| Before you enter a college or university to get | | | | 5. Find out about for-profit institutions such as ITT |
| your online criminal justice degree there are | | | | Tech: |
| certain things that you should know. These are: | | | | For-profit institutions such as ITT Tech market |
| 1. Find out the difference between different levels | | | | their programs very aggressively. While such |
| of online degrees: | | | | institutions may have a lot of good things going |
| You can get online associate level degrees, | | | | for them there are many bad points that these |
| bachelor level degrees, master level degrees and | | | | institutions do not care to advertise. Please |
| even PhDs. Depending on your existing level of | | | | research thoroughly all aspects before entering |
| educational achievement you have to make an | | | | for-profit institutions such as ITT Tech. |
| appropriate choice as to what level of online | | | | 6. Find out about for-profit universities such as the |
| degree you can go for or are eligible to get. | | | | University of Phoenix: |
| 2. Find out the difference between different types | | | | The University of Phoenix is the unchallenged |
| of online degrees: | | | | market leader in the for-profit education services |
| Online criminal justice degrees are available in | | | | industry. It is also the largest and the oldest |
| many different majors or specialisations. | | | | university offering online degrees. It is also a very |
| Depending on your own inclinations and research | | | | aggressive advertiser. Though it is a pioneer in |
| about various career options you have to decide | | | | online education and can boast of many |
| which type of online degree will be just right for | | | | innovations in the field of online education, not |
| you - which major, program or degree you should | | | | everything may be right about the University of |
| opt for. So find out about all the options available | | | | Phoenix. Thoroughly check all the facts that they |
| to you when it comes to online degrees in criminal | | | | do not care to advertise and then make your |
| justice. | | | | choice - don't just go by advertising or past |
| 3. Find out which online university or college is best | | | | reputation. |
| for you: | | | | 7. Find out the basics of an online criminal justice |
| There are hundreds of colleges and universities | | | | degree: |
| offering online degrees. But not all of them are | | | | Find out about various careers, majors and |
| equally good. Some are good, some are | | | | specialisations. Find out about course curriculum, |
| not-so-good and some are outright bad. Look at | | | | misconceptions about online degrees and all else |
| costs, time factor, course content, faculty, | | | | that you need to know before going for an online |
| accreditation and transferability of credits, and all | | | | criminal justice degree. |
| other possible factors that can impact your | | | | 8. Find out about careers and salaries: |
| decision about which college or university is best | | | | An online degree can open up many different |
| for you. It is not easy to compare different | | | | types of careers. Find out which type of degrees |
| colleges and universities and there are many | | | | will open up which type of careers as well as the |
| dangers. Hence, the more thorough your research | | | | possible or average salaries associated with each |
| the better will be your choice. | | | | of these types of careers before deciding on any |
| 4. Find out all you need to know about | | | | particular online degree in criminal justice. |
| accreditation: | | | | 9. Find out what all you will need to get an online |
| Almost all online colleges and universities offering | | | | criminal justice degree: |
| online degrees boast of some accreditation or the | | | | Find out what materials you will need, what kind |
| other. But all accreditations are not the same. | | | | of pre-requisites you must have, how difficult the |
| Accreditations by any of the eight regional | | | | program will be, what kind of syllabus you will |
| accrediting bodies funded by the US Department | | | | face and so on before deciding on any particular |
| of Education and authorised by the department to | | | | online criminal justice program. |
| grant accreditations, are the most valuable and | | | | 10. Find out what online criminal justice courses |
| absolutely risk-free. Accreditations from other | | | | are like: |
| bodies are risky. Two states - Michigan and | | | | Find out the various differences and similarities |
| Oregon - have also put out negative lists as to | | | | between online and traditional courses. What kind |
| which colleges and universities are not recognised | | | | of time will be required, what credentials will be |
| or rather degrees from such colleges and | | | | required, what kind of homework will be required, |
| universities are not recognised. The Michigan list | | | | what kind of classroom environment or teaching |
| also contains a list of accreditation bodies that are | | | | and learning environment you will have and so on |
| not recognised. Make it a point to find out | | | | before deciding on any particular online criminal |
| whether the college or university you are thinking | | | | justice program. |
| of entering is not in any of these two lists | | | | Jim Greenberg recommends you visit the Online |
| because then the degree that you earn will be | | | | Criminal Justice Degree Guide for more |
| worthless. In short, avoid colleges and universities | | | | information on enrolling in an online criminal justice |
| known as diploma mills. | | | | college. |