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Criminal justice is a major or area of specialty available for many associate's and bachelor's degree programs. Generally speaking, a criminal justice major prepares students for careers relating to law enforcement.
Identification
Criminal justice involves the study of the causes of crime, its effects and methods of preventing it. The major also deals with the apprehension, incarceration and rehabilitation of criminals.
Features
Criminal justice majors take courses in law, the corrections system, criminology, psychology, public safety, technology and issues in law enforcement and mediation. Coursework also involves specific types of crimes like terrorism, drug trafficking, domestic violence, cyber crime and white collar or corporate crimes.
Types of Careers
Criminal justice majors may find work in a variety of areas, including juvenile justice centers, police departments, sheriff's offices, crime labs, the attorney general's office, federal agencies like the FBI or insurance companies. Additionally, some criminal justice members become corrections, parole or probation officers.
Time Frame
Associate's degrees in criminal justice typically require two years to complete, while bachelor's degrees require four years.
Compensation
In November 2009, the average annual salary for graduates with an associate's degree in criminal justice was between $32,199 and $50,001, according to Payscale.com. For bachelor's degree recipients, salaries ranged from $35,501 to $71,665.
Source:
Resource:
ELearners.com: Criminal Justice Courses
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