Criminal Justice MBA Degrees Online
If you’re currently working in the criminal justice field (or you’ve always dreamed about it), and you want to move into a management or policy-making position, then you’re going to want to get your mba in criminal justice.
Why Get An MBA In Criminal Justice?
The criminal justice field has exploded in recent years. Local, state, and federal governments have all expanded their criminal justice departments, making it fairly easy to find a job in this field.
So, why would you want to spend the time to get a criminal justice mba?
Well, a criminal justice mba is going to enable you to work in a higher position than you’d normally get with a bachelor’s degree. It’s a relatively new addition to most mba programs, simply because the criminal justice field is becoming increasingly more complex. Those working in management need business skills in addition to traditional criminal justice skills, and thus the criminal justice mba was created.
Many criminal justice mba students are already working in the criminal justice field. They decided to get their mba so they can advance their career and earn more money doing work that they love.
Criminal Justice MBA Degree Programs: What You’ll Learn
A criminal justice mba program is going to blend courses in management with the unique aspects of the criminal justice field.
Think about this for a moment: the criminal justice field encompasses dozens of different agencies, both at the local, state, and federal level. Each of these agencies is full of unique departments, all staffed with an incredibly diverse workforce.
Getting all these people, departments, and agencies to work together is incredibly challenging, and it’s why this field needs managers who can walk a fine line. A criminal justice mba is going to teach you how to do just that.
Most criminal justice mba programs are going to try and make you as well rounded as possible. For instance, you’ll probably have plenty of courses on cultural awareness, ethics, and psychology. In addition, you’ll also take classes on:
- Juvenile criminal justice
- Forensics
- Organized Crime
- White Collar Crime
- Criminal Evidence
- Current Issues in Law Enforcement
- Organizational Management
- Human Behavior
- Social Change and Public Policy
- Compulsive Behavior in the Criminal Mind
Careers With A Criminal Justice MBA
Getting an mba is definitely an investment, both in time and money. But, it’s an investment that pays off.
According to the Graduate Management Admission Council’s 2004 MBA Graduate Survey, professionals with an mba usually get a 35% salary increase. That’s pretty significant.
Things look even brighter in the criminal justice field. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that job growth in this field will grow steady or faster than average through 2014, which is good news for emerging graduates.
So, how much can you earn with a criminal justice mba?
Well, it’s hard to say, simply because there are so many agencies and departments in this field, all with drastically different pay scales.
For instance, a manager working in the Department of Homeland Security is probably going to make more than a manager working at a juvenile detention center.
Most managers in the criminal justice field earn $70,000 and up, however, so you can use that as a baseline.
There are several different fields you can get into with an mba in criminal justice. A few include:
- Forensic Science
- Internet Security
- Security Management
- Law Enforcement Administration
- Private Security
- Emergency Management
Working for a federal government agency is the ultimate goal for most criminal justice mba graduates. After all, the salary and benefits are great, and the work is usually pretty exciting. But, competition for these positions is pretty intense, which is why getting an mba in criminal justice will definitely help your prospects.
The good news is that the government is, well, big. This means there are several different agencies you can choose from once you’ve gotten your mba in criminal justice.
Some of the agencies you can consider include:
- The FBI
- The CIA
- FEMA
- Department of Homeland Security
- Secret Service
- US Marshall Service
- DEA
And, those are just a few of the government agencies. Once you get into the state and local level you can see that an mba in criminal justice gives you plenty of options.
