If you considering earning a degree in criminal justice, you may be interested in knowing there are myriad career opportunities in this field. Some of the jobs available are in the following areas:
Federal Law
- Immigration and Naturalization Service
- Food and Drug Administration
- Office of the Inspector General
- Department of Defense
- Department of Homeland Security
- Federal Bureau of Investigation
- Department of Transportation
- Veterans Affairs
- Customs Agency
- Federal Trade Commission
State Law
- Narcotics Bureaus
- Liquor Control Boards
- State Crime Commissions
- Crime labs
- The Court System
- Attorney General Offices
- State Police
Local Law
- Park police
- County police
- Juvenile Justice Centers
- Sheriff Department
Private Sector Law
- Insurance companies
- Private detective firms
- Safety officers
- Security patrol officers
Education
The level of education you need will depend on your career goals; you can pursue a certificate, associate’s degree, or bachelor’s degree. You can easily earn your degree in this field online to help you balance work, family, and education. If you aspire to work in an upper level career, such as a forensic scientist, you can obtain an advanced degree as well.
Certificate: a certificate will provide the training you need to be a crime scene technician or to obtain a position in another specialized field of criminal justice. If you have a job in a different field, a certificate can help you develop specific skills to help you make a successful career change.
Associate’s Degree: an associate’s degree takes approximately two years to complete and will give you the fundamental skills you need for a criminal justice career while also providing you a basic education in liberal arts and sciences. You will likely receive the technical skills necessary for getting a job in state or local law enforcement; employers will typically find you more appealing if you hold an associate’s degree as your credits will be transferable to a bachelor’s degree.
Bachelor’s Degree: a bachelor’s degree will provide you the in-depth training you need to find an entry-level position at the federal level. You will also be more likely to be promoted into higher positions with a bachelor’s degree, thereby expanding your career opportunities.
Specialty Options
A few of the specialty options you have available to you when you work toward your criminal justice degree are:
Criminal Justice: programs in this area will focus on crime, justice, and the legal system. You will take classes in legal studies and political science, as well as important communication skills that will help you excel in the criminal justice field.
Crime Scene Technologists: you will become skilled in analyzing and preserving crime scenes by learning proper techniques for evidence recovery, and collection and storage procedures. Programs also teach effective communications for use in presenting findings in court.
Terrorism/Security Management: earning this certification is useful to those who are already working in the field of criminal justice or to those who would like to begin a new career after having been in an unrelated field. Career opportunities continue to grow in the area of terrorism, so students in this specialty will learn modern techniques for dealing with terrorists as well as how to analyze response plans and security proposals.
Sat, May 1, 2010
Careers without College, Continuing Education, Degrees, Education, Higher Education, Online Education, Programs