Criminology, as the term indicates, is concentrated on lawlessness. Just a tiny amount of criminology is forensic science. Yet, most of you are still not sure about what jobs can criminology lead to. It is among the most challenging domains to operate in, as crime increases in so many nations. Criminology is the scientific study of criminality as a sociological spectacle and the theory formulation to explain such.
What Is Criminology?
Anyone engaged in law enforcement or the scholarly research of criminal behavior will find criminology to be an exciting degree. A criminology degree will further equip you with the knowledge and insight necessary to deal with offenders, understand them, and assist in their prosecution. It also allows you to understand better the underlying socioeconomic issues that impact offenders and influence their actions.
Although numerous vital differences exist, a criminology degree is closely related to a criminal justice degree. For one thing, criminology is more interested in the academic side of criminal behavior than the practical side. Criminology studies crime in society, intending to determine the best ways to confront and eliminate criminal activity. Moreover, the study of criminal justice focuses on how the criminal justice system currently operates and how to correctly navigate it for future law enforcement personnel and court officials.
Criminal justice research frequently examines problems about what should be done after a crime. For instance, experts in this field frequently dispute what forms of criminal sanctions are most suitable.
Criminologists debate how crime victims and their families should be handled, how victimized people’s suffering may be appropriately accounted for and redressed by criminal laws, and how to strike the right balance between justice and mercy.
What Are The Courses Available under Criminology?
For six months, the agencies offer certificate training.
There are just a few universities in India that provide a one-year certificate programme and a U.G. degree programme leading to a B.A. or B.Sc in forensic science or criminology as one of the disciplines.
Why Pursue A Criminology Degree?
Before looking into what jobs criminology can lead to, you have to understand why you need to get a degree on this specialization. There are various reasons why you would want to pursue a criminology degree. Additionally, criminal justice and criminal studies careers are mainly safe, with most incomes being competitive and many professions including government benefits. There is also a diverse range of job opportunities available, allowing you to work in various exciting settings.
However, job satisfaction is the key reason many criminology professionals opt to acquire this degree. A criminology degree helps you help your community by identifying, apprehending, and rehabilitating criminals. Even though working in law enforcement can be risky and time-consuming, many experts consider it a fulfilling career. Therefore, a career in criminology may be a good option for you if you’re seeking a problematic method to serve your community and improve society.
Career Options for Criminology Degree
Officer in Charge of Loss Prevention
Average hourly wage: $14.36
Loss prevention specialists are experts in detecting theft and catching criminals. Major retailers usually engage them to monitor their facilities to dissuade and apprehend shoplifters. Loss prevention agents with a criminology degree would be eligible to work at elevated, high-paying establishments. So, they’d use their knowledge of criminology to aid in implementing anti-theft measures.
Private Investigator Services
Average hourly wage: $20.61
Individuals engage private investigators to look into a particular crime. They work independently of the police and must solve cases using their means. A criminology degree would make private investigators appear more experienced and trustworthy to potential clients. The degree also gives a private investigator excellent insight into the criminal psyche, which can help them conduct investigations more efficiently.
Consultant to the Jury
Average annual salary: $44,000
Jury advisors help with the selection and appointment of jurors in court trials. They interview possible jurors, look into their history, and decide whether or not they will be objective when making a decision. Jury consultants with a criminology degree are well-prepared to select jurors in specific cases. In addition, they can forecast how jurors will react to specific trials based on their knowledge of criminal sociobiology.
Officer of the Law
Average annual salary: $33,636
Correctional officials spend their days implementing the prison’s laws and regulations. They deal with the prisoners regularly, overseeing their activities, settling any conflicts, and maintaining peace among all residents. A criminology major could also apply their criminal psychology knowledge to understand the prisoners better and affect their rehabilitation.
Officer of Probation
Average annual salary: $46,597
Probation officers assist criminals who have been released from jail and attempt to reintegrate into society. They suggest rehabilitation strategies, meet with probationers regularly to check on their progress, and notify the courts if someone violates their parole. A probation officer with a criminology degree would be able to interact effectively with the probationers and would be able to establish appropriate treatment plans using their knowledge of criminal psychology.
Detective Sergeant
Average annual salary: $51,264
Police detectives are in charge of solving crimes, apprehending criminals, and maintaining community peace. Therefore, they need to know how criminals think, why they do what they do, and how to stop them from executing their duties properly. Criminology majors excel at this position because they can use their extensive knowledge of criminals to solve cases quickly.
You do not require a college diploma to work as a police detective in some circumstances. A degree in criminology or criminal justice, on the other hand, will set you apart from the competition and qualify you for rapid development.
Social Worker (Clinical)
The average annual wage is $62,328.
Clinical social workers work with clients struggling with substance misuse, domestic violence, unemployment, and other significant issues. In addition, clinical social workers frequently engage with police, parole officials, and other law enforcement authorities in the course of their work, even though many of their clients are not criminals. Criminology is a subset of sociology. It is also a suitable fit for social service professionals. It suits those who want to learn more about better serving their communities.
Forensic Scientist
The average annual income for a forensic scientist is $66,800.
Forensic scientists examine crime scenes and physical evidence to aid detectives in arresting criminals. In addition, forensic scientists with a criminology degree can use their understanding of criminal thought and motivation to evaluate the evidence appropriately.
If this is a career path that interests you, most criminology students will be able to take forensic science classes while still in college.
Professor of Criminology
Average annual salary: $67,493
Criminology professors spend their days instructing students in criminal psychology, sociology, and law. In addition, criminology majors who enjoyed their studies may find it fulfilling to pass on their knowledge to future criminologists.
Lawyer
Average annual salary: $70,833
To practise law in the United States, all lawyers must complete law school and pass the bar exam. However, if a lawyer wants to focus on criminal cases, they may want to earn a Master’s Degree in Criminology. A master’s degree in criminology would aid a lawyer in interviewing witnesses, presenting evidence in court, and negotiating with offenders. In addition, lawyers benefit from understanding the sociological aspects of crime in their pursuit of justice.
Criminal Lawyer
While passing the board examination and completing from law degree are usually required to practise law, criminal defence attorneys often have a criminology education.
A criminology degree will give you a foundational understanding of criminal law, the social and psychological motivations for crimes, and the skills to properly interview and analyze witnesses. A criminal lawyer must also conduct investigations and interview witnesses to prepare for court cases. They’ll also look into any procedural laws that pertain to the offences they’re investigating.
Psychologist Specializing in Forensics
Annual average salary: $86,191
Forensic psychologists conduct interviews with suspected and convicted offenders to learn about their motivations for committing crimes and the reasons for their actions. They employ their in-depth understanding of human psychology to evaluate whether a suspect has a mental illness and is mentally fit to stand trial. A forensic psychologist with a criminology degree further would be better equipped to deal with suspects and criminals.
An aspiring forensic psychologist would need a psychology degree in addition to a criminology degree.
Profiler for Criminals
Compensation for profilers changes relying on the firm and establishment.
Criminal profilers use their in-depth knowledge of criminal psychology to forecast serial killers’ movements. In addition, the research and evaluate individual crimes to track down and catch guilty people. Therefore, a criminology degree would be highly beneficial to criminal profilers because it focuses on understanding the motivations and behaviours of offenders in modern society.
Additional Prospects on What Jobs Can Criminology Lead to?
Even after going through the above mentioned options, you have a question on what jobs can criminology lead to, you can try out these options:
The Drug Enforcement Administration is in charge of drug enforcement (DEA)
Also you can work as a Natural Resources and Immigration (INS)
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) is a federal agency that regulates alcohol, tobacco, firearms, and explosives (ATF)
Central Intelligence Agency of the Department of Homeland Security (CIA)
Depending on the agency, these government sectors are in charge of different aspects of crime. For instance, as an FBI representative, you are accountable for unlawful studies in areas such as cash and terrorism. On the other hand, the DEA controls drug-related crime, whereas the ATF controls arson, firearm control, illicit deals and transfers of liquor and tobacco goods, among other items.
Relying on your particular area of interest, a criminology grade may prepare you for a career in any of these agencies. Now you might be clear about what jobs criminology can lead to.
What Qualifications Do You Need to Work as A Criminologist?
- Analytical Skills: To create well-structured solutions, you should correctly foresee or solve intricate crime circumstances.
- Data Collection: One should collect informational and understandable data on the crime scene. In addition, you should collect data in an orderly and clean manner.
- Crime Techniques: When analyzing data acquired from diverse crime scenes, you should use various techniques.
- Criminal Behavior: It is critical to comprehend and understand criminal behaviour. You may quickly grasp the motivations for crimes if you thoroughly understand criminal conduct.
- Knowledge of Computers: Nowadays, understanding computers and the internet is required. Individuals also use the internet to obtain information and gather data in most cases.
- Research Skills: Before you investigate any issue, you must first understand research procedures. Every branch of study necessitates extensive research.
Pay and Career Prospects in Criminology
Because criminology graduates have a wide range of job opportunities, the path they pick will impact their earning potential.
In May 2019, the median annual wage for police and detectives in the United States was $65,170, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. According to the bureau, employment in those occupations will further climb 5% by 2029.
Conclusion
With a question in mind about what jobs can criminology lead to, you can explore these and other professions. In addition, graduates with a criminology major can make a significant difference in their area and the broader group.
A criminology degree can also open the door to various careers in the criminal justice field. Some criminology students will pursue graduate studies or pursue Masters programs. An MA in criminology can help you build your academic expertise. Some graduate degrees will also help you get additional work experience in a specific area, such as alcohol and drug studies. The most common positions of criminology graduates are legal associate professional, welfare and housing associate professional, and police officer.
A criminology degree will allow you to work in the public sector. The federal government hires people who specialize in a criminology degree. Also, you might try to understand on what jobs can criminology lead to? A criminology degree will further allow you to take advantage of government job opportunities in the public sector. With this kind of education, you can pursue a variety of careers. For example, you may work in the criminal justice system.
Besides teaching, criminology professors can work in the public sector. Depending on the school, they can teach courses on police administration, juvenile justice, corrections, and drug criminology. In addition, they can be involved in various law enforcement agencies. So, if you are interested in a career in the public sector, you can become a police officer or a game warden.
Goals for Nursing Students
