The academic field of criminal justice officially emerged in 1920 with only 1,000 students by the year 1950. The number of students pursuing a degree in criminal justice has since grown to 350,000, according to 1998 figures. Students currently intending to enter a career with criminal justice degree credentials are prepared to serve in a wide variety of professions within the criminal justice system, including law enforcement, courts, and corrections positions.
What is Criminal Justice?
The field of criminal justice refers to the system set up by the government to maintain social order. Law enforcement and justice administration are additional dimensions of the criminal justice system. The three main branches of criminal justice are the police, the court system, and corrections. The three branches work in tandem in an attempt to achieve the ideal of justice.
Earning a Degree in Criminal Justice
Students choosing to enter a program that provides a degree in criminal justice have a wide variety of schools and programs from which to select. Several programs focus on administrative work within the criminal justice system, while others train students for hands-on work within the field. Possible class subjects include forensics and investigations, management and administration, sociology, police and community relations, and criminology.
Many schools are now offering sophisticated criminal justice degree online programs. One online college for a criminal justice degree is South University, which offers a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice. South University’s criminal justice degree trains professionals for both administrative and hands-on occupations. Graduates of South University are prepared to enter any number of entry-level jobs with a criminal justice degree.
Possible Jobs with a Criminal Justice Degree
A career with criminal justice degree credentials can lead in countless directions. Professionals may secure jobs with a criminal justice degree in the law enforcement field performing police or detective work. A degree in criminal justice may also be a first step towards a career within the judicial system. Within corrections is an entirely alternate set of jobs with a criminal justice degree. Corrections officers, probation officers, and corrections treatment specialists are a few possibilities. Finally, professionals with a degree in criminal justice may choose to become employed as private detectives or investigators.
Job Outlook for Professionals with a Criminal Justice Degree
Expected job growth varies according to the specific occupation within the criminal justice field. Private detectives and investigators are expected to see an 18 – 26% increase, probation officers and corrections treatment specialists will see a 9 – 17% increase, and police and detectives will also see a 9 – 17% increase through the year 2014, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Further information by specific profession is available in the Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2006 – 2007.
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