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Criminal Justice and Security Studies

Careers in Criminal Justice

There are many diverse career paths that the Criminal Justice Studies major can choose after graduation. The program prides itself on providing its students with ample opportunities to succeed after graduation. An active internship program provides experience that improves the success rate of graduates. The CJS website posts available positions regularly and faculty also provide guidance in this area.

Some graduates choose law enforcement, criminal investigation, intelligence, probation and parole counseling, research, consumer advocacy and international services. Positions are available with correctional agencies at the federal, state and county level; in municipal, county and state law enforcement agencies, as well as with some prosecutor and public defender's offices as online investigators. Positions are also available in industrial security, the consumer advocacy arena and with select law firms as possible paralegals.

Career Opportunities for Criminal Justice Studies majors with suggested minors or double majors

  • Public and private investigative agencies (revenue sector). Federal and state revenue and/or investigative service agencies (internal examiners)

  • Corporate security management; insurance industry; consumer arena; law school; graduate school; federal, state, county and municipal law enforcement; investigative agencies; privately funded correctional and/or rehabilitative agencies involving staff management.

  • Federal and state natural resource and/or game preserve agencies, private ecological foundations.

  • News and communications media; law school; graduate school; community and/or public relations in federal, state, county and municipal law enforcement (candidates begin as line personnel); federal, state, county, municipal and privately funded correctional and/or rehabilitative agencies involving community liaison activity.

  • Forensic science laboratories; coroner or medical examiner offices.

  • Data processing services in justice administration agencies.

  • Investment/brokerage arena; law school; graduate school; federal state, county and municipal law enforcement involving staff management (candidates begin as line personnel).

  • Law school; graduate school; federal, state, county and municipal law enforcement and/or investigative agencies; federal, state, county & municipal correctional and/or penal institutions.

  • Industrial security sales and services (hardware); corporate security management.

  • News media; law school; graduate school.

  • Corporate security management, insurance industry; consumer arena; law school; graduate school.

  • Planning and research in justice administration agencies; law school; graduate school; federal, state, county and municipal law enforcement and/or investigative agencies involving planning and research (candidates begin as line personnel).

  • Commissioned officer in armed services; commissioned officer in armed services involving military law enforcement; commissioned officer in armed services involving military correctional and/or penal institutions.

  • Law enforcement; coroner or medical examiner offices as photographer; federal, state, county & municipal law enforcement and/or investigative agencies involving on-scene examinations (candidates begin as line personnel).

  • Federal, state, county and municipal law enforcement; federal, state, county and municipal correctional and/or penal institutions involving planning and implementing physical activities programs for clientele (candidates begin as line personnel.

  • Public service agencies; political arena; lobbyist; law school; graduate school; federal, state, county and municipal law enforcement and/or investigative agencies involving staff management (candidates begin as line personnel).

  • Justice administration organizations; law school; graduate school; federal, state county and municipal law enforcement involving staff management (candidates begin as line personnel); federal, state, county, municipal & privately funded correctional and/or rehabilitative agencies requiring recognized counseling practices (candidates begin as line personnel).

  • Social service organizations; law school, graduate school; federal, state, county & municipal law enforcement; federal, state, county and municipal correctional and/or penal institutions.

  • Probation, working with juvenile offenders, at-risk youth, substance abuse or mental health. Social Work is a good all-around minor to have if you are interested in jobs in human services in general.