Associate Degrees in Criminal Justice in Hawaii

As an associate degree graduate, you may develop the skills needed to work in courts, policing agencies, and correctional facilities around Hawaii. The work you do may contribute to a decrease in homelessness and violent crime in Hawaii, two huge issues in the state as of late.

Current research investigates the connection between homelessness among women, domestic violence, and assault (West Hawaii Today, 2016).

Are you ready to invest your time and effort in your education? Use the list of schools below to contact HI criminal justice associate degree programs.

Criminal Justice Associate Programs in Hawaii

School availability varies from island to island, which is why online degree programs are an excellent option for Hawaii students. If you are looking for a specific educational experience or you want to specialize in one area of criminal justice, you may want to look into schools that offer online education.

Hawaii technical schools and community colleges have many associate degree programs, including those in criminal justice, administration of justice, and paralegal studies.

Though there are many differences across Hawaii schools, the finances and time required are fairly similar.

Hawaii state averages for earning an associate in criminal justice can be found below:

• Timeframe: 2 to 2.5 years
• Credits: 63 to 72 credits
• Average tuition cost per year: $3,664 (College Board, 2016)

Clearly, an associate degree can be a very affordable way to begin your education, especially if you are able to complete your training in a two-year period. To get your degree, you need to complete a thorough curriculum laid out by your chosen school.

This is where it’s valuable to spend some time comparing programs. You can also look into educational goals and outcomes to understand the experiences offered at Hawaii schools.

If you study administration of justice, you may take courses like:

• Ethics in Public Services
• Juvenile Justice
• Constitutional Law
• Criminal Law
• Current Issues in Justice Administration

Depending on the school you select, you may spend some of your time in the lab or in an internship. Both of these courses can provide valuable hands-on experience that may help you during your job search.

An AA criminal justice degree may give you the chance to apply for financial aid. In most cases, you need to be accepted to a criminal justice program before you can apply for criminal justice scholarships.

On top of state aid and federal aid, look into local organizations. Those studying in Honolulu may apply for the Honolulu Police Community Foundation scholarship, which is open to associate degree students.

What Can I Do With a Criminal Justice Degree in Hawaii?

Although Hawaii does not have a state police force, it does have many county and city police forces that hire academy graduates and associate degree graduates. Furthermore, you may look for jobs openings at airports, courtrooms, and correctional facilities. This is where your internship comes into play; relevant internship work can give you professional connections that may help you find job openings.

Salaries in Hawaii are generally higher than national averages, a trend that carries through in criminal justice careers.

With a criminal justice AAS, you may work as a police patrol officer. The average salary for a patrol officer is $89,640 per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2022). Police detectives claim an average income of $119,290 per year (BLS, 2022). An average income of $50,020 per year is claimed by transportation security screeners (BLS, 2022).

The job outlook in Hawaii is stable, which may be an advantage to working in this state after graduation. Job openings for police patrol officers may swell 3% through 2030 (CareerOneStop, 2022). During this decade, demand for police detectives should remain steady (CareerOneStop, 2022).

2022 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary and employment figures for Hawaii contained here reflect national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed November 2023.

An associate in criminal justice can change your career options, your community, and the criminal justice industry as a whole. Find local schools and online programs by contacting Hawaii schools today.