Become a Law Enforcement Officer
With greater focus being put on national security in recent years, an increase in funding has given the law enforcement industry the ability to create new jobs and make advanced research possible.
When you study to earn an online law degree, you will have more opportunities available to you than you would if you decided to attend a police academy to become an officer; you will be able to work as a private security officer, corrections officer, security guard, or private bodyguard. Most large businesses need security, so there are many opportunities for someone who is educated in the field of law.
If you do decide to pursue this field of study, you should realize that most positions are physically demanding and come with risk; to work as an officer of the law, you need to stay in peak physical condition. Additionally, you need to be able to remain calm in very stressful situations and make decisions quickly.
Some of the characteristics you should possess if you wish to be successful in this field are:
- No criminal record
- High moral character
- Compassion
- Good decision-making skills
- Grace under pressure
- Community-minded
- Cooperation and teamwork skills
- Peak physical condition
- Responsibility
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to follow instructions
In the past, one needed only a high school diploma to attend a police academy to become an officer of the law; today’s standards, however, require a minimum of an associate’s degree prior to applying for admission. This requirement may soon increase to a bachelor’s degree.
Earning an online law degree will provide you with extensive background in the criminal justice system; this, in turn, will give you the opportunity to become employed in a broad range of careers when you have graduated.
Among the many classes you will take, psychology and sociology will be two topics that will be covered. Solving crimes, obviously, becomes easier if you know the reasons people commit them. In addition to putting your human behavior skills to use when you are questioning a suspect, you will also be able to implement what you learn when you speak with witnesses.
Here are many of the courses you will likely take when you study for a degree in law:
- Criminal justice
- Firearms
- Correctional institutions, parole, and probation
- Drugs and Narcotics education
- Police administration
- Police organization
- Police management
- Crime scene investigation
- Criminal counseling
- Criminal investigation
- Criminal law
- Criminal procedures
- First aid and CPR
- Hand-to-hand combat
- Physical fitness
- Interviewing and interrogating
- Cultural diversity
- Crisis control and intervention
- Handling hazardous material
- Juvenile delinquency
- Police rights and ethics
- Police report writing
- Public safety
Wed, Jun 2, 2010
Associate's Degree, Degrees, Online Education