Criminal Justice Careers
Find out what careers you can achieve with an Criminal Justice degree from MBU, and how you can get there!
Criminal Justice Careers
These are just some of the many careers a criminal justice BA can prepare you for. Select a career to learn about the job, average salary, employment outlook, required education level, and more.
Law Enforcement & Public Safety
Court & Legal Services
- Arbitrator
- Court Reporter
- Hearing Officer
- Judge
- Juvenile Court Counselor
- Lawyer
- Legal Clerk
- Paralegal
Government & Policy
Use the resources below to find more career profiles on these and hundreds of other jobs you could achieve with a Criminal Justice BA.
Career Spotlights
Detective
Investigates crimes through evidence collection, interviewing suspects and witnesses, and data analysis.
Education: Bachelor’s degree preferred
Workplaces: Local, state, and federal government agencies
Median Pay: $77,270/year
Job Outlook: 3% (average growth)
Lawyer
Advises and represents clients or entities in legal proceedings.
Education: Professional degree
Workplaces: Legal firms, local, state and federal government agencies, private practice
Median Pay: $151,160/year
Job Outlook: 5% (faster than average growth)
Forensic Science Technician
Aids criminal investigations by collecting and analyzing evidence.
Education: Bachelor’s degree
Workplaces: Local and state government agencies, private testing laboratories
Median Pay: $72,060/year
Job Outlook: 13% (much faster than average growth)
MBU Alumni Employers
Our criminal justice majors are commonly employed by local, state, and federal government agencies, private security firms, legal firms and support offices, and nonprofit organizations.
Our alumni have gone on to work for organizations including:
- Baltimore County Public Schools
- City of Harrisonburg
- Houston Police Department
- Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority
- Middle River Regional Jail
- National Park Service
- Navy Talent Acquisition Group
- Pasco Corrections
- Peace Corps
- Shenandoah Valley Airport
- U.S. Department of Homeland Security
- U.S. Department of State
- Virginia Career Works – Shenandoah Valley Region
- Virginia Department of Corrections
- Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources
- Virginia Lottery
What’s your path?
MBU offers dozens of complementary minors, majors, clubs and more to enhance your study of criminal justice and put you on the right path to your dream career.
Consider pairing your Criminal Justice major with:
A minor in:
- Anthropology and Sociology
- Homeland Security
- Leadership Studies
- Peacebuilding & Conflict Resolution
- Psychology
- Spanish Language and Hispanic Cultures
A double-major in:
Build one of these Skill Stacks to gain an edge in the job market:
- Communication
- Problem-solving
- Inclusivity
- Collaboration
- Data fluency
- Leadership
Consider these MBU clubs and professional organizations for networking and connection:
- Criminal Justice & Leadership Club
- Psychology Club
- Sociology Club
- Social Work Club
- Help Save the Next Girl
- Student Senate
- Student Standards Board
- National Criminal Justice Association
- National Archive of Criminal Justice Data
- Justice Forward Virginia
- Alpha Phi Sigma Honor Society
Consider pairing your Criminal Justice major with:
A minor in:
- Communication
- Leadership Studies
- Peacebuilding & Conflict Resolution
- Psychology
- Consider cultural or identity-focused minors to prepare for work with specific populations
A double-major in:
Build one of these Skill Stacks and gain an edge in the job market:
- Communication
- Problem-solving
- Inclusivity
- Collaboration
- Leadership
Consider these MBU clubs and professional organizations for networking and connection:
- Criminal Justice & Leadership Club
- Student Senate
- Student Standards Board
- History Club
- Psychology Club
- Sociology Club
- Alpha Phi Sigma Honor Society
- National Criminal Justice Association
- Justice Forward Virginia
Consider pairing your Criminal Justice major with:
A minor in:
A double-major in:
Build one of these Skill Stacks and gain an edge in the job market:
- Communication
- Problem-solving
- Inclusivity
- Collaboration
- Data fluency
- Leadership
- Creativity
Consider these MBU clubs and professional organizations for networking and connection:
- Student Senate
- Student Standards Board
- Criminal Justice & Leadership Club
- Psychology Club
- Sociology Club
- Alpha Phi Sigma Honor Society
- National Criminal Justice Association
- Justice Forward Virginia
Explore Internships
No matter your major, an internship is a chance to explore your interests, build real-world skills, and give you a real competitive edge in the job market. The McCree Center for Career Success can help find the right opportunity for you.
Planning for Graduate School
If you’re considering graduate school in criminal justice or a career that requires a graduate degree, explore your options early. Requirements vary, but most programs require transcripts, recommendations, and a personal statement. Research programs early to understand requirements and plan ahead.
Knowing what programs you would like to apply to lets you learn about each school’s requirements and allows you to plan in advance.
Some programs require entrance exams as part of the application process:
- GRE: Required or recommended by some graduate programs.
- LSAT (Law School Admission Test)
Preparation can take weeks or months, so check requirements early and plan ahead.
See what graduate programs Mary Baldwin has to offer!
McCree Center for Career Success
The McCree Center for Career Success helps students connect their education to their future careers. Services include:
- Career exploration and planning
- Resume and cover letter support
- Interview preparation
- Internship and job searches
- Networking and professional development
- Graduate school preparation
Visit us to learn more!
