Law Enforcement Associate Degree Online
Guide to schools offering a Law Enforcement Associate Degree
Let me guess: you're the type that loved playing cops and robbers as a kid. You spend your evenings watching "NYPD Blue", "CSI", and "Colombo" (when you can find it on reruns, that is), and you have a collection of handcuffs and billy clubs that any street cop would envy. If this sounds like you, then a healthy outlet for your obsession might just be getting your law enforcement associate degree.
Think about it: you'd have the chance to make a real difference in your community, not to mention the huge perk of getting to drive a super fast car through all the red lights from time to time. Yep, there are definitely some perks to being a law enforcement officer.
The nice thing about getting your associate degree in law enforcement is that classes are really fun. You'll get to learn about topics like these:
- Forensics
- Sociology
- Principals of Abnormal Behavior
- Crisis Management
- Intro to Criminal Justice
- Human Relations
- Criminal Investigating
- Evidence Handling
- And much more!
Another great thing about getting your law enforcement associate degree is that this field is expected to grow rapidly in the coming years, especially as more and more officers retire.
You can also make a comfortable living with this exciting career. Patrol Officers earn anywhere from $28,000 to $68,000 per year. Detectives and law enforcement managers earn between $36,000 to $96,000 each year. Not too bad, right? Especially considering the fact that you're doing incredibly rewarding work, and getting to have fun putting the bad guys in jail.
It's important to realize that if you want to make the big bucks and move up the ladder in law enforcement, then getting a law enforcement associate degree probably won't be enough. It's definitely a great first start, but if you have your sights set on being a detective or higher, you'll definitely want to continue your education to get a law enforcement Bachelor's Degree. The more education and skills you have, the more likely you are to advance quickly through the ranks.
There are also several different paths you can take with a law enforcement associate degree. If you're not interested in becoming a state or local patrol officer, then you can pursue a career in the FBI, Border Patrol, Food and Drug Administration, or Homeland Security. There are many different agencies in the local and national government that employ law enforcement officers, so finding one you're interested in working with is crucial to your happiness in this field.
Still wondering if law enforcement is right for you? Well, go down this list and see if you have any of these traits:
- You can be graceful under pressure
- You care about your community
- You're compassionate
- You're responsible
- You're in great shape and you're committed to staying that way
- You have a high moral character
- You can make good, quick decisions even when you're under stress
- You have great communication skills
- You have no problem following instructions
Any of these strike a chord? Well, hopefully so, since these are just some of the traits that make a great law enforcement officer.
This is definitely a field where you'll never be bored, so if your goal is NOT to be behind a desk everyday, then getting a law enforcement associate degree is a smart choice for you.
