| At first consideration, you might think a | | | | programs, they're finding more opportunities |
| security guard and an attorney don't have too | | | | and much bigger paychecks waiting for them. |
| much in common. But let's dig a little | | | | |
| deeper. There are some similarities in the | | | | Consider for a moment the New York City |
| type of occupation these individuals have | | | | Police Department. When evaluating new |
| chosen. | | | | applicants, their policy states, "Earning an |
| | | | associate's degree or bachelor's degree will |
| Of course, not all security guards are | | | | set you apart from other candidates." But |
| created, or paid, equal. While some guards | | | | it's not just the rookies. Their policy also |
| are content to walk the beat and pass the | | | | makes it clear that when considering officers |
| time, there's another group that take it to a | | | | for promotions, that again "...holding a |
| whole new level. These are the degreed | | | | degree will set an officer apart in the |
| security guards. These guards are the cream | | | | testing for promotional positions." |
| of the crop, so to speak. They also command a | | | | |
| higher paycheck. | | | | The job outlook for law enforcement |
| | | | professionals is outstanding. Crime remains a |
| And then you've got the lawyers. Once again, | | | | pressing concern as the government and state |
| not all are created equal. Some college | | | | try to find effective solutions. According to |
| graduates, with no better alternative, decide | | | | the U.S. Department of Labor, there will be a |
| law school is a suitable choice. Meanwhile | | | | 29% rise in demand by the year 2010 for |
| there's another group of students who already | | | | police officers, FBI agents, detectives, and |
| hold a degree in criminal justice and are | | | | other related positions. The only possible |
| well equipped to advance their studies and | | | | remedy is to keep staffing trained |
| their careers. They're starting out with a | | | | individuals in both the private and public |
| clear advantage. | | | | sectors. It's a simple case of supply and |
| | | | demand. As our needs as a society increase so |
| Beyond that, what else do they have in | | | | does the pay rate of law enforcement |
| common? Increasingly, technology is meeting | | | | professionals. |
| law enforcement. This means that a number of | | | | |
| these professionals have obtained a criminal | | | | What's more, many employers will provide |
| justice degree online. Available degrees | | | | tuition assistance or even full reimbursement |
| range all the way from associate's to | | | | for a criminal justice degree online. And |
| Master's. Of course, the level of education a | | | | pursuing this dream won't take time away from |
| student chooses will have a direct impact on | | | | work or family. An online education allows |
| the aspect of the field in which they will | | | | students the convenience of learning when and |
| work. | | | | where they want. |
| | | | |
| It's not just the lawyers and security | | | | The bottom line is this: a criminal justice |
| guards. Police officers, court clerks, | | | | degree online makes the most sense for anyone |
| bailiffs, probation officers, paralegals, | | | | looking to make the world a better place. And |
| detectives, drug enforcement agents, juvenile | | | | that's whether they are already employed in |
| delinquency case managers and corrections | | | | the industry, and looking to climb up the |
| officers across the country have successfully | | | | ladder, or whether they are just setting out |
| obtained their criminal justice degrees | | | | to pursue a job in the field. |
| online. And once they have completed their | | | | |