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Criminal justice majors study the systems that governments put into place to apprehend, arrest, prosecute and punish those who commit crimes in order to maintain social order. Courses shape a student's understanding of both crime and justice and emphasize the role of law enforcement and courtrooms in the criminal justice system here and abroad. The major is intended to equip students with a thorough knowledge of the origins of criminal behavior, police unit administration, crime lab technology, probation and parole, corrections, and criminal justice theory. Another goal of the criminal justice major is to get students to think critically about the balance between individual rights and public order. Students can choose to concentrate their studies in different areas of criminal justice, such as law enforcement, forensic science, or homeland security.
Criminal justice is highly interdisciplinary, intersecting with subjects such as sociology, psychology, science and communication. Courses in a criminal justice major might include: Police & Society, Survey of Criminal Courts, Criminology, Criminal Procedure and Juvenile Justice. Many baccalaureate programs encourage or require students to participate in internships in a professional criminal justice setting for course credit. A wide array of careers are available to criminal justice graduates, including police officers (particularly the higher ranks); crime analysts; crime prevention specialists; court coordinators; juvenile and adult probation officers; legal research assistants; and border patrol agents. The job outlook for criminal justice majors is excellent, as crime reduction has long been a major domestic policy concern, according to a major description provided by Indiana University—Bloomington. Job opportunities in policing, probation and parole, and private security are increasing as well.
The Fastest Growing Jobs in Criminal Justice:
