Choosing Paths

• Law enforcement is one of the basic functions of the criminal justice system, and is a function of government agencies ranging from the local police to the FBI. Law enforcement degree programs focus on the prevention of crime and apprehension of suspects, and provide a broad understanding of the criminal justice system at all levels.
• Criminal Investigations is one of the most critical tasks in law enforcement. These degree programs focus on topics such as crime scene management, forensic evidence analysis, witness and suspect interrogation and computer forensics.

If you currently work in the criminal justice system, an Associate's degree will enhance your qualifications for more specialized positions and supervisory roles. If you want to make a career transition into criminal justice, an Associate's degree will differentiate you as an applicant for entry-level positions in law enforcement, corrections, insurance investigation and private security.

Associate's degrees are either transfer or vocational degrees. If you want your credits to be apply toward a Bachelor's degree, make sure that you choose an Associate's program that offers a transfer degree. If your goal is to acquire specific job skills and you don-t need the credits to be transferable, a vocational or profession Associate's degree may be your best choice.