For students interested in the file of firefighting and fire protection services, an education beyond a high school diploma can be valuable. Many schools today give students the opportunity to earn a bachelors in fire science online. Through these programs, online students can deepen their knowledge of firefighter safety and prepare for a variety of careers within and outside the fire department.

Prospective students are sure to find some excellent programs to consider on our list of the best online fire science degree options in the nation.

What Is a Fire Science Degree?

The most common title for programs of study that pertain to firefighting and fire protection services is fire science. In a fire science degree program, students may take coursework in everything from fire dynamics and fire hazards in building construction leadership skills for managing fire service organizations.

Studies in fire science and fire prevention may also make up part of the curriculum in degree programs in emergency management, fire protection and fire safety engineering.

Most institutions that offer a fire science degree, a degree in emergency management or other fire-related programs of study cover a comprehensive curriculum that includes coursework in areas like the following:

• An overview of fire and emergency services
• Firefighting
• Fire prevention and protection techniques
• Fire inspection

RELATED: What Classes will I take in a Fire Science Bachelor’s Degree ?           

The focus of a degree in fire science doesn’t always revolve entirely around understanding fire behavior and ways to protect people and property from fire. Many fire science programs at the bachelor’s degree level provide graduates with more general skills needed in the emergency services workforces, including financial management and fiscal responsibility, human resource management and technology. In general, fire science degree programs prepare students to enter the public service and public safety workforce after graduation.

The Best Bachelor’s in Fire Science Degrees Online

There’s no question that having an associate or bachelor’s degree in a field like fire science can give your career in fire services a boost. Whether you want to rise through the ranks of your local fire department or get a job with a more emergency management organization like the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), your education will be an asset. For many prospective students, the question isn’t whether they should pursue a degree in fire science but rather where they should go for their education.

What do the best colleges for fire science have that set them apart from the rest? For one thing, they are recognized and highly respected schools in other fields as well as fire science. Often, this includes having a long history of academic excellence, an engaged student body, strong institutional rankings and regional institutional accreditation.

At the best schools for fire science, the online fire science curriculum strikes a balance between breadth and depth, equipping students with the knowledge and technical skills they will need for life after graduation. Ideally, the program should earn either Fire and Emergency Services Higher Education (FESHE) Recognition or accreditation from the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC).

Read on to learn more about the top 10 fire science degree programs online.

1. University of Florida

Leading our list of the best fire science colleges is the University of Florida. This public university in Gainesville, Florida, is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

Why Study Fire Science at the University of Florida

The University of Florida boasts an enrollment of more than 55,000 students as of Fall 2021, including more than 5,000 online students. The school is one of the largest single-campus universities in the United States. The campus consists of 2,000 acres and is home to upwards of 900 buildings. Approximately 180 research centers and institutes are part of the college, as are 16 individual academic colleges.

U.S. News & World Report has recognized the University of Florida on its lists of national universities, top public schools, best value schools, most innovative schools and best colleges for veterans.

The University of Florida offers more than 300 degree programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels. More than 200 programs are available online, including both bachelor’s degree and master’s degree programs in fire and emergency services

Coursework in the University of Florida’s Fire & Emergency Services Program

In the Bachelor of Science in Fire and Emergency Services, students develop skills for a variety of careers in emergency services. This degree program is offered through the Rinker School of Construction Management, part of the College of Design, Construction and Planning.

Required coursework for this degree includes studies in the following areas:

• Principles of fire and emergency services management
• Strategic planning for fire and emergency services
• Fire and emergency services financial management
• Disaster planning and control
• Communication and informational technology
• Fire and emergency services public relations
• Fire and emergency services ethical practices and leadership

The program offers a Fire Specialization, along with an Emergency Management Specialization and Emergency Medical Services Management Specialization, that allows students to focus their coursework. Core coursework for students pursuing the Fire Management Specialization includes:

• Political and legal foundations of fire protection
• Fire and emergency services administration
• Management of fire prevention programs
• Community risk reduction for emergency services
• Command and control at catastrophic fire-rescue incidents
• Fire and emergency services human resource management
• Applications of fire research

The bachelor’s degree in fire science program is open to both new students and transfer students.

The Master of Fire and Emergency Sciences program is a 33-credit graduate program that encompasses 11 courses. This non-thesis program covers courses in areas like the following:

• Fire suppression systems
• Disaster mitigation
• Emergency planning
• Technological innovations for fire and emergency management
• Homeland security

RELATED: What Are My Master’s Degree Choices in Fire Science?         

The online fire science programs at the University of Florida are accredited by the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC).

View program details.

2. Fayetteville State University

Another of the top online fire science degree programs is offered out of Fayetteville State University in North Carolina. This Historically Black university was founded in 1867, making it the second-oldest state-supported institution in North Carolina. The public institution is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

Why Study Fire Science at Fayetteville State University

U.S. News & World Report has included Fayetteville State University on its college rankings lists of top public schools, regional universities int he South, Historically Black colleges and universities and top performers on social mobility.

Today, the student body at Fayetteville State University numbers 6,500 students. Fayetteville State University is best known for its programs in teaching and nursing, but the school offers more than 60 total bachelor’s and master’s degrees out of four colleges:

• College of Education
• College of Humanities and Social Sciences
• Broadwell College of Business and Economics
• Lloyd College of Health, Science, and Technology 

The school also offers a number of online degree completion programs, including the Bachelor of Science in Fire and Emergency Services Administration program.

Coursework in Fayetteville State University’s Fire and Emergency Services Administration Program

The online Bachelor of Science in Fire and Emergency Services Administration degree at Fayetteville State University is a FESHE-Recognized program. The curriculum, which is offered through the Broadwell College of Business and Economics, includes coursework in the following areas:

• Fire prevention organization and management
• Community risk reduction for fire and emergency services
• Fire service organizational dynamics
• Fire service personnel administration
• Fire-related human behavior
• Managerial Issues in an all hazards environment
• Fire dynamics
• Fire investigations
• Political and legal foundations of fire protection
• Applications of fire research
• Advanced fire administration
• Applied fire service ethics

Fayetteville State University’s fire science bachelor’s degree is intended for students who have an associate’s degree and/or fire service work experience.

View program details.

3. New Jersey City University

Another school where students will find a top-notch fire science bachelors degree online is New Jersey City University. This public institution located in Jersey City was founded in 1927.

Why Study Fire Science at New Jersey City University

U.S. News & World Report has included New Jersey City University on its rankings lists of top public schools, regional universities in the North and top performers on social mobility.

Although New Jersey City University was originally established as a teaching school, the institution now encompasses four colleges and schools:

• The Deborah Cannon Partridge Wolfe College of Education
• The William J. Maxwell College of Arts & Sciences
• The NJCU School of Business
• The College of Professional Studies

Close to 8,0000 students attend New Jersey City University. The school now offers more than 47 programs for undergraduates and 30 programs for graduate students. Additionally, its online offerings include nearly two dozen bachelor’s degree, master’s degree and certificate programs. The most popular and largest programs at New Jersey City University include music, nursing, psychology and early childhood education. For students who are interested in fire and emergency services, though, the most noteworthy program of study is the online Bachelor of Science degree in Fire Science

Coursework in New Jersey City University’s Fire Science Program

The Fire Science Department at New Jersey City University and its programs are accredited by the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC). Coursework in the Bachelor of Science in Fires Science program includes studies in subjects like the following:

• Introduction to fire science
• Problems in fire engineering
• Introduction to ladder company operations
• Introduction to engine company operations
• Fire officer company management
• Emergency personnel fitness
• Fire prevention & related codes
• Fire detection & suppression systems
• Fire department organization & administration
• Firefighting strategies
• Firefighting tactics 
• Hydraulic technology
• Fire investigation & arson
• General fire insurance
• Building construction 
• Hazardous materials
• Transportation & industrial fire hazards

Through this program, students prepare for roles that range from firefighters to fire investigators, code enforcers and jobs in the fire protection systems industry.

View program details.

4. Columbia Southern University

Another of the best online fire science degree programs can be found at Columbia Southern University. This private, for-profit higher learning institution is an online college that is headquartered in Orange Beach, Alabama.

Why Study Fire Science at Columbia Southern University

At Columbia Southern University, online programs aren’t an afterthought. The was founded in 1993 for the purpose of educating adult learners through convenient and affordable online education. Over the school’s 30-year history, it has educationed upwards of 60,000 students and awarded more than 100,000 degrees. Today, Columbia Southern University employs 1,000 faculty and staff and educates nearly 16,000 students.

Columbia Southern University is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. The school is also a member of the American Council and Education and has historically been accredited by the Distance Education Accreditation Commission. To keep improving the quality of the online education it offers, Columbia Southern University is taking steps to implement Quality Matters (QM) standards into its programs.

With nearly 100 active online degree programs and more than 450 online courses available, online learners at Columbia Southern University have plenty of academic options. Programs of study include associate degrees, bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, doctorates and certificates. One of these programs is the Bachelor of Science in Fire Administration.

Coursework in Columbia Southern University’s Fire Administration Program

Columbia Southern University’s fire science bachelor’s degree is a 120-credit undergraduate program recognized by FESHE. Students in this program can acquire the expertise required to become firefighters. The program’s comprehensive curriculum covers fire protection and fire prevention strategies. The 36 semester hours of fire science major coursework includes studies in the following areas:

• Principles of fire and emergency services
• Principles of fire and emergency services safety and survival
• Introduction to fire prevention
• Fire behavior and combustion
• Fire prevention organization and management
• Fire protection structure and systems
• Community risk reduction for the fire and emergency services
• Fire and emergency services administration
• Fire service personnel management
• Political and legal foundations of fire protection
• Building construction for fire protection
• Applications in fire research

Students also devote 12 semester hours to program elective courses. Options for these courses include the following:

• Fire dynamics
• Human behavior in fire
• Fire protection and code enforcement
• Analytical approaches to public fire protection
• Fire protection hydraulics and water supply
• Fire ground tactics
• Management of incident command systems
• Terrorism incident management and emergency procedures
• Legal aspects of emergency services

Southern Columbia University also offers a Master of Science degree in Fire Executive Leadership. This program allows students to choose one of four concentration areas:

• Emergency Services Management.
• Occupational Safety and Health
• Public Administration
• Human Resource Management

This program emphasizes decision-making and managerial skills for working in the field of fire science and protection.

View program details.

5. University of Wisconsin Oshkosh

The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh also offers a great online fire science bachelor’s degree program. This public institution of higher learning dates back to 1871.

Why Study Fire Science at the Univesity of Wisconsin

At this school, the students – of which there are well over 12,000 – can choose from close to 200 programs of study. The degrees at the bachelor’s master’s and doctoral levels of study. The University of Wisconsin also offers more than 30 online programs of study.

U.S. News & World Report has ranked the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh on its lists of national universities, top public schools and top performers on social mobility.

The University of Wisconsin is best known for its programs of study in biology, nursing and elementary education. It also is home to an excellent fire science degree for online students.  

Coursework in the University of Wisconsin’s Fire and Emergency Response Management Program

The online program in fire science at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh is known as a Bachelor of Applied Studies degree. The major’s official title is Fire and Emergency Response Management, or FERM. The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh’s curriculum is both FESHE-recognized and accredited by the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress.

Core coursework for the program as a whole includes:

• Intro to public administration
• Intro to leadership
• Critical thinking and writing
• Fire & emergency services leadership
• Public personnel administration
• Services personnel
• Mentoring for emergency
• Budgeting for managers
• Conflict resolution for the emergency services
• Administrative law
• Government and economy
• Applied research in emergency management

Students who choose the Fire Service Management Emphasis take classes such as:

• Management of emergency services
• Fire prevention organization and management
• Community risk reduction for fire & emergency services
• Occupational safety and health in emergency services
• Intercultural communication

Learning outcomes of completing this program include the ability to apply theoretical leadership concepts to real-world fire services management, utilize systematic planning in emergency response management, understand the natural science behind fire response and approach fire and emergency practice from the diverse perspectives of fire.

View program details.

6. The University of North Carolina at Charlotte

The University of North Carolina at Charlotte is another school that offers a great fire science bachelor degree online. UNC Charlotte is a public university established in 1946.

Why Study Fire Science at the University of North Carolina

UNC Charlotte isn’t only the third largest university located in North Carolina. The school also bills itself as the fastest-growing college in the state. The total enrollment in Fall 2021 amounted to over 30,000, including more than 6,000 graduate students.

U.S. News & World Report has ranked the University of North Carolina at Charlotte on college rankings lists including national universities, best value schools, top public schools and best colleges for veterans.

The University of North Carolina at Charlotte encompasses seven academic colleges, plus a Graduate School and an Interdisciplinary Studies division. The academic colleges at UNC Charlotte include:

• Belk College of Business
• Cato College of Education
• College of Arts + Architecture
• College of Computing & Informatics
• College of Health & Human Services
• College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
• The William States Lee College of Engineering

All told, there are over 170 bachelor’s degree programs of study and more than 150 graduate programs at UNC Charlotte. The online division of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, UNC Charlotte Online, is where working professionals study through the School of Professional Studies. Students can choose from more than 50 online programs of study, including the Bachelor of Science in Fire & Safety Engineering Technology degree.

Coursework in UNC-Charlotte’s Fire Safety Engineering Technology Program

The University of North Carolina at Charlotte’s online undergraduate degree in fire services focuses on engineering technology, particularly as it pertains to fire safety. As such, this program is as well suited for students interested in roles like fire inspector, fire prevention officer, building code official and corporate safety specialist as it is for aspiring firefighters.

Coursework in the program includes the following areas of study:

• Fire dynamics
• Active fire protection
• Fire safety in the built environment
• Risk management
• Electronic circuits and devices
• Industrial hazards & electricity
• Industrial hygiene
• Environmental pollution control
• Advanced fire service administration
• Command and control of major disasters
• Engineering economics
• Research investigation
• Adult learning theory in safety
• Fire and safety capstone

This fully online program of study is a degree completion program. The 61-credit curriculum is designed to build upon an Associate of Applied Science degree in fire science, fire protection or a related program of study.

RELATED: What is the Difference in a Fire Science vs. Fire Protection Engineering Degree?

UNC Charlotte also offers an online professional development certificate program known as Fire & Rescue Management Institute. This program is intended for established fire and rescue personnel. The curriculum covers a variety of aspects of professional development, including leadership, communication, strategic planning and team building.

View program details.

7. Colorado State University, Fort Collins

Next on our list of the top online fire degrees is Colorado State University, Fort Collins.

Why Study Fire Science at Colorado State University

Colorado State University, Fort Collins is a public institution founded in 1870.  This Tier 1 Research institution is celebrated as one of the best research universities in the nation. Students and faculty at Colorado State University work hand-in-hand to explore infectious illnesses, innovations in environmental science, mysteries of atmospheric science, and breakthroughs in clean energy technologies. The school also reports an 85% job placement rate within six months of graduation.

U.S. News & World Report has ranked Colorado State University among the top public schools, best value schools, national universities and best colleges for veterans.

Colorado State University educates more than 33,400 students, and its faculty is growing to match. The school is home to eight colleges Students can choose from close to 300 academic programs. CSU Online, the college’s distance learning division, offers bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees and doctoral degrees in the following fields:

• Agricultural sciences
• Arts and music
• Busienss and communications
• Computer science and technology
• Education
• Engineering
• Government studies
• Health, biology and social sciences
• Natural resources management and tourism
• social work
• Student affairs
• Exploratory studies

 The Bachelor of Science in Fire and Emergency Services Administration at Colorado State University is part of the Natural Resources Management and Tourism area of study.

Coursework in Colorado State University’s Fire & Emergency Services Administration Program

Working professionals with prior college credits to transfer and a background in fire and emergency services can complete the bachelor’s program in fire and emergency administration at Colorado State University in as little as two years.

The core curriculum for this program consists of 37 credits of coursework in areas like the following:

• Fire emergency services administration
• Essentials of emergency management
• Fire service leadership
• Trends in fire science technology
• Structure influence on tactics and strategy
• Proposals/reports in fire service management
• Human resources for fire and emergency
• Fire and emergency services budgeting
• Legal considerations in fire and emergency

Students also complete elective coursework in areas such as:

• Industrial process and fire protection
• Fire protection through model building codes
• Emergency medical service management
• Indident command system s
• Prevention program management
• Policy and public administration
• Training management program

Students in the program learn to successfully apply the academic knowledge they gain to managerial and administrative roles in fire and emergency. In doing so, they not only develop the skills to improve their career in their current workplace settings but also prepare for future career advancement.

View program details.

8. The University of Nebraska at Omaha

Another institution to consider for a fire science degree is the University of Nebraska at Omaha. This school’s interesting history dates back to 1908. Although the University of Omaha was initially a private school, the college was made a public institution – which it remains today – in 1930.

Why Study Fire Science at the University of Nebraska at Omaha

More than 15,000 students are enrolled at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. To teach and serve these students, the school employs nearly 2,100 faculty and staff.

The University of Nebraska at Omaha has been recognized with the Carnegie Foundation’s Elective Classification for Community Engagement. The school is home to six colleges:

• College of Arts and Sciences
• College of Business Administration
• College of Communication, Fine Arts and Media
• College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences
• College of Information Science & Technology
• College of Public Affairs and Community Service

the school offers more than 60 online undergraduate degree, graduate degree and certificate programs. One such program is the Bachelor of Science in Emergency Management with a Concentration in Fire Service Management.

Coursework in the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s Emergency Management Program

The University of Nebraska at Omaha’s fire science online program is technically a degree in emergency management. Fire Service Management is one of more than a dozen areas of concentration students can pursue within this online program.

The core curriculum for the emergency management degree includes coursework in the following areas:

• Introduction to emergency management
• Introduction to public administration
• Emergency management strategies and communication
• Disaster response and recovery
• Preparedness/planning and risk mitigation
• Agency collaboration during disasters
• Political and legal foundations in emergency services
• Applied statistics and data processing in the public sector
• Internship in emergency management
• Capstone project in emergency management

Students in the Fire Service Management Concentration take the following classes:

• Fire prevention, organization, and management
• Fire and emergency services administration
• Strategies and tactics in fire and emergency services
• Analytical approaches to public fire protection
• Codes and inspections

Students in the emergency management degree program at the University of Nebraska Omaha complete two separate 15-credit concentrations, amounting to 30 total l credits of concentration coursework. Among the secondary concentration options students may wish to pair with their fire services coursework are Natural Disasters, Public Administration and Management, Planning and Preparing for Urban Hazards and Nonprofit Management.

Students must earn120 credits to graduate with their emergency management degree from the University of Nebraska Omaha. 

View program details.

9. American Public University System

If you’re not opposed to earning your fire science degree online from a for-profit institution, turn your attention to American Public University. The American Public University System is a private online system that is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Why Study Fire Science at American Public University

In addition to housing American Public University and its fire science degree program, the American Public University System also encompasses the American Military University. The parent company behind the American Public University System is a private-sector organization called American Public Education, Inc.

The American Public University System is best known for offering programs in areas like business, homeland security and disaster management and liberal arts and humanities. Currently, the American Public University System teaches 89,291 students and employs more than 1,600 faculty members. The school offers more than 270 academic programs, including certificate, associate degree, bachelor’s degree, master’s degree and doctoral programs. These programs are offered out of the following academic schools within the American Public University System:

• Dr. Wallace E. Boston School of Business
• School of Arts, Humanities & Education
• School of Health Sciences
• School of Science, Technology, Engineering & Math (STEM)
• School of Security & Global Studies

APUS offers an online Bachelor of Science in Fire Science Management program is offered through

Coursework in American Public University’s Fire Science Management Program

Students pursuing online fire science degrees from American Public University complete 66 semester hours of required courses for the major. Subjects of required study include:

• Fire behavior and combustion
• Fire dynamics
• Fire prevention
• Principles of fire and emergency services safety and survival
• Fundamentals of fire protection
• Fire protection systems
• Fire protection hydraulics and water supply
• Fire protection structure and system design
• Fire protection in building construction
• Community risk reduction for the fire and emergency services
• Community fire mitigation and protection
• Emergency planning
• Emergency and disaster incident command
• Managerial issues in hazardous materials
• Fire administration and finance
• Fire regulation, policy, and law
• Fire safety and risk regulation
• Incendiary fire analysis and investigation
• Applications of fire research
• Psychology of disaster

The curriculum of this program introduces students to students fire suppression methods, safety, protection and fire prevention as well as firefighting leadership and management. American Public University ystemsS’s bachelor’s degree in fire sciences and management is accredited by the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress.

View program details.

10. Anna Maria College

Completing our list of the best fire science schools at the bachelor’s level is Anna Maria College in Paxton, Massachusetts.

Why Study Fire Science at Anna Maria College

Anna Maria College is a private, nonprofit Catholic college founded in 1946. Its 260-acre campus is less than an hour from Boston. The school is regionally accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education.

U.S. News & World Report has included Anna Maria College on its lists of the top regional universities in the North and top performers on social mobility.

for the most recent year for which Anna Maria College currently has data available (2019), total enrollment amounted to more than 1,400. Online students accounted for nearly one-quarter of the total student population (175 undergraduate and 177 graduate students).

At Anna Maria College, 99% of students receive some form of financial aid. That’s a big consideration for prospective students who are on a budget, especially since not all roles in the fire protection services are well paid.

The institution offers undergraduate programs of study in more than 30 areas, as well as graduate degrees and certificates. Among the online bachelor’s and master’s degree programs available online from Anna Maria College is a Bachelor of Science in Fire Science program.

Coursework in Anna Maria College’s Fire Science Program

If you want to ascend to roles like fire investigator, fire chief or fire marshal, Anna Maria College’s fire science degree may be for you. The FESHE-recognized curriculum encompasses 60 credits of coursework.

Required courses for the online fire science program include studies in areas such as:

• Fire behavior and combustion
• Fundamentals of fire prevention
• Principles of emergency services
• Fire protection systems
• Building construction for fire protection
• Fire protection hydraulics & water supply
• Analytical approaches to public fire protection
• Applications for fire research
• Fire service ethics

Students also take six elective courses, seminar courses, an optional internship course and courses that meet college-wide requirements in areas like writing and quantitative reasoning. Together, this requirement adds up to 20 total courses.

Anna Maria College’s online program is intended as a bachelor’s degree completion program. Applicants should have either an associate degree or 60 credits of prior college coursework. Professional work experience and certification in roles like Fire Officer I is also valuable.

Prospective students who want to take their education even further may be interested in Anna Maria College’s fast-track Master of Public Administration program. Under this program, students in their final year of the bachelor’s degree program take some graduate-level courses that apply to both their bachelor’s and master’s programs. This allows them to complete the MPA curriculum in just one additional year of study instead of two. The Master of Public Administration program with a Fire and Emergency Services Specialization includes studies in labor-management relations, policy and strategy and customer service in addition to public policy, strategic planning and executive leadership.

View program details.

The post The 10 Best Online Fire Science Degree Bachelor’s Programs appeared first on DegreeQuery.com.

This leads us to one of the largest misconceptions about criminology. We’ll discuss this issue in more depth in our section on the difference between criminology and criminal justice. But one of the aspects we need to emphasize early in this guide is that criminology doesn’t focus on the enforcement of the law. Criminology doesn’t study how best to manage prisoners, how to catch those guilty of a crime, or how to force a confession.

Criminology looks deeper than the above questions and seeks to determine some of the root causes of criminal behavior.

If you enter into the field of criminology you’ll study elements including

• The frequency of crimes
• The locations of crime
• The varied consequences of crime
• Reactions to crime from many groups
• How governments or individuals “deal” with crime

And many other aspects of crime. Criminology is a sub-discipline of sociology, and seeks to keep its feet firmly planted in the realm of scientific investigation.

If you’ve wondered what makes a criminal do what they do, or why we treat criminals in certain ways, then criminology may be a great field for you.

If you think you may be interested in criminology, but don’t see your question answered here, be sure to check out some of our related resources below.

Related Resources

• What are the qualifications to work in law enforcement?
• How do I become a crime analyst?
• What Degree Do I Need to Be a Crime Analyst?
• What Salary Can You Expect With a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice?
• What Classes Will I Take in a Criminal Justice Degree?

Table of Contents:

• What Criminology Degrees Are Available?
• Can I Pursue a Criminology Degree Online?
• How Do I Gain Admission to a Criminology Degree Program?
• Differences Between Criminology and Criminal Justice
• What Can I Do With a Degree in Criminology?

What Criminology Degrees Are Available?

Criminology degrees are available at every level of study. Additionally, when it comes to seeking a career, many students seek to learn from both criminal justice and criminology schools of thought. Many students that pursue an associates in criminal justice may follow this up with a bachelor’s in criminology, or so forth.

At the associates level, criminology degrees are primarily a preparatory step for obtaining a more advanced degree. These degrees can save you a good bit of money, as many community college systems offer free or greatly-reduced tuition costs for in-district or in-state residents. Then, once you’ve finished your associates in criminology, you can proceed into a bachelor’s program in the same or another discipline.

At the associates level, students begin their study by taking general education courses. These courses aren’t specifically about criminology, but are meant to assure that you are a well-rounded thinker, can communicate clearly, and have a college-level understanding of science and math.

After you’ve completed your general education requirements, the following courses are commonly offered in associates in criminology degrees.

• Juvenile justice
• Criminal Investigation
• Criminal Law and Procedure
• Community Corrections
• Police and Society
• And a selection of electives

A bachelor’s degree in criminology is typically the entrance point to at least being able to aid in criminological research. While you can enter law enforcement or loss prevention with less than a bachelor’s, a bachelor’s degree in a criminology is a popular route for both.

Bachelor’s degrees have traditionally taken 4 years for graduation, though studying part-time or accelerating your studie may change that timeframe to anywhere between 3 and 6 years.

Similarly to associates degrees in criminology, bachelor’s degrees begin with general education requirements. These are typically comparable to those within associates degrees.

Once you’ve worked your way up to major courses, you’ll take some selection of the following courses:

• Crime in relation to neighborhoods
• Criminal Justice and Law
• Courses in microeconomics
• Analysis of Public Policy
• Economics and Law
• Legal Literature
• Public Policy and Social Issues
• Theory of Sociology
• Society and Laws
• Organized Crime and Gands
• American Legal History I and II
• The Social Contract
• Legal Philosophy
• American Politics
• American Constitution

As you can see, a bachelor’s degree in criminology goes into much greater depth in a number of sub disciplines inside of criminology. Additionally, criminology degrees tend to prepare students well for graduate degrees including criminology, other sociology degrees, and law school.

Criminology degrees tend to be academic rather than applied in nature. And many programs may have additional thesis, capstone project, or research requirements.

At the master’s level, students can truly begin to participate in the research process of criminology. Recipients with master’s in criminology are more qualified than those with bachelor’s to jump into law enforcement roles. Additionally, public policy, governmental, and research roles related to criminology generally have minimum degree requirements of holding a master’s degree.

So what do you study in a master’s in criminology?

While curricula are often more varied than at the bachelor’s level, a collection of courses are central to a masters in criminology. Some of those courses will likely be:

• Criminological Theories, Survey
• Criminal Justice Theory and Research
• Computer Applications for Criminal Justice
• Criminology Research Methods
• Criminology Applied Statistics
• Race, Ethnicity, Social Justice, and Crime
• Individual Rights, Procedures, and Criminal Law
• Treatment and Prevention of Delinquency and Crime
• Comparative Criminal Justice and Criminology
• Administration of Criminal Justice
• Penology
• Society and the Police
• Victimology
• Thesis

Finally, doctoral degrees in criminology help to prepare students to enter full-time research and teaching roles. In the field of criminology, the terminal degree is a doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) in criminology. This is a research doctorate that involves 2 years of taught classes followed by a number of years of research. In order to complete a Phd., your studies must culminate in a dissertation. Dissertations are several hundred page documents of original research that are deemed of high enough quality to be placed in a peer reviewed journal.

Though Ph.D.’s offer the widest range of flexibility in what one focuses on, there are some common areas that criminology doctorates tend to focus on. Some common focus areas include:

• Female Offenders
• Youth and Adolescent Offenders
• Crime Management
• Corrections
• And many other options

Can I Pursue a Criminology Degree Online?

The short answer is, yes. A wide range of criminology degrees are available online at every level of study.

In recent years, online study has become more common, with one of four students taking at least one class online at the present time.

With that said, online degrees aren’t the right choice for everyone.

It’s important to look at some of the pros and cons of in-person and online degrees, and decide if you think online is the proper choice for you.

Some of the most commonly mentioned positive aspects of an online degree include:

• The fact that many programs have lower fees
• Asynchronous programs provide a great deal more flexibility
• The fact that you don’t have to move to pursue a degree
• The fact that you get the exact same degree as an in-person program
• Specialized support services for working adults

While those are all great aspects of an online education, students also mention the following shortcomings of the delivery method:

• It’s generally harder to get to know classmates or instructors in online settings
• There are generally less support services in online settings
• Online learning is often much more self guided, relying on you to make yourself study

So just because a program is online doesn’t mean you should necessarily opt for this delivery method. If you’re a self-starter, and enjoy greater flexibility, maybe. But if you enjoy in-person events, take more from the social pressure and relationships of an in-person program, online may not be for you.

Also note that there is a wide range of what constitutes an online degree. Some hybrid degree programs require students to attend every other class session in person, while fully online programs may not require you to come to campus once within years of instruction.

Additionally, asynchronous courses allow you to log in whenever. There will likely still be some due dates and a timeline for the course. But this is quite a bit different from a synchronous program in which you have to log on at the same time for every class and attend a live session.

How Do I Gain Admission to a Criminology Degree Program?

Criminology degree programs typically have no entrance requirements that are distinct from other degrees at the level you are seeking.

At the associates level, many community colleges have “open admissions” policies in which all students are allowed into the program. Students must then keep their grades above a certain point to remain in the program.

Bachelor’s degree programs most commonly require standardized tests like the ACT or SAT. Additionally, a resume, character references, a transcript and essays are typically required for admission.

Master’s degrees typically require a statement of purpose as well as some connection to one of the professors in the program. In a research-heavy field like criminology, you’ll want to express what you hope to learn and research within your program when you apply.

Doctoral programs often require for you to reach out to different “mentors” within the program. Find one that shares your research interests and then being the admissions process when it is clear that they are willing to work with you.

This is of course a minimized version of all of the prerequisites to obtain entry into a criminology program. But our aim is to supply you with a general grasp of what you may need to have in place in order to attend a criminology degree at a specific degree level.

Differences Between Criminology and Criminal Justice

One of the most commonly misunderstood aspects of criminology is that it isn’t the same academic field as criminal justice.

At the associates level, you will sometimes see degrees in criminology and criminal justice. But as far as pursuing degrees that require original research, these are two very unique academic interests.

So what’s the difference?

Criminology ends with the suffic “-ology” which means “the study of.” This is precisely what criminology is, the study of crime and related phenomena. Criminology seeks to answer questions of how, why, and where crime happens.

Criminal justice is an applied field, in many areas of the field, criminal justice applies criminology. Criminal justice is more focused on “what” happens and the processes that are at play in the prosecution of crime. This field is a more direct preparation for working in law enforcement.

What Can I Do With a Degree in Criminology?

So what can you do with a degree in criminology?

Well, criminologists are one of the most direct career paths out of the academic study. These academicians work on the hard questions within criminology and may work in universities or other settings that support sociological research. They may be writers, or researchers that support policy makers.

As you may have guessed, there aren’t a huge number of criminologists. And the bar to entry is quite high, with at least a master’s required.

For passionate students of criminology, however, this can be a great way to continue your life investigating some of the hardest questions related to why, when, and where crime happens.

The average salary for criminologists is presently $83,571.

Though we didn’t go into the specific process of obtaining a law degree, many criminology graduates are well equipped to enter the field of law as lawyers. In particular, criminology graduates are well prepared to be criminal defense or prosecutor lawyers. These lawyers pit themselves against each other in nearly every criminal trial.

Many prosecutor lawyers will work in some capacity for the state, federal government, or a municipality. They may specialize on one type of crime or handle all cases of a certain stature for a governmental body.

Criminal defense attorneys, on the other hand, are assigned by the state to those that do not have the funds to gain representation. Additionally, they work in nonprofits and private for profit law firms. These attorneys often specialize in one type of law or crime committed.

The average salaries for prosecutorial and criminal defense attorneys are $91,950 and $78,500, respectively.

A third career type that many criminology majors go into is that of law enforcement. There are a variety of roles of which the most common is police officer. While students will need a degree from a police academy as well, there is a great deal of room for advancement within police departments for college or graduate school graduates. Many criminologists find work later in their career as detectives or in leadership roles within law enforcement.

The average salary for some of the most common law enforcement careers are listed below:

• Police Officer: $65,400
• Police Detective: $85,020
• Federal Special Agent: $135,177
• Police Chief: $106,804

Our final career path in which criminologists often their talents well rewarded is that of grant writer for non-profits and research entities. Many social justice and public health initiatives hinge on effectively quantifying crime-related statistics. Crime affects the physical and mental health, economic livelihood, and much more of areas where it is an affliction. Many criminologists are acutely prepared for stepping into research roles where an appreciation of the importance of tracking crime is rewarded.

Though there are many other positions available within the nonprofit sector, grant writers make an average of $45,850.

Think you’re interested in a degree in criminology? Be sure to check out some of our related resources below:

• What are the fastest schools for a master’s in criminology?
• What classes will I take with a degree in criminology?
• What are the qualifications to work in law enforcement?
• How do I become a crime analyst?
• What degree do I need to be a criminal profiler?
• The 25 best online master’s in criminal justice
• The 25 best online bachelor’s in criminal justice
• The 10 most affordable criminal justice degree programs
• Top 10 Graduate Degree Programs in Criminal Justice
• Top 25 Law Schools

For Further Reading: 

What Degree Do I Need to Be a Policy Analyst?

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1. University of Florida

The University of Florida is a public four year institution located in Gainesville. UFL offers associates bachelors, masters, and doctorate degrees as well as professional certifications. The student population is over 52,000 and the student-to-faculty ratio is 17 to 1. According to Carnegie, the University of Florida is a doctoral university with very high research activity. To support the success of their students UFL offers academic and career counseling, study abroad opportunities, and distance learning options. According to the US News and World Report, the University of Florida ranks as the 30th best school in the nation as well as highly for undergraduate teaching, undergraduate engineering, and business programming among others. In recent years. UFL has grown to offer online programs for both undergraduate and graduate students alike. In fact, students may pursue an online degree as a registered nurse, an online masters degree in curriculum, and instruction in an online PhD in pharmacy studies just to name a few.

The University of Florida online offers a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology. This program is offered through the College of Liberal arts and sciences. Upon completion students will obtain a bachelor of arts with a major in criminology. Students must complete general education classes along with upper class upper division classes in the following areas: criminology, history, sociology, psychology, political science and more. The major includes course material that emphasizes law and legal processes, law and society, and advanced principles of criminal justice. Students may complete this program in eight semesters. This bachelors degree requires 120 credit hours for completion. From more information about this online degree and to get started check out their website.

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2. Florida International University

Florida International University as a public for your institution located in Miami, Florida. The university enrolls over 58,000 students and has a student faculty ratio of 27 to 1. According to Carnegie, Florida International University as a doctoral university with very high research activity. To support the success of their students the institution offers academic and career counseling as well as distance-learning options and study abroad programming. The institution has been accredited by the Southern Association of colleges and commission on colleges Since 1974. According to the US News and World Report, Florida International University ranks of the 187th best school in the nation and highly for veterans, value, business programming, computer science, and much more. Some of their online offerings include programming in biology and biomedical sciences, health, homeland security, education, and communication journalism and related programming among others.

Florida international University offers an online bachelor of arts in political science. This is a 120 credit hour undergraduate degree. In this program you’ll gain an in-depth knowledge of the following areas: comparative politics, international politics, American government and politics and political theories. Students complete these breath requirements along with their political science requirements and political science electives. Each online student is prepared is paired with a success coach. For more information about this program and to apply check out their website.

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3. University of Central Florida (Legal Studies)

The University of Central Florida is a public four-year institution located in Orlando. This institution in rolls over 69,000 students and has a student a faculty ratio of 30 to 1. You see us offers bachelors masters UCF offers associates bachelors masters and doctoral degree us as well as professional certifications. According to Carnegie, the University of Central Florida is a doctoral university was very high research activity. To support the success of their students the institution offers a myriad of student support services including study abroad opportunities, academic and career counseling, and credit for life experiences as well as distance-learning options. Undergraduate students and graduate students may pursue a degree online. UCS offers an online bachelors degree‘s bachelors degree in speech communication rhetoric as well as an online Masters degree in industrial engineering among many others. In recent years UCF has grown to expand to dozens of online options for both undergraduate and graduate students.

UCF office an online bachelor/bachelor of science and legal studies. This is a 120 credit our program that is offered to the community innovation in the College of community innovation and education. If you’re looking for foundational courses specific to your future career in the field of love in this program may be for you. Upon graduation you’ll be prepared to pursue a career in one of the following areas: legal assistant, legal analyst, legal operations manager, court reporter and others. For more information about this program and to apply check out their website.

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4. University of Central Florida (Criminal Justice)

The University of Central Florida is a public four-year institution located in Orlando. This institution in rolls over 69,000 students and has a student a faculty ratio of 30 to 1. You see us offers bachelors masters UCF offers associates bachelors masters and doctoral degree us as well as professional certifications. According to Carnegie, the University of Central Florida is a doctoral university was very high research activity. To support the success of their students the institution offers a myriad of student support services including study abroad opportunities, academic and career counseling, and credit for life experiences as well as distance-learning options. Undergraduate students and graduate students may pursue a degree online. UCS offers an online bachelors degree‘s bachelors degree in speech communication rhetoric as well as an online Masters degree in industrial engineering among many others. In recent years UCF has grown to expand to dozens of online options for both undergraduate and graduate students.

University of Central Florida offers an online bachelor of arts in criminal justice. This second option from UCF makes it onto our list for being another outstanding offering that can prepare one for a law degree. This is a 120 credit our program. You may or in either a bachelor of science or a bachelor of arts and criminal justice to their online program. This program supplies you with the information to become an FBI agent, homicide detective, lawn Forssman officer, friends and science technician, corrections officer and more. Additionally UCF office and online bachelor of arts and political science. If you’re looking to advance your career in the private sector or through foreign or public service or politics in this program might be for you. The degree prepares you for a career in government politics international relations policy and more. More information about this program and to apply check out their website.

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5. Appalachian State University

Appalachian State University is a public four-year institution that is located in Boone, North Carolina. Currently their student to faculty ratio 16 to 1 and the current student population is over 19,000. Upstate offers bachelors masters in doctoral degree is as well as professional certifications. According to Carnegie appellations day classifies as a Masters college with larger programming. To support the success of the students to university offers academic and career counseling, credit for life experiences, ROTC, study abroad opportunities, distance learning options and more. Do US news and world report ranks Appalachian State University regionally as the sixth best school in the south and highly for value, innovation, public schooling, undergraduate teaching and more. When it comes to innovation Appalachian state features research opportunities as well as sustainability programming for all students. Additionally the academic offerings feature do you need programming in disciplines such as the visual culture of Appalachia, sustainable development, actuarial science, art history, Music therapy, mental health counseling, dual master of arts programming and more.

Appstate online offers it bachelor of science and communications studies. This is a full-time program that is 120 credit hours in length. We selected this program for its affordability and flexible format. Courses are offered an eight week sessions and are given year round. The program features course material in public speaking, small group communication, principles of accounting, and sociological perspective. Seriously select from either a business minor or a sociology minor both of which are offered online. This program provides you for leader ship and the ability to communicate in a wide variety of areas including healthcare, nonprofit sector, legal, businesses, and education among others. For more information about this Program and to apply check out their website.

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6. University of Minnesota

The University of Minnesota Twin Cities as a public four year institution located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Twin Cities offers bachelors masters and doctoral degree‘s as well as professional certifications. The university enrolls over 51,000 students and has a student faculty ratio of 17 to 1. Twin Cities has been accredited by the higher learning commission since 1913 and offers a wide array of student services including academic and career counseling, credit for life experiences, and distance-learning options. According to Carnegie, the University of Minnesota That’s classified as a doctoral University with very high research activity. The University of Minnesota Twin Cities ranks highly and is currently running to see 66th a school in the nation as well as highly for computer science programming, value, colleges for veterans, public schooling and undergraduate engineering programming among others. The university office number of online programs in the field of business.

The University of Minnesota offers an online bachelor of arts and tribal administration and governance. This is a 120 credit our program 54 of those are within the major. This program is offered through American Indian studies department. Some of the courses include federal Indian policy, and introduction to tribal administration and governance, the foundations of indigenous leader ship, American Indian diplomacy: treaties, compacts, and agreements. As well as an internship in American Indian studies. Students may also pursue a certificate of business administration for 16 credits. This certificate is from the Labovitz school of business and economics and includes the fundamentals of marketing, financial management, applied statistics, organizational management, Accounting, and more. For more information about this program and to apply check out their website.

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7. Pierce College

Pierce college is a private four-year institution located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The student population is 1178 and the student to faculty ratio is 13 to 1. Pierce offers associates, bachelors, and Masters degrees as well as certifications. According to Carnegie, pierce college is considered to be a Baccalaureate college with diverse fields. To support the success of their students pierce college offers credit for life experiences as well as academic and career counseling and distance learning options. In recent years they have expanded to include online programming. In fact the majority of the programming us offered entirely online. Students may pursue online associates bachelors and Masters degrees in the fields of law, homeland security, health, business management and more.

Pierce college offers and number of undergraduate programs for pre-law students including their bachelor of science and paralegal studies as well as their bachelors to JD program that is offered with Rutgers law school. The bachelor of science and paralegal studies includes course material ends legal writing, estate law, real estate law, legal technology, criminal law, advanced legal technology, advanced legal research and much more. The bachelors to JD program with Rutgers law School It’s for students who have earned at least 94 credits already towards a bachelors degree at peers including all of their major and core requirements. Students must complete these requirements before enrolling in courses at Rutgers law school. The JD will be awarded at Rutgers law school upon completion of the 84 credits of law school courses. For more information about this programming and to apply check out their website.

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8. The University of Memphis

The University of Memphis is a public four-year institution located in Memphis, Tennessee. Memphis offers bachelors masters and doctoral degrees as well as a number as of professional certifications. According to Carnegie the University of Memphis classifies as a doctoral university with high research activity. The university offers a number of online options for both undergraduate and graduate students including in the fields of business, education, health, parks recreation, visual and performing arts and much more. To support the success of their students the institution offers academic and career counseling as well as credit for life experiences ROTC programming teacher certification so your road options and weekend/evening college.

University of Memphis global offer a legal studies program for students pursuing a bachelor of professional studies. The legal studies concentration is tailored to individuals who are pursuing a career in the field of law. This program is offered in partnership with the Cecil C Humphreys school of law. Additionally the University of Memphis offers a 3+3 accelerated be a/JD program. This program is offered entirely online. The legal studies program focuses on theory process application and ethics of law as well as Laura related technologies and communication skills necessary for the profession. Students will be able to participate in both legal an administrative research. This online degree prepares you for a long career in the following sectors: government agencies corporations, nonprofits, educational institutions, law-enforcement, healthcare organizations, and much more. For more information about this program and to apply check out their website.

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9. Dominican University

Dominican University is a private four-year institution located in Forest River, Illinois. Dominican offers bachelors masters and doctoral degree‘s as well as professional certifications. The student population is 3029 and the student faculty ratio is 10 to 1. According to Carnegie, Dominican is a masters college and university with larger programming. To support the success of the students the institution offers credit for life experiences as well as employment options, academic and career counseling services, study abroad programming, teacher certification and distance-learning options. Undergraduate and graduate students May pursue a degree online. According to the US news and world report, Dominican university ranks is the 10th for school on the region and highly for value, undergraduate teaching as well as social mobility and business programming.

Dominican university offers an accelerated online criminal justice degree program. This online degree features lower tuition rates academic excellence personal coaching as well as tuition deferment and is a great option for veterans. Dominican is a military friendly school. In this program you’ll receive an introduction to criminal justice along with programming and criminology, juvenile justice professional ethics and criminal justice to name a few. These courses are focusing law and including courses and constitutional and civil law. A special consideration in this program is given to issues surrounding domestic violence mental health and corrections. Upon completion of this program you may be eligible for a career in one of the following areas: customs, corrections, border patrol, police force, security officer, special agents, and much more. Additionally this program supplies a firm foundation for pursuing a law degree. For more information about this program and to apply check out their website.

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10. Bellevue University

Bellevue University is located in Bellevue, Nebraska. The University enrolls 11,637 students and has a student faculty ratio of 27 to 1. Bellevue offers associates, bachelors and Masters degrees as well as doctoral degree ‘s. According to Carnegie, Bellevue University is classified as a master college was larger programming. The student support services include credit for life experiences as well as academic and career counseling, so you brought programming, ROTC, and distance-learning options. Undergraduate and graduate students like me pursue programming online. In fact majority of their programming is offered online including in the fields of business, biology, homeland security, social sciences, Public administration and much more.

Bellevue University offers a bachelor of science and legal studies. You may participate in this program either on campus or online. The course material features everything you’ll need to pursue a degree in law. The course is designed to help you with critical thinking skills related to the profession as well as ways to analyze legal ethical and logical standpoint‘s that provide you the solid foundation required for the career. The curriculum features course material and foundations for professional studies, theory and practice of law, judicial and administrative practices and civil and criminal procedures, the US legal system of the judicial process, the rule and rule of law in matters of life and death, freedom and responsibility, American visions of values and much more. The total credit our requirement is 127 credits. 37 credits are devoted to integrative general education courses, 40 credits are the major requirements and 50 credits are your elective requirements. For more information about this program and to apply check out their website.

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11. The University of Arizona

The University of Arizona is a public for your institution located in Tucson. The institution enrolls 44,577 students and as a student to faculty ratio of 15 to 1. Arizona offers bachelors, masters and doctorate degrees as well as professional certifications. To support the success of their sin as the University of Arizona offers academic and career counseling as well as teacher certification options, study abroad opportunities, and distance-learning opportunities. I’m going to Carnegie the University of Arizona is classified as a doctoral University with very high research activity. According to the US news and world report the University of Arizona ranks of the 97th to school in the nation and highly for value, veterans, public schooling, undergraduate engineer in programming business program in computer science and much more.

The University of Arizona offers a bachelor of arts in law. US News and World Report ranks this program as the seventh best online bachelors program in the nation. This is a 120 credit our program that includes course material in environmental law and policy, and introduction to public international law, the judicial process, immigration law and policy, constitutional law: federalism, and procedures. This program supply students with a knowledge to succeed in a career and law politics government and more. Upon completion: students go on to pursue a JD at law school or at the end as a career for a career as a lawyer and my fellow career paths in any of the following areas: what legislative and regulatory affairs analyst, human resources representative, mediators, educators, public relations officers, anti-money laundering analyst, contract administrators, and tribal affairs specialists. For more information about this program and supply check out their website.

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12. SUNY Canton

SUNY Canton is a public four year institution located in Canton, New York. This institution enrolls just over 3000 students and has a student faculty ratio of 18 to 1. It is classified as a Baccalaureate college in diverse fields. There are student support services including programming for veterans, distance students with disabilities, academic and career counseling, credit for life experiences and much more. Additionally SUNY Canton offers online programming for undergraduate students. Some of their most best third most robust online programs are in the fields of liberal Arts, applied psychology, homeland security, registered nursing, and business administration.

Canton offers a bachelor of science in legal studies. This degree includes an internship and it’s designed for students who are paralegal studies transfer students criminal justice transfer students recent high school graduates or working professionals looking to pursue a degree online. Canton state offer say 3+3 program giving you a earn you a bachelors degree and a UB law degree in just six years. This program is in partnership with the University of Buffalo school of law. And in this program you will learn about legal research, law including business law, real property law, criminal practice, family law, negligence and intentional torts, and civil litigation among others. Come on information about this program check out their website.

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13. Brandman University

Brandman University is located in Irvine California. Brandman offers associate specialist masters and doctorate degrees as well as professional certifications. The student population is over 10,000 and the student faculty ratio is 19 to 1. According to Carnegie, Brandman University is a doctoral/professional university. To support the success of the students the institution offers credit for life experiences as well as academic career counseling teacher certification and distance-learning opportunities for both undergraduate and graduate students. In fact, the majority of their programming is offered entirely online from the associate To the doctoral level. Some of their most popular online programs are in the field of business administration, education, liberal arts and sciences, and psychology among others. US is in rolled report ranks Brandman universe is all online programs among the best in the nation.

Brandman University has an online campus. And offers an online bachelor’s degree in criminal justice as well as an online bachelor of arts and legal studies, business law. The online bachelor’s degree in legal studies is intended for students looking to pursue a career in law or related field. The business law concentration focuses on the many facets of the legal system and includes hands-on experience with an emphasis on employment law and transactional law. Students most complete basic skills training in writing communication and quantitative reasoning as well as or no oral communication. The breath requirements are in the humanities natural sciences and social sciences. Finally students will complete core requirements that include course and serial and white collar crime, foundations of law, legal research and writing, constitutional governance, business organizations, torts, contracts, interviewing negotiating an alternative dispute resolution and much more. The business law concentration includes course material and employment law, Intellectual property, and transactional law. The criminal justice degree holds focus areas like victim advocacy, intercultural communication, contemporary legal issues, law practice management, and much more. This flexible online program is a good fit for anybody looking to lay the foundation for a law career.

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14. Webster University

Webster University is a private four-year institution located in St. Louis Missouri. The student population is over 9000 and listen to factory ratio is 12 to 1. Webster offers bachelors masters in doctoral degrees and professional certifications. The institution is classified as a masters college and university with larger programming according to Carnegie. Their student support services are wide reaching including academic and career counseling, study abroad opportunities, ROTC, teacher certification and distance learning options. Webster has been accredited by the higher learning commission since 1925. Webster offers a myriad of online offerings in the fields of business communication in journalism, education, health professions, how much security, legal professions and much more. In fact, undergraduate and graduate students like me pursue programming online.

Webster offers a number of online criminal justice/legal studies program. These programs may be pursued s at the undergraduate and graduate level. These programs can prepare you for careers in criminal justice, law enforcement, or public policy. And students may work through bachelor’s and then master’s-level programming related to law at the same institution. For more information about this program check out their website.

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15. Mississippi College

Mississippi College is a private four institution located in Clinton, Mississippi. The college offers bachelors masters and doctorate degrees as well as professional certifications. The student population is 4733 and the student of faculty ratio is 14 to 1. According to Carnegie, Mississippi College is classified as a doctoral/professional university. To support the success of their students the office of academic and career counseling provides robust programming to help students get the most from their degree and get into the workforce. Mississippi College has been accredited by the Southern Association of colleges and schools since 1922. This is a nationally ranked institution that ranks highly for social mobility, business programming, and engineer in programming according to the US news and world report.

Mississippi College is a Christian university. They offer a number of majors in degrees in paralegal studies. The paralegal studies degree prepare students for a degree for a career in law. In this program you will learn how to create legal documents and perform legal research. Students will gain exposure to the federal court system as well as the procedures they’re in. Upon completion you will qualify for a job as a paralegal. Those measuring and paralegal studies will take courses in the following areas: legal research and writing, law office management, family law, civil litigation, wills and Estates, and much more. For more information about this program and to apply check out their website.

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16. California Baptist University

California Baptist University is a private institution located in Riverside California. The student population is over 11,000 and the student faculty ratio is 16 to 1. California Baptist offers associates, bachelors, masters and doctorate degrees. According to Carnegie, California Baptist classifies as a masters college and university with larger programming. To support the success of their students the institution offers academic and career counseling, distance-learning opportunities, teacher certification options, study abroad programming, and much more.Some of their most popular online programs are in the fields of business management, nursing, psychology, film cinema and video settings, and general education among others.

CBU offers in bachelor of science in criminal justice. This program is divided into the following areas: general education requirements, lower division requirements, upper division requirements and prerequisites to the program. The upper division requirements 533 credit hours 33 credit hours are devoted to the upper division requirements including course material in crime and delinquency, terrorism and homeland security, methods of research for criminal justice, emergency management, minorities in the criminal justice System and much more. Students must complete 42 credit hours of general electives. For more information about this program check out their website.

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17. University of Maryland Global Campus

The University of Maryland Global Campus is headquartered in Adelphi, Maryland. The institution offers associates bachelors, masters and doctoral degree‘s as well as professional certifications. The student population is 58,281 and the student to faculty ratio is 19 to 1. According to Carnegie, UMGC is a masters college and university with larger programming. This institution has been accredited by the middle states commission on higher education since 1946. To support the success of the students institution offer why the rate of sin support services including academic and career counseling, credit for life experiences, distance learning opportunities, teacher certification and more.

UMGC offers a legal studies bachelors degree. All courses are available online. This is a 120 credit our bachelors program where are you learn how to draft legal documents and perform legal research. You MGC accepts up to 90 transfer credits.Some of the coursework includes drafting legal forms, reviewing the statute and assess its application, and much more. The courses in the major are as follows: an introduction to law, techniques of legal research, legal writing, legal ethics, advanced legal writing, torts, Domestic relations, criminal law and procedures, litigation, contract law, advanced legal practices. For more information about this program and to apply check out their website.

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18. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania State University is a four-year institution that offers associates bachelors masters and doctorate degrees as well as professional certifications. Institution and rolls over 91,000 students and has a student or faculty ratio 15 to 1. Penn State university has campus is all across the state of Pennsylvania. According to Carnegie Penn State is a doctoral University with very high research activity. To support the success of their students the institution offers academic and career counseling services as well as distance-learning options, study abroad opportunities, and much more. Penn State is ranked among the top 100 schools in the nation and is currently ranked 63rd nationally as well as highly for value, innovation, public schooling, undergraduate engineering, business program and computer science study abroad opportunities and much more. When it comes to innovation Pennsylvania State bring Sally for his undergraduate and graduate online options, technological advances in the classroom, and innovative faculty.

Penn State world campus offers a bachelor of arts in law and society. This is a 123 credit hour program that prepares you for work as a mediator, my arbitrator, legal assistant, and more. To apply to this program you should be an interested you should be interested in working in legal with legal issues in human resources and ferment of action law enforcement Child and family services etc. During the program you can acquire a professional certificate or an associates degree. This program prepares you for a this program provides you with the foundational knowledge required to pursue a degree in law. The benefit of world campus is that students may pursue this program from anywhere across the globe. For more information about this degree check out their website.

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19. Hodges University

Hodges University is a private for your institution located in Fort Myers, Florida. Their enrollment is 977 and the student faculty ratio is 15 to 1. Hodges University offers associates bachelors and Masters degrees as well as professional certifications. According to Carnegie the institution is classified as a Masters college. To support the success of the students the institution office academic and career counseling as well as employment opportunities, and distance-learning opportunities. Some of the most popular online programs are in the field of computer and information sciences, psychology, and health.

Hodges university offers a bachelor of science and legal studies. The bachelors in legal studies is a comprehensive curriculums that’s designed to give you the foundational knowledge required to pursue a degree in law or a related discipline. The program is offered 100% online making it accessible to working adults and nontraditional students alike. Students will receive the litigation law training with a discovery and a litigation courses. This program prepares you for work and as a legal assistant, court assistant, probation officer, research assistant or an administrative supervisor. For more information about this program and to apply check out their website.

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20. National University

National University is located in La Jolla, California. The institution is ome to 16,000 students and has a student or faculty ratio of 16 to 1. National University office associates, bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees as well as professional certifications. According to Carnegie, And you ranks as a masters college what larger programming. To support the success of their students national offers academic and career counseling credit for life experiences and distance learning options among other student support services. According to the US news and world report national University ranks regionally I said 95th to school in the region and highly for social mobility as well as computer science programming.

National University offers a bachelor of arts in pre-law studies. This is a four year degree that may be completed on campus or online the program provides you with the foundation and legal studies as well as the concepts that you’ll need to gain entry into law school. This program is military friendly and features year around enrollment. This is an accelerated online degree that features for week classes. This program in this program you learn how to develop critical thinking skills necessary for judicial cases, create legal documents, and analyze business is in relation to anticipate any business issues that may arise legal issues that may arise. Additionally you’ll learn how to develop a concise legal argument and plan for a fact in negotiation. From our information about this program and to apply check out their website.

• Program Website

Additional Resources:

20 Non-Law Firm Jobs with a Law Degree

What Degree Do You Need to Be a Paralegal?

What Degree Do I Need to Be a Mediator?

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Introverts do well in calm environments and work spaces that tend to be more private. As an Introvert, you probably don’t want to go into an aggressive, outgoing position like sales or stock trading. Introverts are more analytical and observational and find their energies are heightened with moments of reflection and lessen with too much interaction. There are certain careers that align with the Introverted person more than others. Highlighted below are what we found to be the Top 10 Careers for Introverts. The featured occupations not only present an ideal work surrounding for Introverts, they are more in demand nationally and have annual salaries that are relatively high.

Keep in mind though that it was also Carl Jung who said,

“There is no such think as a pure introvert or extrovert. Such a person would be in the lunatic asylum.”

Of course, people’s behaviors can often fluctuate; if an Introverted job is not working out for you, maybe you’re more Extroverted than you think. In that case, check our Top 10 Careers for Extroverts!

1. Land Surveyor

Anytime new construction takes place, a surveyor is sent out to measure distances and angles. They research land records, previous survey records and land titles. They locate boundary lines and record their results. Precision is the name of the game. The data of a survey must be accurate as their findings indicate where a new building can or cannot be built.

All information is prepared in the form of a report or various maps and presented their clients. Clients might be private, public companies or government agencies.

Surveying includes fieldwork conducted outdoors with camera-like heavy duty equipment as well as indoor office work. You may work on a team; however, a lot of the job is a solo gig. You will have to travel to the project location and stand for long periods of time. Sometime work will be in remote areas with very little communication with anyone. You did say you were an Introvert, no?

Median Salary: $56,230
Education Level: Bachelor’s degree
Projected employment growth: 10% increase between 2012 and 2022

2. Librarian

The library – the only place where you can legitimately tell people to shut up without seeming like a nut. It’s a world made by introverts, for introverts, and it can be yours to rule.

That may be an overstatement. But Librarian is an ideal job for the more introverted among us. Sure, you work with the public some, checking in and checking out books, giving recommendations, and helping with research, but much of your time is spent shelving books, cataloguing and filing, repairing damaged volumes, and other good recharging tasks. And if you’re so introverted the mild public interaction is too much for you, you can always specialize in something like archival or digital media, where your only company is rare books or computers.

Median Salary: $55,000
Education Level: Master’s degree
Projected employment growth: 7% increase between 2012 and 2022

3. Animator

Bringing drawings to life has always been the domain of focused, even obsessive, introverts. Sure, it takes many animators to make something like an animated feature film, but even in those large teams, most of the work in done individually, with an editor and director bringing all of the pieces together into a finished film.

Of course, the internet has created a new world of animation, much of which can be managed by just one animator; think of the little Google Doodle animations that make obscure historical dates and holidays so much fun. Same goes for video games – someone had to animate the characters in your favorite time-killing app. And odds are, that person is an introvert.

Median Salary: $61,000
Education Level: Bachelor’s degree
Projected employment growth: 6% increase between 2012 and 2022

4. Forensics

So you’d like to work in law enforcement, helping keep citizens safe and earning a tidy pension and retirement, not to mention reliable benefits. But you’re an introvert – there’s no way you’re walking a beat or patrolling the streets where you’ll have to interact with all kinds of people (especially people who don’t like you). Maybe a desk job, but that still means a lot of demanding, very stressed people to work with. And forget about prison guard. Sheesh.

There’s still a way to put away criminals from a safe space: forensic science. Plus, there are many specializations you could follow so you’re doing something interesting to you, such as digital forensics analyst (if you like computers), forensic pathologist (if you like biology), and print examiners (if you like – well, fingerprints). You may work in the field collecting evidence, or in a lab examining evidence, but in either case, it’s mostly just you and the evidence. Just the way you want it.

Median Salary: $52,000
Education Level: Bachelor’s degree
Projected employment growth: 6% increase between 2012 and 2022

5. Food scientist

A food scientist studies food. Scientifically.

Well, there you go. Nothing more to see here.

Okay, there’s a lot more to it. Some Food Scientists perform basic research learning about the biology and chemistry of the plants and animals we eat, to try and better understand how food affects our bodies, how to preserve and process foods effectively, and how to make food more sustainable. Others work in applied research, using the insights gained by basic researchers to make the products we see in our grocery stores.

As a laboratory-based profession, Food Scientist can be appealing to introverts who work better in small groups or with partners, but not with a lot of social interaction.

Median Salary: $65,000
Education Level: Bachelor’s degree
Projected employment growth: 9% increase between 2012 and 2022

6. Marine Biologist

Do you get along better with dolphins than with people? Is that a weird question? If you think it’s a weird question, move on. But if it struck a nerve, you may want to consider becoming a Marine Biologist.

As a Marine Biologist, you won’t be completely on your own; Jane Goodall might have gone to live with the apes, but going to live with the fish is another thing entirely. Most Marine Biologists will have to work in teams, since studying marine life requires a lot of equipment and specialized knowledge that no one person could be expected to have. But they will usually be small groups of trusted colleagues, not the general public, and much of your work will be with creatures who don’t expect you to make small talk. You don’t even have to be interviewed by National Geographic, if you don’t want to.

Median Salary: $57,000
Education Level: Bachelor’s degree
Projected employment growth: 5% increase between 2012 and 2022

7. Information Security Analyst

You really don’t need an explanation about why a computer career is good for introverts. You’re here already, on your computer. What you may not realize is that security is one of the fastest-growing, highest-paying careers that only requires a bachelor’s degree, and that doesn’t require you to sweet-talk or sell anyone anything. Security is its own selling point.

An Information Security Analyst keeps hackers out of networks, makes sure sensitive information is encrypted and protected, looks for weaknesses in security, and creates standards for others in an organization. They will periodically report to administrators, but for the most part, they’re at the computer, building and using tools to make sure no one steals your PIN number or SSN.

Median Salary: $87,000
Education Level: Bachelor’s degree
Projected employment growth: 37% increase between 2012 and 2022

8. Organic Farmer

If you’re happiest with a little dirt under your nails and a little sunburn on your arms, you know where you belong. And if you love the earth and distrust all the unnatural processes of industrial-scale farming, you may find yourself happiest as an Organic Farmer.

Let’s not mince words – there is nothing easy or lucrative about being a farmer. Organic farms are mostly small, family farms, and even if you’re doing well enough to hire workers, you’re going to be doing most of that work yourself. And farming is sun-up to sun-down, year-round hard labor. You have to do it for love. But, if you’re in the right market, where organic produce is appreciated, and you find a clientele who is willing to pay the extra price for quality, you might just make it. And you’ll do it on your own terms.

Median Salary: $31,000
Education Level: n/a
Projected employment growth: n/a

9. Technical Writer

You like to write, and you’re good at it, but moving to New York and living the Rent lifestyle doesn’t appeal to you. Way too many parties for you. There’s a way to write, make a solid income, and never, ever have to sing a show tune. Technical writing.

The Technical Writer writes all the things that no one thinks about someone writing – instruction manuals, FAQs, and data reports. To be a good technical writer, you need to be skilled in taking complex or confusing information and making it clear and accessible to the intended audience. Some skill with drawing or computer graphics is helpful too, as you will often make your own diagrams and charts to help readers visualize your instructions. It’s not romantic, but it pays better than slam poetry.

Median Salary: $65,000
Education Level: Bachelor’s degree
Projected employment growth: 15% increase between 2012 and 2022

10. Astrobiologist

Many an introvert has looked up at the stars, wondering how we got here and whether there’s anyone else out there wondering the same thing. Introverts are often dreamers like that. But there’s a job where dream meets reality, and that job is Astrobiologist.

No, it’s not just a career that exists on Star Trek. Astrobiologists combine astronomy, biology, and other scientific fields in a search for the origins of life on Earth and the possibility of life elsewhere. It’s a research field, largely in universities or NASA facilities, and while there may be some teaching involved, most of your career will be spent in books, at computers, at telescopes, and in laboratories. You can be just as social or antisocial as you want; if you want to be a conference star or the next Neil Degrasse Tyson, you can do it, but if you want to be alone with the secrets of the universe, go for it. They’re yours.

Median Salary: $106,000
Education Level: Doctorate degree
Projected employment growth: 10% increase between 2012 and 2022

Related Resources: 

What Are the 5 Best Careers in Environmental Science?

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Individuals who plan to conduct research pursue a doctoral degree in their specialty. Whether your passion lies in accounting or oceanography, a doctorate demonstrates that you have attained the pinnacle in your profession. However, the number of doctorates awarded in science and engineering (S&E) exceeded non-S&E doctorates, according to 2105 data (National Science Foundation 2017).

The path to a Ph.D. can be a long and expensive proposition. The typical time-frame ranges from four to eight years. You must pass comprehensive exams and write an original research report called a dissertation. The examination is a test of your general knowledge of your chosen field and also your understanding of the intended area of research. At the doctoral level, this written or oral exam is the precursor to your research project.

Therefore, it is important that you ask yourself- why do I want to earn a PhD? As mentioned above, if you intend on academia or research as a career, then it is a wise decision to pursue a doctorate. These two careers will demand that you publish research papers on a regular basis. You should weigh the benefits against the time and expense of obtaining the degree. Perhaps a master’s degree will suffice if a higher salary is your motivation. Engineering with a master’s degree had a median income of $94,000, according to the site – Payscale. The occupation group of Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Midwives, and Nurse Practitioners had an average wage of $110,930 in 2017 with a Master’s degree, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Some programs allow you to reduce the standard completion period to three years or less. Ultimately, less time studying equals more money saved on tuition. Also, you will be on your way to resume or seek employment with your new status as a “doctor.”

The following collection places the most emphasis on the time to complete the respective Ph.D. All of the degrees are available 100% online unless otherwise noted.

1. Boston University (BU)

Established in 1839 in Boston, the school has approximately 33,000 students taking degrees from bachelor to doctorates. The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education categorizes them as an R1, meaning a school of high research activity. They have accolades from U.S. News & World Report (2018) for Online Graduate Programs in Business, Computer Information Technology, and Criminal Justice. Also, Times Higher Education ranked BU at sixth globally for employability of its graduates.

Their College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences or Sargent College, founded in 1881, houses their Department of Occupational Therapy. BU’s doctorate in occupational therapy (OTD) is a post-profession degree for practitioners who want to advance their credentials. The structure of the curriculum allows professionals to continue working while earning their OTD. You can complete the ten online courses (33 credits) in a few as 18 months.

A sampling of the classes includes Health Promotion, Social Policy, Clinical Theory and Research, and two titled Outcomes Measurement & Monitoring. The curriculum concludes with a Capstone and a Doctoral Project.

Admission is subject to stringent qualifications. One of which requires U.S. students to have passed the National Board for Certification in Occupational Safety exam.

Tuition: $896 per credit hour

2. Maryville University

The Religious of the Sacred Heart founded the school as a private academy in 1872 for young women and needy youths. In the 1920s, they became an accredited four-year institution. Today, The Higher Learning Commission accredits the St. Louis, Missouri institution. Also, they have accreditation with the Chicago-based North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

Maryville is at the forefront of online nursing programs from the RN to DNP (Doctor of Nursing Practice). According to statistics, by 2025, there will be an estimated 164 million Americans with chronic illnesses. Couple this with a possible shortage of medical doctors creates a tremendous demand in the nursing profession. Those with master’s degrees and higher will benefit from escalating salaries into six figures.

Graduate nurses who have their MSN can complete their DNP in as few as 20 months. This doctorate provides the skills to work in various healthcare positions, including administration, policy analysis, and teaching.

The 100% online format requires no campus visits, no GMAT or GRE, and no wait list once accepted. Also, you can earn your required clinical hours at a healthcare facility near your residence.

Tuition: $897 per credit

3. Indiana State University

Founded in 1865, the university resides in Terre Haute on over 400 acres of treed campus. The school offers almost 300 academic programs with 70 available online to over 13,000 students. They have over 75 graduate  and over 100 undergraduate programs. ISU attracts students from all fifty states and over sixty-five countries. Forbes magazine acknowledges them as one of America’s Top Colleges and the Princeton Review calls them one of the Best in the Midwest.

The university has a doctorate in education or Ed.S. degree in School Administration for professionals in elementary to secondary school administration. This blended degree will enhance your master’s in education and boost your leadership skills in the public or private schools’ sector. Being a blended or hybrid format means you will have campus visits. The curriculum requires on-campus sessions three times each semester on Saturdays.

You must maintain a minimum of a  3.25 average grade throughout the 66 credit hours – beyond hours taken during your baccalaureate degree. There are a minimum of 27 hours required beyond your master’s degree at ISU. You may also start the program any semester, including the summer session. By successfully completing two to three courses per semester, you can graduate within 12 to 24 months. The maximum limit to complete the Ed.S. degree is eight years.

Tuition: $412 per credit hour (in-state); Eligible Out-of-State: $527

4. University of Arkansas

The university opened its doors in January 1872 with seven boys and one girl attending. Since its establishment, the institution flourished to become a top two percent research school, according to the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. U.S. News also includes them in their 2019 Best Online Bachelor’s, Grad Education, and Grad Engineering. As of fall 2017, the school had an enrollment of 27,558 students with 12,467 taking at least one online course.

Their accreditations are from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education, and the Higher Learning Commission.

In the nursing field, U of A offers online accelerated programs in a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) to Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P.), and a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) to D.N.P. There are two concentrations in the BSN-DNP choice:

• Family Nurse Practitioner: Requires 78 credits for graduation, in addition to a minimum of 1,125 clinical practice hours.
• Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner: Also requires 78 hours, plus 1,035 clinical hours.

Full-time students can complete the former in four years, which includes 1,035 clinical hours. Note that you apply for the BSN to DNP after earning your bachelor’s degree. Similarly, you need an MSN to enter the MSN to DNP program.

The MSN-DNP takes two years full-time and three years part-time. The M.S.N. to D.N.P. has 500 clinical hours after completing your master’s degree.

Tuition: $560 per credit hour

5. Regis University

Founded in 1877 in Las Vegas, New Mexico, Regis moved to Denver in 1887. Currently, there are 11,411 online and on-campus students across five colleges and four campuses. Since its inception in Las Vegas, New Mexico, Regis has maintained it Jesuit Catholic Tradition, in honor of the Jesuit Saint, John Francis Regis.

Today, approximately 15,000 students receive their education from one of their five colleges. With accreditation by The Higher Learning Commission, the school offers 78 online programs. This format and on-campus classes help 89% of graduates find employment within six months of graduation.

The Rueckert-Hartman College for Health Professionals operated in conjunction with the Loretto Heights College (LHC) until 1988. When LHC closed, Rueckert-Hartman College absorbed the nursing programs. The college offers an online Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). There are two specializations:

• Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN): For nurses who have worked in an advanced clinical practice of healthcare.
• Advanced Leadership in Health Care (ALHC): Program is designed for nurses who are currently working in management or supervisory capacity, as well as those who aspire for leadership positions.

Graduates will have the skills to reach senior levels of management, become nursing educators, supervise direct patient care, and be involved in healthcare policy.

The American Association of Colleges of Nursing accredits their nursing school.

The APRN and the ALHC provide accelerated completions of 24 months in the six-semester option versus the nine-semester that takes 36 months. Both have 31 semester hours, and each starts in May. No campus visits required.

Tuition: $890 per credit hour

6. Gwynedd Mercy University

GMercyU is a Catholic college founded by the Sisters of Mercy of Merion in 1948. The Sisters of Mercy was a Catholic order established in Dublin, Ireland, by Catherine McAuley. Their mission has never wavered to produce socially conscious and well-educated graduates, who are also globally aware of the needs of others.

The school is one of 17 Catholic colleges in the Conference for Mercy Higher Education. Situated in Gwynedd Valley, Pennsylvania, it became a four-year school in 1963. Currently, they offer over 30 undergraduate majors and 10+ graduate degrees to students from 34 states. Gwynedd boasts an average GPA of 3.14 and a 75% retention rate for first-year students from fall 2017 to fall 2018.

In 1982, the school offered its first graduate program in nursing. In 2013, they approved their first doctoral degree in nursing (DNP). Their accelerated online 39-credit Doctor of Nursing Practice expands the knowledge of clinical specialists, nurse anesthetists, and nurse midwives. The curriculum differs from Regis in that there is more emphasis on practical experience. The two-year degree has thirteen courses (39 credits) inclusive of 400 hours of practicum. There are 21 credits of core work and six classes or 18 credits are projects or internships.

Examples of the academic part of the curriculum are:

• Technology for Advanced Practice Nurses
• Leadership
• Organizational Behavior and Social Policy
• Statistical Analysis

Graduates of the GMercyU DNP will have increased clinical skills and leadership qualities beneficial to work in any healthcare facility. You will also have the ability to teach and mentor nurses enrolled in BSN and MSN programs.

Tuition: $903 per credit

7. Monmouth University

The private university, founded in 1933, has approximately 6,300 students-4,660 undergrads and 1,700 in graduate programs. The majority of students come from the northeast United States, the school’s locale. In 1956, they received accreditation to offer bachelors’ degrees. The New Jersey Commission on Higher Education granted them the status of a university in 1995.

The Princeton Review refers to the school as one of the best for the past fourteen years. U.S. News recognizes the institution on its annual list of Best Colleges, ranking in the top 40. They offer 32 bachelors and 24 graduate programs, plus an array of certificates to students from 31 states and 43 countries.

The university offers a hybrid or blended Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership. Therefore, this is not a 100% online learning format. The school integrates online classes with specified Thursday evenings and weekend sessions. For this format to work for students, you need to live near their West Long Branch, New Jersey campus. Monmouth believes the face-to-face time with the instructors is beneficial for students.

The Ed.D. curriculum consists of 54 credits covering five main topics associated with leadership. They are:

• Leadership and Learning
• Transformative Leadership
• Policies and Procedures
• Research and Assessment
• Transformative Leadership Project

The Transformation Leadership Project is a vital component of the coursework. At the end of the 6th semester, students present a dissertation based upon their readings, interviews of local leaders in education, as well as faculty. Beginning in the first year, students start compiling a portfolio of asked and answered questions, research materials, personal reflections on education, and scholarly articles related to leadership.

You submit the portfolio to the doctoral committee for review and approval. Once accepted, you proceed to complete the project as a written dissertation.

The Middle States Commission on Higher Learning accredits Monmouth University’s programs. The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs approves the graduate programs in School Counseling (MSEd) and Mental Health Counseling (MS). The National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education accredits The School of Education. Other accreditations are at this link.

Tuition: $1,187 per credit; $1,199 (Summer Session)

8. Pittsburg State University

Since 1929, the university, located in Pittsburg, Kansas, has offered graduate degrees. Currently, the school has a range of online degree and certificate choices from bachelor to doctorate. Their recognized teaching excellence has attracted over 7,000 students from 36 states and 43 countries.

One feature highlighted by the university is their Flat Rate Tuition. It allows full-time students, enrolled in 12 hours or more, to add more hours with no change in tuition. The rate also includes Campus Privilege Fees that benefit only on-campus students for expenses like parking and access to the Health and the Recreation Center.

The university offers two doctorate programs in education leadership. The same admissions criteria apply to both degrees. Your application must indicate your leadership experience within an organization, writing skills, ability to collaborate and problem solve. The proof of leadership is an autobiographical description of roles where you have demonstrated this quality.

One is the Advanced Studies in Leadership (General School Administration) online Ed.S. degree. Students with a master’s degree in an education-related field are eligible for this 36-credit hours degree. By completing two courses each semester, students can complete the program in two years. The curriculum is 100% online-no campus visits needed.

This degree has three sections of the curriculum:

1. General School Administration: Consist of 12 hours of Leadership and 6 hours of Practicum Educational Systems Leadership.
2. Research: Twelve to fifteen hours cover educational statistics, computer applications, research skills, thesis, and research projects.
3. Leadership: These classes entail organizational theory, grant writing, and legal foundations of public education.

Graduates will have the skills to seek management positions in elementary and secondary school levels, as well as community or technical colleges.

The Kansas State Department of Education and the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation accredit this program. U.S. News ranks the Ed.S. in the Top 25 Best Online Graduate Education Programs.

Tuition: $382 per credit

9. Pittsburg State University

The other education leadership doctorate is the Ed.S. with a concentration in Special Education. The online 36-credit program is open to students who have completed a master’s degree in Special Education and meet additional criteria for admission. Students, subject to approval, may transfer up to nine hours of courses in special education. The same two-year completion time as the one above applies to this degree.

The special education core coursework focuses on teaching students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), their characteristics, and research strategies for teaching ASD classes. The other two categories of the curriculum are Research and Leadership Core Courses. These two sections, which are 12 to 15 hours each, follow the same courses as the above Ed.S. program.

Graduates will be eligible to work at the elementary and secondary school district levels.

Tuition: $382 per credit (includes $36 electronic fee)

10. Lamar University

Located in Beaumont, Texas, Lamar teaches over 15,000 students enrolled in more than 100 programs from bachelors to doctoral degrees. More than 2,500 live on the 292-acre campus situated 90 miles east of Houston. Founded in 1923 as South Park Junior College, the school took its name from Mirabeau B. Lamar, second President of the Republic of Texas. In 1970, the school offered its first doctoral program. The following year they officially became Lamar University.

Currently, over 300 students are enrolled in doctoral programs that recognize the institution as a Carnegie Doctoral Research University. They are one of just 29 public universities in the United States to receive this accolade.

Their College of Education and Human Development offers an online Doctoral Studies in Educational Leadership. With the accelerated format, you can complete the eight-semester Ed.D. in 2.5 years. During this time, you will specialize in Global Education Leadership, which will create leaders in education at the local, national, and international levels.

The 60-hour program consists of eleven Required (Major) Courses, five Research Courses, and four Dissertation courses. The core subjects cover ethics, leadership, global education, academic research writing, and multicultural educational trends.

Similar to most doctorate programs, there are strict admission requirements. For consideration, your master’s degree courses must have a GPS of 3.5 or more. Your GRE scores cannot be more than five years old. Other documents included at time of application is a letter addressing: the most important issue in education leadership. Your resume must have the details of all your education leadership experience.

The Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools accredits the university. The Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate has recently accepted the university.

Tuition: $1,527 for 3 hours; $5,332 for 12 hours: Texas residents

11. East Carolina University (ECU)

Located in Greenville, North Carolina, ECU has over 100 online degree and certificate programs in business, technology, nursing, education, health, and more. Their undergraduate enrollment was 23,100 in the fall of 2018. The school offers 84 bachelors, 71 masters, 13 research doctoral, and five professional doctoral degrees. There are also 84 departmental certificates and 120 online degrees and certificates.

U.S. News ranks its online graduate programs in Education in the Top 10%. Graduate degrees in Nursing, Physical Therapy, and Rehabilitation Counseling are in the Top 25%, according to the same publication. Other honors include Best Business School, Best Medical School, and Green College, as reported by the Princeton Review.

The Brody School of Medicine offers two Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) degrees:

1. Environmental and Occupational Health
2. Health Policy, Administration, and Leadership

Individuals with a Master of Public Health (MPH) and experience in this or a related field benefit from a shorter curriculum of 51 semester hours.

Option #1 is science-oriented. This choice splits into two specializations of Environmental or Occupational Health. Both are for nine hours. The former studies microbiology, food and water safety, public health pests, disease transmission, and water treatment. The occupational health topics examine the use of protective gear, ventilation systems, and elimination of toxic substances in the workplace.

The program has 15 hours of dissertation and concludes with six hours of field practicum.

Option #2 concentrates (18 hours) on leadership and health policy analysis. You will take courses in strategic planning, human resources, quality improvement, health information systems, policy analysis, disaster preparedness, and more. This option has the same hours of dissertation and field experience.

Students with the appropriate master’s degree and experience can finish either specialization in 2 to 2.5 years.

Tuition: $694 (part-time) per credit hour; $3,275 (full-time 9+ hours)

12. Hampton University

The university is proud of its humble beginnings under an oak tree in Hampton, Virginia. The tree later became known as the Emancipation Oak. At that spot in 1863, the Southern reading of the Emancipation Proclamation took place. One of its most distinguished graduates was Booker T. Washington who arrived in 1872 as a transient looking for work.

The institution has undergone name changes from the original Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute to Hampton Normal School in the 1880s to Hampton Institute to its present name change in 1984.

Aided by their membership in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements, the school allows online degrees to other members. One of these programs is a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Educational Management. It is an accelerated 66-credit degree with the following concentrations:

• Higher Education
• Pre-K to 12 Education
• STEM Leadership
• Special Education

There are specific criteria to meet before applying. This Ph.D. program prefers applicants to have at least five years of work in a field related to the degree. Preference will be for students who have leadership experience or licensure in Special Education. The preferred employment background varies according to the concentration you select.
An accepted student may be able to transfer up to nine credit hours from an accredited college or university in courses you obtained a “B” or 3.0 grade or better.

The program consists of 22 courses; each one lasts nine weeks with a projected completion time of 2.5 years.

The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education accredits the undergraduate and graduate nursing programs. The National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education authorizes their Division of Education.

Tuition: $695 per credit hour

13. Nova Southeastern University

Established in 1964, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, is home for the university. In the 2017-18 school year, this private university had an enrollment of 20,793 students in over 150 programs. The shortlist includes pharmacy, nursing, optometry, education, law, business, physical and occupational therapy. U.S. News ranks the school in the Top 200 in their category of Best Colleges 2019.

The Department of Conflict Resolution Studies offers a Ph.D. in Conflict Analysis and Resolution that prepares you for careers as consultants, administrators, researchers, and evaluators. Graduates have the skills to function in conflict resolution as practitioners and theoreticians. They will also have leadership qualities and mastery of quantitative research analysis. The 76-credit hour program has a choice of four concentrations:

1. Community-based Conflict
2. Conflict in Organizations
3. Global Conflict
4. Interpersonal Conflict

Students have the option of full-time studies (9 credits per semester) or part-time (6 credits). The former allows students to complete the doctorate courses in 2.5 years, whereas part-time students take four years. The time-frame does not include the dissertation that follows the academic phase. Also, you may be able to transfer up to 15 credits from a Master’s degree in a similar field.

All online programs require students to attend two Residential Institutes (RI) each academic year for five days. The RIs typically occur in February and late September or early October.

Tuition: $1,095 per credit hour

14. Concordia University-Chicago

Founded in 1864 in nearby Addison, Illinois, Concordia is a private university located in River Forest, near Chicago, since 1912. They are members of the Concordia University System that comprises a national network of colleges. The schools have an affiliation with the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.

The College of Business offers a Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) online and on campus. The DBA differs from a Ph.D. in that the former studies the theoretical aspect of business and leadership. Therefore, the DBA has a practical application for a professional in the business world. Concordia contends that the Ph.D. suits individuals who seek work in academia and research. Academically, the two degrees are equivalent.

The university recommends that applicants have five years of business experience. Admission requires a master’s degree in business or related field, transcripts, and two letters of recommendation. One is a professional recommendation, and the other is academic. Interested candidates for this program must meet the stringent admission requirements, including a minimum of a 3.0 GPA in your master’s degree.

Concordia has four DBA specializations:

1. Innovation in Healthcare
2. Innovations in Human Resources
3. Leadership and Innovation
4. Marketing Innovations

These specializations have an accelerated online format that students can complete within three years. Furthermore, all of the business programs at the master’s and doctorate levels adhere to their Four Pillars of Knowledge. These emphasize the qualities of ethics, critical thinking, human relations, global inclusive, and communication.

There are three residencies spread over seven of the nine semesters. The initial one occurs in semester one during the first eight weeks. The second is during the first eight-week segment in semester four. The last one is in semester seven. Each counts for one credit of the 60-credits program. Each residency lasts four days.

Tuition: $960 per credit

15. University of Tennessee

The university, founded in 1794, is currently recognized for its research activity by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education in the Doctoral category. More recently, the current Knoxville College of Social Work began as the Nashville School of Social Work in 1942. With the expansion, the school moved to its present location in 1958.

The university changed the name to the College of Social Work in 1986. Today, they offer an online Master of Science in Social Work and an online Doctor of Social Work (DSW) for professionals eager to advance their present clinical practice and gain leadership skills. The accelerated online format allows social workers to continue working and maintain their personal life. The program uses both synchronous (real-time) and asynchronous methods to present the coursework. Interactive media and video are part of the instructional features.

This doctorate targets those who have an average of ten to twelve years of experience in social work. By completing two classes per semester, you can complete the DSW in three years.

The program is not 100% online. There are required campus study sessions each summer for one week. The purpose is to discuss issues face-to-face with professors and peers. You also have the benefit of expanding your network of contacts and associates in the field of social work.

Graduates will have advanced skills as a clinician and a leader to expand their career opportunities. Some of the potential areas to showcase your expertise are in mental health clinics, government agencies, psychiatric facilities, rehabilitation programs, hospice care, and social services’ organizations.

The DSW program is a member of the Group for the Advancement of Doctoral Education (GADE) in Social Work.

Tuition: $626 per credit hour: in-state; $1,637 out-of-state residents

16. University of the Southwest

Located in Hobbs, New Mexico, B. Clarence Evans founded the school as a source of Christian education. In 1956, Hobbs Baptist College began as a two-year junior college. A name change occurred in 1958 to become New Mexico Baptist College. The school adopted its present name in 1962.

The school offers three Bachelor’s degrees in Science, Arts and Sciences, and Business Administration. Their MBA has ten specializations, the MS in Education has nine concentrations, and there is one doctorate program. All graduate programs are available entirely online.

The College of Business Administration offers a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) in three specializations. Each has distinctive coursework designed for executives with leadership experience. Each concentration prepares graduates for advancement in management positions in profit and non-profit companies, government, education, consulting, and civic organizations.

The three specialty areas are:

Strategy and Innovation

This option may suit those interested in corporate strategy and planning. The classes study marketing strategies and planning for a competitive advantage. Decision-making, data analysis, research methods, and human behavior are other courses. The program culminates in 12 hours of dissertation courses.

Leadership and Organizational Development

This area of study focuses on the practical aspect of leadership, problem-solving, and the application of research. The core classes in this specialty are the same as above except for the substitution of Global Financial Management (this option) for Human Resource Development. There are the same hours devoted to Dissertation courses.

Self-Design

This choice has the same core courses as the above, except this one includes Policy Analysis and Evaluation, instead of Marketing Strategies in the Leadership program. There is a focus on problem-solving for executives, and how research applies to challenges facing leaders in the business environment. Again, there are 12 hours of Dissertation.

Students can complete any of the above 100% online selections in three years part-time. The school offers all course materials and books with the cost of tuition. As a bonus, you receive a free laptop in your first class! Students could be eligible to transfer up to 12 credits from a Master’s degree in business or related field. Applicants must have a graduate degree from an accredited university and a GPA of 3.0 or higher.

The Higher Learning Commission accredits the school’s programs. The university is also a member of numerous councils and associations. One, in particular, is the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU). The CCCU comprises an association of more than 150 campuses in the U.S. and Canada.

Tuition: $799- inclusive of all fees

17. Maryville University

In addition to the program mentioned above, the school has more choices in their Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) programs. The same feature applies: all are 100% online with no campus visits, no GMAT or GRE needed for admission, and no waiting once accepted. You can take the necessary clinical hours at a local facility.

Maryville offers a DNP-NP that you may complete within 36 months. Both the DNP and the DNP-NP (Nurse Practitioner) are terminal degrees. The addition of the letters “NP” means the nurse has received advanced education in medical procedures. Therefore, the specialty of a nurse practitioner is for nurses who want to be involved in direct patient care. In this capacity, they can prescribe medications, perform advanced procedures, and diagnosis patients’ medical condition.

All of the DNP programs at Maryville require students to have a MSN.

Tuition: $897 per credit hour

18. Maryville University

Founded in 1872, US News & World Report and Forbes magazine (2018) recognizes the university as one of America’s Best Colleges. Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine ranks them as one of the best values in private colleges in 2018.

Nursing professionals who want to extend their education may consider one of the specializations in their DNP-NP 100% online programs.

One of the concentrations is a Family Nurse Practitioner, known in degree terms as the DNP-NP FNPC. The curriculum broadens your medical expertise into the treatment, prevention, diagnosis, counsel, and wellness of all family members. The courses cover pediatric to adult-gerontology care from a holistic perspective. The curriculum consists of 15 foundation courses, 18 hours of Capstone Courses, and 18 hours of FNP courses. In the latter, there are nine hours titled Clinical Inquiry.

19. Maryville University

The university has an NP in Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (DNP-NP AGPCNP). With the adult population living longer, the percentage of seniors over 65 keeps increasing. In 2010, statistics show that 13.1% of the U.S. population was over 65. By 2020, the number will be 16.9%, and by 2030, the projection is 20.6% or 71.5 million seniors over 65. This rise creates a demand for nurses specializing in gerontology.

The 62-credit online AGPCNP concentration consists of Foundation Courses (15 hours), Capstone (18), Core (17), and 12 hours of Adult-Gerontology. This program is for nurses who want to continue in clinical practice. You can complete the degree is less than 36 months.

The school also offers a BSN to DNP AGPCNP that you can graduate in a few as 36 months. There are 580 clinical hours you must complete over three semesters.

Another terminal degree Maryville has is similar to the one above. It involves geriatric care. However, the focus is on acute care. The degree is a concentration in Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner or DNP-NP AGACNP.

The curriculum follows the same categories as the Primary Care Gerontology program. The difference is in the courses specific to the respective concentration. The primary care has 12 hours of Adult-Gerontology NP, whereas the Acute Care NP has 18 hours. The additional hours include Acute Care Diagnosis, Diagnosis and Management (9 hours) and 6 hours of Practicum.

You can complete this doctorate in 36 months. Students with a BSN may consider the MSN + AGACNP program that takes an average of 40 months online.

20. Maryville University

You can put your compassion for children to use by earning a Doctor of Nursing Practice Nurse Practitioner –Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (DNP-NP PNP). This online program is another in the DNP family offered 100% online. The 65 credit curriculum has 15 hours of the pediatric nurse concentration covering courses in Health Promotion of the Pediatric Populations and twelve hours of Pediatric Assessment and Diagnosis, of which six hours is a Practicum.

Similar to the other DNP concentrations, this curriculum has 15 hours of foundation and 18 hours of Capstone courses, plus 15 hours of PNP courses.

You can earn this degree in as short as 36 months. There is also the BSN to DNP PNP program that has a completion time of 40 months. There are three starting months- January, May, and August.

Tuition: $897 per credit for all DNP programs

21. University of South Carolina

Thanks to Thomas Jefferson’s encouragement to expand the Southern public college teaching system, the school began in 1801. Enrollment flourished with the baby-boomer generation from 1960 to 1979. During that time-frame, the campus grew from 5,660 to 26,000 students.

It is one of forty-nine public universities to be a top-tier research institution according to the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools accredits this 200-year old school to award bachelors to doctoral degrees.

The university offers an online 60-credit Doctor of Education in Curriculum & Instruction with a concentration in Educational Technology. Intended for teachers from K-12 and professional working for school boards, the completion time is 36 months. The study plan has four sections:

1. Core Curriculum & Instruction – Coursework examines the design and evaluation of technology used as a teaching method: 12 hours
2. Educational Technology Concentration – Covers the theory and practical application of technology as they related to the delivery of educational material: 15 hours
3. Research – Using analysis techniques, interpretation, and data collection, the courses examine research in educational technology: 12 hours
4. Cognate – Courses study the use of multimedia, including graphics, animations, simulations, as means of instruction: 9 hours
5. Dissertation Preparation – 12 hours

Students learn about the practical application of technology as an educational tool. You become versed in assessment techniques, such as interviews, performance reviews, and testing procedures.

Tuition: $37,123 for all applicants; $33,703 for South Carolina Certified Teachers

22. University of Bridgeport

Founded in 1927 in Bridgeport, Connecticut, the university attracts students from 45 states and 80 countries. The school opened its doors as a two-year junior college. After World War II, attendance blossomed with veterans thanks to the GI Bill. Currently, the university has ten accreditations in various programs. Some of these are:

• The NAACLS (National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Science) accredits the UB Medical Laboratory Science Program.
• The Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) accredits The Ernest C. Trefz School of Business.
• The Council on Naturopathic Medical Education (CNME) accredits The College of Naturopathic Medicine.
• The Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) accredits The School of Education.

The school began offering online degrees in 1987 with the inception of a Master’s degree in Human Nutrition. Recently, U.S. News & World Report in 2018 recognized Bridgeport’s online programs among the best in the nation for the seventh consecutive year.

Their online Doctoral in Educational Leadership (Ed.D.) is different than Lamar’s degree. Bridgeport’s is a specialization in International Education. The specialty should appeal to leaders in private and public learning institutions, education policy specialists, and researchers.

The curriculum teaches a range of topics including principles of leadership, organizational psychology, legal issues, methodologies in research, and program assessment.

Applicants must have a Master’s degree from an accredited college with a grade average of 3.0 or higher. Other requirements include two letters of recommendation – one from a colleague and one from a supervisor who attests for your leadership qualities. Another submission, with your application, consists of a 500+ word essay explaining why you want the degree along with your personal and professional accomplishments.

Subject to approval, you may transfer up to nine credits toward this 62-credit program. There are two residency requirements for one week each during the summer semesters. You can complete your doctorate in three years.

Tuition: $680 per credit hour + $2,000 Dissertation/Research & Advisement

23. Liberty University

Since its establishment by Reverend Jerry Falwell in 1971, Liberty has grown to encompass sixteen colleges with over 100,000 students. They offer over 550 programs including associate, bachelors, masters, graduate certificates, and doctoral programs. Their online programs expanded from the first program in 1985 to over 250 currently. Liberty also has an online Bible college-the Willmington School of the Bible.

Individuals working as professionals in law enforcement have the potential to advance their career and stature in this field with an online PhD. Liberty offers a doctoral degree in Criminal Justice at the Helms School of Government. The coursework studies juvenile justice, corrections, causes of crime, international crime, and terrorism. There is a choice of three areas of specialization:

1. General: Some of the classes entail terrorism, intelligence, stress management, and organized crime.
2. Homeland Security: Delves into cybercrime, cybersecurity, analysis and protection of computer systems and infrastructure, and counter-terrorism strategies.
3. Leadership: As the name suggests, you learn about law enforcement leadership, planning, strategizing, and human resources.

All of these options prepare you for a career as a professor, senior investigator, police, public policy advisor, and administrator or security consultant.

This online PhD is 60 credit hours with a target completion time of three years. Each course is eight weeks with eight start dates each year. You may be eligible to transfer up to 15 credit hours. Also, there are no set login times that allows each student to complete classes on his/her schedule.

Tuition: $595 (full-time); $650 (part-time)

24. Liberty University

The university also offers three concentrations under the heading of an Ed.D. degree. This particular doctorate is in Community Care and Counseling. The purpose of the coursework is to enhance your ability to write academic articles, treat and counsel clients, and diagnose in a clinical setting. The 100% online program is meant to complement your Christian mindset. You can complete this degree in as few as three years.

The three choices of specialization are:

Marriage and Family

For individuals who want to enter or magnify their skills counseling couples and families. Students examine the application of theories and principles concerning the dynamics and relationships within the family structure. You learn effective counseling techniques to address the psychological issues that arise within families. Part of the curriculum includes the submission of a research paper based on the student’s theories and experience as a family counselor.

(Learn more about what degree you need to be a holistic counselor.)

Pastoral Care and Counseling

This option continues in the vein of family and marriage therapy. This program may interest those who are licensed family therapists and social workers. The predominant theme running through the curriculum is the moral standards and ethics preached throughout the Bible. Students must also write a paper about their perception of ethics and its significance in counseling.

Traumatology

The courses cover various types of trauma affecting children, adolescents, and adults. Some of these are sexual abuse, PTSD, emotional abuse, neglect, terrorism, date rape, and domestic violence. Students study the physical and psychological damage caused by traumatic events. They also learn about the science behind the delivery of different counseling techniques.

The concentration has four Discussion Forums that requires writing a 400-500 word paper on the topic discussed in a specific forum. The context of the report is based on a review of research articles and the student’s exchange of ideas with peers.

Another crucial component of Traumatology is a PowerPoint presentation of a 40-slide that must include a bibliography of research materials, books, and biblical references. This 150 point graphic presentation is one of seven components of the program that total 1010 points.

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges accredits Liberty University.

Tuition: $$595 (full-time); $650 (part-time)

25. Walden University

Walden is a mecca for online degree-seekers. Over 55,000 students from 50 states and 145 countries rely on this institution for their degree. These programs involve criminal justice, education, psychology, management, public health counseling, nursing, public administration, and social and human services. The National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense by the National Security Agency (NSA) approves their criminal justice programs. The Higher Learning Commission accredits all degree programs.

One of their online doctoral degrees is a Ph.D. in Criminal Justice. This program does require at least two residency sessions. You must complete Residency 1: the first face-to-face in term 1 or 2. Residency 2 and 4 have the option of a virtual session, subject to completing the requisite courses. There is also an optional Ph.D. Dissertation Intensive Retreat. Candidates meet to discuss their respective dissertations with faculty and peers. As an example, for the months June through November 2019, there are four-five day retreats at popular hotels within the U.S.

The school allows the transfer of up to 38 credits as a means to accelerate your degree. Another feature is Walden’s Fast-Track option. This choice provides a faster completion by taking three courses per term. The traditional format is two courses each term. You may be able to graduate within 24 to 36 months, depending on the number of courses completed each term. The fast track benefits those who have earned a master’s degree in criminal justice or a related field.

Both the traditional and fast track offer these concentrations in this Ph.D. criminal justice program:

• General Program
• Emergency Management
• Homeland Security Policy and Coordination
• Justice Administration
• Online (Criminal Justice) Teaching in Higher Education
• Global Leadership
• Law and Public Policy
• Public Management and Leadership

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As an extrovert, your outgoing nature and people skills will make you an excellent candidate for a wide range of career paths in sought-after industries like healthcare, finance, education, legal, communication and business. With our Top 10 Careers for Extroverts list, you can discover a profession that will be as personally fulfilling as it is financially and professionally rewarding, one that fits your personality as well as your goals.

Remember, though, that no one is a complete extrovert. If none of these options appeal to you, take a look at our Top 10 Careers for Introverts – you might not be as much of an extrovert as you think.

 1. Lawyer

Lawyers represent individuals, organizations, businesses and government agencies in legal matters that range from criminal trial proceedings to drawing up contracts and wills. They inform and guide their clients in legal matters ranging from business to personal. While television portrayals typically show attorneys at trials, lawyers don’t spend every moment of their time locked in real-life courtroom battles. They do a lot of their work behind-the-scenes, communicating with clients, investigating legal matters and collecting evidence, interpreting laws and drafting legal documents. They must communicate facts both in writing and verbally – and that’s where the career appeals to extroverts.

When a lawyer goes to trial, he or she must be comfortable speaking in front of an entire courtroom full of people. Lawyers need to have the confidence to argue legal matters in court, in front of judges and juries, and to question witnesses and defendants. They must make their arguments compelling. For an introvert, this could be a daunting task, but an extrovert like you might find this to be the most exciting and rewarding part of the job.

Experienced Median Annual Salary: $113,530

Education Level: Law school degree (Doctoral degree)

Projected employment growth: 10 percent

2. Physical Therapist

Physical therapists are healthcare professionals who work with patients to improve their mobility and decrease pain. When patients suffer an illness or injury that restricts their ability to move, it can affect every aspect of their lives. Physical therapists rehabilitate these patients through the use of exercise, hands-on therapy, stretches, heat and cold applications, electric stimulation, assistive devices for walking and other modalities and equipment. A physical therapist’s job is to help patients function better.

A wide variety of patients requires physical therapy. Young people and even babies must see a physical therapist for help with developmental delays. Among older patients, strokes are a common cause of mobility issues that call for physical therapy. Patients may also come to a physical therapist at any age to help with conditions caused by sports injuries or accidents. Sometimes patients need therapy for recovering from a one-time but acute injury, while other times they’re seeking solutions for coping with chronic conditions. A physical therapist must be comfortable interacting with a range of patients. Like other medical professionals, they need to be able to educate and explain treatment plans to patients. More so than many other healthcare workers, physical therapists must motivate and encourage patients, some of whom may feel depressed as a result of their injury and limitations or discouraged by progress that is slower than they would like. An outgoing, extroverted physical therapist can inspire these patients and help them make the best possible recovery for their condition.

Experienced Median Annual Salary: $79,860

Education Level: Doctoral degree

Projected employment growth: 36 percent

 3. Dental hygienist

Dental hygienists are healthcare professionals who clean and examine patients’ teeth. They work in dentists’ offices, where they spend most of their workdays interacting directly with patients. When patients visit the office for a cleaning or for other preventive dental care, the dental hygienist is the one who actually cleans and polishes their teeth, using manual, power and ultrasonic equipment to eliminate stains, plaque and tartar. They are often responsible for taking x-rays of the mouth, administering fluorides, applying sealants to teeth and examining patients’ mouths to detect any signs of dental problems or oral diseases.

While patients are in the chair, they typically can’t do much talking themselves, since the dental hygienist is hard at work on cleaning their teeth. It takes an extrovert to feel comfortable doing most or all of the talking, helping to put the minds of sometimes nervous patients at ease. Dental hygienists also advise patients on ways to enhance their dental health, such as the right way to brush and floss and the impact of diet on their teeth and gums. For someone with a compassionate nature and an outgoing personality, the opportunity to interact frequently with patients and to educate them on improving their health can be energizing and fulfilling. 

Experienced Median Annual Salary: $70,210

Education Level: Associate’s degree

Projected employment growth: 33 percent

4. Financial Advisor

Financial advisors use their knowledge of the world of finance to guide clients in choosing the right investment opportunities, decreasing their tax burdens and making insurance decisions to protect their interests. Successful financial advisors are knowledgeable about a wide range of finance topics, from tax laws to stocks, bonds and other types of investments. However, they do more than offer general advice. They interact with clients directly and learn about their personal situations, including their goals and financial situations. Financial advisors then talk with their clients about the different options available to them and the financial risks involved. They research different investment opportunities to discuss with their clients, keep an eye on how clients’ investments are performing and answer any financial questions their clients have.

The people and speaking skills necessary to interact well with clients are among the most important qualities a financial advisor can have, which makes this career an excellent choice for extroverts. After all, financial advisors need to understand their clients’ goals and their current financial situations. They must establish a rapport with clients that will help them discuss important matters that are both financial and personal, such as when the client wants to retire and how to plan financially for life changes like having children. Financial advisors also need strong sales skills to market their own services, especially if they are self-employed.

Experienced Median Annual Salary: $67,520

Education Level: Bachelor’s degree

Projected employment growth: 27 percent

5. Nurse

Nurses care for patients in a variety of settings, from hospitals and doctors’ offices to nursing home facilities, prisons and schools. Registered nurses fulfill many roles in patient care. They write down medical histories, symptoms and their own observations. Nurses work with other healthcare professionals to coordinate treatment plans, perform diagnostic tests, use medical equipment and interpret test results. Within the healthcare facility, nurses dispense treatments and medicines.

One thing nearly all of a nurse’s many job duties have in common is their interaction with others. Obviously, nurses interact with the patients with whom they work directly. They need to have good people and communication skills to connect with patients, some of whom may be nervous about test results or uncomfortable procedures, and to put their minds at ease. Good nurses draw upon these same skills to explain to patients what to expect and what they must do, including how to take medication. They must also have and express compassion for their patients. Since nurses often work with doctors and a variety of other healthcare professionals, they also use their strong communication and interpersonal skills collaborating with other members of their team.

Experienced Median Annual Salary: $65,470

Education Level: Associate’s degree

Projected employment growth: 19 percent

6. Mediator

Mediators are legal professionals who work with the parties involved in a legal dispute to help them resolve the problem outside of the court system. They are neutral or impartial with regards to the case, meaning that they aren’t on the side of either the plaintiff or defendant. Instead, they meet with both parties simultaneously and work to help them communicate effectively to reach an agreement without having to go to trial. Though they do their work in private hearings rather than in the courtroom, mediators are an important part of the legal system. Resolving disputes outside of court means that the parties involved can avoid the cost, time and hassle of a trial and that fewer cases are clogging up an already overburdened court system.

While mediators must know and understand the laws that relate to the cases they mediate, much of their success is based upon skills that are common among extroverts. Mediators must be good listeners and communicators, and they must be able to interact well with others to help them communicate more effectively, too. They have to talk to plaintiffs, defendants and witnesses to learn the background of the case and the events that led to the legal dispute.  They must make sure that everyone involved understands the process and sort out each party’s interests and concerns. Mediators need excellent critical thinking and people skills to get parties on opposite sides of a dispute to put aside their differences and work toward resolving the issue without having to resort to a trial or further litigation. For extroverts who naturally enjoy being surrounded by and interacting with people, the challenge of getting parties on opposite sides to work together can be as exciting as it is rewarding.

Experienced Median Annual Salary: $61,280

Education Level: Bachelor’s degree

Projected employment growth: 10 percent

7. Human Resources Specialist

In the business world, human resources professionals play an important role: helping companies and organizations hire their employees. Workers are an important asset in every industry, and it’s a human resources specialist’s job to screen and hire quality workers and to handle matters such as training and orientation, employment paperwork, payroll and benefits.

When dealing with new and prospective new employees, human resources specialists will spend a lot of time interacting with people they don’t yet know. They must be comfortable meeting and interviewing new people from a wide variety of backgrounds, and they need to communicate well by being both good listeners and good speakers. Human resources specialists need to be confident in their own decision-making skills when it comes to determining which candidate is the best fit for the position they are trying to fill. Even after the hiring process is complete, human resources specialists guide new employees in filling out paperwork and understanding their job duties and benefits as well as conducting employee orientations. For extroverts, the opportunity to meet and interact with new people isn’t just a necessary part of the job, but may very well be the best part of the job. With experience and ambition, human resources specialists can advance to human resources manager positions. Not only does a management job allow extroverts to put their considerable leadership skills to work, but it also comes with substantially higher pay – a median salary of $99,720 per year.

Experienced Median Annual Salary: $55,640

Education Level: Bachelor’s degree

Projected employment growth: 8 percent

8. Public Relations Specialist

Public relations specialists are professionals in the field of media and communication who work toward a specific goal: managing the public image of an organization. Some public relations specialists, media specialists or communications specialists work in-house within a government entity, healthcare facility, educational institution or other organization, while others work in firms that handle public relations campaigns for a variety of external clients. Regardless of their work environment and situation, public relations specialists use the same strategies to create and perpetuate a positive image among consumers, investors and the media for the organizations they represent. They draft press releases announcing news concerning their organizations and distribute the information to a network of relevant contacts in the print and broadcast media. They field requests for information from media representatives and coordinate interviews with company spokespeople so that the information can be used in a newspaper or magazine article, a radio broadcast or a television news segment.

Strategy – and skilled implementation of that strategy – is an important part of success in public relations, but being a good problem-solver and writer isn’t enough. Public relations specialists must have excellent interpersonal skills to cultivate a network of relevant media contacts and maintain strong working relationships with those contacts. They must be comfortable not only initiating contact with reports, editors and other members of the media, but also speaking for the organization they represent. Where introverts might shudder at the thought of putting themselves and their company in the public eye and constantly courting the attention of the media, true extroverts will thrive in a busy, fast-paced career like public relations. Experienced public relations specialists can move into management positions, where they can earn a median annual salary of $95,450 and have the opportunity to lead teams and campaigns.

Experienced Median Annual Salary: $54,170

Education Level: Bachelor’s degree

Projected employment growth: 12 percent

9. Teacher

Teachers are the professionals responsible for educating young people in a variety of subjects and grade levels. Whether teaching very young children at the preschool, kindergarten and elementary school level or teenagers and young adults at the middle school or high school level, teachers must be able to connect with their students and find ways to make learning interesting. They create and carry out lesson plans that illustrate course material. They may procure or develop worksheets and tests. Teachers assign and grade classwork, homework and projects that help students learn not only the material, like a history lesson or science lecture, but also help them develop skills such as critical thinking. They grade tests and assignments and work with struggling students to help them grasp lessons.

Teachers are often the only adult, or one of the only adults, in a classroom full of students. They must not only be comfortable with public speaking, but also getting to know and communicate with each individual student. Successful teachers have the interpersonal skills to interact and communicate with a variety of people, from their young students to fellow adults. Teachers have to discuss students’ progress, including their strengths and weaknesses, with parents and guardians during conferences or when an academic or behavioral issue arises. They also have to work with colleagues, including other teachers, school counselors and administrators. Whether a teacher is standing up in front of a class giving a presentation, facilitating a group discussion or assigning work, he or she must lead students and manage the classroom – tasks that extroverts, who thrive in environments full of people and interaction, will often be comfortable doing. 

Experienced Median Annual Salary: $53,090 – $55,050 per year

Education Level: Bachelor’s degree

Projected employment growth: 6 to 12 percent

10. Event Planner

Event planners are the business professionals who organize a wide variety of events that range from weddings and parties to professional conferences, conventions and meetings. They work directly with both clients and professionals in the hospitality, transportation and professional services industries. Prior to the event, planners coordinate all of the details, including the date and time, the venue, transportation and catering or food service. They seek out locations and services that will fit the client’s needs, negotiate prices and coordinate all services required, making sure to keep the cost of the event under the agreed-upon budget. The job doesn’t end once the planning is complete. While the event is going on, planners are busy managing equipment, guest registration and other logistics and resolving any problems that emerge.

As an extrovert, you probably enjoy going out and experiencing events, from weddings to business conventions. What career could be more interesting than planning those events yourself? Event planners spend much of their time interacting with other people. They talk to clients to discover their needs and ideas. Then they work with the appropriate vendors and suppliers to fill those needs and negotiate contracts and prices. Because event planning is such a fast-paced industry, the professionals in it must be composed under pressure and comfortable thinking on their feet to solve problems.

Experienced Median Annual Salary: $45,810

Education Level: Bachelor’s degree

Projected employment growth: 33 percent

Related Resources:

20 Non-Law Firm Jobs with a Law Degree

What Degree Do You Need to Be a Lawyer?

What Degree Do I Need to Be a Mediator?

How Many Jobs Are Available in Finance?

What Are the 5 Best Careers in Environmental Science?

Exciting Jobs: The Top 15 Jobs for Adrenaline Seekers

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Studying criminal justice makes sense for students interested in advancing in or breaking into a wide variety of jobs in the criminal justice field. Our school rankings below highlight the 10 best criminal justice master’s degree programs. 

If you are considering applying to a criminal justice master’s program, our school rankings resource below can help you answer your questions and allow you to explore some of the best on-campus and online criminal justice master’s degree programs out there.

RELATED: 50 Top Criminal Justice Degree Scholarships

Careers in Criminal Justice

Criminal justice master’s graduates can go on to work in any role in or related to criminal justice systems and related areas like emergency management and homeland security. Probation officers, police officers and detectives, emergency management directors, social services workers and scholarly researchers are just a few of the career paths open to graduates of master’s-level programs in criminal justice. 

Many criminal justice professionals work in law enforcement agencies and other government agencies. These careers range from police officers and detectives in local and state police departments and forensic science technicians to agent roles in the FBI, the CIA, the Department of Homeland Security and other federal government agencies.

RELATED: Do I Need a Degree to Be an ATF Special Agent?

A criminal justice professional may also work in other areas of criminal justice systems, like corrections, rehabilitation and re-integration of convicted criminals who have served their sentences. Some criminal justice graduates work in more academic or research-focused roles, in which they conduct research into criminal behavior, often with the goal of working toward crime prevention.

A master’s degree in criminal justice opens up a broad array of career paths. This education qualifies students for career opportunities in government agencies ranging from the local level to the federal levels, as well as in nonprofit organizations and even some private businesses.  

The Benefits of Earning a Criminal Justice Degree

Opportunities for Career Advancement

You generally don’t need a master’s degree for many roles in law enforcement and the criminal justice system. A master’s degree in criminal justice isn’t required to work as a police officer, a probation officer or a forensic science technician. However, if you want to move up into higher-level roles in the law enforcement and criminal justice job market, a graduate education may be valuable. Professionals working in roles in criminal justice administration and management often have a more advanced education.

If you find that you gravitate more toward academic and research-focused roles than work in law enforcement and other careers involved in the criminal justice process, having a graduate education may be more crucial. For example, you may need advanced knowledge of criminological theory and the design and methods used for research if you want to devote your career to analyzing criminal justice policy, criminal behavior and evidence-based methods of crime prevention. For careers in this field, a criminal justice master’s program, or even a doctorate, may be a necessity.

With the opportunity for advancement comes the opportunity to improve your earning potential. In the highest-paying job roles in the field, senior-level supervisors, managers and administrators can earn thousands, and even tens of thousands, of dollars more than workers in lower-level criminal justice roles.

RELATED: What Salary Can You Expect With a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice?

Advanced Criminal Justice Studies

A degree in criminal justice prepares students for a variety of criminal justice jobs by imparting to them advanced knowledge of the theories of criminal justice and their applications. Often, students explore specialized topics of study in the course of their master’s degree studies.

What exactly can you expect to study in a master’s program in the criminal justice field? Typically, students explore more advanced foundations of criminality, criminology, criminal justice policy analysis, crime prevention and the trends and patterns in crime. Students examine the theoretical aspects of the criminal justice system through classes in correctional theory, advanced criminological theory and administrative theory. Often, students learn about the techniques used to research and analyze crime, criminal behavior and issues in the criminal justice process and the court system.

Different traditional and online criminal justice master’s programs may focus on different aspects of the field. Some programs emphasize leadership and administration, preparing students for leadership positions in law enforcement and the court system. In other programs that award master’s or doctoral degrees, most students are interested in conducting research in areas like crime prevention, restorative justice, public policy analysis and behavioral science. Still other programs prepare students to study specific types of crime or populations of people who engage in criminal activities.

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Areas of specialization in a master’s in criminal justice program include legal perspectives, social justice, victimization and victim advocacy, law enforcement and criminal behavior analysis. Many graduate criminal justice programs require a capstone project or course near the end of the curriculum, and some programs require a thesis. Some criminal justice students must take a comprehensive exam to complete their degree requirements. 

What Do You Need to Get Into a Master’s in Criminal Justice Program?

Each master’s in criminal justice program establishes its own requirements for admission, and some schools are more selective than others. In general, though, most criminal justice schools look for prospective students who have a bachelor’s degree with a strong grade point average, competitive scores on graduate admissions tests, letters of recommendation, professional work experience in the field of criminal justice and a personal statement.

Prospective students should research all of the schools in which they are interested, paying special attention to admissions requirements as well as curricula, opportunities for specialization and whether the school or program offers more in terms of research or professional practice. At some criminal justice schools, applicants are assigned their own enrollment counselor to help them determine if they meet admissions requirements and answer any questions about the application process.

A Bachelor’s Degree

Generally, you can’t start graduate school until you provide official transcripts showing that you finished your undergraduate studies by earning a bachelor’s degree. Generally, earning a bachelor’s degree requires students to complete 120 credits of college-level courses.

What major do you need for a criminal justice master’s program? Naturally, a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice is a good choice for any student aspiring to work in a field like law enforcement administration or in the criminal justice system. Studying criminal justice at the bachelor’s degree level gives you an opportunity to start building the basics early and then gain relevant work experience before setting off for graduate school.

However, graduate programs in this field often accept students outside of criminal justice majors. Some master’s in criminal justice degree programs only require that students have a baccalaureate or bachelor’s degree and don’t specify any certain courses of study. Other criminal justice master’s degrees are only open to students with a bachelor’s in criminal justice or in a related area like administration, paralegal studies, psychology, criminology, or other social sciences.

Generally, the reason students may have to have a certain educational background to be accepted into some criminal justice graduate programs is so that they will have enough of a foundation upon which to build graduate-level knowledge of theory and applications. A criminal justice master’s program may have certain prerequisites that students must meet regardless of what the title of their undergraduate college major was. Some of the more common prerequisites for a criminal justice master’s program include coursework in research methods and statistics, criminological theory, institutional and community corrections and law enforcement.

If you have a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, you are on the path to being able to apply to just about any master’s in criminal justice program. On the other hand, if your bachelor’s degree is in a different field, you may have to limit your graduate school search to programs that don’t have specific prerequisites or undergraduate major requirements.

The grades you earned as you worked toward your bachelor’s degree matter when it comes to applying for graduate school. Master’s degree programs will typically look at applicants’ grade point average (GPA) and their undergraduate college transcript. Generally, applicants for graduate school need at least a 3.0 GPA, although some schools require a higher minimum GPA. Having a GPA approaching 3.5 or higher gives you a better chance of being accepted into your preferred program of study.

Graduate Admissions Test Scores

Graduate school has a reputation for being difficult to get into, and one reason for this perception is that test scores are often required for entry. The most common graduate admissions test used for master’s in criminal justice degree programs is the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test.

The GRE General Test measures a test-taker’s skills in verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning and analytical writing. The more competitive your GRE scores, the more these test scores can help your application to graduate school. That said, most master’s in criminal justice degree programs view test scores as just one part of the student’s overall application package. Having exceptional test scores won’t get you into graduate school if the rest of your application is lacking, and having so-so test scores may not hurt your chances for admission as much as you would think, as long as your application is strong in other ways.

RELATED: Which Master’s Programs Under the Heading of Criminology Do or Don’t Require the GRE?

A fair number of graduate school programs still require students to submit GRE scores, and some schools and programs may even have a minimum score that they consider for admission. However, more and more schools and programs are dropping graduate admissions testing requirements. If you didn’t perform at the level you had hoped on the GRE, or if you’re reluctant to take the exam at all, you can narrow your school search to programs that don’t require test scores.

Another test schools may look for outside of the GRE is the Miller Analogies Test (MAT). This test assesses test-takers’ abilities in critical and analytical thinking and is much shorter than the GRE, taking just one hour compared to the three hours and forty-five minutes it takes to complete the GRE. Additionally, a criminal justice master’s program may require non-native English speakers who are applying to study at an English-speaking institution for the first time to take the standardized Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) exam.

Recommendations

Grades and test scores can tell graduate school admissions personnel if you’re likely to be able to handle the rigors of graduate-level coursework, but these quantitative pieces of data can leave out critical information about you. Schools often ask students to submit at least one or two recommendation letters – and sometimes more – from people who know the student well enough to speak to the attributes that aren’t always obvious from grades and test scores.

Generally, recommendations are best when they come from someone who knows you in an academic or a relevant professional capacity. For example, an instructor in whose class you excelled as an undergraduate student or a supervisor who managed you when you were an entry-level criminal justice professional can share valuable insight into your passion for the work, your intellectual curiosity, your work ethic, your ability to take initiative and many other qualities.

Professional Experience

In criminal justice, as in other fields of study, master’s degree programs may be intended for different student populations. For some master’s in criminal justice degrees, relevant professional experience in the field is a necessity. This requirement is particularly common in programs designed for working professionals and programs tailored to the needs of law enforcement leaders. The types of work that may count as experience for criminal justice professionals applying to graduate school include law enforcement careers, paralegal jobs and forensic science technician roles.

The reason a criminal justice master’s program may require experience is so that students start graduate school with the foundation needed to understand and excel at the advanced coursework required at this level of study. A criminal justice master’s program intended specifically for a student body that consists of trained and experienced police officers can assume a level of foundational knowledge that students without work experience are unlikely to have. On the other hand, if a program teaches students from all academic and professional backgrounds to become criminal justice professionals, it probably incorporates more foundational coursework into the curriculum than a program that has numerous prerequisites and professional experience requirements would.

Not all master’s in criminal justice degree programs require students to have considerable professional experience before enrolling in graduate school. In fact, some programs – especially those meant for career changers – give students the opportunity to start building their professional experience as part of their graduate school curriculum through internships and other field placements.

Some criminal justice schools even offer an accelerated “4+1” program structure that allows undergraduate students to start working toward their master’s in criminal justice degree as they earn their bachelor’s degree. Obviously, these options won’t require years of professional experience working in a role that requires a college degree.

A Personal Statement or Essay

An important part of your graduate school application is the personal statement you write and submit with your application. In a personal statement for a master’s in criminal justice degree program, you will discuss topics like your preparation for this graduate degree program and your goals and how earning your master’s degree will help you achieve them.

You may be asked to provide a resume or C.V. along with your application already or to enter into your application any relevant work experience, volunteer experience or extracurricular activities. As such, your essay does more than list what you have done and instead highlights what efforts, achievements and goals make you a good fit for the program.

A personal essay is important, but it doesn’t have to be long. Often, a personal essay is only 1,000 words, 500 words or even just 200 words. Every word counts when you’re trying to show that you deserve a spot in the degree program and that you will put your education to good use after you graduate.

Can You Earn an Online Criminal Justice Master’s Degree?

Online programs are more widely available than ever, which is good news for students who prefer distance-learning formats. Many institutions, including several of the schools on this list, offer an online master’s in criminal justice degree program.

Online students enjoy more convenience and, in many cases, flexibility than students enrolled in a traditional criminal justice master’s program. Not only do they not have to commute to campus – or, if studying far from home, uproot their lives entirely – but online students can often complete their studies on their schedule instead of following a strict course schedule with set meeting times. This flexibility is ideal for working criminal justice professionals, such as police officers who may have to work overnight shifts and probation officers who may be on call.

An online master’s in criminal justice degree program typically prepares online students for many of the same careers as a traditional, campus-based program. One thing to know about online master’s in criminal justice degree programs is that many of them are non-thesis programs. Online students are likely to have less of an emphasis on research in the criminal justice field and fewer opportunities to participate in hands-on research, although most online programs do include some research-focused coursework, such as classes in quantitative methods of research and the application of statistical analysis.

RELATED: What Classes Will I Take in a Criminal Justice Degree?

Prospective students should know that online programs aren’t easy, even if you can complete them from the convenience of your home and the comfort of your pajamas. Succeeding in an online master’s in criminal justice degree program requires plenty of dedication and self-discipline. The coursework in these online programs is similar to that found in a campus-based graduate program, and online students have to complete the rigorous, advanced coursework found at the graduate level without the direct, face-to-face interactions with faculty members that students in traditional programs have.

Even though flexibility is an important part of why students choose online master’s in criminal justice programs, it’s important for online students to develop a plan that allows them to focus on their studies and to promptly reach out for help if they feel that they are struggling or falling behind. Some schools that offer online programs also have resources that help online students succeed, including online library access, IT services, writing tutoring help, career services and counseling services.

The Top Criminal Justice Master Programs

We have compiled the following school rankings based on our extensive research into traditional and online criminal justice master’s degree programs nationwide.

1. Florida State University

For a fantastic education in criminal justice that offers students plenty of options, consider applying to Florida State University in Tallahassee, FL. The university’s College of Criminology and Criminal Justice offers both an on-campus and an online master’s in criminal justice program. The 33-credit program of study can be completed as either a Master of Science in criminal justice or a Master of Arts in criminal justice that emphasizes coursework in the humanities and proficiency in a foreign language. Additionally, students can opt for a thesis or non-thesis (course work only) format.

The master’s in criminal justice curriculum at FSU includes criminology and criminal justice theory, a survey course on criminological theory and a survey of criminological studies. Other required courses include statistics and research methods for criminal justice.

Electives make up about half of the graduate-level curriculum. Students must complete a minimum of nine credit hours in criminology and criminal justice electives, plus another six to nine credits within or outside the major program. Potential elective options may include juvenile justice, victimology, ecology of crime, prevention of crime and delinquency, crimes of the powerful, current issues in police and society, data analysis and crime and justice matters pertaining to gender, race and ethnicity. Fieldwork opportunities, including a field practice in criminology or a criminal justice practicum, are also available as an elective part of the curriculum.

Florida State University is home to both the Center for Criminology and Public Policy Research and the Institute for the Prevention of Financial Fraud. The school boasts prestigious faculty members with numerous scholarly publications, the second-largest chapter of the Lambda Alpha Epsilon professional law enforcement fraternity in the nation, opportunities to get involved with the American Society of Criminology and a partnership with the Pat Thomas Law Enforcement Academy through which Florida students can pursue their studies and their State Officer Certifications simultaneously.

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In addition to the traditional (online or on-campus) criminal justice master’s degree program, the school offers a one-year Master of Science in Criminology, a Master of Science in Cyber Criminology and a highly regarded doctoral program. Joint graduate pathways are available in the areas of social work and public administration.

RELATED: The 20 Best Masters in Cyber Security Online

Tuition Costs:

As of 2022, graduate tuition costs for Florida State University students studying on the main campus were $479.32 per credit hour for in-state students and $1,110.72 per credit hour for out-of-state students. Distance-learning tuition rates ranged from $444.26 per credit in-state to $1,075.66 per credit out-of-state.

Full-time students enrolled in nine credits per semester over two semesters per year, paid annual tuition rates of $8,627.76 in-state or $19,992.96 out-of-state. In-state students studying online could expect to pay $7,996.68 in tuition, while out-of-state students would be looking at tuition costs of $19,361.88 for the year.

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2. Arizona State University

Arizona State University in Phoenix, AZ, offers both a Master of Arts in criminal justice and a Master of Science in Criminology and Criminal Justice program. The MA option is an online master’s degree program, while the MS degree is offered at the downtown Phoenix campus. Both the MA and the MS degrees in criminal justice are 33-credit programs.

To earn the online MA degree in criminal justice, students at Arizona State University must complete five core courses. These required classes include two courses in theory and research on crime and the criminal justice system, Seminar in Criminal Justice and Seminar in Criminology. Other core coursework for the degree includes two courses in the category of conducting research and analytical techniques – applied data analysis in criminal justice and criminal justice planning and program evaluation – and a capstone course titled Theory and Practice in Criminal Justice.

Students’ 18 credits of elective coursework may cover topics in corrections, policing, homeland security, sex crimes and criminal justice theory. This online program is available in an accelerated format that features 7.5-week course terms and year-round start dates. Full-time students complete the program in as little as 18 months.

The MS criminal justice program at ASU is a better option for students considering a PhD program in the future due to its stronger focus on research. However, the program can be tailored toward research or professional practice and may culminate in either a thesis or a capstone paper. Like students pursuing the MA, students in the MS program complete seminars in both criminal justice and criminology. However, their other required core courses include research methods for criminal justice, statistical tools used in criminology and criminal justice and advanced statistical analysis.

Master of Science students at ASU must also take at least two systems courses, which may cover topics like policing, corrections, and courts and sentencing. Students who opt not to write a thesis must instead take the capstone course. To round out their coursework, students in the MS program take six to 12 credits of elective courses.

ASU’s School of Criminology and Criminal Justice has consistently been ranked highly by U.S. News & World Report, with its criminology doctoral program ranked second in the nation and its online master’s degree in criminal justice ranked seventh for 2022. With 26 tenured and tenure-track instructors, 20 research professors and lecturers and 58 faculty associates educating 38 PhD students, 287 master’s students and 2,530 undergraduate students, the school bills itself as “one of the largest criminology and criminal justice faculties” nationwide.

Students can also pursue a Master of Science in crime analysis, a doctoral degree in criminology and criminal justice, and graduate certificates in topics like corrections management, crime analysis, homeland security and law enforcement administration.

Tuition Costs:

For on-campus graduate students, tuition for the 2021 through 2022 school year is $11,720 for in-state students and $23,544 for out-of-state students. For online MA in criminal justice students, the tuition cost for the 2021 through 2022 year is $11,782.

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3. Michigan State University

Michigan State University in East Lansing, MI, offers numerous master’s degree options – both online and in-person – that are of interest to those working in the criminal justice arena. The School of Criminal Justice at Michigan State University is part of the institution’s College of Social Science and brings together interdisciplinary coursework to create a curriculum that continues to earn accolades year after year.

The online and on-campus Master of Arts criminal justice degree programs both require 30 credits of coursework in topics like criminal justice management and crime causation and prevention. The elective course offerings for criminal justice graduate students at Michigan State University are robust and diverse. Whether you’re interested in intelligence and counterterrorism, product counterfeiting, security management and administration or advanced topics in policing, there’s bound to be an elective course that fits your career goals.

Research is an important part of the master’s in criminal justice program at Michigan State University. Even for students who decide to pursue the non-thesis format, coursework in quantitative research methods and design and analysis in criminal justice research is required.

Other programs to consider are the master’s degree in forensic science and the online-only master’s degree in cybercrime and digital investigation and master’s degree in law enforcement intelligence and analysis. Michigan State University’s School of Criminal Justice has the longest continuous history of granting criminal justice degrees of all institutions nationwide.

Tuition Costs:

Online tuition for the Master of Arts in criminal justice degree at Michigan State University is $784.00 per credit hour in 2022, which translates to $13,464 for a year of full-time study (nine credit hours per semester over two semesters) or $23,520 for the entire degree.

For graduate students pursuing an on-campus master’s degree, per-credit rates for 2022 are $817.25 for residents and $1,605.75 for non-residents. Over the course of a year of full-time graduate study, that amounts to $14,710.50 in-state or $28,903.50 0ut-of-state.

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4. East Carolina University

Students looking for an online master’s in criminal justice program should consider applying to East Carolina University in Greenville, NC. This fully online master’s program in criminal justice boasts an award-winning faculty, offers funded graduate research assistantships to make graduate school more affordable and does not impose a GRE requirement, so there are fewer obstacles in the way of getting started.

In their core coursework for this 36-credit program, students complete coursework in criminal behavior and the principles of criminal justice and of criminal justice management and administration. Research is also an important part of the curriculum. Additional required classes include research methods and statistical interpretation in criminal justice and the application of qualitative and quantitative research methods to the evaluation of criminal justice programs.

East Carolina University is a great choice for students who really want to tailor their education to specific interests. More than half of a student’s coursework in the master’s in criminal justice program at this institution consists of electives in the major, which means that students have plenty of flexibility to customize their curriculum.

In choosing their elective courses, graduate students might consider classes in corrections, law enforcement, criminal justice courts, juvenile justice, civil liability in criminal justice and ethics and diversity issues in criminal justice. If you are interested in the research and academia side of the field, you might choose to study criminal justice education or criminal justice and society. Other possible electives for graduate students at Eastern Carolina University include studies in criminal justice and terrorism, international crime, hate crimes and victimology.

East Carolina University’s master’s in criminal justice degree is a non-thesis program but requires the completion of a professional paper in which students, under the guidance of a faculty mentor, complete an independent analysis of a problem in the criminal justice field. Aside from its fully online Master of Science in criminal justice program, East Carolina University also offers a graduate certificate in criminal justice education and, through the school’s department of political science, certificates in both security studies and public management and leadership.

Tuition Costs:

During the 2020 through 2021 academic year, graduate students of criminal justice paid an in-state tuition rate of $4,478 and an out-of-state tuition rate of $16,080.

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5. University of the Cumberlands

A private institution that was founded by Baptists in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains in 1888 and still maintains its Christian affiliation today offers one of the best fully online master’s in criminal justice programs around. The University of the Cumberlands in Williamsburg, KY, was ranked seventh in the nation among online master’s in criminal justice programs by U.S. News & World Report for 2022. Students who pursue the program in an accelerated format can finish the 31-credit degree in as little as 12 months.

The curriculum of the Master of Science in Justice Administration (MJA) degree program consists of 18 credits of core courses, 12 credits of coursework on two areas of specialization (of the student’s choosing) and a 1-credit capstone project. The required coursework for this degree includes classes in the foundations of justice administration, ethical issues in justice administration, legal issues in justice administration and criminological theory in justice administration.

Core courses in the area of research methods encompass a class in statistical applications in justice administration and a course in research, design and analysis in crime and criminal justice organization administration. Other required courses in leadership fundamentals and human resources management as they pertain to the criminal justice field.

To meet their specialization course requirements, students must complete two courses in two different areas of specialization. There are 10 different specialization options for students to choose from, each with its own course requirements. For example, students who choose the juvenile justice specialization study juvenile justice administration and management as well as family violence. The investigations specialization encompasses classes in the crimes and psychology of violent offenders and in the myths and motives that pertain to sex crimes. In the addiction studies specialization, students complete studies in addiction and the offender population and in addiction recovery and relapse.

In addition to the MJA program, the University of the Cumberlands also offers an online criminal justice management certificate that consists of four graduate-level courses.

Tuition Costs:

For online master’s degree programs at the University of the Cumberlands, the per-credit tuition cost for the 2021 through 2022 school year was $315. Assuming a full-time course load of nine credits per semester and two semesters per year, students can expect to pay just $5,670 in tuition for a year of graduate study at this institution.

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6. University of Central Florida

At the University of Central Florida in Orlando, FL, the graduate-level criminal justice program leads to a Master of Science degree. Officially, the degree program is offered “primarily online,” with limited options for in-person courses, but some criminal justice electives at the graduate level may be offered only in person, not online.

In this 36-credit master’s degree program, which includes both thesis and non-thesis options, students complete core coursework in the nature of crime, policy and data analysis in criminal justice, the administration of justice and the research methods applied in the field of criminal justice. A capstone course is required.

Areas of study students may choose in the form of restricted electives include the foundations of law enforcement and corrections, law and social control, American criminal courts and juvenile justice. Possible elective courses in the field of criminal justice include data management systems for analyzing crime, professionalism in criminal justice organizations, leadership and ethics in criminal justice work, advanced research methods, copycat crime and perspectives on genocide.

As one of the most popular departments in the university, the Department of Criminal Justice, part of the College of Community Innovation and Education, graduates a total of more than 450 students per year. Criminal justice students at the University of Central Florida may participate in organizations like the Lambda Alpha Epsilon professional law enforcement fraternity and the Alpha Phi Sigma Honor Society. U.S. News & World Report ranked the University of Central Florida 11th in the nation among master’s in criminal justice programs.

For students interested in doctoral study, the University of Central Florida offers a Doctor of Philosophy in Criminal Justice. Students can also pursue graduate certificates in the areas of Juvenile Justice, Crime Analysis, Criminal Justice Executive Leadership, Police Leadership and Corrections Leadership. Of particular interest is the dual master’s degree in criminal justice and public administration, which awards both a Master of Science in criminal justice and a Master of Public Administration and prepares students for leadership, policy and research roles.

Tuition Costs:

For the traditional on-campus master’s in criminal justice program at the University of Central Florida, in-state students pay $369.65 per credit hour, and out-of-state students pay $1,194.05 per credit hour. Students pursuing the online master in criminal justice degree pay slightly discounted tuition rates of $327.32 per credit in-state or $1,151.72 per credit out-of-state.

Assuming a full-time course load of nine credits per semester and two semesters per year, in-state students would pay $6,653.70 for in-person study and $5,891.76 for online study. Out-of-state students could expect to pay $21,492.90 per year if studying in person or $20,730.96 per year if studying online.

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7. Sam Houston State University

Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, TX, offers half a dozen master’s degree programs in the general area of criminal justice, including both general and specialized content and both online and on-campus formats. Additionally, the longstanding public university ranked well on U.S. News & World Report’s list of both the best online master’s in criminal justice schools and the best criminology schools, placing second among online master’s programs in 2022 and 15th among all criminology programs in 2021.

Specialized master’s degrees offered through Sam Houston State University’s College of Criminal Justice include forensic science, homeland security studies and victim services management. A Master of Science degree in criminal justice leadership and management, offered online and in-person on weekends, prepares students for work in management roles within criminal justice organizations.

The most general degree options for graduate students at Sam Houston State University are the Master of Science in criminal justice and the Master of Arts in criminal justice and criminology. The online MS in criminal justice program is a non-thesis program that includes core coursework in criminal justice organization and administration, critical analysis of justice administration, program evaluation in criminal justice, emergent issues in criminal justice leadership and research methods for criminal justice. Additionally, students must take a course in either ethics in criminal justice work or communication theory as it pertains to justice administration, as well as elective courses.

The Master of Arts in Criminal Justice and Criminology degree at Sam Houston State University is a campus-based 36-credit program that prepares students for professional practice in the criminal justice field or for further study in the form of a PhD. A thesis is required, and the curriculum focuses more heavily on research than the online MS program does, encompassing coursework in research methods and a sequence of classes in statistics for criminal justice research. Other required courses for this degree program include critical analysis of justice administration, perspectives in criminology and legal aspects of the criminal justice system.

In addition to undergraduate offerings and its criminal justice master’s programs, Sam Houston State University also offers PhD programs in both criminal justice and forensic science.

Tuition Costs:

Sam Houston State University charges a per-semester tuition rate based on the number of semester hours a student is taking. For the 2021 through 2022 academic year, graduate tuition rates for nine semester hours of coursework were $4,332.65 per semester for in-state students, or $8,665.30 for the year (spring and fall semesters). Out-of-state students would pay $8,004.65 per term, or $16,009.30 per year, for the same number of semester hours.

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8. California State University—San Bernardino

The California State University system is a large and well-respected public university system, and multiple of the school’s 23 campuses offer exceptional master’s in criminal justice programs. U.S. News & World Report ranked California State University—San Bernardino as 34th among the best online master’s in criminal justice programs in 2022. Additionally, U.S. News & World Report has ranked California State University—Long Beach 41st among the best online master’s programs.

At California State University—San Bernardino, the interdisciplinary Master of Arts in criminal justice program includes both thesis and non-thesis tracks. Required coursework in the 34-credit program includes criminal justice or corrections, the application of criminological theory to criminal justice work, the planning and evaluation of criminal justice programs and research and literature in criminal justice. Students will also cover statistical analysis and advanced techniques of basic and applied research as they pertain to the field of criminal justice.

Students in California State University—San Bernardino also complete three electives of their choice, which may include topics such as terrorism, homeland security, transnational organized crime, intelligence and crime analysis, crime in public spaces, life course criminality and trends and patterns in criminal and victim populations. Students on a non-thesis track complete additional electives and take a comprehensive exam.

California State University—San Bernardino is also home to two research centers that are relevant to the field of criminal justice: the Center for Criminal Justice Research (CCJR) and the Center for the Study of Hate & Extremism.

Tuition Costs:

For the 2021 through 2022 school year, the resident tuition rate for graduate students at California State University—San Bernardino was $3,588.00 per semester if taking at least six units of coursework, or $7,176 for the year (fall and spring terms).

For non-resident students, the tuition rate was $396 per unit on top of what residents pay. Thus, a non-resident student would pay $11,928 to take six units of coursework for both terms. If the non-resident student were taking nine units per semester, they would be looking at a tuition rate of $14,304.

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9. Boston University

The graduate-level criminal justice program offerings at Boston University have a lot to offer: a completion time as short as eight months, three possible areas of specialization to choose from and a strong reputation overall. U.S. News & World Report ranked Boston University fourth among the best online criminal justice master’s programs for 2022.

Boston University’s Master of Science in criminal justice program teaches students the essentials of graduate-level education in this field. Students can study online or on campus. Of the 32-credit program, 16 credits are devoted to core courses in criminal justice administration and ethics, criminology and crime policy, research and evaluation methods for the criminal justice field and applied analytical methods for criminal justice research. The remaining half of the program focuses on students’ interests.

Among students who opt not to pursue an area of specialization, further coursework consists of elective courses that may range from youth crime problems and rehabilitation and re-integration to victimology, forensic behavior analysis and trauma and crisis intervention. Students who choose an area of specialization take fewer electives, instead devoting some of their non-core credits to their concentration area. The three areas of specialization open to students in Boston University’s master’s in criminal justice program are crime analysis, strategic management and cybercrime investigation and security.

The crime analysis specialization requires coursework in crime and intelligence analysis and geographic information systems (GIS) and Spatial Analysis, as well as classes in data science with Python programming language, the foundations of machine learning, and similar topics. Students in the strategic management specialization study public emergency management and criminal justice policy and planning. When studying cybercrime investigation and security, students complete coursework in the major theories in cybercrime and in applied digital forensic investigation.

Boston University also offers graduate-level certificates in criminal justice, crime analysis, strategic management in criminal justice and cybercrime investigation and cybersecurity.

Tuition Costs:

For the 2022 through 2023 academic year, tuition rates for Boston University’s Metropolitan College, out of which the MS in criminal justice degree is offered, full-time students pay $30,525 per semester, or $61,050.00 per year (fall and spring terms). Part-time students pay $520.00 per credit when taking courses numbered 599 or below (as several graduate courses, including core coursework for the major, are) and $955.00 per credit when taking courses number 600 and above. In-state and out-of-state students at Boston University pay the same tuition rates, depending on whether they studying part-time or full-time. 

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10. University of Pennsylvania

The University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, PA, is a research university, so it’s not surprising that the institution’s Master of Science in Criminology is a research-focused program.

The small, selective program from the Department of Criminology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Arts and Sciences requires coursework in criminology in practice, criminal justice data analytics, research methods for crime analysis, quantitative methods in sociology and evidence-based crime prevention. This program requires a thesis in the form of an oral and written presentation on a crime analysis project.

Naturally, the University of Pennsylvania also offers a PhD program in criminology. Students can also choose from dual-degree master’s programs in criminal justice and law, social work or government administration.

Tuition Costs:

For the 2020 through 2021 school year, graduate tuition for master’s degrees in the University of Pennsylvania School of Arts and Sciences was $27,597 per term (fall or spring) and covered up to four courses. For the year, graduate students in these programs could expect to spend $55,194 in tuition costs.

View program details.

Starting Your Criminal Justice School Search

Launching a graduate school search can be intimidating. You can look at school rankings like ours and scout out faculty members’ credentials and research contributions. Other important factors to consider are whether a program offers (and whether you need) options for part-time and full-time study and the cost and value (counting financial aid) of a degree program.

Part-Time, Full-Time and Accelerated Options

Full-time students finish their studies faster, but many professionals working in the field of criminal justice aren’t able to commit to full-time learning. Fortunately, several top schools for criminal justice master’s degrees offer a variety of study formats and program structures to meet students’ needs.

Full-time students often take three or more graduate-level courses per term, two terms per year, to complete a master’s degree in two years. Some full-time students prefer an accelerated format in which they complete fewer courses at a time during multiple short terms instead of traditional fall or spring semesters. An accelerated option may also mean taking on a heavier course load than typical full-time students take at the graduate level. Accelerated formats allow students to graduate faster than the typical two years it takes to finish a master’s degree, sometimes in as little as eight to 12 months.

Part-time students take a lighter course load than full-time students. Often, they are working professionals or stay-at-home parents or caretakers whose other obligations prevent them from devoting regular business hours to their education. Part-time criminal justice master’s students may attend classes in person on evenings and weekends, or they may choose online programs with asynchronous formats that allow students to complete coursework on their own schedule.

Any progress toward your degree counts, regardless of whether you’re able to enroll as a full-time or part-time student. Before you choose a school for a master’s program in criminal justice, you should consider what learning format and structure is right for you.

Cost, Value and Financial Aid

The cost of an education can really add up, so it’s important for prospective students of both traditional and online programs to look at tuition rates and other fees when choosing a degree program. However, students should also weigh the financial aid that will be available to them and the value of their education.

Going to the most prestigious (but expensive) school you can find may not be a wise decision in this career field unless that institution offers something special – like a research center, an area of specialization or field placements and recruiting opportunities with high-profile government agencies. Otherwise, a less expensive institution with regional distinction and a solid curriculum may help you achieve the same career results without the steep price tag.

The “sticker” cost of an education isn’t always what your degree will actually cost you. For one thing, tuition rates, including those listed in our ranking above, aren’t the only costs to consider. Other college costs include mandatory fees, textbooks and course materials and potentially room and board.

For many graduate students, though, the real cost of college can actually be less than the tuition rate. This is because financial aid packages, including federal financial aid, can reduce the cost of attendance. Financial aid for graduate students ranges from scholarships and loans to graduate assistantships in which students work in exchange for stipends and tuition waivers. An admissions advisor may be able to help you figure out what kind of financial aid may be available to you and what costs you can expect to pay for your graduate education.

Related Resources: 

Highest Paying Degrees in Criminal Justice – Majors & Careers

What Are the Fastest Schools to Earn a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice?

How Fast Can I Earn a Degree in Criminal Justice?

Are There Different Graduate Degrees in Criminal Justice?

Top 25 Law Schools

The post Top 10 Graduate Degree Programs in Criminal Justice appeared first on DegreeQuery.com.

RELATED: 23 Fastest Online Bachelor’s Degree Programs

Often, accelerated programs and online learning go hand in hand, especially at the master’s degree level. An online program that allows students to work at their own pace is also ideal for allowing ambitious students to finish more coursework in a shorter timeframe. Our list of the fastest online master’s programs identifies graduate degrees in a variety of disciplines that can be completed online at accredited colleges and universities in less than the traditional two years of study.

What Is the Fastest Master’s Degree?

There are several factors that can affect how long it takes to earn a master’s degree. Accelerated online graduate degrees commonly possess one or more of the following features: a smaller number of credits required for graduation, an accelerated course format or degree structure, a policy of accepting a considerable number of transfer credits and a subject that fits well into an accelerated format.

Smaller Credit Requirements

Progress toward a masters degree is typically measured in credits, or credit hours. Most graduate-level courses are worth three credits or four credits, but some classes – like short modules and seminar courses – may sometimes count for only a single credit hour.

One way to reduce the time it takes to earn your master’s degree online is to choose a program that requires fewer credits. Master’s degree programs typically consist of at least 30 credits of college study at the graduate level. However, some master’s degree programs, particularly those in specialized areas, may require up to 45, 50 or even 60 credit hours of graduate coursework.

Naturally, it takes significantly less time to complete 30 credits than 50 credits. If you want to earn your degree quickly, you should look for a master’s degree program in your field of study that requires only 30 credits to 40 credits. Many of the master’s degree programs on our list require 30, 32 or 36 college credits.

Accelerated Formats and Structures

Even the best student can only handle so heavy a workload at a time, especially if they have obligations outside of graduate school. Courses and programs that are offered in an accelerated format can allow students to complete their curriculum faster. Students in one of the best online accelerated master’s programs may take more than what is typically considered to be a full load of graduate-level coursework per term.

Often, students take advantage of the accelerated formats the quickest master’s programs offer by taking a smaller number of courses at a time spread over many short academic terms. Instead of taking three or four graduate courses per semester over two long semesters, a student might instead take one or two classes during each eight-week term. Under this sort of accelerated structure, a student may complete 10 to 12 classes in a year instead of just six to eight. Students may also prefer this learning format because it allows them to focus on just one or two courses at a time instead of spreading their efforts and attention too thin.

RELATED: Top 25 Fastest Online Doctorate Degrees

Because this program structure depends on short, frequent terms, an accelerated online master’s program is likely to offer multiple start dates throughout the academic year. This type of program enables students to start their online degree program sooner, without having to wait for traditional fall or spring start dates to enroll.

Transfer-Friendly Policies

Another way to speed up your education is by making sure you get full credit for all of your work, even prior coursework. If this isn’t your first attempt at graduate school, you should look for an institution that will allow you to transfer as many of your prior credits as possible, so you’re not stuck doing extra work to get your degree. A school with a generous transfer credit policy may allow students to transfer as many as 12 credits – a third (or more) of the credits required to earn a typical master’s degree.

Some schools also offer competency-based programs that allow you to get credit for what you already know – like the knowledge you gained on the job. Usually, colleges and universities that award credit for competency, rather than strictly for course completion, count scores on proctored exams, portfolio assessments and other methods of evaluation as progress toward graduation. Choosing a nationally ranked school that awards prior learning credits is a great choice to help working professionals who are earning a master’s degree finish their education faster.

The Best Subjects for an Accelerated Online Master of Science

Earning a master’s degree can improve your career prospects and your job security in any number of fields. However, some subjects lend themselves to accelerated online studies more effectively than others.

Naturally, a program that requires a great deal of clinical fieldwork can be more challenging to complete online and in an accelerated format than other programs. This is why many of the health sciences and health-related degrees on our list take closer to 16 months, a year and a half, or just under two years, rather than the degree plan being something students can complete in 1 year.

However, programs that require less highly technical knowledge and/or those that build upon existing knowledge and fieldwork often allow for shorter completion times. Some of the subjects in which accelerated online master’s degrees are commonly offered include:

• Business (business administration
• Education
• Criminal justice
• Computer science

This isn’t an exhaustive list of the types of online accelerated master’s program options graduate students may finish quickly. Whether you want to earn a masters degree in human sciences, policy analysis, public relations, global studies, other languages or the arts – like a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) or Master of Music degree – national universities offer accelerated learning programs that can be completed quickly online. An online accelerated master’s program can help you reach career goals in a wide array of real-world industries and occupations.

Accelerated Master’s Programs in Business Management and Administration

Business programs are some of the most common accelerated online master’s options out there. Business students pursuing a master’s degree online may opt for an online MBA, a master’s in business management, human resource management, project management, organizational performance and organizational leadership, business analytics and other specialization options.

Certain business programs are tailored toward management and administration in specialized areas. For example, pursuing an online college degree in public administration prepares students to work in administrative roles in government agencies and entities, while master’s programs in engineering management and healthcare administration allow students to achieve career aspirations involving leadership roles in the engineering and healthcare industries, respectively.

What can you do with an accelerated master’s degree in business? Many of these degree programs help students develop a range of useful skills, including managerial skills, skills in conflict resolution, critical thinking skills, a working knowledge of employment law and more. An accountancy program can help you become a certified public accountant (CPA), while an accelerated master in finance can help students become senior-level financial analysts.

Some online MBA program, accountancy program and other business master degree program options have earned programmatic accreditation from organizations like the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP), the International Association for Business Schools and Programs (IABSP), and the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).

Accelerated Master’s Programs in Education

Many online education degree program options offered with an accelerated track are teacher education degrees intended for working teachers. Master’s in education degrees that fit into this category include master’s in early childhood education and early childhood studies degrees, K-12 education programs, special education online degrees and music education degrees. Aside from these graduate-level teacher education programs, Master of Education program options may include topics like educational leadership, higher education administration, instructional design and learning technology.

Accelerated Master’s Programs in Criminal Justice

Online masters in criminal justice programs often include a variety of specialization options ranging from criminology and law enforcement studies to emergency management and homeland security. Again, these programs are often well-suited to adult learners with considerable work experience in these fields.

Accelerated Master’s Programs in Computer Science and Computer Technology

Another category of accelerated online master’s degrees that naturally works well with computer-based learning methods is computer science and computer technology. Tech-savvy students may pursue online degrees in cyber security, information systems and data analysis.

Accelerated Master’s Programs in Health, STEM Fields and Other Areas

Some master’s degree programs in health science and other science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields are also available on an accelerated online format. Nursing, nutritional health and behavioral sciences are just a few of the health-focused online Master of Science programs students can consider. An online graduate program like one of these can prepare students for job prospects in settings like a nursing home or care facility, hospital, clinic or other type of medical or healthcare facility.

Types of Online Master’s Degree Program Options

Many master’s degrees are Master of Science (MS) programs, but these degrees aren’t the only option for online graduate students. Other programs may award a Master of Arts (MA), Master of Education (MEd) or Master of Engineering (MEng) degree, to name a few examples.

RELATED: 100 Most Affordable Online Graduate Schools

The 40 Fastest Online Programs for Graduate Students

Many of the fastest online master’s degrees are available with just a year and a half of study, one year of study or, at certain institutions, less than a full year of study. The accelerated online master’s degrees offered at each of the 40 schools listed below are among the 40 fastest online masters degrees in the nation, and they’re sure to impress students who are eager to jump right into accelerated online programs.

Whether you’re interested in a master’s in education, an online master of business degree, a master’s in engineering management or something completely different, you’re likely to find an accelerated online master’s program for you on our list below.

1. Southern New Hampshire University

Time to Degree Completion: 12-18 Months

At Southern New Hampshire University, online students can choose from more than 100 distance-learning master’s degree programs. Many of these programs are available in accelerated formats that allow them to be completed in as little as 18 months, 15 months or even just 12 months.

One of the shortest online programs available at Southern New Hampshire University is the one-year MBA program. Students pursuing an MBA at Southern New Hampshire University can choose from 17 distinct concentration areas, including finance, entrepreneurship, the music business and information technology management.

Numerous other degree programs at Southern New Hampshire University can be completed in just 15 months. In the area of education, these programs include the Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction and the Master of Science in Higher Education Administration.

Accelerated programs related to the fields of business and management include the 15-month Master of Science in Management, Master of Science in Sports Management, Master of Science in Applied Economics and Master of Science in Project Management and Operations. There are 15-month master’s degree programs in history, English, criminal justice and data analytics. Southern New Hampshire University even offers accelerated options in healthcare-related fields. The Master of Science in Healthcare Administration can be completed in as little as 15 months, while the Master of Science in Nursing takes 18 months to finish.

To allow students to complete their master’s degree programs faster, Southern New Hampshire State University offers five start dates throughout the school year and offers a generous transfer credit policy. Generally, students with prior graduate study can transfer up to 12 credits – a third of their curriculum – to this program. Additionally, by not requiring graduate admissions tests like the GRE or GMAT, the school removes obstacles that delay or prevent prospective students from applying.

As an institution, Southern New Hampshire University is regionally accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education. The school’s individual degree programs have earned programmatic accreditation from numerous organizations, including the following:

• The Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)
• The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
• The Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
• The Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)
• The Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology)
• The New Hampshire State Department of Education for Teacher Certification

View general online master’s program information.

2. California Baptist University

Time to Degree Completion: 12-16 Months

If you don’t mind earning your online degree at a school with a strong religious mission, consider applying to California Baptist University. The Christian-founded Riverside-based institution is regionally accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC).

To facilitate accelerated online learning, California Baptist University offers accelerated online or hybrid courses with start dates every eight weeks. These programs are geared toward adult students, making them an even better option for full-time professionals and students with family obligations.

The average completion time for many online master’s degree programs at California Baptist University is just 12 months, including the Master of Science in Accounting, Master of Science in Information Technology Management and Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies.

Business- and administration-related accelerated programs include the Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership, the Master of Arts in Strategic Communication, Master of Public Administration and Master of Business Administration programs in the specializations of accounting and general management. Education is another popular field of study at this institution, where online students can pursue a Master of Science in Education with specializations in Curriculum and Instruction, Early Childhood Studies, Educational Leadership, Special Education and Transitional Kindergarten.

Healthcare-related options include the 1-year Master of Healthcare Administration and Master of Science in Kinesiology, as well as the 16-month Master of Public Health. The school’s online Master of Science in Counseling Psychology degree is unique because courses are offered in different formats like an asynchronous online format and a virtual hybrid format that allows for real-time distance-learning interactions.

View general online master’s program information.

3. University of North Texas

Time to Degree Completion: 12-18 Months

With eight-week accelerated course formats and five start dates throughout the year, the University of North Texas offers plenty of fast online master’s degree options.

Students seeking an online accelerated master’s degree from the University of North Texas can earn their MBA in half a dozen concentrations: marketing, marketing analytics, sport entertainment management, strategic management, supply chain analytics and organizational behavior and HR management.

In the field of education, accelerated master’s degree programs at the University of North Terxas include Master of Education in Educational Leadership and the Master of Science in Early Childhood Education.

The Master of Science in Learning Technologies program exists at the intersection between education and technology. More tech-focused programs include the Master of Science in Advanced Data Analytics and the Master of Science in Digital Communication Analytics.

View general online master’s program information.

4. Saint Leo University

Time to Degree Completion: 12-24 Months

Saint Leo University bills itself as “one of the first universities in America to offer online degree programs,” so it’s no surprise that the Florida institution offers dozens of online master’s degree options.

The Catholic liberal arts-based university offers an MBA program with a variety of distinct concentrations, as well seven different Master of Education degree options and seven specializations of Master of Science in Criminal Justice programs. Other areas of online study include creative writing, theology, psychology and social work.

Online graduate students at this institution typically take one to two classes per eight-week term, six of which run – often, with no break in between terms – in an academic year. Students who take the maximum number of courses per term and work toward their degree non-stop may be able to complete many of these degree programs within a year, while those who take just one course per term will be closer to the two-year mark by the time they graduate.

When taken with advanced standing, the full-time Master of Social Work is one of Saint Leo University’s abundant online master’s degree programs that can be completed in as little as one year. However, for students without advanced standing, this program requires two years of full-time study, as does the school’s creative writing program that includes three summer residencies. For prospective students who haven’t yet earned an undergraduate degree, Saint Leo University offers “3+1” accelerated degree programs in three subject areas that allow students to rapidly complete both their bachelor’s and their master’s degrees in a shorter timeframe.

View general online master’s program information.

5. Boston University

Time to Degree Completion: 12-18 Months

Boston University has a 20-year history of offering award-winning online education programs, so this school is a solid choice for students looking for a credible online master’s degree program. Coincidentally, Boston University also happens to offer 20 online degrees at that master’s level.

These degree options range from topics like insurance management and data analytics to gastronomy, a multidisciplinary program concerned with the role of food in society. BU’s Master of Science in Project Management degree program can be completed in 12 to 20 months, while the Master of Science in Enterprise Risk Management degree program consists of one and a half years to two years of study.

Education degrees are popular options and include programs in music education, art education, higher education administration and curriculum and teaching. Business-related subjects of online graduate study at Boston University include financial management, insurance management, global marketing management, project management, supply chain management, business analytics and taxation law.

Other degree options fall under the discipline of computers and technology, including subjects such as software development and computer information systems, or healthcare, including health communication and health informatics.

View general online master’s program information.

6. Indiana Wesleyan University

Time to Degree Completion: 12-20+ Months

Indiana Wesleyan University offers more than 80 online degrees at the master’s level. Religion is important at this Christian institution – associated with the Wesleyan Church – that is headquartered in Marion, IN, and regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. As such, several online degree programs pertain to the subjects of ministry and divinity.

However, you would be mistaken if you assumed that the only online programs the school offers at the graduate degree level are religious in nature. The Master of Business Administration degree programs are available in eight areas of specialization and generally take 18 months to just shy of two years to complete. Master of Science in Accounting programs, which include three distinct concentration areas, take 18 months to complete, as does the Master of Science in Human Resource Management. The completion time for a Master of Science in Management program, however, is listed as 15+ months.

Programs in education that can be completed in as little as 12 months include the Master of Science in Early Childhood Teaching (for licensed teachers), the Master of Science in Elementary Teaching, while education degrees in other subjects, like special education, teaching English as a new language and curriculum and instruction, take longer to complete.

Students at Indiana Wesleyan University typically focus on one five- to eight-week course at a time.

View general online master’s program information.

7. Ball State University

Time to Degree Completion: 12-20 Months

Ball State University in Muncie, IN, offers 25 online master’s degree options. Many of these programs can be completed in less than two years, but certain programs are even faster to finish. The Master of Arts in Business Education takes just one year to complete. Students can earn the Master of Arts in Educational Psychology degree in less than a year if they take a full course load every semester, but most students take closer to 18 months to complete this program.

The Master of Arts in Educational Administration and Supervision degree at Ball State University can be completed in as little as 18 months, as can the Master of Arts in Foundational Mathematics Teaching in the Community College and the Master of Arts in Secondary Education.

Students in a variety of undergraduate majors at Ball State University can also speed up their graduate education through the school’s Accelerated Master’s Program.

View general online master’s program information.

8. Trine University

Time to Degree Completion: 12-15 Months

Trine University in Angola, IN, is a private Midwest university that dates back to 1884 and is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Outside of degrees in the health sciences, which typically require considerable clinical fieldwork, most of Trine University’s online master’s degrees can be completed in 12 months. Some of the degrees you could earn from Trine University in just one year include the Master of Science in Business Analytics, the Master of Science in Criminal Justice, the Master of Science in Engineering Management, the Master of Education in Early Childhood Education and the Master of Business Administration with seven specialized tracks.

View general online master’s program information.

9. Northcentral University

Time to Degree Completion: 12-20 Months

Northcentral University is an online nonprofit institution that is regionally accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) and is affiliated with the National University System based in La Jolla, CA. Accelerated online master’s degrees at Northcentral University that can be completed in just 12 months include the Master of Science in Organizational Leadership and the accelerated MBA program. Students can earn a Master of Arts in Teaching in just 13 months.

If you’re willing to spend a little more time on your studies, your options are more varied. In a year and three months, you could earn a Master of Education in Educational Leadership or a Master of Science in Technology Management. A 16-month completion time is possible for the Master of Education and Master of Human Resource Management degrees, as well as for Master of Science degrees in Cybersecurity, Computer Science, Information Technology, Accounting, Industrial-Organizational Psychology, Forensic Psychology, Child and Adolescent Developmental Psychology and Health Psychology.

Three psychology master’s degree programs – the Master of Arts in Psychology, the Master of Science in Sport Psychology and the Master of Science in Educational Psychology, take 18 months to complete. In 19 months, you could earn a Master of Public Administration degree. The Master of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis is a 20-month program.

View general online master’s program information.

10. Concordia University System

Time to Degree Completion: 12-16 Months

The Concordia University System is a system of higher education that was founded in the Lutheran Christain tradition and today has campuses in Michigan, Texas, California, Illinois, Nebraska, Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Each campus offers its own set of online programs. The Accelerated MBA program at Concordia University Chicago is a 1-year program. At Concordia St. Paul, the Master of Science in Athletic Administration and Coaching can be completed in 18 months. Concordia University Texas offers a 16-month Master of Education in Instructional Leadership. This is just a sampling of the numerous online master’s degree programs offered by the Concordia University System.

View general online master’s program information for each campus:

• Concordia University Ann Arbor
• Concordia University Texas
• Concordia University Irvine
• Concordia University Chicago
• Concordia University Nebraska
• Concordia St. Paul
• Concordia University Wisconsin

11. Benedictine University

Time to Degree Completion: 12-18 Months

Benedictine University is a Roman Catholic-affiliated institution located in Lisle, IL, that aims to serve an “inclusive academic community” while still holding true to its Benedictine tradition and its religious mission and values.

Benedictine University offers a one-year accelerated MBA program that includes potential areas of study like entrepreneurship, accounting, marketing management, financial management, international business and healthcare administration. Students in the accelerated MBA program take two courses per eight-week academic term. Another fast master’s degree program is the online Master of Science in Nutrition and Wellness degree, which can be completed in just 18 months.

If you can’t decide on just one master’s degree, why not go for both with a dual degree program? Two of the dual master’s degrees offered by Benedictine University, the online Master of Business Administration/Master of Public Health (MBA/MPH) and the Master of Public Health/Master of Science in Management and Organizational Behavior, can be completed in the shortened timeframe of three and a half years.

Benedictine University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

View general online master’s program information.

12. Mercy College

Time to Degree Completion: 12-15 Months

At Mercy College in New York, students will find more than 30 total fully online degree programs, including both graduate and undergraduate options. Online course formats include both traditional asynchronous classes that have no set meeting times, online synched courses that utilize real-time meetings in a virtual classroom and online hybrid courses.

One-year master’s programs at Mercy College include the Master of Business Administration degree with nine concentration options, the Master of Science in Computer Science and the Master of Science in Organizational Leadership. The school also offers 15-month programs for registered nurses: the Master of Science in Nursing Administration and the Master of Science in Nursing Education. Another option for undergraduate students at Mercy College is a five-year combined bachelor’s degree and master’s degree program, which the school offers in subjects like cybersecurity and psychology.

Mercy College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

View general online master’s program information.

13. Gwynedd Mercy University

Time to Degree Completion: 12*-20 months

Gwynedd Mercy University in Gwynedd Valley, PA, offers an array of accelerated programs at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, online and on campus, in the fields of education, business, nursing and counseling.

For students interested in earning a master’s degree online in less than two years, a program of particular interest is the 20-month Master of Science in Educational Administration. Students who start their undergraduate coursework at Gwynedd Mercy University can also take advantage of a fast-track 4+1 combined bachelor’s in business and MBA program to earn both degrees in a total of five years.

The school also offers numerous accelerated graduate certificate and certification programs that consist of as few as four courses in narrowly specialized areas of study. If you don’t necessarily need a master’s degree, these certificate options can help you build graduate-level knowledge in a matter of months, without the cost of a full degree.

Gwynedd Mercy University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. In the school’s accredited graduate programs, students take one seven-week class at a time, allowing them to focus on just one subject area.

View general online master’s program information.

14. Western Governors University

Time to Degree Completion: 12-20 Months

Western Governors University is a fully online university established by the Western Governors’ Association – a group of U.S. governors – and accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). The school emphasizes accessibility to higher education, curricula that focus on practical application in the workforce and affordability, charging a flat tuition rate per six-month term instead of per-credit tuition costs.

The shortest time to earn an online master’s degree at this institution is 12 months, and the degrees that you can quickly earn in this timeframe include the Master of Business Administration and the Master of Science in Management & Leadership.

Several master’s degree programs at Western Governors University can be completed in 18 months, including:

• The Master of Arts in Teaching, Elementary Education
• The Master of Arts in Teaching, English Education (Secondary)
• The Master of Arts in English as a Second Language (ESL) or English Language Learning (ELL)
• The Master of Arts in Mathematics Primary Education
• The Master of Arts in Teaching, Mathematics Education (Middle Grades)
• The Master of Arts in Teaching, Mathematics Education (Secondary)
• The Master of Arts in Teaching, Science Education (Secondary)
• The Master of Science in Curriculum & Instruction
• The Master of Education in Learning and Technology
• The Master of Science in Nursing Informatics (BSN to MSN)

Additionally, students can complete the Master of Science in Information Technology Management degree in 20 months.

View general online master’s program information.

15. University of Charleston

Time to Degree Completion: 11-16 Months

At the University of Charleston in West Virginia, three of the five online master’s degree programs available can be completed in under two years. In fact, students can finish the school’s Master of Science in Business and Data Analytics in just 11 months, making this degree one of the fastest master’s program options in the country. In less than a year, you could be ready to pursue leadership roles in the areas of applied artificial intelligence and big data.

If your interests aren’t quite so technical in nature, other accelerated online degree options at this university include the Master of Business Administration and the Master of Science in Strategic Leadership, both of which can be completed in as little as 16 months.

View general online master’s program information.

16. Purdue University Global

Time to Degree Completion: 12-18 Months

Purdue University Global is the online learning hub of the well-respected Purdue University System. Online programs at Purdue are geared toward the needs of working adult students. In addition to accelerated course formats, online learning options at Purdue University include Competency-Based ExcelTrack programs and alternative pathways to earning college credits for what the student already knows.

The fastest online master’s degrees you will find at Purdue University are the one-year Master of Professional Studies and Master of Science in Legal Studies programs. Through the Purdue University System, online students can also complete a number of distinct graduate degrees in just 18 months, including:

• The Master of Arts in Teaching
• The Master of Science in Education
• The Master of Science in Higher EducationThe Master of Science in Instructional Design and Technology
• The Master of Science in Health Education
• The Master of Health Care Administration
• The Master of Health Informatics
• The Master of Health Information Management
• The Master of Public Health
• The Master of Public Administration
• The Master of Science in Human Services
• The Master of Science in Homeland Security and Emergency Management
• The Master of Science in Criminal Justice
• The Master of Science in Accounting

Purdue University is located in West Lafayette, IN, and is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The public research university consistently ranks well among national universities.

View general online master’s program information.

17. University of Miami

Time to Degree Completion: 16-20 Months

The University of Miami is a particularly strong option for current and prospective finance professionals looking to boost their credentials quickly. The fastest online master’s degree available from this institution is the 16-month Master of Finance degree.

If you’re interested in the business side of the music and performing arts industries, a Master of Arts in Music Industry or a Master of Arts in Live Entertainment Management degree, both of which can be completed in as little as 18 months, might be the right fit for you. The University of Florida’s accelerated programs also include the Master of Science in Education Sport Administration and the Master of Science in Education Applied Learning Sciences, both of which are 20-month degrees.

The University of Miami is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

View general online master’s program information.

18. Baker College

Time to Degree Completion: 12-18 Months

At Baker College in Owosso, MI, the fastest online master’s degrees include the one-year general MBA and a more specialized one-year MBA in Business Intelligence. Students can also pursue an 18-month Master of Science in Information Systems degree. Online courses at Baker College are offered through both traditional asynchronous formats and OnlineLive formats that utilize live, real-time virtual meetings.

Baker College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

View general online master’s program information.

19. Central Michigan University

Time to Degree Completion: 12 Months*

Central Michigan University, a public university with its main campus in Mount Pleasant, offers online learning options at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Online classes can be presented in 8-week, 12-week or 16-week formats. The quickest accelerated online master degree options at this institution are the one-year Master of Business Administration, Master of Science in Administration and Master of Entrepreneurial Ventures degrees.

For undergraduates studying at Central Michigan University, the 4+1 accelerated graduate degree program allows you to double count 9 to 18 credits toward both your bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Under this program, undergraduates complete the first courses – up to 18 credits – of their master’s degree programs as part of their bachelor’s degree curriculum. Another benefit of this option is that the master’s-level courses students complete while registered as undergraduates are cheaper, since students pay undergraduate tuition for these classes.

This university is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

View general online master’s program information.

20. Thomas Edison State University

Time to Degree Completion: 12-20 Months

At Thomas Edison State University in Trenton, NJ, online programs of study are available at every level, from associate’s degrees and undergraduate certificates to graduate certificates, master’s degrees and doctorates.

Thomas Edison State University is an adult-focused public university that offers numerous online MS and online MA options. The one-year degree options at Thomas Edison State University include the Master of Science in Management, the Master of Science in Human Resources Management and the Master of Science in Accounting, which is also available in a 20-month format. Earning a Master of Business Administration degree from Thomas Edison State University takes 15 months and prepares students to work in business roles in areas like accounting, finance, marketing, human resources management, healthcare management and data analytics.

Several graduate degree options for adult learners are available in 18-month formats, including the following:

• The Master of Public Service Leadership
• The Master of Science in Homeland Security
• The Master of Science in Information Technology
• The Master of Arts in Educational Leadership
• The Master of Arts in Educational Technology and Online Learning
• The Master of Arts in Liberal Studies

Thomas Edison State University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

View general online master’s program information.

21. Warner Pacific University

Time to Degree Completion: 7-18 Months

The single fastest online master’s degree on our list is the Accelerated Master of Arts in Teaching offered by Warner Pacific University. Full-time students who complete a full schedule of classes from May through August and a 15-week student teaching experience during the fall semester can complete this degree by December, but they must be ready to commit to taking both morning and afternoon classes throughout the summer and essentially working full-time in the classroom during their clinical teaching experience.

Students can also opt for other fast degree options in education. The Master of Education degree for licensed teachers can be completed in 18 months. There is also a 20-month part-time Master of Teaching option that consists of evening classes for students who need a less rigorous schedule.

Outside of degrees in education, Warner Pacific University offers an accelerated Master of Business Administration and a 4+1 combined degree business administration program that awards both a Bachelor of Business Administration and an MBA.

Warner Pacific University is located in Portland, OR, and is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.

View general online master’s program information.

22. Capella University

Time to Degree Completion: 13-14 Months

Capella University, an online university headquartered in Minneapolis, MN, offers online instruction in dozens of graduate-level degree programs. The fastest online education options at the master’s level available at the school are the ones for which the institution offers its FlexPath format of study.

Under the FlexPath learning format, Capella University students take one or two courses at a time and complete their desired number of courses over a 12-week academic term for which they pay a flat tuition rate. The fastest FlexPath students can finish degrees like the following in as little as 14 months:

• Master of Science in General Psychology
• Master of Science in Psychology: Industrial/Organizational Psychology
• Master of Science in Psychology: Sport Psychology
• Master of Science in Psychology: Child and Adolescent Development
• Master of Science in Educational Psychology
• Master of Education in Teaching and Learning
• Master of Business Administration in Project Management
• Master of Business Administration: Self-Designed MBA
• Master of Business Administration in Health Care Management
• Master of Business Administration in Human Resource Management
• Master of Science in General Human Resource Management
• Master of Science in Human Resource Management in Health Care
• Master of Health Administration: General Health Administration
• Master of Health Administration in Health Care Informatics
• Master of Health Administration in Health Care Leadership

Even faster degree options are, surprisingly, graduate nursing programs. Capella University offers the following eight master’s degree programs in nursing that, with the FlexPath program, can be completed in just 13 months:

• Master of Science in Nursing in Care Coordination
• Master of Science in Nursing in Care Coordination (RN-to-MSN)
• Master of Science in Nursing in Nursing Education
• Master of Science in Nursing in Nursing Education (RN-to-MSN)
• Master of Science in Nursing in Nursing Leadership and Administration
• Master of Science in Nursing in Nursing Leadership and Administration (RN-to-MSN)
• Master of Science in Nursing in Nursing Informatics
• Master of Science in Nursing in Nursing Informatics(RN-to-MSN)(13 months

Capella University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

View general online master’s program information.

23. Northeastern University

Time to Degree Completion: 12-20 Months

Northeastern University is a private research institution headquartered in Boston, MA, with campuses not only throughout the country but across the globe.

More than 30 of the master’s degree programs offered online at Northeastern University can be completed on a shorter timeline than the two years traditionally required for graduate school. In fact, more than 20 of these degrees can be completed within one year, and another seven programs can be completed in 18 months.

At Northeastern University, accelerated programs are available in a variety of specialized fields, including degrees in business, education, health, STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) subjects and more. The breadth of online master’s degree program options makes this school a great place for students from many backgrounds to advance their education in their given field.

View general online master’s program information.

24. Colorado Technical University

Time to Degree Completion: 12-18 Months

Online classes at Colorado Technical University are just five weeks long, and new terms begin nine times each year. The mobile-friendly CTU Mobile platform makes online learning truly convenient and on your terms, since you can access your educational materials from a device like a smartphone or tablet.

The fastest online master’s degree at Colorado Technical University is the Master of Business Administration. In this one-year MBA program, students can choose from a dozen concentrations, including accounting, global leadership and logistics management.

In 18 months, students at Colorado Technical University could earn a Master of Science in Management degree or branch out into fields like criminal justice or technology with a Master of Science in Criminal Justice or a Master of Science in Information Technology.

View general online master’s program information.

25. National University

Time to Degree Completion: 12-18 Months

National University is a veteran-founded private nonprofit institution that is located in San Francisco, CA, and accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission.

The accelerated online master’s degrees available from National University cover a wide range of subject areas, from business to criminal justice, computer science and even health. One year of study may be enough to complete either the Center for Creative Leadership Master of Business Administration (MBA) or the Master of Criminal Justice Leadership. It takes a minimum of 14 months to earn the Master of Science in Data Analytics degree. The Master of Public Health degree program requires 18 months of full-time study to complete.

National University’s four-week classes are some of the shortest courses out there, so you’ll never feel like your courses are dragging on. New terms start nine times each year, allowing students to jump into graduate school when it’s convenient for them and to keep pushing through until they reach their educational goals.

View general online master’s program information.

26. Eastern University

Time to Degree Completion: 10-18 Months

Eastern University’s two 10-month online master’s degree programs, the Master of Business Administration in Organizational Management and the Master of Science in Data Science, make the institution one of the fastest schools for online graduate study.

The school also offers seven distinct Master of Education degree programs that can each be completed in one year, as well as a 12-month Master of Arts in Theological and Cultural Anthropology. Additionally, a Master of Arts in Teaching: Classical Education degree takes at least 16 months to complete, and a Master of Education in Educational Leadership takes 18 months.

Eastern University is a Pennsylvania Christain institution that is based in St. Davids, PA, and is regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

View general online master’s program information.

27. University of Arkansas

Time to Degree Completion: 12-18 Months

At the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, two master’s degree programs can be completed online in as little as 12 months. The Master of Social Work degree for students with advanced standing takes one year to finish online, including a year-long internship through which students acquire real-world experience. The Master of Science in Engineering Management degree can also be completed in this short timeframe.

Other accelerated programs at the University of Arkansas require 18 months of study. These graduate degree programs include the more technical Master of Science in Engineering, the Master of Education in Educational Technology and the Master of Science in Operations Management. E-learning students at the University of Arkansas also enjoy the benefit of getting to pay in-state tuition no matter where they live.

View general online master’s program information.

28. Full Sail University

Time to Degree Completion: 12 Months

At many institutions, only certain degree programs can be completed on an accelerated schedule. That’s not the case at Full Sail University in Winter Park, FL. Each of the 10 master’s degree programs offered online at Full Sail University can be completed in just 12 months. The accelerated offerings include:

• Master of Science in Business Intelligence
• Master of Science in Entertainment Business
• Master of Science in Digital Marketing
• Master of Science in Innovation & Entrepreneurship
• Master of Science in Entertainment Business: Sports Management
• Master of Science in Game Design
• Master of Science in Instructional Design & Technology
• Master of Arts in Public Relations
• Master of Arts in New Media Journalism
• Master of Fine Arts in Media Design

Full Sail University is a private for-profit institution that prizes hands-on experience and is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges.

View general online master’s program information.

29. Louisiana State University

Time to Degree Completion: 9-18 Months

One of the fastest graduate schools for online students is Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, LA. The degree with the shortest completion time here is the Master of Social Work, which students who qualify for advanced standing – those who already have a Bachelor of Social Work degree – can finish in as little as nine months.

Students can also go for a 10-month Master of Business Administration program, with MBA concentrations in 10 different fields, including data analytics, hospitality and casino management, family enterprise entrepreneurship, project management and international business. There is also an 18-month MBA degree option.

One-year master’s programs at Louisiana State University include programs in educational leadership, human resources, nonprofit administration, health administration and sport management.

View general online master’s program information.

30. University of South Carolina

Time to Degree Completion: 12-18 Months

The University of South Carolina in Columbia, SC, is a public research university that has been educating students for more than 200 years. The school offers a robust assortment of online graduate degree options from nine subject areas, including science and engineering, education, business, nursing and the arts.

Online courses at the University of South Carolina are offered in three separate 100% online formats. The fastest online master’s degrees at the University of South Carolina are the one-year full-time Master of Business Administration program and the Master of Science in Business Analytics, both offered through the Darla Moore School of Business. The school also offers an accelerated Master of Health Information Technology, an interdisciplinary program offered by the College of Engineering and Computing that can be completed in 18 months.

View general online master’s program information.

31. Indiana Tech

Time to Degree Completion: 12*-14 Months

At Indiana Tech in Fort Wayne, IN, there’s an accelerated master’s degree option for both graduate and undergraduate students. The standalone graduate program that can be completed the quickest is the Master of Business Administration – Professional Studies degree program. Over the course of 14 months – or potentially even less time – graduate students complete an MBA program with a curriculum customized to their unique interests and goals.

For Indiana Tech undergraduates, the path to a graduate business degree may be even shorter. Indiana Tech offers a Fast Track program that shortens undergraduate study in subjects like business administration and accounting to just three years and puts the student on the path to complete an MBA or a Master of Science in Management in just two additional semesters of full-time study. (Although the graduate program isn’t an option, the three-year bachelor’s degree format is also available to undergraduates majoring in criminal justice, psychology, pre-law, communication and recreation therapy.)

Indiana Tech is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

View general online master’s program information.

32. Grand Canyon University

Time to Degree Completion: 12-18 Months

Grand Canyon University is a private, for-profit Christian institution of higher learning in Phoenix, AZ. The school is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. The university’s online programs commonly have a shorter course duration and offer 52 start dates per year, so prospective students don’t need to wait long to start working toward their master’s degrees.

You can earn a graduate business degree in 12 to 18 months at Grand Canyon University, but doing so is a little tricky. Both the Online Master of Business Administration degree and the Master of Business Administration in Leadership degree are meant to take just shy of two years of study (22 months). However, if you already have a business administration background, you can get certain fundamental MBA courses waived to shorten the curriculum to 18 months. If you’re willing to double up on your courses at least three times during your studies, you could reduce the time it takes to graduate down to just 12 months.

If you’re not eager to make so many adjustments to shrink the time it takes to earn a graduate degree, Grand Canyon University does offer an online Master of Science in Information Assurance and Cybersecurity that is designed to be completed in 18 months. Like the MBA degree (assuming no waived course requirements or doubling up on classes), the Master of Science in Computer Science degree program can be completed in under two years.

View general online master’s program information.

33. University of New England

Time to Degree Completion: 16-24 Months

As the largest private university in Maine, the University of New England – regionally accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education – has some excellent options to offer online graduate students, including those looking for a quick way to improve their credentials.

This university is credited with having offered the first fully online asynchronous accredited Master of Social Work degree program in the country, but that isn’t the only reason this school’s online MSW program is special. While the traditional program requires three years of study to complete, the advanced standing MSW program is the fastest online graduate degree option at this school, with a completion time of 16 months. The next fastest master’s degree options are the Master of Public Health and the Master of Healthcare Administration degrees, both of which can be completed in as little as 18 months.

Additionally, all four of the online Master of Science in Education degree programs offered at this institution – the general MSEd as well as specializations in Educational Leadership, Reading Specialist and Inclusion Education – may be completed in just under two years of study.

View general online master’s program information.

34. Rivier University

Time to Degree Completion: 12 Months

Rivier University in Nashua, NH, offers three online master’s degree programs that students can complete in just one year. The Master of Science in Computer Information Systems degree combines technical and business coursework to prepare students for roles like system architect, integrated systems designer, quality assurance analyst and information technology project manager.

Most of the MBA programs offered by Rivier University are two-year degree programs. However, two of these options – the MBA in Management and the MBA in Information Technology Management – can be completed in only one year.

Rivier University is embracing “open educational resources” over traditional (and expensive) textbooks, which is good news for students. Using a textb00k-free format for the MBA in Management degree program is saving students approximately $1,500 dollars, according to the school. The university is regionally accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education.

View general online master’s program information.

35. Columbia College

Time to Degree Completion: 12 Months

Columbia College in Missouri offers online master’s degrees in the fields of business administration, education and criminal justice. With six eight-week terms per year, students only have to take two courses per term to complete all of the requirements for a master’s degree in just 12 months. It’s an intensive workload, certainly, but it’s doable, especially if you’re able to make graduate school your full-time focus.

Another option to speed up your education in business, specifically, is by applying to Columbia College as an undergraduate and taking advantage of the combined undergraduate and graduate Accelerated MBA program to start working toward your master’s-level studies early – and have your first graduate-level classes count toward both degrees.

Columbia College is a liberal arts and sciences college that has garnered national recognition. The private nonprofit institution is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

View general online master’s program information.

36. South University

Time to Degree Completion: 12-18 Months

South University in Savannah, GA, is a private university that dates back to 1899. The fastest program at South University is the Master of Science in Human Resources Management degree, which can be completed in as little as 12 months.

A number of other degree programs, including the Master of Public Administration, the general Master of Business Administration and the Master of Business Administration in Healthcare Administration, can be completed in as little as 16 months.

South University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

View general online master’s program information.

37. Upper Iowa University

Time to Degree Completion: 12 Months

Upper Iowa University in Fayette, IA, offers half a dozen online master’s degrees in various fields. For students in search of a fast online graduate degree, the standout program at Upper Iowa University is the Master of Healthcare Administration, a degree that the school advertises as taking as little as one year to complete.

Online learning at Upper Iowa University involves taking up to two courses per session, although graduate students more commonly focus on one class per session. There are two eight-week sessions in a traditional fall or spring semester, plus an accelerated six-week session in the summer.

Upper Iowa University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

View general online master’s program information.

38. George Washington University

Time to Degree Completion: 12-18 Months

George Washington University in Washington, D.C., offers more than half a dozen online master’s degree options, many in subjects that are fitting for the school’s location in the nation’s capital: homeland security, cybersecurity, political management and more. The private but federally chartered research institution is regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

The fastest online master’s degrees offered through George Washington University can be completed in as little as one year. These degrees include the Master in Management degree, the Master of Studies in Law degree, the Master of International Policy and Practice degree and the Master of Public Health degree, which is also available in an 18-month format. Both the Master of Professional Studies in Cybersecurity Strategy & Information Management and the Master of Professional Studies in Homeland Security degree programs can be completed in 16 months.

View general online master’s program information.

39. University of Florida

Time to Degree Completion: 12 Months

At the University of Florida in Gainesville, FL, online students can pursue graduate-level studies in 85 programs in a variety of subject areas. For students interested in the fastest online master’s degrees available, a program that will be of particular interest is the University of Florida’s one-year Master of Science in Management. This accelerated degree program consists of eight-week periods and involves a workload so intense that students are advised not to attempt to work full-time during their studies.

The University of Florida is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

View general online master’s program information.

40. Widener University

Time to Degree Completion: 12 Months

Widener University in Chester, PA, offers accelerated master’s degree programs that stand on their own as well as combination master’s and bachelor’s degree options.

Among the fully online one-year master’s degree programs available are the allied health Master of Education and the Master of Arts in Organizational Development & Leadership. Online students in the one-year Master of Business Administration degree program can pursue a concentration in business process innovation, investment management and organizational leadership.

The Accelerated Advantage 4+1 program can put undergraduate students at Widener University on the path to a quick master’s degree from the start. In addition to directly corresponding master’s degrees in fields like business, engineering and social work, students in any major can leverage this program to quickly pursue a graduate degree in business administration, organizational leadership, public administration, allied health education or criminal justice.

View general online master’s program information.

The Benefits of Accelerated Master’s Degree Programs

Completing your master’s degree program quickly can be valuable in many ways. In accelerated master’s degree programs, online students generally complete the same rigorous coursework that students in a traditional, campus-based two-year degree program would. Whether students are pursuing an online MS, an online MA or another type of online master degree, they take required core courses and, often, more specialized elective courses. However, they get through these core courses faster by carrying an intense and difficult workload.

Financially, this choice to pursue one of the fastest online master’s degrees is a wise one. Spending a shorter amount of time overall in school typically translates to paying less money in tuition, and if you’re borrowing the money to get your master’s degree, it means less student debt on which to be charged ever-growing amounts of interest. There is also an opportunity cost of staying in school longer – the money that you’re missing out on each year you’re not out in the workforce putting your degree to work full-time – that you minimize when you are able to complete your master’s degree program faster than is usually expected.

Related Resources:

• 25 Cheapest Online Master’s Degree Programs
• Easiest Online Master’s Degrees
• 50 Best Online Master’s Degrees 2021
• Top 50 Highest Paying Master’s Degrees
• The 20 Best Online Masters in Liberal Arts Degree Programs
• The 20 Best Online Master’s in Accounting Degree Programs
• The 20 Best Online Master’s in Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering Degrees
• The 20 Best Online Masters in Applied Behavioral Analysis Degrees
• The 10 Best Online Masters in Chemical Engineering Degrees
• The 20 Best Online Master’s In Communications Degree Programs
• The 20 Best Online Masters in Computer Science Degree Programs
• The 20 Best Online Master’s in Creative Writing
• The 20 Best Online Master’s Degrees in Cyber Security
• The 10 Best Online Masters in Economics
• The 20 Best Online Masters in Environmental Studies
• The 25 Best Online Master’s Degrees in Homeland Security
• The 20 Best Online Master’s in Hospitality Management
• The 20 Best Online Master’s in Information Systems
• The 25 Best Online Master’s Degrees in Information Technology (IT)
• The 20 Best Online Master’s in Library Science Degree Programs
• The 10 Best Online Master’s in Nursing Education
• The 20 Best Online Master’s Degrees in Nutrition
• Top 10 Graduate Degree Programs in Criminal Justice
• The 20 Best Online Master’s Degrees in Public Health
• The 20 Best Online Master’s Degrees in Recreation, Tourism, and Coaching
• My Undergraduate Degree is Not in the Same Field as What I Want to Get My Master’s in. Will I Be Able to Get into a Program?

For Further Reading: 

• What Degree Do I Need to Be a Policy Analyst?
• What Degree Do I Need to Be an Intelligence Analyst?

The post The 40 Fastest Online Master’s Degrees appeared first on DegreeQuery.com.

The field of cybersecurity is one of the most explosively prosperous industries in the American job market with the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projecting a jaw-dropping 31% of growth between 2019 to 2029. The BLS reports that the sector of the job market consisting of ‘information security analysts’ is made up of more than 131,000 jobs. 

The median annual earnings of these professionals is $103,590, which is undoubtedly one of the most seductive metrics of the market. Not to mention that most positions require only a Bachelor’s degree or 5 years of industry experience, however with the industry being so new, there is always an influx of new skills and certifications that can make professionals extremely competitive in the cybersecurity job market. 

Better than a Degree?

In many cases, earning a certification in a key skill set can be more efficient than earning a generalized degree–particularly in the case of second-time students and working IT professionals who have real-world experience. In other words, much like the IT industry as a whole, cybersecurity is a skills-based market and certification programs allow professionals to build high value skills in a short amount of time.

And most notably, the best cybersecurity certificate programs provide credits that can transfer into a future cybersecurity degree program. Meaning that an online certificate program is one of the best ways to either break into the cybersecurity industry or to quickly access professional advancement without the high level of investment (time and financial) associated with a degree. 

RELATED: The 20 Best Masters in Cyber Security Online

Best Online For-Credit Certificates in Cyber Security

1. California State University-Fullerton

California State University at Fullerton is perfectly positioned to cater to students in the IT field due to the University’s proximity to one of the world’s most lively hubs for technology, Silicon Valley. As such, California State University offers an impressive selection of degree programs and for-credit certificate tracks, many of which can be completed entirely online in an efficient span of time and at a cost that won’t break students’ budgets.

Fullerton’s certificate programs are some of the most affordable of their kind, and can be completed within a time frame of 3-24 months depending on the depth of the program and the complexity of the field. Specifically, the Computer Forensics certificate program is made up of 5 courses that are completed over 92 hours of lectures and hands-on experience.

The program is also designed to meet the lifelong learning requirements for established cybersecurity professionals established by theAICPA for the new Certified Financial Forensics (CFF) credential. Additionally, newer students are introduced to the industry’s most central technologies such as EnCase and Forensic Toolkit (FTK).

Learn more about California State University’s For-Credit Certificates in Cybersecurity 

2. University of South Florida

The University of South Florida (USF) has quickly become one of Florida’s premier providers of online education, offering degrees and professionals certificates at various levels in numerous fields. The USF Cybersecurity Graduate Certificate program offers a comprehensive graduate-level certificate program that delves into the interdisciplinary skills at the core of the field. 

Specifically, the USF Cybersecurity Graduate Certificate program offers a number of specialized tracks: Cyber Intelligence, Digital Forensics, and Information Assurance. Depending on the specialization chosen, students can earn anywhere from 12 to 18 credits. 

Students who enroll in the online Cyber Intelligence specialized certification take six courses that total at 18 credit hours. The program provides a unique perspective on intelligence issues, such as those presented in adversarial social engineering. Additionally, students can expect such courses as the following:

• Professional and Technical Communication for Analysts
• Information Strategy and Decision Making
• Advanced Intelligence Analytic Methods
• Core Concepts in Intelligence
• Cyber Intelligence
• Advanced Cyber Intelligence

Learn more about University of South Florida For-Credit Certificates in Cybersecurity

3. Sam Houston State University

Sam Houston State University (SHSU) is one the best places to study cyber security, and is consistently recognized in trusted publications. The SHSU Computer Science department holds one of the most prestigious distinctions available for a school of cybersecurity. Specifically, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the National Security Agency (NSA) have designated Sam Houston State University as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education (CAE-CDE). 

The SHSU Graduate Certificate of Cybersecurity consists of 15 credit hours of on-target studies that are meant to familiarize students with foundational topics. The certificate program is designed to accommodate students with an existing baccalaureate in computer science, cybersecurity, or a related field. The program can also be completed entirely online, making it accessible to students from around the country. 

Learn more about Sam Houston State University’s For-Credit Certificates in Cybersecurity

4. Fairleigh Dickinson University

Fairleigh Dickinson University is the largest private university in New Jersey and it has recently sought to service even more students by expanding into online education. The University offers high end online programs at various levels–from associates, to doctorates, and to certification programs. Fairleigh Dickinson designs its online certificate programs to be highly accessible–allowing students to engage the program on days, evenings and even weekends. 

Fairleigh Dickinson distinguishes itself by contextualizing its programs within a global perspective, which is particularly beneficial to students pursuing study in cybersecurity–which is an increasingly globally-minded field. Online students can earn a graduate certificate of Cybersecurity Administration, while on-campus students can earn a graduate certificate of Computer Security.

Students of the cybersecurity Administration program have the choice of completing one, two, or all three of the program’s courses. Specifically, the program consists of the following course options:

• Introduction to Networking and Internet Traffic Flow 

(June 1-June 19, 2020)

• Infrastructure Security and Administration 

(June 22-July 10, 2020)

• Cyber Forensics and Threat Mitigation 

(July 13-July 31, 2020)

Learn more about Fairleigh Dickinson University’s For-Credit Certificates in Cybersecurity

5. Stanford University

The Stanford School of Engineering is one of the country’s most established pioneers of distance education. A whopping 50 years ago, the School developed the Stanford Instructional Television Network to provide engineers with quality education over a distance. Today the Stanford School of Engineering has innovated its distance education programs, and now offers a number of fully online degree programs that maintain the high level quality and academic integrity that is associated with the name of Stanford. 

The Stanford School of Engineering offers a graduate certificate of Cybersecurtiy that is designed to accommodate professionals in the field such as those in the following roles (applicants are also required to hold a Bachelor’s with a 3.0 GPA or higher): 

• Information security managers
• Web developers
• Computer network architects
• Professionals working in computer occupations

The program is designed to be completed over 1 to 2 years, but students have a maximum time frame of 3 years to complete it. This allows working students with demanding schedules to progress through the program without sacrificing a health balance between work and life.

Learn more about Stanford University’s For-Credit Certificates in Cybersecurity

6. Iowa State University

The Information Assurance Center at Iowa State University is one of the nation’s most respected authorities of the information securities industry. The Information Assurance Center offers a number of degree programs–associates, bachelors, masters, and even a doctoral program. Additionally, students can supplement an existing degree, or even replace one, with the Center’s graduate-level certificate program.

The graduate-level Cybersecurity Certificate program can be completed entirely online and is designed for students with an existing Bachelor’s degree, who want to advance their careers. The program is completed over just 12 credits, and is meant to offer the flexibility to accommodate busy professionals. Additionally, credits are transferable into a Master’s level program should a student wish to. 

Learn more about Iowa State University’s For-Credit Certificates in Cybersecurity

7. Florida Tech

Florida Tech is one of the most successful technical universities in the southeast that earns national recognition for its program year after year. This is due in large part to the Florida Tech’s stellar faculty, 90% of whom hold the highest degree of their field. Florida Tech is also well-known for its student-centric policies which prioritize a level of care that empowers each student to make the most of their studies. 

Florida Tech has also earned the designation as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Research, one of the highest honors for a program of its kind. Florida Tech offers a number of degree programs and certificate tracks that can be completed entirely online, and have been designed to offer a high level of academic rigor so that graduates are prepared to compete in the job market. 

Florida Tech’s Cybersecurity program is specifically designed for professionals aspiring to roles like the following:

• Computer forensics investigator
• Computer network defense engineer
• Threat intelligence analyst
• Chief information security officer

Learn more about University of Virginia’s For-Credit Certificates in Cybersecurity

8. East Carolina University

East Carolina University (ECU) is a large institution that specializes in enabling the dreams of its students, and has earned recognition by taking the top spots on countless rankings by trusted publications. ECU is consistently recognized for offering students curriculums that are designed to represent the real needs of the job market. This means that ECU graduates are prepared to meet the expectations of top-end employers. 

ECU offers a Cyber Security Professional Certificate that can be completed entirely online. The program consists of twelve hours of advanced coursework which is designed to prime students for professional advancement in the field through honing high-value skills. Additionally, the program prepares students to earn the following certifications: COMPTIA Network+ certification or Cisco CCNA certification.

The certification program’s courses are as follows:

• Information Security Management
• Fundamental Network Security
• Network Intrusion Detection and Incident Response
• Research Methods in Technology

Learn more about East Carolina University’s For-Credit Certificates in Cybersecurity

9. Oklahoma State University

The Oklahoma State University Spears School of Business has built a reputation for building relationships between peers, faculty, and alumni. At the foundation of Spear’s education philosophy is the idea that interpersonal connection is the beating heart of any business. The School looks to carry this philosophy forward in online education by instilling programs with a sense of liveliness and collaboration that is more commonly associated with the classroom. 

The Oklahoma State University Center for Telecommunications and Network Security (CTANS) offers a fully online graduate certificate program in Information Assurance. The program is completed through 15 credit hours of coursework that is meant to hone key skills and elevate students’ conceptual understanding of critical topics. 

The program is more flexible than most others on this list, and allows students to pursue custom routes of study depending on individual interests and career goals. Additionally, the certificate can be earned as an ‘emphasis’ through any of the following Master’s programs:

• MS in Computer Science
• MS in Electrical Engineering
• MS in Management and Information Systems
• MS in Telecommunications Management

Learn more about Oklahoma State University’s For-Credit Certificates in Cybersecurity

10. Bellevue University

Founded in 1966, Bellevue University is a non profit, open access institution that has grown tremendously in a relatively short amount of time. Today, Bellevue University boasts more than 50,000 students from around the world, which is evidence of the increasingly global reach of the university. Bellevue continues to expand and to lower barriers to access as its online programs become more numerous and more accessible. 

Bellevue University offers online degrees accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, as well as fully online for-credit certificate tracks. Among these are a number of certificates designed for the cyber security industry at both the undergraduate and graduate level. The graduate-level Cybersecurity Certificate of Completion is conferred through completing the following courses:

• Information Security Management (3 Credits)
• Computer Forensics (3 Credits)
• Information Warfare (3 Credits)
• Cloud Computing (3 Credits)
• Security Architecture and Design (3 Credits)
• Ethical Hacking and Response (3 Credits)

Learn more about Bellevue University’s For-Credit Certificates in Cybersecurity

11. University of Louisville

The University of Louisville (UL) is one of Kentucky’s largest and most recognized research universities with dozens of degree programs available. In recent years the University of Louisville has moved to make more of its programs available online through a collaborative effort between the following UL Colleges: 

• College of Arts and Sciences
• College of Business
• College of Education and Human Development
• Kent School of Social Work
• J.B. Speed School of Engineering, School of Nursing
• School of Public Health and Information Sciences

The J.B. Speed School of Engineering offers a fully online for-credit Certificate of Cybersecurity that is completed through four courses and twelve credit hours. The program is noticeably inviting to students of all experience-levels and does not have an GRE requirement. 

Students complete two core courses of these three: Introduction to Cryptography, CSE 568 Computer Forensics, CSE 566 Information Security. Additionally students choose two courses from a robust list of 12 electives, which allow students to pursue areas of personal and professional interest. 

Learn more about University of Louisville’s For-Credit Certificates in Cybersecurity

12. Champlain College

Champlain College is an established name in online education and has been serving online students for more than three decades. During these 30 years, Champlain has innovated and iterated on its approach, and today offers polished career-centric programs meant to elevate students’ careers. Champlain’s faculty are successful scholars who have been specially trained to lead engaging online classroom experiences. And more poignantly, Champlain is a national leader in cybersecurity education and is home to the Senator Patrick Leahy Center for Digital Investigation & Cybersecurity.

Champlain offers a Online Graduate Certificate Program in Digital Forensic Science, which grants 24/7 access to online coursework. The program is completed through 12 credit hours of coursework which is formatted through two 8-week terms per semester. The program requires a commitment of students for 12-20 hours per course per week. 

The program’s curriculum is built around the following courses:

• The Practice of Digital Investigations
• Operating System Analysis
• Scripting for Digital Forensic
• Incident Response and Network Forensics
• Malware Analysis
• Mobile Device Analysis

Learn more about Linfield College’s For-Credit Certificates in Cybersecurity

13. Old Dominion University

Old Dominion University is one of Virginia’s most innovative and entrepreneurial institutions, offering academic programs from the undergraduate level to the doctoral level. Old Dominion University (ODU) programs and initiatives contribute $2.6 billion annually to Virginia’s economy. 

ODU offers a Graduate Certificate Program in Cybersecurity that can be completed entirely online. The program is made up of twelve credits and four courses. Students of the program enjoy the Virginia Space Grant Consortium’s video series, “Breaking the Code on a Career in Cybersecurity.” The program’s curriculum is built around these four courses:

• Cybersecurity Fundamentals (3 credits)
• Cryptography for Cybersecurity (3 credits)
• Networked Systems Security (3 credits)
• Information Assurance (3 credits)

Learn more about Old Dominion University’s For-Credit Certificates in Cybersecurity

14. Mississippi College

The Mississippi College Department of Computer Science looks to strike a balance between the practical and the theoretical. The Department’s programs look to prepare students for the ebbs and flows of the industry, but more importantly how to leverage industry-trends to create career opportunities. The Department also hosts “Cyber South,” one of the largest summits for cybersecurity in the region where industry leaders present their research and findings. 

Mississippi College offers an online certificate in Cybersecurity & Information Assurance. The program teaches students who to handle cyber security threats such as cyber terrorism, cyber warfare, and cyber espionage. The program is completed through 6 courses over just twelve months with each course lasting 16 weeks. 

Learn more about Mississippi College’s For-Credit Certificates in Cybersecurity

15. Central Michigan University

Central Michigan University (CMU) ranks as one of the most successful institutions of higher education in the region with 235,000 alumni around the world. CMU Global Campus combines the quality of its traditional on-campus programs with the convenience and affordability of online education. CMU demonstrates its student-centric philosophies by providing students with a host of services and policies that are meant to facilitate the highest level of education during their time in CMU’s programs.

CMU Global Campus offers an online graduate certificate in Cybersecurity that is completed from 15 to 18 credits of coursework. Courses are designed from the ground up to emphasize flexibility and accessibility, so each course is delivered in 8, 12 and 16-week formats–whatever works best for each student. 

The curriculum is delivered through the following courses: 

• Cybersecurity Analysis
• Governance, Risk, and Compliance in Cybersecurity
• Cybercrime Forensics
• Managing Security and Privacy in the Cloud
• Cybersecurity, Systems, and Network Certification 

Learn more about Central Michigan University’s For-Credit Certificates in Cybersecurity

16. Georgetown University

Georgetown University’s School of Continuing Studies (SCS) offers a deep catalogue of graduate-level programs in liberal and professional studies. Students holding a degree from Georgetown have a leg up in the job market where their alma mater’s name carries weight. This is because Georgetown brings a level of academic integrity and rigorousness that many schools look to imitate but few succeed in replicating. 

Georgetown’s online Certificate in Cybersecurity Strategy introduces students to the cybersecurity industry with a deep investigation of central concepts. The program accepts students from all over the world with more than 500 nationalities represented. The Cybersecurity Strategy program differentiates itself by providing more attention to the questions and topics surrounding security strategy which can prepare students to work in a variety of roles. 

Specifically, students of the program will delve into topics such as the following:

• Security models
• Risk assessment
• Secure systems development
• Crisis management
• Legal, regulatory
• Compliance issues
• Access control
• Encryption
• Network security
• Social engineering

Learn more about Georgetown University’s For-Credit Certificates in Cybersecurity

17. Missouri State University

Missouri State University offers globally-minded programs that position students to become valuable members of the world economy. Missouri State University builds its programs around three central tenets: ethical leadership, cultural competence and community engagement. Today Missouri State boasts an alumni network made up of more than 122,000 students around the world, which is a major selling point for online students who want to become part of a close-knit professional network. 

In Missouri State’s online graduate certificate of Cybersecurity, students will develop the skills and knowledge needed to stand out in the job market. The program introduces students to core concepts while also delivering advanced topics. The program offers some flexibility in allowing students to choose from a selection of electives, which empowers students to customize their chosen path of study.

Learn more about Missouri State University’s For-Credit Certificates in Cybersecurity

18. Norwich University 

Norwich University’s College of Graduate and Continuing Studies offers programs specially designed for adult-learners and working professionals who wish to take their careers to the next level. As such, Norwich’s programs are built to reflect the ever-changing demands of the job market, so that graduates are prepared to capitalize on industry trends and market opportunities. 

Specifically, Norwich University’s College of Graduate and Continuing Studies offers an online Cyber Crime and Cyber Law graduate certificate program. As implied by the name, the program differentiates itself by emphasizing the meaningful laws associated with the cybersecurity industry, both domestic and abroad. Students can choose between one of two track options:

• Critical Infrastructure Protection & Cyber Crime
• Cyber Law & International Perspectives on Cyberspace

The programs consist of two 11-week courses which totals at 12 graduate-level credits, which can of course count towards a future degree program. 

Learn more about Florida Institute of Technology’s For-Credit Certificates in Cybersecurity

19. University of Maryland, Global Campus

The University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) specializes in serving adult learners and nontraditional students, and has been an innovator in online education for decades. Today, UMGC is the largest online public university in the nation, and offers one of the most extensive catalogues of online programs in the world. 

Among these is a number of degrees and certifications relating to the field of cybersecurity. UMGC has earned one of the most prestigious designations available, and has been recognized as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance and Cyber Defense Education by the National Security Agency and Department of Homeland Security

Specifically students can earn an online graduate certificate of Cybersecurity Technology. As the name suggests, the program differentiates itself by focusing on the technology of the industry, and how to most effectively leverage it to actualize results. 

Learn more about University of Maryland’s For-Credit Certificates in Cybersecurity

20. Metropolitan State University

Metropolitan State University is an innovative institution that looks to cultivate students’ careers and facilitate successful professional advancement. The University prioritizes providing students with the tools and resources needed to improve financial mobility, so that students can elevate their lives into financial abundance. The University also differentiates itself by allowing students to build their own degrees, so that students are empowered to pursue a route of study that is most conducive with interests and career goals. 

The Metropolitan State University College of Management offers an online graduate certificate of Information Assurance and Information Technology Security GCERT. The Committee on National Security Systems (CNSS) and The National Security Agency (NSA) certify that Metropolitan State University offers a curriculum that has been determined to meet National Training Standards.

The program’s curriculum is built around the following course load: 

• Management Information Systems (4 credits)
• Process Analysis and Design (2 credits)
• Risk Analysis in Information Technology (2 credits)
• Introduction to Information Assurance (4 credits)
• Enterprise Security Management (4 credits)
• Analysis of Strategic and Tactical Security IT Planning (4 credits)

Learn more about Metropolitan State University’s For-Credit Certificates in Cybersecurity

For Further Reading: 

How Advanced a Degree Do I Need to Work in Cryptography?

What Is the Benefit of a Degree in Cybersecurity vs. Network Security?

What Degree Do I Need to Be an Intelligence Analyst?

What Degree Do I Need to Be a Crime Analyst?

What Degree Do You Need to Be a Private Investigator?

The post The 20 Best Online For-Credit Certificates in Cyber Security appeared first on DegreeQuery.com.

1. Doctor

If you have a knack for science and an interest in helping people as well as a preference for a nonstandard work schedule, consider becoming a doctor. Physicians and surgeons are some of the highest-payed professionals in the workforce, according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). In addition to the earning potential of hundreds of thousands of dollars a year, the best doctors enjoy the fulfilling nature of helping patients get or stay well. Of course, they also make sacrifices. Physicians spend many years preparing for the career, earning a bachelor’s degree, attending medical school and completing residencies and internships to gain hands-on training. This preparation requires candidates to invest a lot of time, work and money into their future career.

Exactly how nonstandard a doctor’s work schedule is depends on his or her place of employment. Hospitals require staffing 24 hours a day, so physicians who work in these settings may be more likely to work early or late shifts (and often, long shifts). Even in private practices, though, many offices are increasingly offering evening and weekend appointments for the convenience of their patients who do work a regular schedule and can’t come in during the day.

Salary: $241,273 to $411,852 or more

Education: Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree (DO)

2. Dentist

Like doctors, dentists are increasingly working nonstandard hours to meet the needs of their patients. For many dentists, this means offering occasional or regular evening and weekend hours. While dentists may not have to worry about covering overnight shifts like an emergency room physician does, they may have to deal with dental emergencies that require urgent attention.

Of course, work schedule alone isn’t reason enough to pursue a career in dentistry. However, if you’re already interested in the field and you consider a nonstandard work schedule – one that you set yourself, if you own your own dental practice – to be a plus, that’s a good combination. Keep in mind that you will need to do a lot of preparation for your career. In addition to earning a bachelor’s degree (typically in a science-related subject of study) and getting a competitive score on the Dental Admission Test, you will need to graduate from a dental school program accredited by the American Dental Association’s Commission on Dental Accreditation, the BLS reported. Still, for the right candidate, the high earning potential, schedule and work itself are well worth the preparation.

Salary: $154,640

Education: Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS), Doctor of Dental Medicine (DDM) or Doctor of Medical Dentistry (DMD)

3. Petroleum Engineer

While a lot of the best jobs with nonstandard schedules do happen to be in the healthcare field, not all of them are. Petroleum engineers are a great example. These engineering professionals – who have a six-figure median salary – develop new ways to extract oil and natural gas from existing wells and underground deposits, the BLS reported.

What kind of work schedule can you expect as a petroleum engineer? When traveling to a dig site, it’s not unusual for petroleum engineers to spend 84 hours on duty and then be off duty for another 84 hours, the BLS reported. While working for a full three and a half days might sound like a crazy schedule, the job has its perks, especially for adventure-seekers. Visiting drilling sites means that petroleum engineers have plenty of opportunity to travel the world during their careers.

Salary: $130,050

Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Petroleum Engineering

4. Air Traffic Controller

At every hour of the day and night, someone somewhere is traveling by airplane. Keeping those in flight – and taking off or landing – safe means having a trained professional on the clock 24/7. Air traffic controllers fill this role, communicating instructions, weather pattern information and emergency information to pilots in the air and on the ground. They play a crucial role in getting planes full of passengers and airline workers safely and efficiently to their destinations. Being responsible for managing the safety of multiple planes at a single time can be stressful, but for those candidates who can cope well with the demands of the job, an early retirement is a major benefit of this career, the BLS reported. So is the six-figure salary.

RELATED: How to Become an Air Traffic Controller: What Degree Do I Need?

If you’re considering embarking on a career as an air traffic controller, you will need to earn a bachelor’s degree unless you have years of relevant experience working in the aviation industry, according to the BLS. Look for a school that offers an Air Traffic Collegiate Training Initiative (AT-CTI) program intended to meet guidelines set by the FAA. These degree programs typically cover subjects like airspace, aviation weather, reading maps, clearances and federal aviation regulations. Candidates must also pass the eight-hour Air Traffic Standardized Aptitude Test (AT-SAT) and a personality test before then can undergo air traffic controller training through the FAA academy. If you’re specifically looking for a job with a nonstandard schedule, then you will want to find employment at a large, busy airport that has flights going on all day and night, including on weekends and holidays.

Salary: $122,340

Education: Bachelor’s Degree, FAA Academy Training Course and a Passing Score on the AT-SAT

5. Pharmacist

The last six-figure salary career on our list of the top 20 jobs without a 9-to-5 schedule is, again, in the healthcare industry. Pharmacists are the highly educated professionals who fill and dispense the medications physicians and surgeons prescribe. They not only order and administer the medications, but they also make sure there will be no negative – and potentially dangerous – drug interactions among patients who have to take multiple medications. Pharmacists instruct patients on how to take their medications, answer questions about side effects and allergic reactions and handle the paperwork necessary to bill patients’ insurance companies, according to the BLS. In some states, they even administer vaccinations.

Today, many pharmacies – especially those that are part of major retail stores – offer extended hours to better serve customers and patients who work a 9-to-5 schedule. This means pharmacists increasingly need to work evening and weekend hours. The 19 percent of pharmacists who find employment in hospitals may also need to work nonstandard hours to keep pharmacy departments staffed at all times.

Salary: $120,950

Education: Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.)

6. Physical Therapist

Physical therapist is yet another healthcare job where a nonstandard work schedule is common. After earning a doctoral degree – which is no easy feat, requiring advanced studies in subjects like anatomy, physiology and biomechanics as well as months of clinical experience – physical therapists work directly with patients to help rehabilitate them after an injury or illness. Through methods such as exercises, hands-on therapy, stretching maneuvers and the use of equipment, physical therapists help patients achieve goals like pain reduction and increased mobility.

Many physical therapists do work during regular business hours, the BLS reported, but there are also plenty of opportunities to work outside the 9-to-5 schedule at facilities that offer evening or weekend appointments for the convenience of their patients. Besides the possibility of a flexible work schedule, there are plenty of other benefits to a career in physical therapy. A median salary well over twice that of all occupations, an expected job growth rate nearly five times that of all occupations, and of course, the rewarding nature of the work are just a few of the advantages.

Salary: $82,390

Education: Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)

7. Architect

If you’re more interested in developing building designs than treatment plans, architect is another great job with the potential for a flexible work schedule. Architects are the professionals who plan, design and sketch scaled drawings of indoor and outdoor building structures that range from single family homes to apartment complexes and massive office buildings. They need creative, technical, analytical and visualization skills to thoroughly plan and design a building or space that doesn’t yet exist. If you’re thinking about becoming an architect, expect to be in the career for the long haul. Not only does an undergraduate degree require five years of full-time study, but candidates must also spend years gaining job training through a paid internship and pass the Architect Registration Examination before they can finally attain a license.

Architects begin their days bright and early. In fact, more than a third of employees in the architecture industry are already at work before 7 a.m., according to the BLS. This makes the job a good choice for candidates who are natural early risers as well as good communicators, visualizers and creators. Keep in mind, though, that architects must also work longer hours if necessary to meet deadlines. Work schedules are most flexible among the 20 percent of architects who work for themselves, according to the BLS.

Salary: $74,520

Education: 5-year Bachelor of Architecture Degree or Master of Architecture Degree

8. Dental Hygienist

If a career in dental health interests you but the prospect of spending years upon years earning a doctoral degree doesn’t, consider a career as a dental hygienist. These professionals use hand, power and ultrasonic tools to clean patients’ teeth, the BLS reported. They take X-rays, administer treatments like sealants and fluoride and evaluate patients’ oral health before they see the dentist. They earn a median salary twice as high as that of all occupations – and they do it all with an associate’s degree.

Check out these 15 affordable degrees in dental hygiene (associate’s and beyond).

Dental hygienists work nonstandard schedules for the same reasons dentists do – to offer convenient appointment times to patients who need extended office hours. If you’re specifically looking for the opportunity to work a flexible schedule, seek employment at a dental office that doesn’t just operate 9-to-5.

Salary: $71,520

Education: Associate’s Degree in Dental Hygiene

9. Producer or Director

If you’ve got a passion for drama or filmmaking, a nonstandard work schedule is typical. Producers and directors are the professionals who create performing arts productions that range from onstage plays to movies and television shows, the BLS reported. While directors and producers start with a written script (which they often select themselves), they choose the cast and crew, manage design decisions, make sure the production stays within budget and supervise the entire preproduction, production and  postproduction process. Directors have a bigger role in the creative aspects of a production, while producers are more involved in the show’s finances, but both are critical to the success of a performing arts venture.

Most producers and directors find work in either the motion picture industry or the television and radio broadcast industry, but some work in performing arts creating live productions. In either case, expect to put in odd hours during your career as a director or producer. If you create live theater performances, you’re likely to find that many show times take place on evenings, weekends and even holidays. Even if you’re not working on a production that is broadcasted live, you may have to work long hours to meet deadlines. Many producers and directors also travel, either to film on location or take a performance on tour.

Salary: $69,100

Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Film

10. Nurse

The last healthcare career to make our list of the best jobs with a nonstandard work schedule also happens to be the largest career in the entire healthcare industry, according to the BLS. Registered nurses, or RNs, care for patients under the supervision of doctors in a wide range of settings, from hospitals and doctors’ offices to nursing homes, home health services and even schools. With three different education paths into the career, aspiring nurses have plenty of options to get started.

Nonstandard work schedules are common for many nurses. Of course, hospitals and nursing homes require nurses on staff 24/7 to care for patients who are admitted to the facility overnight, or those who come into the hospital in need of treatment during the evening or early morning. At these facilities, it’s not unusual to work fewer days than a standard workweek, but significantly longer hours than a standard workday throughout. With many private practice medical offices extending their hours to better serve patients, even nurses who intend to work in physicians’ offices may need to work some night or weekend shifts.

Salary: $66,640

Education: Nursing Program Diploma, Associate’s Degree in Nursing (ADN) or Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing (BSN)

11. Police Officer or Detective

If you have a drive to protect and serve your community as well as a preference for a schedule outside the typical 9-to-5, you’re in luck. The most fulfilling job you could have also happens to be one where odd hours are common. Crime never sleeps, so law enforcement departments need police officers and detectives on duty round-the-clock.

As a member of law enforcement, you’ll have many serious responsibilities. You will handle patrol and traffic stops, respond to emergencies, investigate crimes, gather evidence and make arrests, the BLS reported. Being a police officer or a detective isn’t easy. The job can be dangerous, and physically and emotionally difficult. For the right candidate, though, knowing that you are saving lives, catching criminals and making your community safer is more than rewarding enough to make up for the challenges of a life in law enforcement.

Salary: $58,630

Education: Associate’s or Bachelor’s Degree in Law Enforcement or Criminal Justice

12. Avionics Technician

If you’ve got an interest in aerospace and great mechanical skills, why not pursue a career as an avionics technician? These trained and FAA-certified technicians maintain and repair planes and other aircraft. Avionics technicians specifically are responsible for the safe functioning of a plane’s electronic instruments, like radar, communication and navigation systems, the BLS reported. To uncover any malfunctions, they review flight test data and use tools and equipment designed for testing electronic flight instruments. They work on and install instrument panels and software.

An associate’s degree in avionics – which includes the studies of computerized flight instruments and aircraft controls – is popular among candidates pursuing the career. Avionics technicians must also earn certification from the FAA.

Avionics technicians need to work nonstandard shifts for the same reasons air traffic controllers do. Travel by aircraft happens at all hours of the day, and it’s necessary to have a professional with the capability to find and repair problems available at all times.

Salary: $56,910

Education: Associate’s Degree in Avionics

13. Telecom Technicians

If you’ve got great mechanical and troubleshooting skills, a career as a telecom technician can offer you a nonstandard work schedule, the chance to put your skills to good use and a median salary well above that of all occupations. You don’t even need to spend several years earning a degree to get there.

Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers – telecom technicians, for short – are the professionals who set up, maintain and fix the telecommunications lines used to transmit phone, Internet and cable signals. They work with components like wiring and phone jacks as well as computer hardware and diagnostic equipment, according to the BLS. To develop the mechanical skills and troubleshooting knowledge necessary for success, telecom technicians need an education – but they don’t necessarily need a traditional degree. Some candidates earn a certificate from a technical school, though the BLS reports that telecom technicians with associate’s degrees will have the best employment prospects in this competitive job market.

Not every telecom technician works nonstandard hours. Your work schedule will depend on your employer. If you’re looking for hours outside the 9-to-5 shift, you’ll want to find work with a carrier or contractor that offers 24-hour emergency repair service. You might also find yourself on call in case of equipment malfunctions and emergencies.

Salary: $55,190

Education: Associate’s Degree in Telecommunications

14. Civil Engineering Technician

Early risers with skills in mathematics, problem-solving and critical thinking can find a great fit in the form of a civil engineering technician career. The job is an especially good choice for candidates who have an interest in civil engineering work but aren’t willing or able to put in the time and money required to earn a bachelor’s degree or higher, complete years of training and attain a license. An associate’s degree is sufficient for aspiring civil engineering technicians to get started in their careers.

Civil engineering technicians work with licensed engineers, and they even handle some of the same tasks, like preparing plans and drawings, estimating costs, monitoring project sites, testing construction materials, analyzing data and using computer aided design (CAD) software, the BLS reported. The only things they specifically can’t do, according to the BLS, are supervising overall engineering projects and approving designs.

Civil engineering technicians tend to start their workdays before 7 a.m., which makes the job ideal for early birds who like to get up with – or even before – the sun.

Salary: $48,340

Education: Associate’s Degree in Civil Engineering Technology

15. Real Estate Agent or Broker

If you work well with others and are good at solving problems, you could make a career out of helping people buy, sell and rent homes, business spaces and other real estate properties. Real estate agents and brokers work closely with clients to help them navigate the complex process of making real estate transactions. They show off real estate properties to potential buyers and renters and assist with setting and negotiating prices and preparing contracts, deeds and other essential real estate documents, the BLS reported.

When you’re selling as large a purchase as real estate, it’s essential that you’re available when your clients are. For many real estate brokers, this means working hours in the early evenings and on weekends. On the bright side, you’re not likely to need to work overnight shifts and will probably be done your workday by 10 p.m., if not hours earlier – which means you still have a chance to enjoy the night life or some quality time with loved ones.

Salary: $43,430

Education: Associate’s or Bachelor’s Degree in Real Estate

16. Chef or Head Cook

A preference for work hours outside the 9-to-5 schedule is ideal for aspiring chefs. After all, chefs and head cooks have to be available to work at the same times when customers are dining out – like early mornings for breakfast, into the evening and even late at night for dinners and snacks and, of course, on weekends.

Of course, chefs and head cooks prepare food. They create recipes, plan menus and design the presentation of a dish. Chefs also order and check ingredients for freshness and make sure equipment and workspaces are clean for food preparation. They are also often responsible for overseeing kitchen staff, from hiring them and training them to coordinating the various tasks necessary to keep a restaurant kitchen operational.

Some chefs attain their position – not to mention their cooking skills – purely through experience and on-the-job training. However, many aspiring chefs seek out formal training through culinary arts education programs at community colleges, technical schools and four-year colleges and universities, the BLS reported.

Salary: $41,610

Education: Culinary Arts Degree

17. Broadcast Technician

Modern television channels and radio stations offer round-the-clock programming. These constant entertainment options wouldn’t exist without trained professionals known as broadcast and sound engineering technicians.

Broadcast technicians handle the audio, video and broadcasting equipment necessary for communication over TV and radio as well as maximizing the sound quality in recorded and live music, the BLS reported. They handle everything from setting up sound and broadcasting equipment to running that equipment during a broadcast and even maintaining and repairing that equipment.

Depending on the medium they focus on and the station, channel, studio or company employing them, broadcast technicians can have very different job duties. Some record music in recording studios or at live performances. Others spend much of their time installing audio and visual equipment in settings like schools, offices and hotels. Those who work in television may be responsible for making sure the dialogue and sound effects used in a program match up correctly with the visual images on the screen.

To keep broadcasting 24/7, radio stations and television networks need to have broadcast and sound engineering technicians on the clock even during nonstandard hours, which is why these professionals tend to work early morning, late night, weekend and even holiday shifts.

Salary: $41,350

Education: Associate’s Degree in Radio and Television Broadcasting Technology

18. Musician

Not every job is easily quantifiable by salary or other factors. Some professional musicians become world-famous stars or celebrities, while many more pursue music as a part-time gig, often while holding other jobs. Overall, the BLS reports that musicians earn a median wage of $24.16 per hour, but there’s plenty of variation in income from one musician to the next.

Likewise, there is also a great degree of difference in education level among musicians. Some musicians have no formal education beyond a high school diploma, while others spend years studying music at the college level to earn a bachelor’s or even a master’s degree. What musicians have in common is that they have to spend a lot of time training and practicing to develop their musical talents. They also spend time creating and recording new material and rehearsing for performances.

Live shows are precisely the reason so many musicians work odd hours. Concerts are commonly held on weekends, in the evenings or even late at night. Successful musicians must not only put up with occasional evening work, but deliver energetic and entertaining performances consistently during these nonstandard hours. For most musicians, though, it’s having a passion for their art that makes a career in music fulfilling.

Salary: $24.16 per Hour

Education: Long-Term Music Training, Often a Bachelor’s Degree or Higher in Music

19. Athlete

Given the massive contracts awarded to top athletes in the big leagues, would it surprise you to learn that the median annual salary for athletes according to the BLS is $43,350? Like musicians, professional athletes run the gamut from the rich and world-famous sports stars to more down-to-earth athletes who live normal lives and bring home more modest salaries. While a college degree isn’t a requirement for the career, many professional athletes sharpened their skills playing their sport at the college level.

Still, professional athletes have a couple of things in common. For one, they must work hard at excelling in their sport, which means spending many hours training and practicing. They also work odd and sometimes difficult schedules, often playing on weekends, evenings and holidays. Traveling to compete is typical for professional athletes, which means they may also spend long amounts of time on buses, planes and other forms of transportation, the BLS reported. Like musicians, though, professional athletes tend to dream of their careers for a long time. The best professional athletes play as much for the love of the game as they do for the salary and reputation.

Salary: $43,350

Education: College-Level Playing Experience

20. Actor

Show business is certainly no 9-to-5 job. Like directors, actors and actresses often work unusual hours, whether their performance is live onstage or whether they’re just working overtime to meet a filming deadline. Actors also travel frequently for work, either to take a show on tour or to film on location.

To develop their acting skills, many aspiring actors will take acting classes. Some take these courses as part of their college-level studies to earn a bachelor’s degree, while others take acting classes separately at community colleges or private acting conservatories or film schools, the BLS reported. Relatively few professional actors become world-renowned movie or television stars, but about two-thirds do find full-time acting work, according to the BLS. Others work part-time, often along with other jobs. As with musicians and athletes, actors often pursue the career for the love of the craft rather than an expectation of steady long-term work or consistent earning potential.

Salary: $19.82 per Hour

Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Theatre

Editor’s Note:

The salary, education, work environment and career preparation information presented in this article comes from the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). This article is just a partial list of the many existing careers without a 9-to-5 work schedule. For more information on jobs with nonstandard hours, consult the blog post Careers for night owls and early birds published by the BLS.

For Further Reading: 

What Are the 5 Best Careers in Environmental Science?

What Are My Degree Choices to Be a Film/TV Producer?

Best Major for Dentist: What Major Do You Need to Be a Dentist?

Do You Need College to Be a Real Estate Agent?

Top 10 Highest Paying Engineering Careers

Top 10 Paying Jobs That Involve Math

Top 10 Paying Jobs With an Associate’s Degree

50 Highest Paying Associate Degree Jobs

Exciting Jobs: The Top 15 Jobs for Adrenaline Seekers

The post The 20 Best Jobs Without a 9-to-5 Work Schedule appeared first on DegreeQuery.com.