Law Enforcement and Policing Programs in Criminal Justice

There are 2 aspects to law enforcement and policing. Firstly, those interested in this field, focus on public safety with an intention to safeguard people and property. Secondly, they understand that their jobs can turn out to be dangerous and they need to be prepared to risk their lives in the process.

Despite that, these jobs are exciting and rewarding offering good career prospects. Consequently, demand is insatiable in this field. Therefore, interested individuals possessing formal education have an edge over others. This discipline is rigorous involving physical stamina and mental fortitude. Candidates are required to go through several tests [physical and psychological] to qualify themselves for such roles. Background verification checks are also in place. An example is criminal records verification. Unusual hours and long work hours are part and parcel of the job profile. Formal education is available through Associate and Bachelor degrees. Specialized degrees are also available based on field chosen.

Career outlook is bright in this field with faster than average growth of all occupations projected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Depending on qualifications, opportunities open up in Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), U.S. Marshals and Deputy Marshals, State Bureau of Diplomatic Security, Department of Homeland Security, Customs Inspectors /Border Patrol and U.S. Secret Service. Career options are also available as detectives, state and federal investigators, and homeland security experts though these may need specialized graduate degrees in respective fields. Salaries may range from $27,000 to $131,000 per year not including incentives and additional benefits. These roles provide stable and secure jobs with layoffs being rare.

ITT Technical Institute and American InterContinental University offer quality education. Walden University and Kaplan University drive their programs through customization and flexibility. Westwood College’s programs are focused on launching careers based on students’ desire.