Careers for Criminal Justice Majors

Do you live by the belief that injustice anywhere threatens justice everywhere? If so, jobs in criminal justice may provide the personal and professional rewards you desire. The field offers various opportunities for different degree holders to carry out justice as criminologists, police officers, probation officers, and research associates, among other careers. Criminal justice can also serve as a launching pad for graduate or law school.

With a bachelor's degree in criminal justice, you can get the skills and education to become one of the millions of professionals working in protective service occupations. This page explores the potential jobs criminal justice graduates can apply for after finishing school.

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 the criminal justice field, be it criminal investigation or victim advocacy. Criminal justice degrees can also open the door to many nontraditional 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 different degree options.

Concentrations Available for Criminal Justice Majors

Crime Analysis

Crime analysts, paralegal criminal analysts, and researchers need solid investigational skills. By choosing this concentration, you'll learn various techniques to make your insights useful during an investigation, possibly applying your skills in case study simulations. For instance, you may learn to interpret data to identify crime patterns.

Cybercrimes

Studying cybersecurity allows you to explore different theories about cybercrimes, learn prevention strategies, and detect vulnerabilities in computer systems and networks. The coursework also gives you the programming skills to write code.

Forensics

A forensics specialization can enhance your critical thinking skills and ability to comb a crime scene with precision. Mock simulations, labs, and internships give you the practice to evaluate evidence and even testify in court.

Investigations

By completing a concentration in investigations, you can develop expertise in crime scene processing and evidence preservation for court cases. Courses may cover topics such as crime scene technology and fingerprinting analysis.

Juvenile Justice

Learning about the juvenile justice system teaches students about rehabilitation efforts for youth. Coursework often covers juvenile probation and parole, crime prevention, and child psychology and development.

National Security

Criminal justice programs with concentrations in national or homeland security teach students about investigating and preventing crimes against the U.S. and its citizens. Students study dangers such as weapons of mass destruction and international or domestic terrorism. Courses in these programs may include international politics and foreign language or culture studies.

Police Management

If you want to pursue a career behind the scenes in law enforcement, consider a concentration in police management. To prepare you for a career in police management, this concentration covers how to manage law enforcement personnel, oversee budgets, and manage resources.

Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice

As an undergraduate, you can pursue a bachelor of science (BS) or a bachelor of arts (BA) degree in criminal justice. A BS degree emphasizes science, while a BA program focuses on liberal arts. Both degrees consist of about 120 credits and provide insights into the U.S. justice system, corrections, policing, and criminal behavior. You'll have the chance to pick concentrations like homeland security or criminal justice administration.

Master's Degree in Criminal Justice

Further your criminal justice career by earning a research-based master's in criminal justice degree. These master's programs require students to complete about 30-36 credits over 12-24 months. Getting a graduate degree can lead to administrative or supervisory positions in law enforcement or qualify you to teach at a college. And by studying concentrations like digital forensics and cybersecurity or emergency management, you can explore different fields outside of protection services.

Ph.D. in Criminal Justice

Both academics and criminal justice practitioners can benefit from earning a doctoral degree, as it opens the door to college-level teaching and research opportunities. The degree program requires students to complete about 50-70 credits over 4-6 years. Available concentrations may include organizational leadership, policing, or juvenile justice.

Unexpected Careers in Criminal Justice

Outside of law enforcement and academia, you can use your criminal justice degree to forge unexpected career paths. For example, if you want to enforce justice in the air, you can become a sky marshal.

Frequently Asked Questions About Criminal Justice Careers

Is criminal justice a good career choice?

Jobs in criminal justice can offer stability and personal fulfillment. Some careers in this field also provide higher-than-average salaries. Police and detectives earned a median salary of $69,160 as of 2022, according to the BLS. In California, which compensates police and sheriff's patrol officers the most, these professionals earn an annual mean salary of $104,010.

Which criminal justice careers pay the most?

Detectives and criminal investigators earn some of the highest wages in criminal justice. According to the BLS, criminal investigators earn a median annual wage of $86,280. And those who work for the federal government make average annual earnings of $116,590.

Is a master's in criminal justice worth it?

A master's in criminal justice can be worth it. The degree program prepares you for advancement opportunities in government positions, including with the Federal Bureau of Investigations. A graduate degree also meets the prerequisites for a doctoral program. If you aspire to high-level criminal justice positions or want to teach at the college level, this degree could be right for you.