Interested in a career far from your “typical” nine-to-five that allows you to make a difference? The criminal justice field could be an ideal fit for you.
Read on to discover various benefits of a criminal justice degree and criminal justice career opportunities in the industry.
Understanding the Scope of Criminal Justice
If you think a criminal justice career automatically means working in law enforcement, think again. In reality, criminal justice is a highly interdisciplinary field with ample opportunities to specialize and find your niche.
The Interdisciplinary Nature of Criminal Justice
Disciplines to explore within criminal justice range from law enforcement and forensics to policy development and cybersecurity. Likewise, numerous different fields contribute to criminal justice as a whole, with theories and concepts ingrained into the larger justice system.
Consider, for example, how investigators rely on components of sociology and psychology to better understand criminals and their behavior. Meanwhile, working in criminal justice requires an in-depth understanding of the law — and forensic investigators need a solid foundation in biology and chemistry to analyze evidence.
Key Areas Within Criminal Justice
With a variety of disciplines at play in criminal justice, then, some common niches within the criminal justice field include:
- Law enforcement (detectives, police officers, federal agents, etc.)
- Courts and the legal system (judges, prosecutors, paralegals, and victim advocates)
- Forensic criminal justice (forensic technicians, criminal profilers, and intelligence analysts)
- Corrections (probation/parole officers and corrections officers)
Why Pursue a Degree in Criminal Justice?
If you are the type of person who wants to make an impact while keeping communities safer, a criminal justice degree could help advance your knowledge and skill set. In fact, there are multiple benefits of a criminal justice degree to consider.
Exploring the Role of Criminal Justice Professionals
While earning a degree in criminal justice does not guarantee a job in the field, many criminal justice graduates enjoy the versatility that accompanies this type of degree. And, although the exact duties and responsibilities of a criminal justice professional may vary greatly from one role to the next, professionals in this field typically perform hands-on work with the goal of:
- Protecting the public
- Solving crimes
- Assisting with rehabilitation efforts
- Prosecuting or defending those accused of crimes
Impact on Society and Community Contribution
Carrying out this kind of work on a daily basis, criminal justice professionals may enjoy the sense of accomplishment and fulfillment that comes along with contributing meaningfully to society. Whether keeping crime rates down or helping offenders prepare to re-enter society after serving their time, the work of a criminal justice professional may prove highly fulfilling — especially when you are able to see for yourself the difference you have made.
What to Expect From a Criminal Justice Degree Program
Considering a criminal justice degree program? You might wonder what to expect from the curriculum. No two programs are exactly alike, so carefully compare your options to find the one that is ideal for you.
Core Courses and Specializations
Some criminal justice degree programs offer concentrations that allow you to specialize your coursework to focus on a certain aspect of the field. Common specializations to consider in criminal justice may include:
- Law enforcement
- Corrections
- Correctional counseling
- Crime scene investigation
- Emergency management and homeland security
- Legal studies
While the courses you take may depend somewhat on the specialization (if any) that you choose, core courses typically cover topics like:
- Ethics and discretion
- Forensic science
- Criminal law
- Criminal procedure
- Research methods
- Theoretical criminology
Practical Experiences and Internships
In addition to completing the required coursework in a criminal justice degree program, students may have the opportunity to partake in hands-on experiences, including internships, that may help them gain real-world practice in the field. For some criminal justice programs, internships may actually be a requirement — whereas they may be optional in others.
By interning as a forensic lab assistant, jail clerk, or in any other criminal justice role, students gain a better feel for what it is actually like to work in the field while building career-ready skills and making professional connections.
Beginner’s Guide to Starting a Career in Criminal Justice
When it comes to pursuing a career in criminal justice, you could take some simple steps now to gauge whether you might be cut out for this type of challenging yet rewarding work.
Assessing Your Interest and Skills
Start by considering what has drawn you to criminal justice as a possible career path in the first place. Maybe you have always wanted to protect and serve your community, or perhaps you are more intrigued by the legal aspect of the field. Maybe you have watched a lot of true-crime documentaries and are fascinated by forensics. Regardless, knowing your “why” is valuable as you move forward.
Taking inventory of your relevant skills may also be useful. Even though a criminal justice degree program should help you build upon the practical competencies relevant in this field, some skills are harder to learn than others. If you already have strong problem-solving skills, communicate well with others, and stay calm in stressful situations, then you might be well-suited for a career in criminal justice.
Necessary Qualifications and Skills for Success
The formal qualifications for a career in criminal justice vary depending on the specific role. For instance, some police departments may hire law enforcement officers with only a high school diploma/GED or associate degree. Others, however, prefer a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in a related field. For more advanced roles (including those in forensic psychology or administration), a master’s degree or higher may be required.
Working in criminal justice also calls for a diverse skill set encompassing both technical skills and core competencies. Examples of the kinds of skills criminal justice professionals should possess include:
- The ability to multitask
- Problem-solving and critical thinking
- Strong research abilities
- The ability to stay calm and collected under pressure
- A deep sense of empathy for others
Step-by-Step Process to Kickstart Your Criminal Justice Career
If you wish to become a criminal justice professional, below are some practical steps to follow as you embark on your journey:
Step 1: Research and Select a Degree Program
One critical step is to find and select the criminal justice degree program that suits your needs and goals. As you explore your options, look for a program that offers the concentration you are most interested in as well as the degree format (online, in-person, or hybrid) that works best with your schedule.
Step 2: Gain Relevant Experience Through Internships
The right criminal justice degree program builds a strong foundation for your future goals, but it does not guarantee a job. This is why gaining practical, real-world experience through internships could make all the difference. Whether through your school or independently, you might consider exploring criminal justice internships in forensic labs, local police departments, courts, and the like. These experiences challenge you to apply what you have learned in the classroom in real scenarios, helping you further develop your skills.
Step 3: Build a Professional Network
Navigating the criminal justice field is just as much about what you know as who you know, so strive to start establishing a professional network from day one of your degree program. Through building relationships with others in the field (including peers and professors/instructors), you may be able to expand your network. Over time, these connections could even lead to criminal justice career opportunities.
To make connections in the field, consider attending industry events on campus or even online. If you do not already have a LinkedIn profile, this is also a go-to way to network with other criminal justice students and professionals from across the globe.
Step 4: Prepare for Certification Exams
Depending on your chosen niche in criminal justice, you may need to earn certain licenses or certifications before you are able to secure even an entry-level job. A degree program might help you build the essential knowledge that you need to sit for a certification exam, but it does not guarantee a passing score — so setting aside time to study and prepare is crucial. Some common certifications to consider in criminal justice include:
- Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST)
- Certified Criminal Justice Addictions Professional (CCJP)
- Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)
Real-World Applications of a Criminal Justice Degree
After obtaining your criminal justice degree, you might wish to explore a range of opportunities, depending on where your unique interests and strengths lie.
Law Enforcement and Public Safety
Many criminal justice professionals go into law enforcement as a means of protecting and serving their communities. They might start off as a public safety officer with a local department with the potential to eventually advance into sergeant, lieutenant, captain, or administrative leadership positions. Others may prefer more investigative roles, including detective and crime scene analyst, where they leverage their critical thinking skills to solve crimes. A criminal justice degree could be a good initial step in your pursuit of one of these roles, however they may have additional requirements such as academic testing, physical testing, mental health screenings, or background checks.
Legal and Court Systems
Some criminal justice graduates find themselves in the legal side of the field, taking on roles such as paralegal, court clerk, or bailiff. With a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and a solid academic record, it may even be possible to be admitted into a graduate program in law for those interested in becoming attorneys. However prospective law students should note that law school admission may involve additional requirements beyond an undergraduate degree, including standardized testing and other institutional criteria.
Interested in Pursuing a Criminal Justice Degree?
Given the numerous criminal justice career opportunities to explore, deciding on your ideal path depends on your unique interests, strengths, and aspirations. No matter where you end up, however, working in criminal justice means making a difference in the lives of others.
Still looking for a criminal justice degree program? Post University offers a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice that may be completed entirely online, giving you the flexibility you need with multiple concentrations from which to choose. Get in touch to learn more about the benefits of a criminal justice degree or start your application today.
Thank you for reading! The purpose of this blog is to provide general information to the reader, and as such, this information may not directly relate to programs offered by Post University.
Please note jobs and/or career outcomes highlighted in this blog do not reflect jobs or career outcomes expected from enrolling in or graduating from any Post program.