What to Do With a Criminal Justice Major

A criminal justice degree can help people who want to have a career in law, law enforcement or the justice system. If you have a degree in criminal justice, you can pursue a career in local, state or federal government.

Function

Getting an associate's degree in criminal justice can provide you with a general overview and access to entry-level jobs. A bachelor's degree is a more specialized overview and can give you access to entry-level jobs as well as mid-management positions.
Because there is a new emphasis on homeland security, job opportunities for criminal justice majors have increased, and by 2010 the U.S. Department of Labor predicts there will be a 29 percent increase in demand for police officers, U.S. Customs agents, FBI agents and private detectives, all of which use a criminal justice degree.

Features

In order for someone to major in criminal justice, that person needs to have certain qualities. These qualities include:
*Written and presentation skills
*Strong background in humanities, social science and natural science
*Understanding society's reaction to crimes
*Ethics and moral values
*Considerations of gender and race
*Understand and respect values and workings of the legal system
*Quantitative skills
*Ability to work independently and as part of a team
*High degree of physical fitness and ability to work under pressure
Many people have these characteristics long before getting a degree in criminal justice, which may be what drew them to the degree in the first place. But if you are concerned that you do not have some of these qualities, all of them can be learned.

Potential

The places that typically hire those with a criminal justice degree are:
*Federal Bureau of Investigation
*Colleges and universities
*Drug Enforcement Administration
*Military branches
*U.S. Marshals
*Defense agencies
*Immigration and Naturalization Services
*Security companies
*Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives
*Private investigative services
*U.S. Customs
*Businesses and retail stores
*Federal, state and local government agencies
*Law firms
*Private probation agencies

Types

There are many different jobs a criminal justice major can consider, but the most commonly known are:
*Police officer
*Fingerprinting specialist
*Detective
*Serology specialist
*Criminal investigator
*Arson specialist
*Corrections, parole or probation officer
*Local law enforcement
*Warden
State trooper
*Security investigator or specialist
*Court administrator, judge or magistrate
*Lawyer
*Legal assistant
*Agent at the FBI, CIA, ATF, Customs, Secret Service, INS, Border Patrol, Drug Enforcement

Considerations

When it comes to choosing among local, state or federal job positions, remember that the federal government has less job opportunities than state or local. However, a federal position tends to offer more variety and a higher profile.
Remember that getting a degree in criminal justice opens up many opportunities, not just becoming a police officer or FBI agent. This degree can help you work in Social Services or inside a courtroom.

Resources

• Rutgers Career Services
• Criminal Justice USA
• Direct Degree: Criminal Justice Careers