Criminal justice is a subject of due importance which raises the level of commitment amongst the citizens and allows them to take up interest in the field of law enforcement and homeland security. Criminal justice is a subject of many spheres and dimensions and includes a variety of subjects to study under the topic. The study of criminal justice occurs at different levels and with many specialty subjects, as a result of this, an assortment of degrees in criminal justice has been offered by several online and on-campus institutions to widen the horizon of criminal justice studies.

Degrees in criminal justice are provided at associates, bachelors, master's level and even certificate programs are provided. Certificate programs in criminal justice are usually provided in a definite area of the subject and is preferred for those students who use it as the building-block for future studies in criminal justice or even as learning towards sharpening the law enforcement skills. The two-year associate program provides the basic knowledge of the subject of criminal justice. They can even offer technical skills which will prove useful to take up entry-level positions at the local or state enforcement arena. An associate's degree will also help the individual towards taking up the bachelor's degree in the subject.

A bachelor's degree in the subject is a 4-year course and takes the studies to a higher level and provides an important opportunity to work at federal agencies and an important way to extend your career. A bachelor's degree on the subject also entitles the individual to take up masters and advanced programs which will eventually qualify him/her to work at FBI or CIA.

Majoring subjects in criminal justice normally includes, court reporting, cyber crime, cyber security, criminal justice administration, forensics, homeland security, criminal investigation, forensic psychology, legal administration, paralegal studies, public administration, mediation or dispute resolution and security management.

Certain universities and colleges provide masters and doctorate program apart from the associates and bachelors degrees. Kaplan University and University of Phoenix are acclaimed universities throughout the nation known for their unique criminal justice programs in varied topics. Remington College Online, Liberty University Online, South University, American Intercontinental University, Capella University, Everest University Online, University of Cincinnati, Portland State University, Rasmussen College Online, IIT Technical Institute, Lincoln College Online, Keiser University, Herzing University, Saint Leo University, Utica College Online, Upper Iowa University, Florida Tech University Online, Western International University and Westwood College are amongst the top institutions providing various programs in criminal justice.

Degrees in criminal justice are a beautiful opportunity to understand the working of the legal system of a nation and to mark the people's contribution towards the security of the country.