Undergraduate degree programs prepare students for multiple career fields in the criminal justice system. The versatility of the degree is what leads many to choose this major at the undergraduate level. Parole agents, insurance claims representatives and juvenile justice case workers are all possible career paths for the criminal justice major. When searching for a school with an undergraduate program, a student should always check to see if the program's curriculum emphasizes real-world situations and prepares him to successfully complete any certification exams required to enter his chosen field.
One weakness of undergraduate criminal justice programs is that the degree itself is sometimes not enough to begin a career in the system. Careers at the federal and state level often involve certification exams in order to attain licensure, and it is ultimately the student's responsibility to do so. Students may also require additional schooling for certain career paths, such as the police force. A criminal justice degree may familiarize students with concepts taught at the police academy, but it doesn't exempt them from having to apply and successfully complete the coursework.
One field positively affected by the advent of online colleges and degrees is criminal justice. Students are now able to earn an undergraduate degree in the criminal justice field from anywhere with a secure Internet connection, allowing working students the flexibility to attend classes when it's convenient. Schools, such as Kaplan University and the University of Phoenix, offer nationally accredited online degree programs in criminal justice.