WHAT CAN I DO WITH A MAJOR
IN...
CRIMINOLOGY &
CRIMINAL JUSTICE
www.sc.edu/career
crim·i·nol·o·gy
The scientific study of crime as a social
phenomenon, of criminals, and of penal
treatment *
* "criminology." Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary. MerriamWebster, Inc. 24 Jul. 2009. <Dictionary.com
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/criminology>.
Last updated 3/2011 by A. Bervine
crim·i·nal
jus·tice
The system of law enforcement, the bar, the
judiciary, corrections, and probation that is
directly involved in the apprehension,
prosecution, defense, sentencing,
incarceration, and supervision of those
suspected of or charged with criminal
offenses.*
*"criminal justice." The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language,
Fourth Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, 2004. 24 Jul. 2009. <Dictionary.com
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/criminal justice>.
.
Criminology Majors Develop
Skills In
• Critical analysis
• Oral and written
communication
• Research and scientific
methodology
• Interpersonal relations
• Problem solving & conflict
resolution
• Working cooperatively with
others
• Interviewing skills
• The considerations of
gender and race
• Understanding the nature of
crimes and societies’
reaction to crimes
• Identifying and analyzing
social problems and
developing solutions
• Understanding criminal law,
criminal justice systems and
legal structures
• Ethics and moral values
Criminology/Criminal Justice Degrees
Available At The University Of South Carolina
Ph.D.
JD/MA Joint
MA
BS
BS
Criminology/Criminal Justice At The
University Of South Carolina
Undergraduate Options
Bachelor of Arts (BA)
Bachelor of Science (BS)
Criminology and Criminal Justice
Criminology and Criminal Justice
The university also offers a Minor in
Criminal Justice
Criminology/Criminal Justice At The
University Of South Carolina
Graduate Options
J.D./M.A. Joint
Degree Program
J.D./M.A. Joint
Degree Program
Doctor of Philosophy
(Ph.D.)
Criminology and
Criminal Justice
The Department of
Criminology and
Criminology and
Criminal Justice
Criminal Justice, in
cooperation with the
University of South
Carolina School of Law,
offers a combined
degree program which
permits a student to
obtain both the Juris
Doctor and the Master
of Arts in Criminal
Justice.
Employment Settings
Students who graduate with a bachelor’s degree in
criminology largely specialize and work in the following
areas:
• Federal, state or municipal law enforcement and public
safety
• The court system
• Corrections and juvenile justice
• Forensic science and criminalistics
• Private security
• Public service and non-profits
Sample Occupational Titles Associated With
Law Enforcement & Public Safety (Federal)
• Border Patrol Agent
• Capitol Police
• Federal Corrections
Officer
• Federal Parole Officer
• Federal Protection
Officer
• Postal Inspector
• DEA Special Agent
• Military Police
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Deputy US Marshal
IRS Agent
Customs Inspector
Immigration Inspector
FBI Agent
Secret Service Agent
US Park Ranger
ATF Special Agent
Securities Compliance
Examiner
Sample Occupational Titles Associated With Law
Enforcement & Public Safety (State & Municipal)
• Police Officer (foot car, horse, •
motorcycle, air, bicycle, K-9 or •
SWAT patrol)
•
• Detective (homicide, sex
•
crimes, domestic violence, vice
•
squad, narcotics, gang
•
activities, fraud/forgery,
burglary/theft, internal affairs, •
cybercrime)
•
•
Sheriff / Deputy Sheriff
State Trooper
Highway Patrol Officer
Park Police
Conservation / Wildlife Officer
University Police Officer
College Public Safety
Fire Marshall
County & Regional
Commissioner
Sample Occupational Titles Associated
With Corrections & Juvenile Justice
• Corrections Officer
(state or federal)
• Parole / Probation
Officer
• Juvenile Counselor
• Home and School
Officer (Truant Officer)
• Pre-release / Halfway
House Manager
• Correctional Facilities
Specialists
• Corrections Specialist /
Caseworker (drug
treatment specialist,
HIV counselor,
recreation coordinator,
education specialist,
vocational counselor)
• Prison Warden
• Inmate Records
Coordinator
• Ombudsman
Sample Occupational Titles
Associated With The Court System
• Court Reporter (short-hand
reporter)
• Court Clerk
• Court Administrator
• Court Representative
• Bailiff (Court Officer)
• Site Supervisor
• Release-on-OwnRecognizance Interviewer
•
•
•
•
•
•
Court Liaison Counselor
Victim’s Advocate
Domestic Violence Counselor
Paralegal
Legal Researcher / Statistician
Lawyer (criminal prosecutor,
defense attorney, district
attorney)
• Judge
Sample Occupational Titles Associated
With Forensic Science & Criminalistics
•
•
•
•
•
Coroner
Medical Examiner
Pathologist
Crime Scene Investigator
Forensic Anthropologist
(skeletal), Odontologist
(dental), or Entomologist
(insects)
• Criminal Profiler
• Criminalist (biochemical or
chemical analysts, DNA
identification analysts,
fingerprint technicians, firearm
and toolmark identification
specialists, microanalysts,
imprint evidence analysts,
questioned document
evidence specialists, forensic
computer specialists,
toxicology experts, polygraph
specialist)
Sample Occupational Titles
Associated With Private Security
•
• Security Officer
(Commercial, Institutional •
Retail, Industrial,
Transportation)
• Loss Prevention
Specialist
•
• Mail Officer / Detective •
• Campus Security Officer •
• Public Sector Security
•
Officer (ie. a state govt.
agency, a non-profit)
Security Manager
Consultant
Private Investigators
(Legal, Financial,
Corporate, Marital
Infidelity, Background,
Harassment)
Electronic/ Cyber Security
Bounty Hunter
Bodyguard
Security Representative
with an Alarm Systems
Company
Sample Occupational Titles Associated
With Public Service & Non-profits
• College Professor
• Think Tank / Research Institute • Guidance Counselor
Policy Analyst
State Government / Politics
• Fundraiser
• Lobbyist / Politician
• Non-Profit Agency Program
• Campaign Manager
Director
• Labor, Licensing and
• Group Home Director
Regulation Specialist
• After School Program
Coordinator
• Dept. of Natural Resources
Education
Agent
• Student Affairs Specialist
• Social / Case Worker
(Greek Life, Housing, Alcohol
• Disaster / Emergency
or Sexual Health Education)
Response Coordinator
Non-Profits & Social Service
Distribution Of Employed Persons With A
Bachelor’s Degree In Criminology, By
Sector
Private-forprofit, 33%
Government/
Military, 53%
Non-Profit, 4%
Education, 4%
SelfEmployed, 6%
Source: Fogg, N.P, Harrington, P.E. & Harrington, T.F, (2004). College Majors
Handbook (2nd ed). Indianapolis, IN: Jist Publishing.
TOP 10 Occupations That Employ Persons
With Only A Bachelor’s Degree In
Criminology
1. Protective-service occupations
2. Top- and mid-level managers, executives
3. Social Workers
4. Other management-related occupations
5. Other administrative occupations (record clerks)
6. Other service occupations (except health)
7. Sales occupations (including retail)
8. Insurance, securities, real estate, business services
9. Other marketing and sales occupations
10. Personnel, training and labor relations specialists
Source: Fogg, N.P, Harrington, P.E. & Harrington, T.F, (2004). College Majors
Handbook (2nd ed). Indianapolis, IN: Jist Publishing.
Strategies For Developing Skills To
Get The Job You Want
• Pursue an excellent
academic record
• Obtain part-time,
summer, or internship
work experience
• Volunteer with service
and counseling
organizations
• Become fluent in a
foreign language
• Obtain a minor in a
related area (eg.
Sociology, biology,
psychology, women’s
studies)
• Obtain an advanced
degree and/or
certification
• Develop strong writing
and speaking skills
Strategies For Developing Skills To
Get The Job You Want
• Develop strong
• Become active in peer
quantitative and
mediation groups if
statistical skills
available
• Become comfortable
• Secure leadership
working with people from
positions in campus or
different backgrounds
community groups
and cultures
• Acquire survey and
• Take courses focusing on evaluation skills
inequality and families
Books And Web Resources
Books
Web Resources
Careers in Criminal Justice and
Related Fields: From Internship to American Society of Criminology
http://www.asc41.com/
Promotion by J. Scott Harr and
Karen M. Hess
Great Jobs for Criminal Justice
Majors by Stephen Lambert and
Debra Regan
American Academy of Forensic
Sciences http://www.aafs.org/
National Criminal Justice
Federal Jobs in Law Enforcement Reference Service
by Jack Warner and Beverly
http://www.ncjrs.gov/
Sweatman
Resources for more information
Department of Criminology & Criminal Justice
www.cas.sc.edu/crju/
Career Center Library
http://www.sc.edu/career/Library/library.html
Criminal Justice Related Websites
www.sc.edu/career/la/cj.html
CAS Career Development Website
www.sc.edu/career/cascdp/index.html
Career center contact information
University of South Carolina Career Center
6th Floor, H. William Close Building (BA Building)
Columbia, SC 29208
Phone: (803) 777-7280
On-call counseling without an appointment:
M - F, 1:00 am - 4:00 pm
(Summer and holiday hours may differ, please check the
website at www.sc/edu/career)