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Undergraduate Careers
What can you do with a degree in criminal justice? Careers include professional positions in law enforcement at the federal, state, and local level of government; in corrections, including institutions for juveniles and adults as well as in probation for juveniles and adults and parole; in the courts; and in community treatment settings. Criminal justice is an excellent pre-law program for persons planning a career in public law (prosecution, defense, government legal representation).
Related careers include:
- research personnel in law enforcement agencies and correctional institutions
- auxiliary personnel in specialized fields of communication and laboratory research
- private investigative agencies
- counselors
- rehabilitation counselors
- staff personnel in private youth agencies such as Big Brother/Big Sister programs, halfway houses, and residential treatment centers
A bachelor's degree is required for most state and federal positions and is becoming increasingly important for municipal and county positions. While you may be hired without a degree in some municipal and county agencies, your career advancement may be limited. Civil service entrance examinations or other specific examinations may be required on the local, state, and federal levels, and most law enforcement agencies have a minimum age requirement of 18.
Field Experience
One of the ways the department helps prepare you for your future career is through internships. Internships provide an opportunity for part- or full-time work with an employer in the field you want to work in, giving you experience that will look great on your resume. Spring and Fall semester internships are 15 weeks in duration and Summer semester internships are 12 weeks. Read more about our internship program.Make the First Move
Start your search here at UAB. To talk about professional opportunities in criminal justice, make an appointment with Kent Kerley, the Chair of the J. Frank Barefield, Jr. Department of Criminal Justice.
UAB Career Center has job and internship listings, job fairs, resume builders, and many more resources for UAB students.
There are plenty of other websites that can help you with your career search. Start with one of these:
- Criminal justice USA
- US Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook
- So You Want to Be a Forensic Scientist: Choosing a Career (American Academy of Forensic Sciences)
Careers in Criminal Justice
Below you'll find some of the many careers you can pursue with a degree in criminal justice.
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Law Enforcement
Positions in city, town, county, state, and federal police departments and agencies:
- Patrol
- Investigation
- Probation
- Parole
- Court Security
- Surveillance
- Loss Prevention
- Forensics
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Judiciary and Law
- Court Reporting/Transcription Services
- Court Clerkship
- Security
- Legal Assistance
- Legal Research
- Administration
- Legal Representation
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Business
- Private Security
- Consulting
- Investigation
- Systems Integration
- Global Intelligence
- Internet Security
- Surveillance
- Loss Prevention/Property Loss Management
- Program Development
- Staffing and Training
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Social Services
- Corrections
- Probation
- Parole
- Juvenile Justice
- Outreach/Mentoring
- Victim’s Assistance
- Counseling
- Prevention Services
- Advocacy
- Administration
- Reporting
- Grant Writing
- Consulting
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Education
- Teaching
- Research
- Supervision and Consultation
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Graduate Careers
A master's degree in any of the programs offered by the department can lead to rewarding careers in many fields, including:
- public and private-sector agencies in the criminal justice system at the federal, state, and local levels of government (MSCJ)
- computer forensics and security management, including cybersecurity, information security, and IT auditing (MS in Cyber Security)
- forensic science and conventional analytical laboratories (MSFS)
- administration of criminal justice or juvenile justice systems (MSCJ/MPA)
- cybercrime investigation or computer forensics examination (certificate program)
Each of our programs is also a good place to build a strong foundation for doctoral and professional studies.
What Are Our Graduates Doing Now?
Alumni of our programs have gone on to earn advanced degrees at some of the highest ranked doctoral training programs in the US, to have very successful careers in government, and to stellar careers in business and industry. You can find graduates of our programs at the following companies and agencies:- Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences
- Birmingham Police Department
- Federal Bureau of Investigation
- Guidance Software
- MITRE
- Pay Pal
- PhishMe, Inc.
- Vulcan Materials
- Walmart Corporation
Career Resources
There are many resources available to help you start or advance your career.
The University's Career Center is a great place to get started. The Center provides information on employment opportunities; assists with job skill development — including interviewing and resume writing; sponsors jobs fairs; and much more! Be sure to check out the information and advice tailored specifically for you.
You can research your job prospects through the Department of Labor's Occupational Outlook Handbook, which describes working conditions, training and education needed, and expected earnings and job prospects in a particular field. You can also visit USA Jobs for a listing of positions available with the federal government.