Criminal Justice Programs In Florida ((HOT))
Are you considering a career in criminal justice? It is a career choice that can take you just about anywhere, but if you enjoy warm weather and fun on the water, you may want to take a look at Florida. In Florida, you will find over 80 schools offering programs in criminal justice. The great thing about pursuing a career in criminal justice is that you can choose programs ranging from Associate of Science which can often be completed in 18 months all the way to a doctorate. With a little online research, you can find which schools offer the type of financial aid assistance that would benefit you.
criminal justice programs in florida
A career in criminal justice is exciting and lucrative. There are over 50 different types of criminal justice jobs to choose from. If you like to work with children, you could be a juvenile court counselor or a social worker. If legal issues are your interest, you may choose a career as a litigation manager or a criminologist. In Florida, it is possible to find an opportunity as a customs agent or environmental conservation officer. In a career so diverse, it is likely that you can customize a job that fits well with your personality.
For the Criminal Justice Degree Hub ranking of the best criminal justice schools in Florida, editors featured only accredited, legitimate institutions. Programs are ranked according to data from IPEDS and Niche, with practical factors including tuition rate, reputation, and variety of degree plans.
You will also want to choose a criminal justice degree program that you can afford. You may be able to pay for all or part of your tuition and textbooks through grants and scholarships. Employer reimbursement plans are also an option. You can also choose to spread your courses out over a longer period of time instead of following the more conventional schedule. This type of flexibility is beneficial when it comes to paying for your classes as well as maintaining a full-time job.
Forensics is another highly specialized field in the criminal justice classifications. Forensic pathologists study evidence that is found at crime scenes to determine if it is valuable enough to be used in court. Forensics requires a degree that offers many science-based courses so if you plan on looking for criminal justice jobs in Florida that focus on working with evidence, you will have to have a strong interest in science and biology.
Paralegals often earn their degrees in criminal justice as well. In a law office setting, having a criminal justice degree is extremely beneficial. Paralegals, researchers, and clerks who have studied criminal justice will often be the first ones looked at when new jobs open up in the office. Unlike forensics which follows a science-based curriculum, paralegals focus more on the legal aspect of the justice system. Having a working knowledge of both, however, is important. A good criminal justice school in Florida will blend both so that graduates have a working knowledge of both sides.
If you want to learn more about criminal justice salaries in Florida, you first need to determine what kind of position you are looking at. Crime scene investigators, paralegals, and forensic pathologists are highly specialized fields. On average, individuals who choose to follow a career path that involves a criminal justice degree can expect to earn approximately $50,000 every year. Entry-level positions may earn somewhat less, but the earning potential of these careers can lead to substantial increases over the next few years.
Individuals who have already found work in the career path of their choice can increase their chances of moving forward by returning to school. Completing a BS or MS degree program in criminal justice will open the door to many opportunities for advancement. Not only will the graduate be able to take on more responsibility, but their potential earnings will also increase dramatically as well. The criminal justice salary in Florida is about average in comparison with the rest of the United States.
Earn your criminal justice degree fully online or on campus. This provides you with the convenience and flexibility to learn when, where and how you want. Upon graduation, criminal justice majors can find employment as police, correctional or probation officers, justice system administrators, crime analysts, private security administrators, superintendents, county sheriffs/deputies, program directors or elected officials. You can also go on to graduate school and get involved with academic criminal justice; or professional school, like law school, and take positions in the legal aspects of the justice system as prosecutors or defense attorneys. With experience and additional education, you have additional opportunities in supervisory, administrative, or counseling positions.
Florida's growing criminal justice sector is well-served by its numerous colleges and universities, which offer traditional classroom, distance learning, and hybrid programs that suit diverse needs and prepare individuals for success in the criminal justice field. Prospective students can choose from associate's, bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees as well as undergraduate and graduate certificates in such areas as criminal justice technology, global security, and criminology. Many criminal justice schools in Florida are also offering online programs, including Daytona State College and Florida State University.
Earning a criminal justice degree in Florida, whether through an on-campus or an online program, can help jump-start your career. Many Florida cities are in need of criminal justice professionals. The Orlando Police Department strongly prefers that applicants have a two- or four-year degree. Although Florida does not directly border another country, it is nevertheless a major port of entry for international travelers which presents opportunities for border patrol agents and related federal positions, which typically require a bachelor's degree. It also has a number of military installations with well over 100,000 personnel in-state. Finally, Florida is also home to a number of sites administered by the Federal Bureau of Prisons, including the Federal Correctional Center at Coleman which is in urgent need of individuals with criminal justice degrees to fill correctional officer positions.
Saint Leo University (Online): Saint Leo University Online has eight distinct criminal justice programs ranging from an Associate of Arts to a Graduate Certificate. The Associate of Arts in Criminal Justice is 60 credit hours while the Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice (with a Criminalistics, Homeland Security, or no specialization) is 120 credit hours. The four Master of Science programs include the general graduate degree as well as Critical Incident Management and Forensic Science specializations, and the Criminal Justice Graduate Certificate is an 18-hour course of study. All online undergraduate criminal justice students are required to enroll in Introduction to Law and the Legal System, Survey of the Criminal Justice System, and Criminal Justice Ethics.
Florida State University: Florida State University's College of Criminology and Criminal Justice has a reputation for being one of the leading schools for criminal justice study and research in the US. The school offers an undergraduate major in Criminology and Criminal justice that provides students with a broad understanding of the criminal justice field while setting the stage for further specialization. This major can be completed on campus or online. A related on-campus Cyber Criminology major is a highly-focused degree that teaches students the skills and knowledge needed to prevent and investigate cyber crimes. The College of Criminology and Criminal Justice offers a three-year educational forgiveness loan, the Regalf Scholarship, for those who are currently working as police officers in small departments.The College of Criminology and Criminal Justice also offers competitive master's and doctoral degrees, including an online master's in criminal justice.
Florida's population is projected to grow over the next 20 years, providing many opportunities for entry-level criminal justice professionals. The average yearly salary for protective service employees, including police and patrol officers, was $40,510 in Florida as of May 2015.5 The Florida Highway Patrol is a major employer of criminal justice professionals and offers a starting salary of either $33,977 or $38,977 (depending on area), in addition to a generous benefits package.6 The Florida Department of Corrections is also hiring for a range of positions which include generous benefits.
The unemployment rate in Florida as of May 2016 was 4.7%.14 This was equal to the national average and significantly below the state peak unemployment rate of 11.4% in February 2010.14 Government-related employment is a good indicator of jobs in the criminal justice field. The prospects for criminal justice jobs in Florida are excellent. Projections Central included the following employment projections for Florida criminal justice job opportunities:
Student Review: "Florida Gulf Coast University was a great experience for me. The criminal justice professors were experienced, having many years of practice in the field. My criminal Justice teacher is actually still a member of the local crime scene unit. When going to Tallahassee Community College, I noticed that there was no change in the quality of education. The professors there also taught at FSU which means I was getting the same education for less money. I believe that the criminal justice program was able to prepare me in the classroom. Scholarships were the main reason I was able to go to college. I am very thankful for the grants and scholarships I received for my good grades and financial situation. All in all I am the proof that no matter what, if you want something, you can find a way. And now I am hoping to get a job with the Tampa Police Department." 041b061a72