Make the Most Out of Your Criminal Justice Degree
Your degree in criminal justice can be made more valuable by taking several steps prior to completing your program. To stand out for a potential job, you will want more than “just a degree.” Many employers in law and law enforcement want additional education or skills and relevant work experience. You can make yourself a more competitive job candidate by doing one or all of the following while still a student:
- Complete a credited internship. While you are enrolled in your criminal justice degree program, complete a credited internship in a setting (e.g. a courthouse, halfway house, prison) that interests you. You will gain practical experience that will require you to demonstrate what you have learned, as well as perhaps some valuable professional contacts and references for employment.
- Take classes outside of the criminal justice program. Think about the types of jobs that you want to use your criminal justice degree for. If you’re interested in being a court reporter or paralegal, take courses in English composition or introductory law. If you’re interested in being a juvenile officer or social worker, take a few courses in psychology. If you want to use your criminal justice degree towards being a tax examiner, take courses in accounting or tax law. Classes in computer systems or software will strenghten your criminal justice degree, whatever your focus.
- Join a professional association as a student member. Become a member of the American Criminal Justice Association. You will receive exclusive information about job resources and news in the profession. If you are interested in researching criminal justice and public policy, consider becoming a member of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences. See if your school has any student chapters of relevant criminal justice organizations and become a member or officer. For example, Alpha Phi Sigma is the national honor society for criminal justice majors and has chapters at many universities around the United States.