| It wasnt long ago that choosing criminal justice as | | | | aspects of managing the many data and |
| a major likely meant you were headed for a | | | | information related threats to corporations has |
| career in law, law enforcement, corrections, or | | | | created a shortage of individuals capable of |
| social services. Today, however, more criminal | | | | handling these often challenging positions. This, in |
| justice degree program graduates are finding | | | | turn, has forced corporate America to rely less |
| employment opportunities in a wide range of | | | | on work experience and more on education, |
| fields, including homeland, private and corporate | | | | making criminal justice program graduates a |
| security. | | | | popular choice. |
| The shift is due in large part to supply and | | | | The criminal justice field can be extremely |
| demand, though recent events have certainly | | | | lucrative for graduates, and with all the new |
| played no small part as well. The field of homeland | | | | opportunities abounding, its little wonder why |
| security has grown exponentially in the wake of | | | | enrollment numbers are up nationwide. But financial |
| the 9/11 tragedy, yet few of the many agencies | | | | compensation and job growth are only part of |
| who fall under the umbrella of the newly created | | | | the picture, with job satisfaction ratings for |
| Department of Homeland Security are able to fill | | | | criminal justice related positions at an all time high, |
| their open positions. Criminal justice majors who | | | | most notably among women. Though criminal |
| once thought of working for municipal and state | | | | justice has long been thought of as a traditionally |
| police departments now have the option of | | | | male dominated field, more and more women are |
| working for the Federal government, instead - an | | | | choosing criminal justice programs as their |
| option that more and more criminal justice degree | | | | academic path to secure and rewarding |
| holders are deciding on. | | | | employment, according to the U.S. Department of |
| In the corporate sector, former law enforcement | | | | Justice National Criminal Justice Reference Service. |
| officers are often thought of as the gold standard | | | | Whether in corrections, parole, social services, law |
| for security directors and disaster management | | | | enforcement, security or law, one thing is certain; |
| specialists. Declining numbers of retirees who wish | | | | the criminal justice field is evolving and the |
| to start new careers and the increasingly technical | | | | opportunities presented are almost limitless. |