Many police officers earn an associate or bachelor's degree in criminal justice. You can search for schools in your area that offer criminal justice degrees, or you can opt to take classes online from an institution such as Kaplan University. While earning an associate degree at Kaplan, you'll learn about the U.S. criminal justice system and will focus your studies on domestic and international terrorism, criminal law and criminal investigation. If you opt to pursue a bachelor's degree in criminal justice, you'll gain a more in-depth understanding of criminal offenses, and you'll explore research methods used in the field.
Another degree program you could pursue for a career in law enforcement is an associate or bachelor's degree in criminology. Regis University, which has campuses throughout Colorado, is one school that offers criminology degrees. The program is designed to prepare students for careers in law enforcement, government security, U.S. customs and immigration. You'll discover how law enforcement, homeland security and the criminal justice system work together. The curriculum includes crime analysis, criminal behavior, professional ethics, homeland security and social violence.
Some aspiring police officers may also choose to study law enforcement while attending college. Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) is one school that offers this option online, and it's one of the only schools in the country that features a program focusing on police studies. Offering both an associate and a bachelor's degree in law enforcement, EKU's program combines academic work with professional preparation. The curriculum includes courses in ethics, predatory crime, terrorism, criminal investigation and computer technology.
Although it's not necessary to earn a degree in a foreign language, it is useful to be fluent in another language while working as a police officer. The Criminal Justice Training Authority in Farmington, New Mexico, for instance, offers a degree program for officers who have already graduated from the police academy but want to continue to further their education. Among the courses included in the degree program are French, German, Navajo and Spanish language courses.