Careers For Criminal Justice Majors

What Can You do With a Criminal Justice Degree

Criminal justice degrees can be used to advance in a criminal justice career or to enter an entirely new field; police officers looking to become detectives, high school graduates interested in crime scene investigation, and individuals looking for careers that serve and protect society can all benefit from degrees in criminal justice. For students who do not have a set goal or plan for their degree, meeting with a counselor and exploring job options throughout their college career is vital. Students can use the wide range of degree types and concentrations available to find the right fit in criminal justice careers, be it criminal investigation or victim advocacy. Criminal justice degrees can also open the doors to many non-traditional and unexpected careers in both the public and private sectors. Here, you can learn about the different careers available in the field of criminal justice and the types of degrees needed for them.

Concentrations Available for Criminal Justice Majors

Mean Annual Salary by Concentration

Source: BLS.gov

Bachelor's Degrees in Criminal Justice

As previously discussed, bachelor's degree programs often allow for concentrations which help prepare students for specific subfields of criminal justice while simultaneously introducing students to the broader field of criminal justice. Bachelor's programs in criminal justice, allow students to learn about the criminal justice system as a whole, explore options, and find a focus or passion. Extensive lab work, projects, and even internships further help students build the skills necessary for entering criminal justice fields. Some well-known criminal justice careers, such as police officer, do not necessarily require a bachelor's degree, but a degree may be valuable or even necessary for advancement.

Source: PayScale

Master's Degree in Criminal Justice

Individuals looking for career advancement or a deeper understanding of criminal justice may want to earn a master's degree. Master's programs often introduce students to the philosophical underpinnings of the criminal justice system, with courses exploring why crime is committed rather than how to fight it. Careers which require or benefit from master's degrees often approach crime from this direction. They also may require the leadership and communication skills master's programs often teach and foster. For more information on the types of criminal justice master's programs available, here is our guide. To learn more about the careers available for those with master's degrees in criminal justice, continue reading.

Source: PayScale

PhD in Criminal Justice

The next step after a master's program is a doctorate. Careers which oversee entire departments or are tasked with deciding policies and protocols may require the expertise and knowledge that comes with earning a doctorate. Similar to master's programs, PhD students often research the philosophical and sociological approaches to crime. Unlike a master's program, these rigorous programs involve years-long research that culminates in a dissertation that is reviewed by experts in the field. PhD programs also give students the opportunity to work closely with leading experts in the field. Here are some examples of the prestigious careers that require the expertise and experience that comes with a PhD.

Source: PayScale

Unexpected Careers for Criminal Justice Majors

TV shows, movies, and books have popularized many criminal justice fields, such as crime scene investigation, offender profiling, and criminal psychology. However, these well-known careers are far from the only ones available to jobseekers with criminal justice degrees. Lesser known positions and industries are available in both the public and private sector.

While they may not be associated with Hollywood glamor, these careers still employ the investigative skills vital to criminal justice. Some of these opportunities still carry the same exciting components as their popular counterparts, including undercover work and national security concerns. Many of these unexpected careers are hiding in plain sight: retail industries, the United States Postal Service, national parks, and the Transportation Security Administration all need employees with the skills and knowledge gained through criminal justice programs. Continue reading to explore five of these unexpected—but still challenging and exciting in their own right—criminal justice careers.

Source: PayScale

Professional Resources for Criminal Justice Majors

• American Bar Association's Criminal Justice Resources
  This website is a repository of research and information about criminal justice, with a specific emphasis on criminal law. ABA's resources include summaries and descriptions of significant court cases and a thorough directory of other resources that can benefit individuals involved in criminal justice, even if they are not legal professionals.
• American Society of Criminology
  This organization promotes the networking and collaboration of criminal justice professionals—especially those who conduct research—in order to facilitate the spread of knowledge and the advancement of criminal justice. ASC hosts annual conventions, publishes criminology focused journals, and even helps connect members with potential mentors.
• Crime Solutions
  This government funded and run website functions as a clearinghouse for crime related programs. The information available here focuses primarily on the resources and methods available for identifying and addressing the causes of crime. For example, users can find lists and directories of the high school dropout prevention programs available across the country.
• National Criminal Justice Reference Service
  The NCJRS is funded and administered by the United States Department of Justice. It is a vast collection of resources, with research and resources available in the fields of corrections, juvenile justice, crime prevention, drug abuse, and more. NCJRS also includes an extensive directory of research abstracts, including some from foreign sources.
• National Institute of Justice
  The NIJ is an agency of the United States Department of Justice which conducts research into crime and justice. NIJ's website gives users access to this research and information about how the NIJ's findings are being applied. The majority of information available relates to forensics and the application of forensics to criminal justice.