By Dr. Matthew Loux and Bryce Loux | 08/21/2025
With pressing matters like public safety, crime fighting, and justice system specialists in demand, there is a growing need for qualified candidates in the criminal justice sector.
From crime prevention and community policing to cybersecurity and crime analysis, the criminal just field is broad and attracts individuals who are driven by their passion for public service. Understanding how to get a criminal justice degree is the first step toward entering this impactful field.
However, this call to action comes with a prerequisite of earning relevant academic credentials, like a criminal justice degree.
Is a Criminal Justice Degree Right for You?
Before you enroll in a criminal justice program, consider your interests, strengths, and professional goals. If you have a strong passion for law and justice, public service, social change, and a desire to make a difference, you may thrive in the criminal justice field. In addition, working in the criminal justice system requires good reasoning skills, emotional stamina, and sound communication.
Your professional goals will shape your academic journey. For example, students planning to seek criminal justice careers as police officers, FBI agents, or correctional officers will have a different set of educational goals than students who intend to work as advocates or lawyers. Understanding your motivations certainly refines your direction and educational blueprint.
Self-reflection on what kind of degree would fit best is another important step. An entry-level position could be secured faster with an associate degree, and a bachelor’s degree may lead to acquiring the knowledge to seek supervisory or investigative positions. As with other fields, a master's degree in criminal justice is usually pursued by students wishing to hold senior leadership, policy, or teaching roles in academia or public service.
Choosing the Right Criminal Justice Program
When you’re selecting a degree program, look closely at the curriculum to see if it is something you want to study. Some programs focus more on criminology and theory, while others emphasize applied skills, including juvenile justice or national security.
Typical Courses in a Criminal Justice Degree Program
A criminal justice degree program includes both theoretical and practical coursework to ensure that students obtain a comprehensive understanding of the field. Some common courses are:
- Criminology
- Criminal law
- Policing
- Corrections and penology
- Ethics in criminal justice
- Juvenile delinquency
- Research methods
Other courses might focus on legal analysis, critical thinking, and communication in the court system. It’s important to know, students learn how different agencies and sectors within the justice system interoperate.
Many programs also offer elective courses. These elective courses allow students to customize their education to suit their career aspirations.
Building Practical Experience in Criminal Justice
Gaining hands-on experience is useful when you’re studying criminal justice. Through internships, practicums, or service projects, you can gain practical experience with law enforcement agencies, legal firms, and correctional facilities.
Students may, for example, intern with a local police department, assist probation officers, or watch court cases. These opportunities help define career goals and strengthen resumes.
How Certification and Additional Education Is Helpful
Earning extra certifications will be equally helpful even more. Based on your area of focus, consider getting certified in crime scene investigation, homeland security, digital forensics, or fraud examination.
Students can also take up graduate studies, depending upon the roles they seek. A master’s degree in criminal justice, public administration, forensic psychology, or legal studies is helpful in pursing leadership and teaching positions. Some students even choose to go to law school, where they can use their undergrad degree to work for agencies connected to the criminal justice system or law firms.
Potential Career Fields for Criminal Justice Graduates
Studying for a degree in criminal justice provides opportunities to seek career paths in both the public and private sectors. For instance, graduates may pursue career paths in:
- Law enforcement
- Political science arenas
- Correctional facilities
- Forensic science
- Federal agencies
- Private companies
- Non-profit organizations
The job opportunities available to graduates generally depend upon several factors, such as:
- Their degree (associate, bachelor’s, or master’s)
- Their location
- Their professional interests
Entry-Level Jobs
There are a diverse range of jobs that are available for graduates with an associate or bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. These jobs include:
- Police officer
- Corrections officer
- Probation or parole officer
- Security guard
- Loss prevention specialist
Police Officer
As the face of public safety, police officers enforce the law, respond to emergencies, and manage public order. Officers may also work in specialized departments such as K-9, SWAT, and cybercrime after they gain some experience.
Corrections Officer
Working as a corrections officer in jails and prisons requires overseeing incarcerated individuals, maintaining facility security, and assisting in rehabilitation efforts. This position requires good soft skills and the ability to work in very stressful conditions.
Probation or Parole Officer
These professionals track people who are let out of jail, making sure they follow the rules set by the legal system. They work alongside social services to help individuals reintegrate into society.
Security Guard
Security guards protect property, check surveillance systems, and monitor for any incidents. This position is often regarded as a stepping-stone to work toward a higher position in security or law enforcement.
Loss Prevention Specialist
Primarily found in retail stores, loss prevention specialists act as crime prevention specialists to guard against theft and fraud. They conduct investigations, use surveillance equipment, and even work with law enforcement if required.
Specialized and Advanced Roles
Some criminal justice career options require more education, certifications, or experience. Typically, these jobs require at least a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and include jobs such as:
- Crime scene investigator
- Forensic analyst
- Federal agent
- Criminal profiler
- Border protection agent or customs agent
Crime Scene Investigator
Crime scene investigators (CSIs) are responsible for collecting evidence from crime scenes and analyzing it. They collaborate with forensic laboratories and law enforcement agencies in recreating the events leading up to and after the crime, as well as identifying suspects for prosecution. Also, having some knowledge of biology or chemistry is helpful in this field.
Forensic Analyst
Forensic experts specialize in analyzing various types of evidence, including DNA, firearms, toxic substances, and digital information. They play an essential role in the resolution of crimes and frequently appear in court as expert witnesses.
Federal Agent
Agents working for government agencies such as the FBI, DEA, or ATF deal with terrorism, drug trafficking, organized crime, and any other offenses that involve interstate or international jurisdiction or homeland security. These positions are some of the hardest to get, due to high competition. Generally, they require a bachelor’s degree, some prior work experience, and extensive law enforcement training at federal academies.
Criminal Profiler
Often employed by federal or state law enforcement agencies, profilers use behavioral analysis for identifying and apprehending criminal suspects. The analysis of criminal behavior requires additional education in forensic psychology or criminology.
Border Protection Agent or Customs Agent
Border protection or customs agents implement regulations concerning borders, immigration, and overseas commerce. They are often employed by federal agencies such as U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) or Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to maintain border security.
Nonprofit and Private-Sector Opportunities
There is a growing trend in the criminal justice field where graduates are seeking roles related to business. These roles include:
- Corporate security manager
- Risk analyst
- Compliance officer
- Victim advocate
- Youth program coordinator
Corporate Security Manager
These managers are responsible for managing corporate or private sector security within a company, which include security audits, safety management, and emergency planning. Experience in law enforcement or the military is often beneficial for people seeking roles in this field.
Risk Analyst
Risk analysts investigate possible risks that can endanger an organization’s property, activities, or public image. They are commonly employed in finance, insurance, or cybersecurity, where they rely on data to make decisions.
Compliance Officer
Compliance officers primarily work in healthcare, finance, and manufacturing to ensure that companies comply with laws and regulations. They are responsible for conducting audits, policy formulation, and training personnel on compliance.
Victim Advocate
Victim advocates assist crime victims in dealing with legal processes, obtaining benefits and recovering psychologically from crimes. Victim advocacy jobs require empathy and communication skills, as well as some background in counseling or social work.
Youth Program Coordinator
In schools, nonprofits, or juvenile correction facilities, coordinators design programs that address issues related to delinquency and support young people who are most at risk. They may plan mentorship, educational, and other intervention programs.
Transferable Skills from a Criminal Justice Degree
For online students, obtaining a criminal justice degree can lead to acquiring transferable, career-focused skills such as:
- Leadership skills
- Negotiation and problem-solving
- Teamwork
- Ethics
- Critical thinking and analysis
- Communication skills, especially useful for writing criminal justice policies
These skills can apply to various fields. Whether a graduate chooses to seek a criminal justice career in law enforcement, business, or another sector, these skills can apply to multiple jobs.
How to Succeed in an Online Criminal Justice Program
Succeeding in an online criminal justice program requires more than just attending your courses. These steps can help you stay on track and make the most of your online learning program:
- Stay organized and manage time carefully – Most programs are both intense and demanding. Balancing courses, an internship, and a job requires strong self-discipline.
- Take advantage of campus or online tools – Tutoring centers, writing labs, and online research databases support academic success.
- Keep current on industry developments – Social changes, laws, and technology impacting the justice system are always undergoing alteration. Be sure to keep up with the news, read academic journals, and participate in workshops and webinars to stay informed.
Also, be sure to develop connections with faculty members and your peers. Networking and mentorship are useful for gaining knowledge of the criminal justice field and hearing about new job opportunities.
Criminal Justice Degrees at AMU
For students interested in seeking a criminal justice degree online, American Military University (AMU) offers two degrees:
Taught by experienced faculty, the courses for these online programs feature topics such as corrections and incarceration, the criminal legal process, and U.S. law enforcement. Other courses involve criminal law, criminal investigation, the U.S. legal system, and criminal profiling. Also, both degree programs offer several concentrations to suit the professional goals of AMU students.
Interested in learning more about these online degrees? Visit AMU’s criminal justice degree program page.
Note: Both degree programs are not designed to meet the educational requirements for professional licensure or certification in any country, state, province or other jurisdiction. These programs have not been approved by any state professional licensing body and do not lead to any state-issued professional licensure.
