The world of criminology is constantly evolving; those who work in any aspect of the profession must always be ready to gain new skills to stay relevant in the industry. An advanced degree will help you gain a better understanding and knowledge of a particular field or industry. You will be able to learn the knowledge and skills required to advance your career and earning income. A masters degree program is an investment in you and into your career.
*Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Criminology Managers, on the Internet at https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes251111.htm (visited March 24, 2022).
You can complete a master's degree online in approximately two years, if not less. Also, if you are taking courses online, you may be able to integrate academic learning with real-world, experiential learning. Once you have completed a bachelor's degree, you might seek out employment with an industry specific firm. You might be able to work on isolated projects and then take time after those projects to complete more courses. In this way, you will prolong the time it takes to graduate, but you will accrue invaluable experience along the way.
Before choosing a major there are some important facts you should know about.
We consider the choice of major to be an important decision for students when selecting criminology schools or programs. Careers in criminology is a broad field, and it has a wide potential for developing specializations and expertise. The student should pause and study the situation carefully. It is important to connect the choice of school with the career goals and employment objectives. Students should be sure that the school is well-equipped to provide high-quality criminology education in the subject areas of greatest interest.
Students must look at the curriculum to determine if the subject will be covered thoroughly and in the areas of study that will be most beneficial.
The two most prominent types of master levels in criminology are: Master of Arts degree (MA degree) in criminology and a Master of Science degree (MS degree) in criminology. An MA degree normally requires pupils to take fewer concentration courses as well as to focus more on discovering about criminology. These students have a little bit more flexibility when it pertains to customizing their education to meet their occupation objectives as well as goals.
The Master of Science degree in criminology, on the other hand, is much less concentrated on exploration and even more targeted to a specific focus. Master of Science students, usually, focus specifically on the area of their major and tend to be more career focused. Master's degrees in the clinical field, for example, are most likely to be a Master of Science degree. You can find some sample classes for a master's below:
If you're concerned about the specific graduation rate at each school you're most interested in, the Office of Institutional Research should have that information. According to the National Association of Student Financial Aid Admissions nationwide shows the completion rate for masters programs at 61%.
This can get very expensive. Students have to pay for additional terms of tuition. Universities and colleges may also penalize students who are taking too long to graduate. So, you need to have a plan that enables you to graduate within two to three years. See an advisor for your major every semester. Take the classes that they tell you are required. Try to take more than just the 9 minimum full-time credits per semester—instead, take 12; if you don't have to work more than 10 to 15 hours a week, try to take more credits if your college permits that. Take summer classes to get ahead (or catch up if you fail a class).
Try not to change degree concentrations. If you're not sure of your specialty major, take just your general education credits and try a few majors you're interested in—take an introductory class for each major and find the one that fits you best.
Accreditation is a very important facet of your career since, if the college you attend is accredited by a reputable association, the graduate degree you earn from that college will have more value and some employers include this information when evaluating you for employment.
The reason why accreditation is so important is that, without it, it's hard to determine what kind of standards the training programs hold and if they are up to date with technology and innovation.
A college gets accredited voluntarily by an association of their choice. The association will interview and inspect the college thoroughly to see if they meet their standards of everything from cleanliness to academics and, if the college passes the inspection, the association puts their stamp on them as an assurance that they meet all their requirements.
Employers today want only the best of the best working for them. Some businesses are even willing to pay for the education of potential candidates. So, when it comes to degrees, most employers look at the accreditor of the school you earned your degree from, since this says a lot about the kind of education you acquired. If an employer is willing to go so far as to pay for a student's education, imagine what kind of salary they will offer to those holding a degree from a highly reputable association.
Estimates for the costs of a doctorate criminology degree run from $15,000 to $60,000 per year depending on the university and its tuition charges. For both private and public universities, there may or may not be a difference between in-state vs out-of-state tuition costs. The difference can be remarkable.
Based on all schools and all majors, some estimates that can help guide the student. Data from the College Board and the NCES provide ranges for costs that add tuition, living expenses, and fees into price ranges. Based on 2017 data, the costs of a four-year degree at a public school is in the range of $85,000 for in-state students, $150,000 for out-of-state students, and $190,000 for private school students. When projected to the year 2019 through 2020 one can anticipate an increase in the area of three to four percent. In regards to a graduate or masters program, FinAid.org reported that the average cost of a two-year masters program was between $30,000 and $120,000. These prices seem high of course and in many cases most students are not paying the full amount of tuition because they are receiving financial aid. When applying to the school of your choice also reach out to them to discuss scholarship and grant opportunities to help pay for your doctorate criminology education.
When looking for a college program to attend, you need to look at all the potential advantages of a doctorate criminology program. Post-graduate job assistance should rank high on the list of important things to consider when selecting where you will enroll. A good job placement program, while it cannot guarantee you a position in criminology, will help you make sure you have the best classes and experiences under your belt. That way, you will have the best possible chance of getting the position you want. The time spent in school is a great time to prepare for your future career in criminology management. That can begin with a great internship, referral, mentorship, or hire. Schools that offer extensive job placement and career assistance can help you get all those things and more.
