GRE vocabulary builder. After a few failed attempts at using different programs, <strong>Verbal Advantage</strong> came into my sights through a good friend of mine who got me the CD program as a gift.</p>
<p>Lets just say I was very skeptical at first, but at the request of my friend, a Harvard graduate, I was bound to give Verbal Advantage a try.</p>
<p>At that time, the program came on 24 CDs, and I think it still does. I really liked having those CDs in MP3 format so I can listen to them on my Ipod. I used one of the many free CD to MP3 converters (Google it to get one) to accomplish this. Peace a cake.</p>
<p>I started to listen to the first level of Verbal Advantage, written and narrated by: Charles Harrington Elster, when I was in the midst of my business degree at Colorado Tech. 5 years later, and successfully completing a Master level criminal justice degree program at Boston University, I still listen to Verbal Advantage and feel very empowered by being able to communicate with virtually anyone. Next, a PhD.</p>
<p>Originally, Verbal Advantage was going to be used as my LSAT vocabulary builder, but after much needed soul searching, the program proved to be an invaluable tool for my GRE vocabulary building needs. Law School wasn&#8217;t for me, as I am more of an explorer by nature.</p>
<h3>Verbal Advantage is a great tool for anyone who wants to:</h3>
<ul>
<li>attend grad school and needs to take the GRE, or Graduate Record Exam</li>
<li>attend grad school and needs to take the MAT, a.k.a. Miller Analogies Test</li>
<li>attend law school, where the LSAT, or the The Law School Admission Test, is a requirement</li>
<li>attend graduate business school where the GMAT, or the Graduate Management Admission Test, is needed in 99% of cases</li>
<li>improve their overall vocabulary</li>
<li>improve their academic advancement</li>
<li>improve their career options</li>
<li>improve their ability to confidently use the English language</li>
</ul>
<p>Remember all these <em>wants</em> can only be accomplished with diligent use of the self-paced program. I am not saying that you will instantly improve in all the deficient clusters of your written and spoken life, but the program is designed to  exponentially improve your vocabulary, and theoretically, improve your lifestyle. It&#8217;s really up to you.</p>
<h3>Pros of Verbal Advantage</h3>
<ul>
<li>you will learn new words and the meanings of them, including where they came from (Greek, French, Latin, and etc.)</li>
<li>it is narrated in such a way that will help you effectively remember, connect, and use the newly acquired words with ease</li>
<li>the program is designed to sequentially move up in difficulty, thus helping you retain much more when moving up to more challenging vocabulary words</li>
<li>it offers quizzes at the end of each level to test your skills and engrave the words in your verbal palette</li>
<li>you can stop and repeat the program at any time (highly recommended)</li>
</ul>
<h3>Cons of Verbal Advantage</h3>
<ul>
<li>really&#8230; only one &#8211; the CDs. I wish the program was also offered in MP3 format.</li>
</ul>
<p>In the category of vocabulary builders, Verbal Advantage stands far apart from the rest. However, this vocabulary building program is not for everyone. It is only for those who really want to increase their vocabulary and develop into eloquent speakers and/or writers. In all honesty, I wouldn&#8217;t be as far in life academically, occupationally, and financially if it wasn&#8217;t for Mr. Elster and Verbal Advantage. That&#8217;s my 2 cents.</p>
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		<title>50,000 Volt Taser Strikes Man, How Does He Survive?</title>
		<link>http://criminaljusticeonlineblog.com/archives/50000-volt-taser-strikes-man-how-does-he-survive/</link>
		<comments>http://criminaljusticeonlineblog.com/archives/50000-volt-taser-strikes-man-how-does-he-survive/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 09 May 2009 05:03:09 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Radek M. Gadek</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[My Top Picks]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[TV Shows & Movies]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://criminaljusticeonlineblog.com/?p=15052</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[He Doesn&#8217;t!
I went to court the other day and overhead a tenacious injury lawyer presenting a case for his client. I didn&#8217;t care for the details, but when he started going into the medical and technical terms associated with Taser related injuries his client sustained I nearly wanted to hit him upside the head with, [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><p><strong>He Doesn&#8217;t</strong>!</p>
<p>I went to court the other day and overhead a tenacious injury lawyer presenting a case for his client. I didn&#8217;t care for the details, but when he started going into the medical and technical terms associated with Taser related injuries his client sustained I nearly wanted to hit him upside the head with, umm&#8230; a book!</p>
<p>I&#8217;ve had enough with all the TV shows, newspapers, and even educated newscasters feeding the American public with misleading information. Sensationalized headlines and articles are flooding the human mind to the point where we collectively become dumber and dumber by the minute.</p>
<p>If you picked up a newspaper, read an article on the Web, or watched TV in the last year, you probably heard of Tasers and their 50,000 volt strike. However, behind the smoke screen, there lies another number, and it&#8217;s closer to 5,000.</p>
<p>It seems the media doesn&#8217;t like to inform the public about all the pertinent facts &#8211; what a shocker. It&#8217;s not feasible to explain that a Taser&#8217;s power output is 50,000 volts (estimated) and penetrates the human skin <strong>releasing approximately 5,000 volts into the body</strong>. The real shock is 90% less, but no, the media likes to feed us the higher number, and we buy it. In all likelihood, 50,000 volts would kill the healthiest man or cause permanent brain damage in majority of survivors. So please, before you open your mouth and start up an interesting conversation, or a legal proceeding, get the facts straight.</p>
<p><em>F.Y.I. &#8211; Taser is actually the name of the company that manufactures stun guns. This device is widely used in the law enforcement community, especially by police officers. It is meant to protect the lives of law enforcement officers as well as those on the receiving end &#8211; mainly used as an alternative to lethal force. As with any weapon, injuries do occur, but are mainly caused by the fall to the ground (due to incapacitation). Deaths do occur, but are very rare.<br />
</em></p>
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		<title>Michigan State University (MSU) &#8211; Master of Criminal Justice</title>
		<link>http://criminaljusticeonlineblog.com/archives/michigan-state-university-msu-master-of-criminal-justice/</link>
		<comments>http://criminaljusticeonlineblog.com/archives/michigan-state-university-msu-master-of-criminal-justice/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 11 Feb 2009 22:05:45 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Radek M. Gadek</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Courses]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Degrees]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Masters]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[My Top Picks]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Universities & Colleges]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://criminaljusticeonlineblog.com/?p=1259</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[
Michigan State University is one of the best places in U.S. to study Criminal Justice and other Criminology programs. MSU initiated its online Masters in Criminal Justice program back in 1998, making it the first degree program on the Internet from Michigan State. Quite frankly, it is one of the first prestigious programs on the [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><p><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-1700" style="border: 0pt none;" title="Criminal Justice Online - Highly Respected, Regionally Accredited, &amp; Asynchronous" src="http://criminaljusticeonlineblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/cj-acc-highly-resp-async-online-trad.gif" alt="Criminal Justice Online - Respected, Regionally Accredited, &amp; Asynchronous" width="205" height="106" /></p>
<p>Michigan State University is one of the best places in U.S. to study Criminal Justice and other Criminology programs. MSU initiated its online Masters in Criminal Justice program back in 1998, making it the first degree program on the Internet from Michigan State. Quite frankly, it is one of the first prestigious programs on the Net.</p>
<p>Michigan State University is offering the following <strong>Master level Criminal Justice courses:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li> CJ 433 Law Enforcement Intelligence Operations</li>
<li>CJ 439 Homeland Security</li>
<li>CJ 801 Crime Causation, Prevention and Control</li>
<li>CJ 809 Issues in Criminal Justice</li>
<li>CJ 810 Proseminar in Criminal Justice</li>
<li>CJ 811 Design and Analysis in Criminal Justice Research</li>
<li>CJ 812 Criminal Justice Management Seminar</li>
<li>CJ 822 Comparative Criminal Justice</li>
<li>CJ 823 Globalization of Crime</li>
<li>CJ 837 Counterterrorism and Intelligence</li>
<li>CJ 838 Terrorism</li>
<li>CJ 839 Analytical Thinking and Intelligence</li>
<li>CJ 885 Security Management</li>
<li>CJ 886 Security Administration</li>
<li>CJ 887 Quantitative Methods in Criminal Justice Research</li>
<li>CJ 890 Independent Study</li>
<li>CJ 894 Practicum</li>
<li>CJ 896 Policy Analysis Under Conditions of Change</li>
</ul>
<p><em>* Courses may change from time to time.</em></p>
<p>The Criminal Justice program at MSU may take you <strong>2 to 3 years to complete</strong>. Michigan State University is highly respected in the law enforcement field, the academia, and has an enormous presence in the media.</p>
<p>MSU was one of the schools I considered attending to complete my graduate degree. I applied to only three schools: Michigan State University, <a href="http://criminaljusticeonlineblog.com/archives/boston-university-masters-in-criminal-justice-online/"title="Boston University - Master of Criminal Justice" >Boston University</a>, &amp; <a href="http://criminaljusticeonlineblog.com/archives/university-of-cincinnati-12-month-masters-in-criminal-justice/"title="University of Cincinnati - Master of Criminal Justice" >University of Cincinnati</a>. I was accepted to all of them, amidst the high level of competition and limited space. I researched all of them and conclusively found that <strong>MSU is one of the best schools worldwide</strong> which you can consider for your graduate studies, including a <a href="http://criminaljusticeonlineblog.com/archives/best-phd-doctorate-criminal-justice-schools-programs/"title="PhD in Criminal Justice" >PhD</a>.</p>
<p>For more information on this online program visit <a href="http://criminaljustice.msu.edu/academic/internet.php" rel="nofollow"  target="_blank">MSU website</a>.</p>
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		<title>University of Wollongong &#8211; Transnational Crime Prevention</title>
		<link>http://criminaljusticeonlineblog.com/archives/university-of-wollongong-transnational-crime-prevention/</link>
		<comments>http://criminaljusticeonlineblog.com/archives/university-of-wollongong-transnational-crime-prevention/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 09 Feb 2009 17:24:47 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Radek M. Gadek</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Certificate Programs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Courses]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Degrees]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[My Top Picks]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Universities & Colleges]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://criminaljusticeonlineblog.com/?p=1250</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[You probably won&#8217;t believe me, but I am considering taking on my PhD in Australia. Since I am really passionate about organized crime like terrorism, identity theft, and trafficking of humans and drugs, I found one of the best schools in the world to delve into my interests.
University of Wollongong Centre for Transnational Crime Prevention [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><p>You probably won&#8217;t believe me, but I am considering taking on my <strong>PhD in Australia.</strong> Since I am really passionate about organized crime like terrorism, identity theft, and trafficking of humans and drugs, I found one of the best schools in the world to delve into my interests.</p>
<p><strong>University of Wollongong Centre for Transnational Crime Prevention</strong> is offering graduate level courses and degrees. This university is ranked among top 200 colleges &amp; universities in the world, and for me, it offers a very specialized degree option; one that is not easily found in United States.</p>
<p><strong>Masters Degree</strong> (48 credit points)</p>
<ul>
<li>Full-time 1 year</li>
<li>Part-time 2 years</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Graduate Certificate</strong> (24 credit points)</p>
<ul>
<li>Full-time 6 months</li>
<li>Part-time 1 year</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Subjects Include:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Studies in International Criminal Law (Compulsory)</li>
<li>Issues in Comparative Criminal Justice (Compulsory)</li>
<li>International Cooperation and Transnational Crime</li>
<li>Security Intelligence and policy</li>
<li>Transnational Financial Transaction Crime</li>
<li>Terrorism and Counter Terrorism</li>
<li>International Corporate Crime</li>
<li>Cyber Crime</li>
<li>Issues in Transnational Organised Crime</li>
<li>Financial Investigations</li>
<li>Major Research Project</li>
<li>Minor Research Project</li>
</ul>
<p>The graduate degree I would like to pursue is research based and is offered as a PhD at the University of Wollongong. A Master level research option is also available.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">** the information above is taken from <a href="http://ctcp.uow.edu.au/" rel="nofollow"  target="_blank">University of Wollongong &#8211; Centre for Transnational Crime Prevention</a> Website **</p>
<p><strong>A little bit more about the University of Wollongong</strong></p>
<p>Another reason I would love to spend the next three years at this Australian university is its location. Look at the map below. Yes, it&#8217;s less than a mile away from the pristine shores of the South Pacific Ocean and the Tasman Sea. On top of that it&#8217;s about 2 hours drive from Sydney, Australia.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">
<iframe width="425" height="350" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="http://maps.google.com/maps?q=university+of+wollongong+australia&amp;oe=utf-8&amp;client=firefox-a&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;hl=en&amp;t=h&amp;source=embed&amp;s=AARTsJpOGVRcPSroje_aq8DzqGXD6Z1nNQ&amp;ll=-34.398482,150.888634&amp;spn=0.024787,0.036478&amp;z=14&amp;iwloc=addr&amp;output=embed"></iframe><br /><small><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?q=university+of+wollongong+australia&amp;oe=utf-8&amp;client=firefox-a&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;hl=en&amp;t=h&amp;source=embed&amp;ll=-34.398482,150.888634&amp;spn=0.024787,0.036478&amp;z=14&amp;iwloc=addr" rel="nofollow"  style="color:#0000FF;text-align:left">View Larger Map</a></small></p>
<p>Let me know what you think. Thanks.</p>
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		<title>How Long Does it Take to Get a Law Degree?</title>
		<link>http://criminaljusticeonlineblog.com/archives/how-long-does-it-take-to-get-a-law-degree/</link>
		<comments>http://criminaljusticeonlineblog.com/archives/how-long-does-it-take-to-get-a-law-degree/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 28 Jan 2009 08:22:35 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Radek M. Gadek</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Academic Application Process]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[My Top Picks]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Resources]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://criminaljusticeonlineblog.com/?p=1038</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[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 [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><p>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.</p>
<h3>Bachelor what?</h3>
<p>First things first, you must obtain a bachelor degree. Granted this is a criminal justice blog, <a href="http://criminaljusticeonlineblog.com/archives/should-i-major-in-criminal-justice-before-law-school/"title="Bachelor in Criminal Justice before Law School?" >the bachelor degree program doesn&#8217;t have to be in criminal justice</a>. 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 <a href="http://criminaljusticeonlineblog.com/archives/how-long-does-it-take-to-get-a-degree-in-criminal-justice/"title="How long does it take to complete a degree? Criminal Justice and others." >how long does it take to complete a degree</a> (it applies to all degree types &#8211; not only Criminal Justice, Homeland Security, Political Science, or Public Safety degrees).</p>
<p>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.</p>
<h3>Now onto Law School</h3>
<p>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&#8217;t believe me? You will!</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>So a law school degree can take anywhere from 5 and 1/2 years to 7 years &#8211; 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.</p>
<h3>Some Useful Advice&#8230; You&#8217;ll need it!</h3>
<p>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.</p>
<p>Here are some points you should take to heart before you go to Law School:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>High GPA</strong> in your undergraduate studies &#8211; try to keep it 3.5 or above if you want to compete for a place in the best Law Schools in the country &lt;&#8211; critical!</li>
<li><strong>Make relationships</strong> with your professors while taking your undergrad classes. You&#8217;ll need them when the time comes for letters of recommendation &lt;&#8211;critical!</li>
<li>Try, if you can, to participate in <strong>extracurricular activities</strong>, like: sports teams or academic groups while earning your BA or BS degree. This will look good on your resume.</li>
<li><strong>Study for the LSAT</strong>, 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 &lt;&#8211; critical!</li>
<li><strong>Write an original personal statement</strong>; one that is based on your core values and is written with an eloquent tongue. &lt;&#8211; critical!</li>
<li>Don&#8217;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&#8217;t waste your time and money!</li>
</ul>
<p>If you have seen this: <em><strong>&lt;&#8211; critical!</strong></em>&#8230; 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!!</p>
<p>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!</p>
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		<title>Best PhD &amp; Doctorate Criminal Justice Schools &amp; Programs</title>
		<link>http://criminaljusticeonlineblog.com/archives/best-phd-doctorate-criminal-justice-schools-programs/</link>
		<comments>http://criminaljusticeonlineblog.com/archives/best-phd-doctorate-criminal-justice-schools-programs/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 18 Jan 2009 01:00:06 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Radek M. Gadek</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Degrees]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Doctorate]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[My Top Picks]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Universities & Colleges]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://criminaljusticeonlineblog.com/?p=791</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[If you are looking for the best PhD &#38; Doctorate Criminal Justice Schools and Programs then the Criminal Justice Online Blog is the best place to find them. Doctoral degrees in Criminal Justice &#38; Criminology are available both online and off.
Even though I tend to focus on online programs, I strongly feel that a proper [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><p>If you are looking for the best PhD &amp; Doctorate Criminal Justice Schools and Programs then the Criminal Justice Online Blog is the best place to find them. Doctoral degrees in Criminal Justice &amp; Criminology are available both online and off.</p>
<p>Even though I tend to focus on online programs, I strongly feel that a proper PhD / doctorate education is in order for the aspiring Law Enforcement administrators and academicians. To me, it&#8217;s just a matter of perspective.</p>
<h3>Top PhD &amp; Doctorate Criminal Justice / Criminology Schools for 2009</h3>
<p>1. University of Maryland &#8211; (College Park): <em>College Park, MD</em></p>
<p>2. SUNY &#8211; (Albany): <em>Albany, NY</em></p>
<p>3. University of Cincinnati: <em>Cincinnati, OH</em></p>
<p>4. Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey &#8211; (Newark): <em>Newark, NJ</em></p>
<p>4. University of California &#8211; (Irvine): <em>Irvine, CA</em></p>
<p>4. University of Missouri &#8211; (St. Louis): <em>St. Louis, MO</em></p>
<p>7. Michigan State University: <em>East Lansing, MI</em></p>
<p>7. Pennsylvania State University &#8211; (University Park): <em>PA</em></p>
<p>9. University of Nebraska &#8211; (Omaha): <em>Omaha, NE</em></p>
<p>9. University of Pennsylvania: <em>Philadelphia, PA</em></p>
<p>11. CUNY, John Jay College: <em>New York, NY</em></p>
<p>11. Florida State University: <em>Tallahassee, FL</em></p>
<p>11. University of Florida: <em>Gainesville, FL</em></p>
<p>14. Northeastern University: <em>Boston, MA</em></p>
<p>14. University of Delaware: <em>Newark, DE</em></p>
<p>16. American University: <em>DC</em></p>
<p>16. Arizona State University: <em>AZ</em></p>
<p>18. Temple University: <em>Philadelphia, PA</em></p>
<p>18. Washington State University: <em>WA</em></p>
<p>20. Indiana University: <em>Bloomington, IN</em></p>
<p>20. University of Illinois &#8211; (Chicago): <em>Chicago, IL</em></p>
<p>22. Sam Houston State University: <em>Huntsville, TX</em></p>
<p>These ratings are not arbitrary, but rather compiled by <a href="http://www.usnews.com"title="U.S. News College &amp; University Rankings" rel="nofollow"  target="_blank">U.S. News &amp; World Reports</a>. U.S. News is a very popular and trusted resource  for students and parents looking for the best colleges &amp; universities in the country and the world. You&#8217;ll often see their magazine on store shelves. It is filled with ratings, statistics, and other useful info, however it doesn&#8217;t get published often. I highly recommend picking it up next time you see it, or even better, you can see the ratings for yourself, online &#8211; <em>there may be a nominal fee for this service.</em></p>
<h3>Top Online PhD / Doctorate Criminal Justice Schools for 2009</h3>
<p>At present, the online doctorate level education in Criminology and related fields is not up to my standards <em>(read : <a href="http://criminaljusticeonlineblog.com/archives/online-phd-in-criminal-justice/"title="Online PhD in Criminal Justice" >Online PhD in Criminal Justice</a> &#8211; it&#8217;ll explain a lot)</em>. Therefore you don&#8217;t see me endorsing too many universities and colleges of that kind. But, here is only one which I approve.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://criminaljusticeonlineblog.com/hop/dcjo-capella-university"title="Doctorate Degree in Criminal Justice from Capella University - Online" rel="nofollow"  target="_blank"><img class="size-full wp-image-507 aligncenter" style="border: 0pt none;" title="Doctorate Degree in Criminal Justice from Capella University - Online" src="http://criminaljusticeonlineblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/capella.gif" alt="" width="150" height="50" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: left;">The above link will take you to a place where you can get more info. But in short, Capella University is one of the premier online  higher learning institutions and serves up regionally accredited programs. Their PhD level programs in Criminal Justice are highly regarded, but focus more on administration:</p>
<ul>
<li>Public Safety &#8211; Criminal Justice</li>
<li>Public Safety &#8211; Emergency Management</li>
<li>Public Safety &#8211; Leadership</li>
</ul>
<p>In the end I am looking for a Doctoral program which will serve me well in my profession and in the academic field. Thus, it is my recommendation that you consider the traditional PhD schools, before you venture out online.</p>
<p>The only exception to this would be a national or private college / university offering an online Criminal Justice / Criminology program. Schools like University of Maryland, Rutgers, SUNY, University of Cincinnati, Michigan State University, and an ivy league favorite, University of Pennsylvania, would be just outstanding for my online doctorate needs. For now, we&#8217;ll  just have to wait.</p>
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