Criminal Justice Colleges & Universities


Criminal Justice Degrees Turn Daydream Careers into Reality

"Rizzoli & Isles." "Law & Order." "CSI." Criminal justice movies, television shows and books are full of daring adventures and fascinating mysteries. With a criminal justice degree, you can work in the field.

The World of Criminal Justice
The criminal justice field includes paralegals and legal secretaries, defense and prosecuting attorneys, police officers on the street, correctional officers in the prisons, parole and probation officers and a variety of law enforcement officers working with federal and state agencies.

What Classes are Required for Criminal Justice Degrees?
Criminal justice degrees require core curriculum classes as well as specialized classes in topics like:
  •   Police in America
  •   Criminal Law and Procedure
  •   Criminological Theory

What Can You Do with a Degree from a Criminal Justice School?
Criminal justice colleges offer degrees from certificate to bachelor's to master's degrees in topics covering the spectrum of criminal justice work. If you use your criminal justice degree to get a job as a police officer, you can look forward to a job that's fascinating and rewarding, but can be stressful and dangerous. Different municipal and state departments require different levels of education--a criminal justice degree from any of the criminal justice schools can help you get a leg up with hiring and promotion. Some of the job opportunities in state and city police departments include:
  •   Police officers
  •   Sheriff's deputies
  •   Detectives and criminal investigators
  •   Fish and game wardens

According the Bureau of Labor Statistics, police and sheriff's patrol officers made median annual wages of $53,210 in May 2009.

Some of the other job opportunities that open up if you earn a degree from a criminal justice school include:
  •   Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists
  •   Private detectives and investigators

A criminal justice degree can get you started in a career that's hard work, and well worth it.
Campus Programs
Online Programs