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Kim
Student
Martinez, California
2
Questions
Asked
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How much competition do you have to deal with in criminal studies because it's becoming such a popular major?
Because of cop shows, people take criminal studies, hoping to be like the guys on TV. This would draw a lot of students, so how many people would there be in a typical class and people to compete with jobs for? #criminal-justice #major
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1 answer
Wayne M. Williams, CPRW
Professional Résumé Writer, Interview Specialist, and Career Motivator Serving the Unemployed and Undervalued
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Answers
Greenfield, Indiana
Updated
Wayne’s Answer
Hi Kim!
You are most certainly correct in your assessment of growth in the criminal justice field. However, while there can be stiff competition in this industry, the options for translating your degree can be vast. As for your question about how many people can be in a class... this can differ widely depending on the university you attend. Small community colleges may have 10-15 people while larger universities may have 100+ students.
Traditional routes after graduating with a CJ degree may include law enforcement, corrections, forensic science, teaching, or moving onto law school to obtain a JD. Most of these jobs are in need of qualified individuals because of the nature of the work. There is reason to believe that this trend will continue moving forward as the need is still there.
There are other options, though. Criminal Justice and Criminology are seen as social sciences and work well in other industries. Occupations like case workers, direct care advocates, career coaches - mostly one-on-one support positions - are also good avenues to explore as CJ explores human behavior and how one can adapt to assist others.
My undergraduate degree is in Criminology and my current job is as a Project Director in workforce development. My education has served me very well in this industry as I work with individuals that have criminal backgrounds, experience poverty, and have the need for an advocate like me.
I would encourage you to pursue the path of obtaining your degree in CJ if that is where your passion lies. There are many opportunities available and the education can be translated easily to a wide variety of occupations.
You are most certainly correct in your assessment of growth in the criminal justice field. However, while there can be stiff competition in this industry, the options for translating your degree can be vast. As for your question about how many people can be in a class... this can differ widely depending on the university you attend. Small community colleges may have 10-15 people while larger universities may have 100+ students.
Traditional routes after graduating with a CJ degree may include law enforcement, corrections, forensic science, teaching, or moving onto law school to obtain a JD. Most of these jobs are in need of qualified individuals because of the nature of the work. There is reason to believe that this trend will continue moving forward as the need is still there.
There are other options, though. Criminal Justice and Criminology are seen as social sciences and work well in other industries. Occupations like case workers, direct care advocates, career coaches - mostly one-on-one support positions - are also good avenues to explore as CJ explores human behavior and how one can adapt to assist others.
My undergraduate degree is in Criminology and my current job is as a Project Director in workforce development. My education has served me very well in this industry as I work with individuals that have criminal backgrounds, experience poverty, and have the need for an advocate like me.
I would encourage you to pursue the path of obtaining your degree in CJ if that is where your passion lies. There are many opportunities available and the education can be translated easily to a wide variety of occupations.