Associate's - Criminal Justice

The field of criminal justice is vital to preserving order in society. Fighting back against criminals on multiple levels--from providing security in the governmental, private or non-profit sector, to carrying out administrative roles--criminal justice professionals are crucial to ensuring the law is observed.

If you're ready to take on dynamic work in a profession that gives back, Rasmussen College can prepare you through its associate's in criminal justice degree program--on campus or online.

The following concentrations are available from the Associate's in Criminal Justice:

Corrections

The corrections field is growing and an associate's degree from Rasmussen will give you the knowledge and skills you need to be successful in your future career. Your studies will have a strong focus on critical thinking, ethical understanding and reasoning, multicultural and diversity and awareness and communication skills. After graduating with a criminal justice associate's degree from Rasmussen College, you will know the history and development of the criminal justice system and its effect on society.

Crime Scene Evidence

A criminal justice associate's degree with a specialization in crime scene evidence will prepare you for a career, which will make you an expert once you enter the scene of a crime. You will be knowledgeable about the common practices used and where to go from there. In this specialization, you will study the science behind conducting a crime scene investigation along with how your applied knowledge and skills will put criminals in behind bars.

Homeland Security

The need for homeland security specialists is growing, and an associate's degree from Rasmussen will give you the knowledge and skills you need to be successful in your future career. If you are interested in emergency services or risk analysis of communities, then a Homeland Security specialization is right for you. An associate's degree in criminal justice will prepare you for a successful future in the justice field.

Law Enforcement

If you are ready to get started in the field of law enforcement, an associate's degree in criminal justice will get you ready to serve your country and community. In this specialization, you will study investigation techniques and how to efficiently work with other officers and co-workers.

Psychology

One way to help prevent crime is to understand why crimes are committed. You will delve into courses that teach you about the psychological reasoning behind premeditated acts. Your understanding of psychology and how it relates to criminal justice will help prepare you for a career where you can change the lives of many people.

Your courses will prepare you to better understand criminal and deviant psychology. Criminal minds can be complicated and your degree will help you understand what drives these individuals to commit crimes. Your courses online or on campus will be led by instructors with vast knowledge of the subject matter and real world experiences.

A specialization in Psychology will help you focus on the internal factors of why crimes are committed. Your study of psychology as it relates to criminal justice will allow you to look at the justice system from a different perspective. Your ability to apply what you learned will help you understand the criminal thought process.

Associate's - Human Services

The Human Services Associate's degree will prepare you for a career where you help people in need. The Human Services program is perfect for someone who finds joy in helping others and seeing their work directly benefit those around them.

You will learn how to provide services to individuals or groups of people with diverse problems and help them overcome their obstacles.

A degree in Human Services will provide you with the knowledge and skills you need to make an impact in your community. After earning a Human Services Associate's degree, you will be equipped to work in many different areas as a Community Service Specialist, Social Service Assistant, Eligibility Specialist, Rehabilitation Counselor, or Social Service Specialist. Graduates of the Human Services program have the opportunity to work in many different environments.

As of 2006, there were 338,700 Social and Human Service Assistants in the field and that number is expected to grow to 452,600 by 2016. There is a need for Social and Human Service Assistants and with an Associate's degree in Human Services, you will be ready to work with people and help them during their time of need.

Associate's - Paralegal

An accredited paralegal associate's degree from Rasmussen College will prepare you for a successful and fast-paced career in the field of law. Paralegals, also called legal assistants, continue to assume a growing range of tasks in the Nation's legal offices and perform many of the same tasks as lawyers.

Paralegals are focused and detail-oriented, have the ability to communicate information and ideas clearly, enjoy substantial research, and possess an ability to deal with people in stressful environments. The paralegal curriculum at Rasmussen College has been designed to instill you with the skills, knowledge and strategies you need to attain a position, stand out and excel in your new career as a paralegal.

Bachelor's - Criminal Justice (Online)

Criminal justice is a rapidly growing field, and the career options are widely varied. A criminal justice bachelor's degree from Rasmussen College can help you establish yourself as a leader in this critical industry. This advanced degree prepares you for many rewarding career options in crime management.

As a student in the criminal justice bachelor degree program, you will study criminal behavior, criminal law, cultural diversity and justice, criminal justice leadership, crime prevention and will participate in two fieldwork courses to gain real-world experience in criminal justice.

If you are currently working in the crime management industry, our criminal justice bachelor's degree will help you further your education and increase your potential for promotions, pay raises, and increased responsibility in the workplace.

The following concentrations are available from the Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice:

Client Services/Corrections (Online)

The Client Services/Corrections emphasis is designed for anyone who is interested in working as a probation, parole or corrections officer, or seeks to fulfill administrative roles at detention centers.

Mandatory sentencing guidelines calling for reduced parole and longer sentences for inmates have resulted in large, steady growth in the prison population, and in many states, there is more emphasis on rehabilitation and alternate forms of punishment, such as probation, increasing demand for additional probation and corrections officers.

Criminal Offenders (Online)

The Criminal Offenders emphasis of our accredited Bachelor of Science Criminal Justice degree focuses on forensic psychology and criminal behavior as it relates to law and the legal system, such as in analyzing a criminal's mind and intent, consulting with attorneys (e.g., on picking a jury), and treating offenders who are mentally ill.

Homeland Security (Online)

Prepare for a career in Homeland Security--a dynamic, diverse and pivotal field. The work required to protect the nation is constantly changing, just like security threats themselves. We offer a focused, real-world curriculum that will ready you for the front lines of protecting our nation and its people.

In the air, on land and at sea--Homeland Security work is available everywhere. There are jobs in every state of the nation, from immigration and customs enforcement to border protection; from emergency management to cyber security professionals.

Investigation/Law Enforcement (Online)

If you're interested in a meaningful career as an investigator or law enforcement professional, we can help you prepare. Current crime management employees or law enforcement officers, who are interested in furthering their education, should consider the Investigation/Law Enforcement emphasis of our Criminal Justice Bachelor's Degree. Continued training helps police officers, detectives and special agents improve job performance and advance in their careers.

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