Associate Degrees in Criminal Justice in Delaware
While other New England states have successfully implemented criminal justice reform laws, reduced recidivism rates, and decreased the prison population, Delaware has struggled to find its footing in this area.
What does this mean for you? It means that, as a criminal justice professional, you may have the opportunity to be part of ongoing change and be involved in the improvement of this system.
The Criminal Justice Improvement Committee in Delaware has tried to find solutions for persistent problems, including a large prison population and high reoffending rates (W Delaware, 2016). They hope to do this by overhauling the state criminal code and taking ad-vantage of various efficiencies, cost savings, and improvements that could benefit the industry.
Whether you want to use an associate degree to become a corrections officer, a bailiff, a police officer, or another type of criminal justice professional, these efforts can directly impact your career.
If you are considering the opportunities you may find in the Delaware justice system, get more information right now by contacting criminal justice associate degree Delaware programs.
Criminal Justice Associate Programs in Delaware
Within the field of criminal justice, there are various work environments you may explore, including the courtroom, jails and prisons, the community, county roads, and police departments. A general criminal justice associate degree may give you the education you need to get started in any of these fields. However, if you are particularly passionate about one area of criminal justice, consider your other degree opportunities.
Schools across Delaware offer diverse options like criminal justice management, homeland defense and emergency management, law enforcement, and paralegal studies.
If several of these options appeal to you, compare curricular requirements to find a program that aligns with your learning goals. You can also study each program’s learning outcomes to discover what skills you should master by the time you graduate.
In a homeland defense and emergency management program, you may find that you build your skills in courses like:
- Issues in Homeland Security and Emergency Management
- Ethics, Professionalism, and Communication in Public Safety
- Information/Intelligence Sharing in Homeland Security
- Crisis Intervention
- Constitutional Law
- Information Security
- Criminology
Overall, associate degree programs are a time-efficient and financially sound way to get started in your field of choice.
Average costs and time requirements for earning your criminal justice associate degree are listed below:
- Timeframe: 4 to 6 semesters
- Credits: 63 to 72 credits
- Average tuition cost per year: $3568 (College Board, 2016)
Field experience is crucial in any industry, but it is especially important in a fast-paced industry like criminal justice. Internships generally only require a few hours of work per week, but the connections you gain and the experience you get can be price-less.
One aspect of your education to consider is financial aid. Although most two-year programs in Delaware are quite affordable, you may still want to reduce your expenses as much as possible. Look into school-specific financial aid options, as well as state and federal programs.
Through local organizations, you may qualify for merit-based scholarships. The Delaware State Troopers Association awards scholarships to criminal justice students who plan on working as police officers.
What Can I Do With a Criminal Justice Degree in Delaware?
With an Associate’s degree, criminal justice graduates can apply for jobs in a few different career paths. While you are still a student, build strong relationships with your professors. Their industry connections may be beneficial when you are ready to start looking for a job, particularly if you do well in school and prove yourself to your instructors.
The same is true for any internship experience you have; maintain an ongoing relationship with internship supervisors and coordinators throughout your career.
Those who go into fire investigation and inspection may look for hints of arson and create official reports for police departments and insurance companies.
Job openings for fire investigators are generally not expected to increase much through 2026 (CareerOneStop, 2016). The average salary for a fire inspector is $47,420 per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2016).
Policing is another option to consider at this level of education. Police patrol officers in Delaware report an average annual salary of $65,740 (BLS, 2016). Those who go on to become police detectives earn an average income of $92,710 annually (BLS, 2016).
As Delaware undergoes massive criminal justice change, legislators and administrators may rely on professionals like you to adjust to new laws and standards.
Get ready for the next step in your career and get in touch with Delaware associate degree in criminal justice programs.
