New Law Forces Community College Professors to Disclose Textbook Costs

Criminal justice is a broad field that encompasses a number of in-demand jobs. Whether you want to become a uniformed police officer, investigator or another professional in criminal justice, the job begins with the right training to land an entry position. Many community colleges are now offering a variety of criminal justice programs to help individuals launch their careers in this exciting, rewarding field.

What is Criminal Justice?

According to World Wide Learn, criminal justice is a "social science that attempts to identify and explain the patterns of criminal behavior and to analyze society's ability to control crime and delinquency." Criminal justice encompasses many fields of study, including psychology, law, and public administration. A degree in criminal justice prepares graduates for a variety of careers in law enforcement and crime prevention.

As the world's population continues to increase, there will be a steadily increasing demand for individuals to work in criminal justice. The Criminal Justice USA states, "As Americans grow to become more security and safety conscious, the demand for law enforcement units and corrections units will increase, especially in areas of high population density." Communities will always need law enforcement officials, and larger populations will exhibit a greater demand in this area.

Whether you are a high school graduate in search of a career path or a seasoned professional looking for a recession-proof industry, criminal justice might be the right choice for you.

This video offers an overview of the

If you have a gift for summing up life in a single snapshot, a career in photography might be the perfect choice for you. This career takes talent and skill – but fortunately it doesn't have to take years of college to land your dream job.

Today, many community colleges are offering photography programs that can be completed in just two years or less, saving you both time and money on your college experience. Peruse these options for photography training programs and get ready to launch a creative career in a field you love.

Photography Careers

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, "Photographers produce and preserve images that paint a picture, tell a story or record an event." Photographers work in a wide range of venues, from photojournalists who get the pictures of the big stories of the day to fine arts photographers that create photographic masterpieces with their own unique flair. You might find photographers in the field of science, snapping pictures of procedures and medical records. Photographers also produce images for catalogues, technical manuals and even commemorative events like graduations and weddings.

A photographer must be creative, but knowledge of technology and photography equipment is also essential. While you might bring raw talent to your craft, you need technical skills to translate that talent to a published image. This is where community college training is paramount to a successful career in photography.

The BLS also predicts that competition for positions in

Most business owners understand that top-notch employee training offers the necessary edge in a competitive market. However, finding the time, money, and resources for such training is often out of the grasp of many small companies today.

The good news is that you can get your employees the training they need – sometimes at no cost to you! Community colleges have risen to the call of training the workforce in a variety of skills and industries.

Brush Up on Technical Skills at Brookdale

For business owners who want to help their staff refine their computer skills, Brookdale Community College in New Jersey has an affordable solution. The college is offering a variety of course options, beginning now and running through the end of the year, according to a report in Asbury Park Press. The program is funded by a state Department of Labor and Business industry grant, so employees can reap the benefits of the additional training at no cost to them.

According to Brookdale Community College, classes offered can benefit employees in the following ways:

• Help them achieve greater accuracy in technical jobs
• Help them manage staff and workloads more efficiently
• Show them how to develop business and serve current customers better

Classes include instruction in MS Excel, MS Word, and the basics of navigating Windows. Employers can also find training options in math and measurement, communications, and English as a second language. Courses are offered at the six different Brookdale campuses, or

How to Earn Your Associate's Degree in Less than Two Years

The associate's degree has become a popular way to begin or advance a career today, as it can be earned in less time than it takes to obtain a bachelor's degree.

• Students can cut time even more through various strategies that get them out of community college and into the workforce in less than two years.
• Consider these tips to help you get the training and education you need to advance your career in much less time than a traditional degree program.

CAnva generated this picture of a community college student.

Choosing a Community College

The first step in shortening your stay at a community college is to choose a school that offers an accelerated degree program.

• According to a recent report in USA Today, some community colleges are getting rather creative in their programming structure to help students earn complete associate's degrees in less time.
• Some colleges have even been able to cut their program time in half, allowing students to get their associate’s degrees and move into the workforce in a single year.

Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College will begin offering a fall-trimester format to students interested in graduating early.

• Course schedules will switch from 16 weeks to 14 weeks, allowing students to complete the trimester in a shorter period of time.
• To compensate for lost time during