Focus on Majors: Criminal Justice | Augusta Blog

If you?re a big fan of the many modern-day television shows that portray employees of the criminal justice field in action ? programs like Dexter, for instance, or Criminal Minds?- there?s a fair chance you may be considering a similar career for yourself. If so, you?re in surprisingly good company.

During the tail-end of the 1980s, for instance, law school applications famously reached record highs for the first time in 15 years due to the popularity of the NBC legal drama, L.A. Law. Some 20 years later, fans of CSI, the long-running police procedural series, have flocked en masse to forensics programs at colleges, universities and trade schools across the country.

Thankfully though, the criminal justice field today remains wide open with opportunity. As a criminal justice student, you?ll study everything from policing and legal procedures to Federal law enforcement techniques, crime lab tactics and much more. Throughout the month of March, we hope you?ll join us as we Focus on Criminal Justice.

Here?s what we have planned:

* For those of you in high school, we?ll fill you in on the sorts of courses you should be taking now in order to best prepare for a future working in criminal justice.

* We?ll also take a close look at the specific undergrad and post-grad classes you?ll need to take when majoring in any of the criminal justice fields, at a college or university.

* And since there are so many schools today offering so many different types of criminal justice majors, we?ll share some of the country?s highest-ranked college and university programs.

* Finally we will share advice from criminal justice professionals, so you can get insights from those working in the field.

To learn more about the various degrees and careers for criminal justice majors ? and to decide which higher-education path might be the wisest for you to follow ? keep reading ??

Types of Degrees for Criminal Justice Majors

Associates Degree
If you want to get out of school and into the working world as soon as possible, an associates degree might be just the thing. You?ll earn an associates degree after only two years of study, for instance. And aside from graduating with a firm grasp of the criminal justice field?s fundamentals, you?ll have also received a decent liberal arts education and some necessary science skills, which will come in handy if you eventually choose to transfer to a traditional four-year college. If you think a career in law enforcement might be in your future ? perhaps as a police officer or a corrections officer in a prison or jail ? an associates degree might serve you well.

Bachelors Degree
Earning a standard four-year bachelors degree is almost certainly the way to go, if you want your career options to be wide-open once you graduate. Many entry-level criminal justice positions require four-year degrees, especially the many jobs offered by Federal agencies. And while the legal field is home to numerous positions that don?t necessarily require a graduate law degree, you?ll almost certainly need a bachelors if you hope to climb the various legal-field ranks.

Masters Degree
Although a masters degree isn?t generally required for most criminal justice careers the extra education you?ll gain will certainly give you a much deeper understanding of the field?s various procedures, and its often-intricate research methods. A masters probably will be required, however, if you plan to teach criminal justice. Most upper-management employees working for Federal agencies will also need to hold advanced degrees. And it?s worth keeping in mind that professionals with masters degrees are more likely to receive larger paychecks than their lesser-educated co-workers.

Careers for Criminal Justice Majors
The criminal justice industry in the United States is so wide-ranging, there?s a decent chance you?ll find any number of positions that appeal to you, no matter what your interests. Here are some of the fastest-growing and most in-demand careers?in criminal justice.

Court Reporter (average pay: $ 53,270*)
Court reporters play a hugely important role in the legal system. Their job involves transcribing every last word spoken during court proceedings, whether by defense attorneys, district attorneys, witnesses or judges.

FBI Special Agent?(average pay: $ 52,638**)
FBI special agents spend their days protecting the country from threats to national security. As for the actual job description of a special agent, it?s fairly similar to that of a police detective. Federal agents, however, have jurisdiction over municipal and state police officers. Also, a typical FBI Agent?s case will cross over multiple state lines.

Forensic Science Technicians (average pay: $ 55,040*)
Forensic science technicians assist the police on criminal investigations by paying attention to the seemingly small and often hidden details. They might analyze gunshot residue or blood spatter, for instance. And they often examine DNA evidence in laboratory settings after collecting it from crime scenes.

Criminal justice graduates, we want to hear from you. Share your experience in the comments or email?The Explorer Blog.

Read about recession-proof careers, and begin your career search.?Find?criminal justice schools.??Like? us on?Facebook?and follow us on?Twitter?to stay up to date with our?focus on majors?posts. Read the focus on criminal justice series.

* Salary averages from the?Bureau of Labor Statistics.

** Salary averages from the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The Explorer

Source: http://augustaga.com/blog/focus-on-majors-criminal-justice/

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