The criminal justice system is one of the most dynamic and challenging career paths out of almost any industry. While not suitable for everyone, if you’re looking for a way to make a real difference in your community or in the country, then a career within the criminal justice system may be your ideal choice. While there are many different avenues you may take to begin your educational journey into this industry, a criminal justice degree offers the necessary training to gain entrance into a wide scope of careers and job opportunities.
What is a Criminal Justice Degree?
In the most basic of definitions, a criminal justice degree educates students on the many facets of our legal system. When students enter this field, they’re given the necessary tools to compete for a variety of criminal system careers; however, to truly engulf yourself into a specific concentration within this industry, it’s important to specialize in a specific concentrations, such as law enforcement administration, safety studies and corrections.
Due to the wide scope of knowledge these professionals require, it’s not uncommon for a criminal justice degree program to cover the following subject areas:
- Criminal Investigation
- Criminal Law and Criminal Policy
- Criminology
- Crime Prevention
- Juvenile Delinquency
- Deviant Behavior Studies
- Labor Relations
- Management Theories
- Project Management Skills
- Statistics
- Sociology
- Correctional Counseling
- Forensic Technology
- Research Methods
Perhaps one of the most substantial benefits of earning a criminal justice degree is its application in almost every industry. The coursework you’ll study is not only applicable to careers within the legal system. In fact, much of the skills you’ll learn are in-demand in a variety of careers and industries. If you’re searching for a career in upper management, the skills gained within a criminal justice degree program will provide you with the necessary talents to manage a department.
Depending on the state you are in, such as Illinois, you may want to look into acquiring your PERC card if you plan to use your criminal justice degree to work in the security services sector. The Illinois perc card application is relatively straightforward process and can hold significant weight in your ability to get hired as a security guard. Other states, such as California, offer the guard card for their security officers.
If you’re looking to enhance your degree, and therefore opening up career opportunities in various industries, consider minoring in one of the following subjects:
- Human Services
- Community Services
- Pre-Law
- Psychology
- Social Work
- Public Policy Studies
Modern criminal justice degrees are far more detailed than in years past. The reason for this is because of the growth found in other industries. As technologies grow, so does the need for persons to adhere to and monitor the legalities within these industries. Many criminal justice majors find themselves in the perfect position to enhance their career by jumping into a master’s degree program within their desired field of work. When combined with an undergraduate degree, it’s relatively common for these graduates to move on to advanced-level positions within corporations or within their community. Learn more about the various types of certifications and license types for security guards at Security Guard Training Central.