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  1. Home
  2. Academics
  3. Bachelor’s Degrees
  4. Criminal Justice
Bronze statue of Justice and Mercy. Justice is blindfolded and holding scales; Mercy is winged and leaning over Justice's shoulder with her hand held up palm outward, as if to soften the judgement. (Credit: Wikipedia)

Careers in Criminal Justice

The four-year Criminal Justice bachelor’s degree offers students the flexibility to pursue an array of career opportunities in federal, state and local law enforcement and corrections agencies, court-related services, probation and parole services, counseling and advocacy, and private-sector security. It is also an excellent undergraduate degree choice for those interested in pursuing graduate studies, including law.

For that career competitive edge, the Criminal Justice major pairs well with a variety of minors, including Sociology, Rehabilitation and Human Services, Psychology, and Business.

Students complete an internship where their learning comes to life, often leading to a job offer. $41,580 is the median annual income for policing and corrections careers. $81,820 is the median annual income for legal service (courts) careers. (Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2019)

Types of Positions


Cops/Policing
  • Police Officer/Trooper/Sheriff’s Deputy/U.S. Marshal
  • State or County Detective
  • Conservation Officer/National Park Service
  • Special Agent
  • Coroner/Medical Examiner
  • Investigator (state, county, city)
  • Arson Investigator
  • Animal Cruelty Investigator
  • State Department of Revenue Agent
  • Juvenile Officer
  • Crime Prevention Officer
  • Fire Marshal
  • Air Marshal
  • Deputy U.S. Marshal
  • School Resource Officer
  • Community Relations Officer
  • Private Security
  • Detective (retail, undercover, private, hotel, etc.)
  • Armed Uniformed Security
  • Private Investigator
  • Insurance Claims Investigator
  • Insurance Fraud Investigator
  • Investigator, Office of Personnel Management
  • Security Director
  • Loss Prevention Specialist
  • Credit Investigator
  • Investigator (airline, hotel, insurance)

Corrections
  • Institutional/Community Corrections Counselor
  • Case Manager (mental health, drug/alcohol, youth, halfway house)
  • Corrections Officer
  • Correctional Counselor
  • Juvenile Justice Counselor
  • Parole Officer (Juvenile and Adult)
  • Probation Officer (Juvenile and Adult)
  • Runaway Counselor
  • Substance Abuse Counselor
  • Child Welfare Caseworkers
  • Drug Testing
  • Electronic Monitoring
  • Corrections Administrator

Citizens
  • Vicitims of Violence Advocate
  • Crisis Intervention Counselor (runaway, suicide, violence)
  • Crime Scene Technician
  • Civil Rights Advocate
  • Restorative Justice Counselor
  • Community Resource Officer
  • Domestic Violence Counselor
  • Support Services Coordinator

Courts
  • Prosecutor
  • Defense Attorney
  • Probation Officer
  • Juvenile Probation Officer
  • Judge
  • Victim/Witness Services Personnel
  • Pre-Trial Services Officer
  • Paralegal/Legal Aid Counselor
  • Community Resource Officer
  • Domestic Violence Counselor
  • Support Services Coordinator

Types of Employers

A wide range of public and private organizations employ individuals with an education in criminal justice. Below is just a partial list.

Federal Agencies

  • U.S. Customs and Border Protection
  • Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
  • National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
  • National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)
  • U.S. Department of Labor
  • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
  • U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
  • Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
  • Secret Service (SS)
  • Department of Transportation (DOT)
  • U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
  • U.S. Department of Defense (DOD)
  • Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS)
  • U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ)
    • U.S. Marshals Service
    • Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
    • Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
    • Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)
    • Federal Bureau of Prisons
    • National Institute of Corrections
    • U.S. Parole Commission
  • Office of the Inspector General (OIG)
  • Department of Health & Human Services (HHS)
  • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
  • U.S. Postal Service (USPS)

Local, County, and State Governments

  • Local police departments
  • Department of corrections
  • Department of revenue
  • Department of transportation
  • Department of human services
  • Department of health

Private Employers

  • Security firms
  • Private detective agencies
  • Retail establishments
  • Banking industry
  • Insurance companies
  • Travel industry
  • SPCA
  • and many others...
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The professors have professional connections that can be extremely helpful when applying for internships and jobs. It’s the personal connections that make Penn State unique.

Jack V. ’21

Criminal Justice

  • B.A. or B.S. in Criminal Justice — What’s the Difference?
  • Careers in Criminal Justice
  • Criminal Justice Course Sampler
  • Criminal Justice Faculty
  • Request Information about the Criminal Justice Program

See Also

  • Program Description for B.A. in Criminal Justice
  • Program Description for B.S. in Criminal Justice
  • Suggested Academic Plan for B.A. in Criminal Justice
  • Suggested Academic Plan for B.S. in Criminal Justice
Map of Pennsylvania showing Penn State’s 24 locations with Penn State Wilkes-Barre highlighted.

Penn State Wilkes‑Barre

Located on a scenic estate just 13 miles from Wilkes‑Barre, Penn State Wilkes‑Barre offers four‑year baccalaureate degree programs, two‑year associate degree programs, and a wide range of professional develop­ment oppor­tunities. Our small classes encourage close inter­action with professors who are committed to helping you be successful.
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