The major in this particular field also offers a summer study abroad program that offers credit for the opportunity to study other countries' criminal justice systems. In addition, most of the colleges and universities offer bachelor's degrees in criminal justice. While, many colleges also offer graduate degree programs. A bachelor's degree in criminal justice is received generally in four years. While, two-year programs in criminal justice is offered by majority community colleges, which can be transferred to a four-year college or university. Furthermore, graduate programs take from two to five years after bachelor's degree (Hobsons College View). Most people with graduate degrees become high-level administrators or professors.

Also, criminal justice programs provide extra training for students who are already occupied in correctional administration, security management, law enforcement administration, and forensic science. The college training also includes the study of roles and activities of people in connection with maintaining law and order, providing services, and protecting life and property.

With a degree in criminal justice, one can not only work as a court administrator, security officer, social worker, or parole officer etc. But also can work at prisons and other forms of correctional facilities. With additional training and experience given to these students, they can work in a management position at police departments and other associated agencies. Additionally, there are many who get degrees in criminal justice before they study to become police officers (United States Bureau of Labor Statistics).

The criminal justice program train students also about the scope and basis of crime and delinquency; the complete and detailed structure of the American criminal justice system; the operational side of criminal courts; and the procedure and theories of law enforcement (American Society of Criminology).

The colleges offering criminal justice programs teach their students a perspective on delinquency, criminal justice system and crime, mostly by a combination of theoretical courses and practical experience with the purpose to prepare students for entry-level positions in any one of the five major areas of employment mentioned below, or for additional graduate...

These theoretical courses also include personality development and the causes of juvenile delinquency. In order to understand some of the causes of crime they also look at the social problems like as discrimination, unemployment, poverty and age (American Society of Criminology).
A major emphasis in criminal justice programs is effective communication skills since Criminal justice students there is vast public contact in the this profession and therefore, students have to be expert in verbal communication. However, emphasis is also given on writing skills, since written reports comprise of an essential part of criminal justice careers (United States Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Specializations:

Specialization, offered by colleges can be done in the following areas of the criminal justice program:

Probation/parole,

Private security,

Institutional corrections and Law enforcement.

Sample Job Titles:

Below list gives an outline sample job tiles in the criminal justice career offered in the bachelor degree or majors:

Bachelor's Degree / Entry Level victim services private security corrections counselor probation/parole officer police officer (federal, state, county, local) fish and game warden (Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences)

Further Education or Experience Often Required:

defense attorney criminal investigator

FBI, CIA, NSA, IRS, Secret Service district attorney police captain/commissioner court administrator (Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences)

Works Cited

Area of Study: Criminal Justice. Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences. September 2004. www.acjs.org

Criminal Justice Studies. United States Bureau of Labor Statistics.

A www.bls.gov

Criminal Justice Studies. Hobsons College View.

A www.collegeview.com

Criminal Justice. Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences (ACJS).

A www.acjs.org

Criminal Justice. American Society of Criminology.

A www.asc41.com

Criminal Justice. Copnet for Criminal Justice Careers.

A www.copnet.org

Criminal Justice