Associate Degrees in Criminal Justice in Michigan
The field of criminal justice relies heavily on the cooperation of professionals at various educational levels. While those who conduct research and manage criminal justice programs play an essential role in this field, the work of associate-level professionals is equally important. Associate degree graduates do policing work, correctional work, and assistant work in various specialties.
This is an excellent time to start using your skills in this field. The Michigan Senate recently approved an entire overhaul of the state’s criminal justice system (Click On Detroit, 2016). The state hopes to reduce parole and probation revocations. Other aspects of reform should help released criminals integrate into society; for example, there are financial incentives for companies who employ parolees.
Advance your education in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula or Lower Peninsula to learn about the needs of your community. Check out our list of criminal justice associate degree Michigan programs below.
Criminal Justice Associate Programs in Michigan
Since criminal justice is such a large field, you may be interested in focusing on one specific area of study. This is a great option for those who know exactly which career paths they want to pursue and what skills they need to succeed.
Criminal justice associate degree programs are available at many Michigan schools, but other options include corrections, emergency services management, paralegal studies, legal office assistant, and law enforcement. The program you choose determines your curriculum, so compare coursework requirements ahead of time.
In a law enforcement program, you may take courses like:
- Criminal Court System
- Crime Scene Investigation
- Highway Safety and Traffic Investigation
- Emergency Preparedness
- Ethics in Criminal Justice
- Crisis Management
- Criminal Justice Report Writing
One of the main benefits of an associate degree is its affordability. Tuition for two-year programs is generally quite a bit lower than tuition for four-year programs.
Michigan averages for earning your Associate in Criminal Justice can be found below:
- Timeframe: 2 to 2.5 years
- Credits: 63 to 72 credits
- Average tuition cost per year: $3,510 (College Board, 2016)
Despite the low overall cost of an associate degree, you may further reduce your expenses by spending some time on financial aid. With the FAFSA, you can find out if you qualify for federal grants or loans. State government programs also have grant options for qualifying students. The American Legion Department of Michigan supports aspiring law enforcement professionals with scholarship programs.
If you work a rigid schedule or your schedule changes on a weekly basis, you may benefit from the flexibility of an online degree program. With this type of program, you may view online lectures, write papers, and complete your readings on your schedule.
What Can I Do With a Criminal Justice Degree in Michigan?
The field of criminal justice is multifaceted, a trait that may allow you to use your education in several different ways. With an associate degree, criminal justice graduates may consider becoming transportation security officers. The average annual salary for a Michigan transportation security officer is $40,250 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2016). Through the year 2022, job openings in this field may swell 4% (O*Net, 2016).
The demand for police patrol officers is growing steadily in Michigan, with an expected 1% increase in job openings between 2012 and 2022 (O*Net, 2016). Michigan patrol officers claim an average income of $56,720 per year (BLS, 2016).
Bailiffs work in courtrooms across Michigan, so this career path offers more traditional hours and scheduling options than many other criminal justice careers. The average salary for a bailiff is $37,820 per year (BLS, 2016). O*Net expects job openings in this field to remain stable through 2022 (2016).
Experience and professional connections mean a lot in this field, so you may want to spend your student years volunteering and completing field experiences. By making a good impression on potential employers, you may improve future job opportunities.
You can use your career to give back to the state of Michigan.
Get started now by contacting criminal justice schools below.
