The number of students enrolling in online courses has been growing over the past few years. Thus, there has never been a better time to become an online instructor. If you are comfortable with using computers and Internet, then becoming an online teacher would be ideal for you. This article will discuss all that you ought to know regarding how to become an online Criminal Justice teacher.
What Does a Criminal Justice Teacher do?
These professionals are mostly responsible for:
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Teaching courses related to law enforcement administration, corrections, criminal justice, investigation techniques, and defensive policing.
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Moderating, facilitating, and initiating classroom discussions.
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Preparing course materials such as handouts, syllabi, and assignments.
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Providing easily downloadable course material to the students.
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Evaluating and marking students' papers, assignments, and projects.
Criminal Justice instructors who teach online courses deliver lectures via virtual reality platforms and online blackboards. They also interact with students through message boards and emails.
Steps to Earn Online Criminal Justice Teaching Jobs
If you want to become an online criminal justice teacher, then you will have to go through the following stages:
Step 1: Obtain High School Education
Before you can specialize in Criminal Justice courses, you will be required to obtain at least a high school diploma or an equivalent.
Step 2: Pursue a Bachelor’s and a Master’s Degree
After you are done with high school education, you will be expected to enroll in a Bachelor of Arts (B.A) or Bachelor of Science (B.S) in Criminal Justice or Law Enforcement Administration. Once you have completed your undergraduate degree, you can enroll in a Master of Arts (M.A) in Criminal Justice.
Step 3: Enroll in a Doctorate Program
Most universities and colleges prefer candidates with a doctorate degree in Criminal Justice, Law Enforcement, or a closely related field. The Ph.D. program can be completed within 3 to 4 years. It covers modules related to Theories of Crime, Emergency Management, The Police and Society, Justice Management, Homeland Security Policy, and Law and Public Policy. Several concentration options are available to doctoral students – you can specialize in areas like Juvenile Justice or Behavioral Science.
Step 4: Get a Certificate in Online Teaching
A certification in online teaching will help you learn how to plan, create, and teach online courses. Moreover, it will make you a more desirable teaching candidate once you start hunting for jobs.
Step 5: Gain Work Experience
After completing the education requirements and certifications, you will be ready to apply for the position of an online Criminal Justice teacher.
How Much Does a Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teacher Make?
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics has not published separate data on online teachers; therefore we will use the broad category as our point of reference. BLS has reported that Post-Secondary Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers made an annual mean wage of $72,980 in May 2019. The top paying state for these professionals in the U.S. in 2019 was District of Columbia, with an annual mean pay of $121,920, followed by California ($120,550), Rhode Island ($93,290), Missouri ($88,880), and Kentucky ($87,690).