An associate of science degree program in criminal justice is designed for students interested in pursuing further studies at the bachelor's level in areas concerning science and mathematics, such as forensic pathology or research methods in criminal justice. The program is meant to help you establish a sound knowledge base and give you the basic understanding of the subject, which you can enhance by enrolling in a four-year program. After completing the program, you will be qualified for entry-level positions in a courtroom, police office or juvenile delinquency centers.
An associate of arts degree in criminal justice prepares students for bachelor's programs in areas like managing criminal justice personnel, crime and delinquency, as well as contemporary issues in criminal justice, criminal court systems or criminal procedure. In contrast with the associate of science degree, the associate of arts requires fewer science subjects to study. A.A. degrees typically require more theoretical study than practical work.
Some colleges offer associate of arts degree programs in business administration with criminal justice as a concentration area. The coursework of such a program is designed to help students build a knowledge framework relevant to administrative systems and processes in criminal justice. Since an associate degree provides only basic knowledge, it will help you study the criminal justice system in America, processes of law enforcement, corrections, courts and application of laws in the legal environment.
An associate of economic crime with concentration in criminal justice will help you pursue a career as an economic crime investigator, whose job is to uncover security breaches that occur due to high technology crimes. Such a program provides basic knowledge on how to investigate insurance fraud, computer security and corporate security frauds including e-commerce fraud. The courses included in such programs typically include criminal law, criminology and private security.