MOUNTAIN STATE UNIVERSITY
ONLINE CRIMINAL JUSTICE DEGREE PROGRAMS – FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What benefits can I gain from a degree in criminal justice?
The benefits are both internal and external. Internally, you as a current or potential criminal justice worker will have a greater understanding of the goals and missions of your department and the work you do. You will have a theoretical understanding of your coworkers and administrators as well as insight into the criminal mind. This understanding will make you a better manager and can accelerate your career. Externally, the community itself will prosper as they are served by professionally trained and educated criminal justice employees. True professionals are not only trained and credentialed but have the ability to take a more systematic view into their profession.

I am already a police officer; why would I pursue a criminal justice degree instead of a degree in something else? 
A criminal justice degree is the hallmark of a criminal justice professional. It is the in-depth and theoretical study of our profession. The degree is not for everyone. A lot of professionals in the field do not make it to retirement, and most will serve only a few years before changing professions. In this case, it would be wise to study something else. But for those who intend to have a full career in criminal justice, the criminal justice degree is the most valuable degree. 

I am already a police officer; what will this course of study teach me that I don’t already know?
Although the criminal justice program at MSU allows specific focuses, all graduates will have an adequate understanding of police, adjudication, and corrections. Police officers will understand correctional philosophies and correctional officers will understand policing strategies. The concept of police, adjudication, and corrections is a systematic view of the criminal justice field and the actions of one subcomponent affects the other two. True criminal justice professionals understand this concept, although it’s not a concept truly or fully explored in practical training.

Is your criminal justice program online as good as the program offered on campus?
The on-line program is the same as the traditional campus program. The only difference is in the delivery. The course sequence, description, textbook, and goals and objectives are the same.  On-line students are not expected to attend class lectures, but address the same content and have the same expectations as the in-seat students.

Why choose an online criminal justice degree?
Does your idea of success combine professional opportunity with the chance to make the world a better place? If you’re concerned with justice and social issues, and want to make a difference, a career in criminal justice may be your path. Mountain State University offers online criminal justice programs for maximum convenience; earn an associate or bachelor’s degree from the convenience of your home or office.

Criminal Justice is a changing and dynamic profession, its growth spurred by new technologies, increased need for law enforcement personnel, and a continuing focus on homeland security. Whether you’re a seasoned professional looking to advance in your career, or someone new to the field, an online MSU criminal justice degree offers you the opportunity to pursue any field of study relating to police, courts, corrections, or homeland security.

What criminal justice programs can I study at MSU?
MSU offers both online associate and bachelor’s degrees in criminal justice.
The online associate criminal justice degree program prepares you to enter criminal justice agencies or can be used as the first step to complete a bachelor’s degree.
Click here for the A.S. course sequence.
MSU offers online bachelor’s degree in criminal justice with two concentrations:

Homeland Security: The focus is on combating terrorism through investigation, detection, location, and apprehension of foreign and domestic terrorists. In this concentration, you will train for law enforcement response to incidents, disasters, and crisis management.
Click here for the Homeland Security course sequence.
Corrections Management: If you see yourself as a future leader in community corrections agencies, prisons, or jails, this concentration allows you to focus on a management and interdisciplinary approach to corrections.
Click here for the Corrections Management course sequence.
Why choose MSU?
Flexible learning delivery. Classes in the criminal justice program are offered online and in-classroom. You can also receive credit for past academic courses and prior learning experience.

Gain both academic and field experience. To supplement the academic classes, MSU offers practicum opportunities which gives our students a competitive edge in a criminal justice field that requires both a college education and relevant field experience for the top jobs.

Homeland security emphasis. All of the bachelor’s degree concentrations include courses and training in homeland security, and MSU is the only university in West Virginia that offers a Criminal Justice concentration in Homeland Security.

Career Opportunities:

Criminal justice graduates will qualify for a variety of jobs: 

• Local police officer
• Sheriff’s deputy
• Correctional officer
• Private security officer
• Probation/parole officer
• Federal agent positions (with bachelor’s degree)
• Homeland security specialist

MSU’s new concentration in its online criminal justice programs reflect the need for more law enforcement professionals in all areas of local, state, and national government. The Occupational Outlook Handbook, published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, projects this area to grow faster than average, which means approximately a 21 to 35 percent increase in jobs between 2002 and 2012.
Since both bachelor’s degree programs feature elements of Homeland Security, graduates will be able to target more competitive areas within the federal government, such as the FBI, U.S Marshals, DEA, BATF, and U.S. Customs for career opportunities.