If you love watching shows like NCIS or Blue Bloods and think to yourself, “I could totally take down the bad guys here,” you just might have an interest in (or aptitude for) the field of criminal justice. The good news is, criminal justice careers are not far from your reach. A criminal justice associate degree can prepare you for a variety of exciting careers in law enforcement, corrections, investigation, and security.

Students of the field learn about the American criminal justice system, crime scene investigation techniques, and practical knowledge for working within the U.S. court system. But if you’re wondering what to specifically expect from a criminal justice associate degree, keep on reading to learn more.

Anyone interested in this popular and growing field must have the right training from the right criminal justice school. Typically, this training can be completed in two years’ time or less, and will qualify you for an array of opportunities in the field.

At Goodwin College, for example, the criminal justice associate degree offers students the opportunity to experience and learn about all aspects of the criminal justice system. Our professors are also law enforcement professionals who pass on their own experience and knowledge to each student. Classes are taught by police commanders, detectives, state troopers, military veterans, attorneys, and more industry experts. Their real-world expertise can give you great insight into the realities of the Criminal Justice world – insight that no textbook can offer.

Deciding to pursue a criminal justice associate degree is just the first step into your exciting career in the competitive field of criminal justice. The need for police officers and detectives, for example, is expected to grow in the coming years. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment for these positions will grow seven percent from 2016 to 2026, which is about as fast as the overall rate for all occupations.

What Else You’ll Learn in an Associate Criminal Justice Program

Students enrolled in the associate criminal justice program at Goodwin College develop the critical thinking skills necessary for modern law enforcement, security, emergency response, and investigative professions. Some of the courses in the curriculum include:

• Investigative Report Writing
• Ethical and Legal Issues
• Criminal Procedures
• Criminal Law
• Juvenile Justice in America

Criminal Justice Associate Degree Outcomes

After completing the criminal justice program at Goodwin College, graduates are able to:

• Explain the basic structure and functions of the American Criminal Justice System, including the juvenile justice system.
• Discuss the development of the corrections system in the United States, including the systems of probation, parole and community supervision.
• Identify the structure and function of the Federal and State court systems.
• Demonstrate knowledge of the development of criminal law and criminal procedure.
• Discuss the effects of a culturally diverse society on the development of the Criminal Justice System.
• Understand the ethical and legal issues of criminal justice professionals.
• Assess the basic issues and problems in policing, the courts, and corrections in America.
• Identify the major sociological theories that may explain criminal behavior and delinquency.

Careers Available

Once students earn their associate degree in criminal justice, some choose to go on to pursue at Bachelor’s degree. But a criminal justice associate degree alone can help you land a job as a police officer, private detective or investigator. With your associate criminal justice degree in hand, you’ll have a wide variety of job settings to choose from. Aside from the role of cop, you’ll be able to protect and serve with a career in the following roles:

• Corrections
• Customs and Border Protection
• Drug Enforcement Agency
• Federal Bureau of Prisons
• Immigration and Customs Enforcement
• Law Enforcement
• Private and Personal Security Agencies
• Transportation Security Administration

Flexibility of a Criminal Justice Degree

Unlike some other programs, Goodwin College’s criminal justice school is all about convenience and flexibility. We understand that you have a busy life to lead, with work and family obligations to consider. Our criminal justice classes are offered day or night, on-campus, in a standard 15-week format.

Get your career started today! Learn more about the Criminal Justice Associate Degree at Goodwin College online by visiting us here, or call 1-800-889-3282.