The field of criminal justice is replete with the stewards of our safety: police and corrections officers, employees of the court system, probation officers, and many others. If you are thinking about pursuing a career in this challenging yet rewarding field, attending a criminal justice school may increase your chances of success. Taking criminal justice classes and earning a degree in the field has the potential to open up many doors to jobs in the criminal justice system, while providing you with advantages that those with only a high school diploma do not have.
Why Pursue a Criminal Justice Degree?
Criminal justice is the system our government uses to maintain social control, prevent crime, enforce laws, and administer justice. Law enforcement, courts, and corrections are the primary agencies charged with these responsibilities. The fast-paced expansion of all areas of the criminal justice system has created a demand for skilled workers as never before at the local, state, and federal level. Today's criminal justice workforce must be skilled in several areas of the field to address the public's demand for protection and services, and a criminal justice degree program strives to equip you with the required knowledge.
The employment outlook is favorable for those interested in pursuing a career in criminal justice. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of police and detectives is expected to grow 10% over the 2008-2018 decade. In 2008, the BLS reported the median annual salary for police and sheriff's patrol officers to be $51,410, while that of detectives and criminal investigators was $60,910. Earning a median salary of $45,910, the employment of probation officers and correctional treatment specialists is expected to grow a whopping 19% over the same ten year projection period. Other career paths that criminal justice program graduates can pursue include forensic scientist, border patrol officer, customs agent, and security guard.
What You May Learn in a Criminal Justice Program
Criminal justice degree programs typically provide students with an interdisciplinary education that focuses on the topics of crime and justice in American society. Most criminal justice courses also equip students with interpersonal, managerial, and administrative skills, which prepare them for leadership positions within the criminal justice system. If you are already working in the field and want to advance your career, earning a postsecondary degree in criminal justice could qualify you for higher-paying positions with greater amounts of responsibility.
At the bachelor’s level, a criminal justice degree program teaches students more than just the basics of the field. Because it is a full-fledged undergraduate degree program, students typically receive a well-rounded education and obtain a working knowledge of computers, software, and other technologies. This technical training may give you a significant advantage in the job market, as the criminal justice field is full of late adopters. If you have extensive criminal justice training, as well as experience using digital tools, you might find yourself in demand.
Pursuing a degree at a criminal justice college is a smart choice if you want to work your way up in the field. With a solid educational background, you will likely qualify for more jobs in the criminal justice system—perhaps even including coveted managerial positions. From full-time, campus programs to part-time, online courses, if you want to earn a living while making the world a safer place, obtain a degree from a criminal justice school today.
