Online Criminal Justice Degree

[rbaxter]

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[Stump]

I have taken courses for my degree that are online, but not a whole program.
Is there any Practical application, or is it all "book learnin' " ?
I honestly don't know how places would react to online degrees. How do places react to people with GED's? Is it the same?

[txinvestigator1]

Will the degree be froma legitimate, "accredited" university?

[zander_zye]

For most government jobs, an online degree will suffice because the requirement is for a Bachelors or Masters (and the concentration is usually not the point unless you are going for computer science or law in the FBI)

As TX said - make sure it is accredited by a regional accedidation. I would also never pick an on-line school that didn't have a brick and motar campus somewhere.

GGU, UoP, and others have pretty good programs. UoP is somewhat of a degree mill but they are well-accepted. If you can write, the UoP Masters will probably be easier than other on line schools such as GGU (Golden Gate University). Online schools do not do a good job for the engineering or hard sciences or anything that requires a lot of hands on (such as MCSE and other computer training) because this is too instructor interactive.

JMHO - good luck

[rbaxter]

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[Stump]

Baxter,
I'm in NY, and most of the colleges I have looked into (be aware, this was many moons ago) offer at least 1/2 the classes online also. Check into colleges around you, and get a course schedule. You'll see how many classes you can take online there.

[rugfed]

I have been thinking of going to Law School online while at Customs to become an Agent. There is a school out of LA that is accredited by California to issue a Law degree, it would take 4 years, any ideas.

[zander_zye]

I know the school that you are talking about - be careful, they are only accredited by the California Bar. That means that if you intention is to actually practice law, you can only do so in CA.

I forgot the actual name of the accrediation agency - but look for schools that allow you to practice law in all 50 states. (none of these have on-line courses). GGU, USF, or SCU in the Bay Area are great choices.

[Kotonk]

You might want to check California State University Dominguez Hills, its a state college so its pretty reasonable, but I'm not sure on out of state. Frobes magazine rates it top 10 online schools. They don't offer criminal justice, but some others like Masters in Business and Public Administration. Its an accredited college by WASC. I think about $9k a year compared to UoP, which is a lot higher I hear. I hear the FBI doesn't accept online schools.

[zander_zye]

Where did you hear that the FBI does not accept on line schools? I am curious, how would they know? (unless the school is all online with no brick and motar classrooms such as Jones International U). I have a friend who got his BS from UoP Online and a MBA from GGU online - both have brick and mortar schools in addition to their online program - and there is no notation anywhere on any transcript that he went to the online program (matter of fact, his graduate degree transcripes look identical to mine and I went to the brick and motar school)

I didn't know about Cal State DH - that would have been a better option for me (as it would have been cheaper because I am a state resident)

[Kotonk]

http://www.911jobforums.com/vB/showt...ine+university

"Im kind of in a situation where online is the only reasonable way to finish my BA, but after a call with an FBI recruiter, I was told that despite my critical skill, they dont approve of online degrees."


I might go to CSUDH later on in life to get Masters in Public Administration. Its real close to my house and its online, can't beat that.

Course fees are the same for both resident and international students. All fees are subject to change.

www.csudh.edu

If you're interested in going there.


Here is what they offer as degrees.

B.S. Quality Assurance (BSQA)
B.S. Nursing (BSN) M.S. Nursing (MSN)
Master of Business Administration (MBA)
Master of Public Administration (MPA)
M.A. Humanities External Degree (HUX)
M.A. Negotiations/Conflict Management(BEH)
M.S. Quality Assurance (MSQA)

[FSUGrad]

I'm currently enrolled at Florida STate University in the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice in an online Master's of Science program to earn an MS of Criminology. My degree will not be differenciated as online or campus. FSU has an great program and it is offerred to professionals in the field (although this term is broad).

I find the classes to be more challenging than the traditional classroom setting. There is a lot more research, reading and writing than in other master's programs (I have taken classes at other universities in the traditional classroom setting). I will graduate in the Spring of 2004 with 36 credit hours. FSU is obviously accrediated (even if they're not in the SEC).

The FBI accepts degrees from accredited colleges regardless of how they were obatined. The focus of the degree may not be what the FBI is recruiting at the time, but a degree is a degree is a degree. I know the FBI recognizes online degrees.

Another good program online is offerred at Boston University.

[Stump]

Freaky coincidence! I was wondering about this the other day because we have to take a terrorism course at work that is online. Now here someone revived this thread!
I am not disputing that the online degree would count as much as a regular degree. I know I am considering taking online courses just because of my schedule at work, and lack of time.

What I wonder is that if this will affect you in the interview process? Maybe not a lot, but just a little? My thinking is that you go to an actual school and get a lot of socialization, which helps in relating to people. If someone gets an online degree, they typically do their coursework at home, in front of a computer (probably in their underwear and hair uncombed! ). This doesn't allow for any social interaction. I can't help but think that the interviewers will wonder if you lack the extroverted-ness (I know, not a word) needed to be a good copper.

[FSUGrad]

I hear what you're saying and understand your concern. When I was in the traditional classroom setting, I interacted w/ nobody. Over the internet, I actually know my classmates, do group projects w/ them and solve real life problems. I'm a fed and one classmate is a chief of a 350 man department. We don't have the luxury of abiding to a schedule or dealing w/ ficticious problems. I am able to tailor my projects to my assignments at work.

Furthermore, I have never been asked how well I interacted w/ classmates in a interview for a law enforcement job. If I was to be asked, I could easily tell you what 50% of the people in my distance learning class do, where they are employed and what their interests are. We may be talking about different types of online courses. Mine is on the school semester system and has 15 students. The terrorism course you are speaking of may be a "correspondence" type course were you just read, study and take tests at your own liesure w/out interacting. I know the FBI is offering this asa a prereq to additional terrorism training courses.

I loved my traditional undergrad program but will never do anything but distance learning again. I personnally though it would be a boone-doggle but it is more challanging and rewarding than I ever imagined.

[Stump]

FSU, I didn't mean that the interviewers would ask you about your classroom experiences, but just notice the lack of social development.
No biggie, 'cuz I don't really think it matters too much. A lot of things can be done online now. I did most of my Christmas shopping last year online, and that doesn't make me more of a loser than the people who went to the mall.
I am not sure what kind of course I gotta take. It really blows, we have had about a billion meetings in the past 6 months and training for all this crap. (not that I am bitter, can you tell? :D )