A Degree in Criminal Justice Can Lead to a Successful Career

A Degree in Criminal Justice Can Lead to a Successful Career

Getting your foot in the door of your desired career begins with having a proper education. If you’re thinking about perusing a criminal justice degree, you may be surprised to see just how many different successful career opportunities will be available to you. A career with a criminal justice degree can be extremely rewarding and meaningful. Take some time to learn about the education requirements for your desired job to ensure you pursue the right education.

How to Get a Criminal Justice Degree

If you’re positive you want to work in the field of criminal justice, your first step is finding the right school. Depending on where you’d like to go, there are numerous colleges to attend, such as criminal justice schools like GMercyU. in Philadelphia. To obtain a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, you’ll have to take a variety of classes related to the field of criminal justice, including:

·  Criminal law

·  Criminal procedures

·  Forensics: Crime Scene Investigation

·  Corrections

·  Criminal investigations

It’s important to make sure the school you choose has a good criminal justice program. To obtain a bachelor’s degree, you’ll have to have a total of 120-128 credits, which can typically be obtained in four years.  

Law Enforcement

If you’d like to enter a career in law enforcement, having a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice will help get you a job as an FBI special agent, secret service special agent, deputy US marshal, US postal service inspector, or DEA special agent.  Other law enforcement jobs with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice include probation/parole officer, corrections officer, and police officer. Just because you obtain a degree in criminal justice doesn’t mean you’ll be able to get a career in law enforcement with a degree alone. Many careers require additional education and training, but if your dream is to make your community a safer place, than the field of law enforcement may be a great career for you to pursue.

Forensics

If you’re really interested in forensic science, some successful and rewarding career opportunities include:

·  Crime scene investigator

·  Blood spatter analyst

·  Ballistics specialist

·  DNA analyst

·  Homicide detective

·  Physiological profiler

If you’re passionate about helping solve crimes, perusing a career in forensics is a good path to choose. Since there is no shortage of crime in the world, there is always a need for forensic experts.  

Other Career Opportunities

Having a degree in criminal justice doesn’t limit you to careers that involve law and forensics. Other successful career options that will also be rewarding include:

·  Counselor

·  Social Worker

·  Prison psychologist

·  Criminal psychologist  

These types of careers are ideal for individuals that would like to learn more from people who have been affected by crime or have committed a crime.

Even more career opportunities for someone with a criminal justice degree include military officer, attorney, child support agency worker, police detective, naval investigator, paralegal, airport security officer, and border patrol agent.

There are many criminal justice careers, which offer many exciting career opportunities to you. Determine what you are most passionate about before obtaining a degree in criminal justice. Try to figure out which career path would give you the most satisfaction and then find the right school for your needs. After obtaining a degree, look for entry-level jobs so you can get started in a career you’ll love.