A criminal justice degree enables you to pursue a career in the fields of law enforcement, security, and corrections. It also opens the door for advancement to higher-level positions and a variety of specializations.
A bachelor’s degree is the minimum required education to pursue most careers in criminal justice. You can also earn a certificate to jump start your education in the field, or you can pursue a master’s degree.
There are many different options for obtaining your degree in criminal justice, including online programs. Most certificates are one-year in length and can prepare you for entry-level positions in the field, while bachelor’s degrees require two years of study.
Associate and undergraduate degrees
An associate degree in criminal justice teaches you the basic concepts of law enforcement, court systems, and crime scene investigation. It also helps you build experience and start accumulating in-field work credits to transfer to a bachelor’s degree program when you decide to go further in your education.
You can earn a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice degree by taking general courses in criminal law, social science, and other subjects. You can also major in forensics, or focus your studies on specific topics like juvenile delinquency or a particular area of the judicial system, such as the court of appeals.
Courses in criminology and sociology can help you learn about the etiology of criminal behavior, the reasons for committing crimes, and how to prevent them. You’ll learn about criminological theory and the psychology behind criminal behavior, as well as how to evaluate research on crime and criminology.
The coursework for a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice also helps you develop critical thinking skills and broaden your knowledge of the social sciences. You’ll also take classes in a number of other fields, including economics, history, political science, and communication.
A master’s degree in criminal justice is more specialized, and it can lead to career opportunities in the field of forensic science or other related fields. It’s also a good option for someone who is already working in the field and wants to further their professional development.
Graduates who have completed a master’s degree often go on to teach or pursue administrative and research positions in the field of criminal justice. They may also continue their education by earning a doctoral degree in the field.
If you’re still not sure which career path is right for you, speak with a career counselor or ask around. You can also try job shadowing or internships to get a feel for what the actual working environment is like and to find out more about specific positions.
The best way to decide if you want to pursue a degree in criminal justice is to do your research and determine which areas of the field interest you. You can also find out about scholarships and grants to assist you with paying for tuition, study abroad, or internships.
Choosing the right degree program is crucial to ensuring you have the knowledge and skill set needed to thrive in your chosen career path. If you’re unsure about what type of degree to pursue, it’s a good idea to talk with your professors and other students in the field to get their opinions on what type of degrees are most useful for a particular job.