Criminal Justice major
Criminal Justice: courses, careers, and where to study
Criminal Justice studies the institutions and practices of policing, courts, and corrections — preparing graduates for law enforcement, probation, corrections, and law school.
A Criminal Justice major covers the structure of policing, courts, and corrections; criminology theory; criminal law and procedure; victimology; juvenile justice; and corrections. Programs often offer concentrations in Law Enforcement, Forensic Science, Cybercrime, Homeland Security, or Pre-Law. Many include an internship with a local police department, sheriff's office, court, prosecutor, or correctional facility.
Graduates work in federal, state, and local law enforcement, corrections, probation/parole, private security, victim advocacy, and corporate compliance. The major is also a common pre-law track.
What you'll study
- Introduction to the criminal justice system
- Criminology theory
- Policing and police administration
- Criminal law and procedure
- Corrections and rehabilitation
- Juvenile justice
- Forensic methods (depending on track)
- Research methods and statistics
Typical careers
- Police Officer / Detective
- Federal Agent (FBI, DEA, ATF, USMS, ICE)
- Probation / Parole Officer
- Corrections Officer
- Forensic Analyst
- Lawyer (with JD)
Starting salary range: $45,000–$72,000 starting (BLS police officer median $74,910)
Find a Criminal Justice program
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Criminal Justice by state
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