A political science degree can prepare students for a criminal justice career.
Political science and criminal justice are popular social science-based academic majors in many colleges and universities. Political science studies political systems, institutions and processes in the United States and abroad. Criminal justice is a more career-specific major that draws from a variety of social sciences, including political science and sociology, to study criminal behavior and society's responses to it. The two disciplines are related and can prepare students for a variety of career options.
Features
Many colleges and universities offer degree programs in both criminal justice and political science. However, political science majors with an interest in law enforcement and other aspects of criminal justice studies can tailor their studies to fit their career goals. Political science programs offer a variety of concentrations, such as international politics, public policy, and law and justice studies. Students who concentrate in law and justice take classes in constitutional law, and criminal justice issues and procedures. North Carolina State University reports that political science majors who choose a law and justice concentration often pursue careers in law enforcement or criminal justice administration, while others use the concentration to prepare for law school.
Career Options
The American Political Science Association reports that a degree in political science can prepare a graduate for many criminal justice-related careers, some of which may require additional education beyond the bachelor's degree. Career options include attorney, immigration officer and juvenile justice specialist. Many men and women who are interested in criminal justice pursue careers in law enforcement. For such people, a degree in criminal justice or political science can provide excellent preparation for a career as a law enforcement officer in a local, state or federal agency.
Identification
Some political science majors with a deep interest in public policy pursue careers as public policy analysts, researching and comparing possible remedies for various public issues. Graduates who specialize in law, crime and justice may find jobs as policy analysts who specialize in criminal justice policies. Policy research organizations, also known as think tanks, employ analysts who specialize in specific policy areas, including defense, health care, environmental policy and criminal justice. Policy analysts who research criminal justice issues may formulate and analyze policy alternatives relating to such areas as prison overcrowding, drug enforcement, gangs, global organized crime and juvenile justice.
Potential
Experienced criminal justice professionals who pursue additional education can advance to administrative positions in law enforcement, correctional and other criminal justice agencies. A master's degree in political science or public administration, for example, trains public sector professionals for careers as agency managers and administrators. Police officers and corrections professionals may advance to careers in police administration or correctional institution management.
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