Key takeaways
- The online education industry is growing at an unprecedented rate, subsequently resulting in the availability of several programs offering a criminal justice certificate online.
- Since the year 2000, the online education market has grown 900%, making it the fastest-growing market in the education industry.
- Earning a criminal justice certificate online presents several benefits, including enhanced career opportunities, ease of access, networking opportunities, affordability, and more.
- Online criminal justice certificate programs enable you to stay on top of industry trends and build new skills.
- When choosing a program offering a criminal justice certificate online, consider factors such as faculty expertise, program accreditation, program format, and more.
- The ease of learning, ability to work and study at the same time, earn professionally recognized certificates, and affordability all make earning a criminal justice certificate online worth it.
The online education industry is growing at an unprecedented rate. In fact, it grew by 900% since 2000, making it the fastest-growing market in the education industry. Today, you can find almost anything online, from certifications, courses, programs, to degrees, including doctoral programs. According to research, 70% of all students believe online learning is better than traditional on-campus programs.
However, despite its popularity, the credibility of online criminal justice degrees and certifications is still under scrutiny. This guide explores the worth of earning a criminal justice certificate online. Here, you will find answers to some of the most pressing questions, such as why consider earning a certificate in criminal justice, what the benefits of such programs are, whether they are worth it, or if they will help in your professional career, and more.
Why consider earning a criminal justice certificate online?
The criminal justice field is growing rapidly and changing at an even faster rate. Whether you are an aspiring professional or an established one, staying up to date with current trends, latest technologies, and theories can help criminal justice professionals develop a more comprehensive understanding of the crime landscape. One of the ways to get said information is to earn a criminal justice certificate online. But is it worth it?
Whether you choose to pursue a certification in the field, and if you choose an on-campus or an online program, is more of a personal preference and a choice. And to help you make that choice, here is a comprehensive list of the pros and cons of pursuing criminal justice programs online.
Potential benefits of online criminal justice certificate programs
The growth of the online education industry is not just a result of the pandemic. Distance learning programs existed way before the pandemic hit and have continued to thrive long after the pandemic ended because of the several benefits they offer. Here, we list some of the pros of earning a criminal justice certificate online.
Enhanced job opportunities
It is only natural to strive for improvement. However, the pace of growth or change in the types of crime and the criminal justice field makes it hard to be eligible for new criminal justice job opportunities with the same qualifications. That is where short-term programs such as online criminal justice certificate programs, criminal justice courses, and criminal justice online classes can help you. The certifications serve as additional qualifications, making you eligible for a wider range of job opportunities.
Career advancement
If you want to obtain managerial roles, you will need to have certain skills and qualities that not everyone with a bachelor’s or master’s degree will have. By earning a relevant criminal justice certificate online, you can develop a competitive edge among your co-workers or competitors. Moreover, because you will earn the certificate online, you won’t miss any work days or need to take any additional days or time off, all of which can prove to be an asset during a performance review.
Related: Explore some highly rated criminal justice jobs
Skills development
As we mentioned earlier, crime and the way criminals operate are evolving. Thus, continued learning is essential, especially in fields such as cybersecurity, where innovation in digital technologies and the growing use of fintech platforms are also fueling innovation in criminal activities. You can learn the latest technologies, be aware of potential misuses, and develop the skills needed to succeed as a criminal justice professional in a dynamic work environment.
Related: How are criminal justice and cybersecurity related?
Networking opportunities
The more people you know, the bigger the circle of people you can reach out to for aid in criminal investigations. In the criminal justice field, the size of your network and the range of qualified professionals you can rely on can make a big difference. Online criminal justice certification programs put you in touch with criminal justice professionals from across the world. Here, you benefit from the opportunity to learn the tools, technologies, and techniques used by professionals across the globe.
Specialized knowledge
Criminal justice is a broad and dynamic field. If you truly want to excel in your career and someday lead your own department, you need to have an advanced degree in criminal justice at the very least. But, more importantly, you need specialized knowledge within your chosen niche area. Online criminal justice certificate programs allow you to gain the specialized knowledge needed to become an expert in your desired field and become eligible for in-demand criminal justice jobs.
Study while you work
Once you graduate with a criminal justice degree and start formal employment in the criminal justice field, going back to school to learn about new developments can be challenging. Full-time employment in any field is very demanding in terms of time and effort. However, continuing your education has several advantages, such as the ones mentioned above.
Online criminal justice certificate programs are the answer to such a dilemma. These programs are asynchronous, allowing each student to complete their education at their own pace and whenever it is comfortable for them.
What are the cons of getting an online criminal justice certificate?
There are always two sides to a coin, and thus, even though there are significant pros to earning a criminal justice certificate online, there are also some downsides.
Feelings of isolation
One of the biggest drawbacks of online education is the fact that it is isolated learning. While many prefer it as it removes significant distractions, some are put off by it. If you crave social interaction and thrive on it, this may not be the program for you. One way to combat loneliness is to take your classes in cafes, a library, or other public places where you can be alone but together.
Struggle with technical difficulties
Without campus resources to rely on, you will be taking on technical challenges and attempting to solve problems yourself. While colleges and universities offering online criminal justice degrees also offer technical assistance at an additional charge, you may not be able to obtain the same service for a certificate program.
Sorting through unaccredited programs
In the world of online education, there are still many unaccredited programs being marketed out there. If you do not conduct proper research, you may end up falling for a scam, wasting time and money. However, this is easily avoidable by ensuring you verify whether the program you are choosing is accredited or not.
Factors to consider when exploring a criminal justice certificate online
The remarkable growth rate of online education and the demand for criminal justice professionals has brought a subsequent and exponential increase in the number of available online criminal justice certificate programs. Fortunately or unfortunately, the available options include many excellent options and some not-so-great options too. Here are a few factors to consider when choosing a criminal justice certificate online.
What are you looking for?
First and foremost, give ample thought and list down your requirements for the program. What skills are you hoping to build? Which type of program is most suitable for you? What are your required learning takeaways? Most importantly, is the certificate you will earn acceptable as a qualification by the organization you aspire to work for?
The answers to these will automatically help you sort through the noise and shortlist a few programs that offer what you are looking for.
Program accreditation
Secondly, always check if the program you are hoping to pursue is accredited by relevant authorities or not. Accrediting authorities serve as quality control analysts, ensuring the program offers what it claims to and adds value to a student’s life. There are several higher education accrediting authorities, and most of them publish lists of accredited institutions on their websites. You can also reach out to them to verify which criminal justice schools and programs are actually accredited.
Faculty expertise
Next, you should perform your own little quality check by determining whether the faculty is actually qualified to be the instructor of said program or not. If you find that the instructor does not have any significant academic or professional achievements, do not choose them. Experience is the best teacher, and when it comes to fields such as criminal justice, you should always rely only on those with professional work experience.
Program type
Program type is another important consideration. There are two types of online programs, namely synchronous and asynchronous. Synchronous programs require real-time participation, which can prove challenging to manage, especially for working professionals. However, if your desired program is taught by an esteemed industry professional who requires real-time participation, give it preference over an asynchronous program.
Cost
The budget is another important consideration. In the world of online learning, the cost of a program can vary drastically from institute to institute and for residents of the state, out-of-state residents, and international students. However, there are also free online criminal justice programs available for those who want an easy, no-commitment introduction to the field. Make sure to check the cost and determine if it meets your budget or not before enrolling in a program.
Is a criminal justice certificate online worth it? – Depends on your preferences!
Whether or not you choose to earn a criminal justice certificate online or not is a personal choice. But when it comes to whether it is worth it or not is dependent on facts. All facts currently point toward yes! It’s worth it! Whether you are an aspiring professional or an established one, online programs offer the flexibility and ease of access that can help you learn all you need to know about the field.
Through online criminal justice certificate programs, you can learn about the field without committing to a four-year degree, stay up to date with the latest developments in the field, learn new skills, enhance your eligibility, and so much more. Make sure to choose programs that offer the value and learning outcomes you seek, and you will not be disappointed.
Related: Explore the best online schools for criminal justice
Moreover, the certificate you will earn adds to your qualifications and enhances your eligibility, making it an absolute win-win. What makes it even better is that these certificate programs are short-term programs, so you won’t be making a lengthy time commitment either. All of these and many other reasons make earning an online criminal justice certificate definitely worth it.