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Are you interested in crime?  Law enforcement?  Courts?  Corrections?   Controversial issues such as the death penalty?  Do you want to study these subjects and pursue a career based on your interest?  If so, you should select criminal justice as a major.

Criminal Justice is the study of crime and the criminal justice system, including law enforcement, courts, and corrections.  Criminal Justice uses scientific perspectives and methodologies to examine crime and society's response to crime in the United States and around the world.  Because of its breadth and diversity, criminal justice is a very popular undergraduate major.

Criminal Justice majors acquire skills in writing, communications, and analysis that are critical to a liberal arts education.  A liberal arts education prepares students to think independently, with tolerance for others and concern for current affairs.  Today, students can reasonably expect to change jobs and even to have more than one career.  An undergraduate education in the liberal arts and sciences is excellent preparation for flexibility in employment.

Criminal Justice majors qualify for many different careers in private and public sector organizations, including careers in law enforcement, courts, and corrections at the local, state, and federal levels of  government.  Criminal Justice training also provides valuable preparation for participating in community organizations, movements on behalf of specific social policies, or even seeking elected or appointed positions in government.

By majoring in criminal justice, you can obtain a position such as:
 

    Correctional Personnel

        • Correctional Treatment Specialist (Federal Prison)
        • Corrections Counselor
        • Corrections Officer
        • Juvenile Justice Counselor
        • Parole Officer
        • Pre-Release Program Correctional Counselor
        • Pre-Release Program Employment Counselor
        • Pre-Release Program Halfway House Manager
        • Probation Officer
        • Juvenile Probation Officer
        • Warden
        • PLUS ...
          • Clinical Psychologist
          • Vocational Counselor
          • Recreational Counselor
          • Academic Teacher
          • Caseworker/HIV Specialist
          • Education Counselor
          • Substance Abuse Specialist
          • Classification and Treatment Director
          • Management Coordinator
          • Inmate Records Coordinator
          • Correctional Facilities Specialist
          • Facilities Specialist
          • Prisoner-Classification Interviewer
            Penologist
   Court Personnel
      • Attorney/Lawyer
      • Bailiff (Court Officer)
      • Court Administrator
      • Court Clerk
      • Court Liaison Counselor
      • Court Reporter (Short-Hand Reporter)
      • Court Representative
      • Domestic Violence Counselor
      • Judge
      • Paralegal/Legal Assistant
      • Pretrial Services Officer, U.S. District Courts
      • Release-On-Own Recognizance (ROR) Interviewer
      • Research Analyst/Statistician
      • Support Services Coordinator
      • Site Supervisor
      • Victim Services Personnel, including
        • Victim Services Specialist
        • Child and Youth Counselor
        • Crisis Counselor
        • Runaway Counselor
   Federal Law Enforcement Personnel
      • Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms Inspector
      • Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms Special Agent
      • Customs Aide
      • Customs Canine Enforcement Officer
      • Customs Import Specialist
      • Customs Inspector
      • Customs Patrol Officer
      • Customs Pilot
      • Customs Special Agent
      • Deputy U.S. Marshal
      • Drug Enforcement Special Agent
      • Environmental Conservation Officer
      • Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent
      • Federal Investigations Investigator
      • Federal Protective Service Officer/Criminal Investigator
      • Fish and Wildlife Service Special Agent
      • Immigration and Naturalization Service Border Patrol Agent
      • Immigration and Naturalization Service Criminal Investigator
      • Immigration and Naturalization Service Deportation Officer
      • Immigration and Naturalization Service Inspector
      • Inspector General Investigator
      • Internal Revenue Criminal Investigator
      • Internal Revenue Internal Security Inspector
      • Naval Investigative Service/Criminal Investigator
      • United States Park Police
      • United States Postal Inspector
      • Secret Service Agent
      • Secret Service Uniformed Officer
   Forensic Science Personnel
      • Criminalistics Personnel, including:
        • Ballistics Specialist
        • Tollmark Specialist
        • Serology Specialist
        • Fingerprint Specialist
        • Arson Specialist
        • Document Specialist
        • Polygraph Specialist
      • Crime Laboratory Personnel, including:
        • Federal Bureau of Investigation
        • Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms
        • Drug Enforcement Administration
   Private Security Personnel
        • Retail Security
        • Commercial Security
        • Institutional Security
        • Industrial Security
   State and Municipal Law Enforcement Personnel
      • Crime Analyst
      • Crime Prevention Officer/Specialist
      • Deputy Sheriff
      • Investigator (State, County, Municipal)
      • State Police Officer/State Trooper
      • Police Officer (Municipal)

CLICK HERE FOR AN EXTREMELY THOROUGH WEB PAGE DEVOTED TO TEACHING YOU HOW TO GET A JOB IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE
HOW TO GET A JOB IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE

    Other Options

      I. Graduate School

If you are completing your undergraduate studies and wish to go on to graduate study, you have several options.  If you would like to continue to study criminal justice, and are considering a career in criminal justice: Discuss your interest with your advisor and with your professors in criminal justice.  Ask for guidance about graduate study and about the work of criminal justice professionals.  The American Society of Criminology and the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences have information to help you, which identifies the programs and faculty and entrance requirements for all graduate programs (to go there, click on the organizations' names).  The criminal justice department at your college or university should have these publications.  If not, they can be ordered from the appropriate organizations.  Contact the departments and institutions whose programs interest you and follow their application procedures.

If you are interested in graduate study in criminal justice but not in pursuing a career in research and college teaching, there are master's degree programs in criminology and criminal justice.  Many of these are specialized professional programs in law enforcement, courts, and corrections.  To learn about these programs, you should consult with your advisor and with criminal justice faculty, especially faculty who specialize in the field or specialties that interest you.
 
 


CLICK HERE FOR AN EXTREMELY THOROUGH WEB PAGE DEVOTED TO TEACHING YOU HOW TO GET INTO GRADUATE SCHOOL
HOW TO GET INTO GRADUATE SCHOOL

    II. Law School
Some criminal justice undergraduate majors go on to law school.  Many criminal justice departments and most colleges have a pre-law advisor to assist students.  Consult this advisor for procedures on how to apply to law school.  For information on specific law schools, consult directories at your college and university library or career office.  You may also contact the American Bar Association (312/988-5000) for information.
 

      III. Teaching

If you are interested in teaching in elementary, middle, or high school, contact the state board of education and the education department or school in your college or university.  The professional association for social studies teachers, the National Council for the Social Studies (202/966-7840) has information about the training and certification requirements for public school teachers.

Education reformers agree that the best preparation for teachers is a liberal arts major, and private schools are particularly interested in teachers with a strong substantive background.  Criminal justice majors who wish to teach may acquire training in teaching methods as undergraduates or in a graduate program for a Master of Arts in Teaching.  You can also participate in our Master of Arts in Social Sciences (MASS) program, which will certify you to teach at community college in criminal justice and another specialty.  To find out more, click here: MASS PROGRAM!
 

    Undergraduate Majors Who Will Be Seeking Immediate Employment

A bachelor's degree in criminal justice can lead to employment in all of the above areas.  These jobs can utilize the analytical skills and/or administrative competence of criminal justice majors.  To prepare to seek employment:
  • Consult your teachers and college placement counselors.  Seek advice about opportunities and about how your own skills and achievements can best be used.  It is never too early to contact your college's placement office and determine how to identify jobs that interest you and to prepare to apply for these jobs.
  • Explore other job opportunities by contacting government agencies, corporations, local, state, and federal employment agencies, newspapers, and professional associations.
  • Prepare a resume.  Emphasize broad analytical and communications skills as well as substantive knowledge gained from your criminal justice courses.  Highlight internship and job experiences.
  • Send your resume to organizations that interest you and work with your college placement office to schedule interviews with businesses and government agencies recruiting on your campus.  Pursue direct contacts for jobs that interest you by talking with people in these jobs and asking their suggestions.
  • Pursue direct contacts for jobs that interest you by talking with people in these jobs and asking their suggestions.
  • Seek out an internship while you are still in college with an Organization that interests you.

    Publications About Criminal Justice

The following are available in the Political Science/Criminal Justice Department located in room 139, Whitener Hall:

Delucia, Robert and Thomas Doyle (1994).  Career Planning in Criminal Justice.  Cincinnati, OH: Anderson.
 

    An excellent summary of job opportunities in the field, plus contains information and advice obtained directly from criminal justice professionals and sections on internships, job skills, and other useful resources. 
    A MUST READ!