What Can You Do With a Criminal Justice Degree?

Since the emergence of modern society, there’s always been a need for criminal justice systems to protect citizens’ rights, deter and address crimes, and provide fair processes for dispute resolution. Considering its essential nature, criminal justice is a field that’s rich with career opportunities.

Of course, earning a degree is a major qualifying step. If you’re curious about the criminal justice field, you should consider what you can do with a criminal justice degree. After getting familiar with the degree program’s core concepts, it becomes much easier to see how they’re applied in specific job roles.

Criminal Justice Core Concepts

A criminal justice program introduces students to the structures, systems and methods used to prevent, investigate and respond to crime. Coursework typically mixes theory, legal foundations, research methods and applied skills, allowing graduates to understand both the social science behind crime and the operational tasks used in criminal justice careers.

Most criminal justice programs feature coursework in areas such as:

Social sciences
Judicial process
Corrections
Cybersecurity
Criminology
Law enforcement
Forensics

Criminal Justice Career Outcomes

When most people consider career paths in criminal justice, they may envision law enforcement careers. However, the criminal justice field is far broader than that, offering opportunities in academia, finance, research, law and more.

Forensics and Crime Laboratory Work

Professionals in this field collect and preserve physical evidence, run laboratory analyses, reconstruct events from data, and prepare reports or expert testimony to support investigations and court cases.

Forensics and crime laboratory work includes roles such as forensic science technician, forensic anthropologist, crime scene investigator and toxicologist.

Law Enforcement and Investigations

Roles in law enforcement and investigations involve enforcing laws, responding to incidents, conducting investigations, interviewing witnesses, and collaborating with prosecutors and community stakeholders to ensure public safety.

Roles in law enforcement and investigations include police officer, state trooper, public safety officer, detective and federal agent.

Loss Prevention and Corporate Security

Roles in loss prevention and corporate security involve preventing theft and fraud, monitoring security systems, investigating incidents, developing risk mitigation programs, and coordinating with local law enforcement to protect people and assets.

Popular roles in loss prevention and corporate security include loss prevention specialist, asset protection manager, corporate security analyst and retail investigator.

Corrections and Reentry Services

Roles in corrections and reentry services involve supervising incarcerated or supervised individuals, developing and overseeing rehabilitation plans, connecting individuals to education and treatment, preparing case reports, and supporting safe reintegration into the community.

Roles in corrections and reentry services include correctional officer, probation or parole officer, correctional counselor, and reentry coordinator.

Cybersecurity and Digital Investigations

Roles in cybersecurity and digital investigations involve investigating network intrusions and online crimes, preserving and analyzing digital evidence, examining logs and systems, and working with legal teams to ensure that evidence meets admissibility standards.

Roles in cybersecurity and digital investigations include cybercrime investigator, digital forensics analyst, security operations center analyst and information security specialists.

Policy, Research and Prevention

Roles in policy, research and prevention involve analyzing crime data, evaluating programs, shaping criminal justice policy, designing prevention initiatives, and translating research into actionable recommendations for agencies and communities.

Roles in policy, research and prevention include crime analyst, policy analyst, academic researcher and community outreach coordinator.

Legal and Victim Services

Roles in legal and victim services involve supporting legal processes, guiding victims through the system, preparing case materials, and helping ensure that rights and services are accessible throughout the justice process.

Roles in legal and victim services include paralegal, courtroom clerk, victim advocate, and investigator for the defense or prosecution.

Private Sector and Allied Fields

Roles in the private sector and allied fields involve applying investigative and regulatory knowledge to protect assets, manage risk, conduct internal inquiries and support business continuity.

Roles in the private sector and allied fields include corporate compliance specialist, risk manager, private investigator and insurance investigator.

Your Criminal Justice Career Starts Here

A criminal justice degree equips graduates with a blend of legal knowledge, research skills and practical experience that can be applied across law enforcement, forensics, policy, corrections and private sector security. Students can sharpen that foundation with internships, relevant certifications and cross‑disciplinary coursework.

Understanding what you can do with a criminal justice degree can help you tailor your educational path for success. North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University’s online Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice is designed for career-oriented learners who want to make a positive impact in their chosen field.

Our criminal justice program also allows you to engage with your peers through collaborative online group work, delivering flexibility to your collective learning experience. You can build skills in many areas of criminal justice, so you can find an impactful career that matches your goals.

Learn more about the program to see how it can support your path in criminal justice.

Sources:

American Academy of Forensic Sciences, What Is Forensic Science?

Bureau of Justice Statistics, Corrections

FBI, Victim Services

IBM, What Is Cybersecurity?

Indeed, 11 Jobs You Can Get With a Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice

Indeed, “How to Become a Crime Analyst (Plus Duties and Skills)”

Indeed, “How to Become a Cybercrime Investigator in 4 Steps”

Indeed, Loss Prevention Job Description: Top Duties and Qualifications

Indeed, What Is Security Loss Prevention?

National Institute of Justice, Law Enforcement Investigations