Benefits of a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice

Enrolling in Criminal Justice Courses and pursuing a Master’s in Criminal Justice offers several benefits. Criminal justice careers are some of the fastest growing in the country, with federal positions alone more than doubling between 1982 and 2003 according to the National Criminal Justice Reference Service. While there are a variety of entry-level positions available for those with bachelor’s degree and for individuals without any post-high school education, a master’s degree can help you acquire better pay, a more specialized position, and can open up further career sectors.

Better Pay
Individuals with advanced degrees tend to earn more than those with only bachelor’s degrees and high school diplomas. According to the 2000 US Census, individuals with advanced degrees earned over $12,000 more a year than those with bachelor’s degrees and twice as much as those who were only high school graduates. In the criminal justice field, as within most other fields, higher paying positions are often made available to those with higher levels of education.

Specialized Positions
Many Master of Criminal Justice classes and programs allow students to specialize in specific areas like homeland security, courts or corrections. This specialized knowledge—alongside the increased competency in research methods that comes through graduate level work in the field—can prepare you for positions that require a more narrow, intense focus on one aspect of the criminal justice system. A Master in Criminal Justice can also serve as preparation for application to law school or to a doctoral program.

Jobs in Education
As criminal justice jobs grow, so also does the need for qualified criminal justice course instructors. With a master’s degree, you can teach as an adjunct in many four-year universities and are also qualified for professorial positions at many community colleges. If you attain a doctorate in criminal justice after completing your master’s, you will also be eligible for professorial positions at four-year universities.