Vermont Criminal Justice Degree Programs

Overview

While many people think of New England as a quaint, safe area to live, states like Vermont rely heavily on their police and investigators to keep citizens safe. Recent crime sprees, such as a string of thefts in November and December of 2013, have caused Vermont police to step up patrol numbers in suburban areas of Vermont. WCAX reports that the crime spree involves thefts from cars and homes throughout Vermont.

Overall, Vermont ranks low in violent crime—in fact, the U.S. Census Bureau reports that Vermont ranks 48 out of 50 in this area. In Vermont, you’re more likely to run into theft, home break-ins, and burglary.

Criminal Justice Education in Vermont

Attending a criminal justice school can prepare you for an exciting career in Vermont. After learning about criminal justice programs in your area, use the easy-to-navigate program finder at CriminalJusticePrograms.com to find degree programs near you.

There are a variety of criminal justice programs that can help you reach your career goals. Depending on where you live, you may have Associate’s, Bachelor’s, or both types of programs near you. You may even be able to earn your criminal justice degree online!

Criminal justice is a multi-faceted field, which means that any program you attend will require rigorous study. This field includes everything from responding to crime reports and finding suspects to working in the courtroom and prison system. The classes you take as part of your criminal justice degree represent the varied fields in criminal justice. You may take courses in the following areas throughout your criminal justice educaiton:

• Corrections
• Policing
• Court Procedures
• Criminology
• Victimology

If you have the opportunity to choose a specialization, you can choose a narrow field in criminal justice and study it thoroughly. Special areas of study vary between schools, but many schools let you choose from fields like Corrections, Juvenile Justice, Sexual Assault, Internet Crime, and Forensic Science.

If you get the chance to complete an internship or practicum during your criminal justice education, take advantage of it! These valuable work experiences can help you network with potential employers and give you a feel for different types of criminal justice careers.

Students seeking funding to complete a criminal justice education in Vermont should look into the following programs: the New England Regional Student Program, the Vermont Incentive Program, the Vermont Space Grant Consortium Scholarship Program and the Dr. James L. Lawson Memorial Scholarship.

Learn more about scholarships in criminal justice by exploring our financial aid resources page.

Outlook for Criminal Justice in Vermont

The criminal justice field in Vermont is booming, with more than 5,000 Vermont residents currently employed in this field. The field of criminal justice contains a wide variety of job titles, from security guards to criminal investigators and everything in between. While some job titles may seem generic or vague, it’s important to note that your unique skills and education can influence what your actual job duties are. For instance, if you specialize in Internet Crime during your degree, you may become a patrol officer that primarily works on Internet-based criminal activity.

Whether you have an Associate’s degree or Bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, you’ll likely start your new career in an entry-level position. The most common criminal justice occupations in Vermont are security guards and police officers. Security guards and police officers earn average salaries of $37,840 and $61,810, respectively (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2022).

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

If you can picture yourself starting a career in this dynamic field, you can get started by contacting our featured schools in your state. They can help you learn more about available programs and what fits your needs.