Careers in Criminology & Justice Studies

 Career Tips & Information

• To enhance scholarship, internship, graduate school, or law school opportunities, maintain a high GPA, get to know your professors, join student or professional organizations in your field of interest, and pursue out-of-classroom experiences.
• Get involved in the Criminology & Justice Studies student club (Lambda Alpha Epsilon) or the honor society (Alpha Phi Sigma).
• Consult reputable web sites such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook to learn about the availability of job opportunities in your field of interest.
• To be competitive (and to confirm your interests), obtain ‘real world’ experience through volunteer, practicum, or internship opportunities. 
• Talk with and job shadow professionals in your area of interest.
• Contact the department academic advising office to set up an appointment with Rebecca Cash (rcash5@kent.edu) to discuss your career goals.
• Do not wait until you are close to graduation to start the job search process.
• Tailor your coursework to maximize your skill set in the marketplace.
  • Many criminal justice professions require candidates to possess strong oral and written communication skills, good listening skills, and the ability to work with a wide range of diverse populations. Fluency in a second language is also desirable. Supplement program of study with courses in business, psychology, anthropology, or sociology. Course work related to the hard sciences (biology, chemistry, or biochemistry) is necessary for career opportunities in forensics. Internet security is a rapidly growing area with a wide variety of career opportunities. Supplement course work with computer science and technology courses to gain entry into this field.
• Some careers require advanced academic credentials. Depending on your goals, earn a master's degree in criminology or criminal justice, forensic science, social work, counseling, or business to obtain positions involving counseling/therapy, management/higher levels of administration, forensics, or research. Earn a doctoral (PhD) degree for university teaching positions.
• If you are interested in a career in law enforcement, be prepared to complete physical and psychological testing, fitness evaluations, and other evaluative tools for entry into law enforcement and related careers.
• Note that much of the criminal justice/juvenile justice field is decentralized, with most jobs on the local (city or county) level. State and Federal jobs are at a premium.
  • You may wish to try the state of Ohio’s site, Ohio Means Jobs.
  • Consult the State of Ohio Hiring Management system (http://agency.governmentjobs.com/ohio/default.cfm ), where you can sign up for their notification service. Consult the county (and city) employment agencies for county level positions.
  • Search the employment website for the Federal Government, www.usajobs.gov .  Also see the U.S. Dept. of Justice Careers website (www.justice.gov/careers) to review their employment information.
• If you are an alumnus/a, and having trouble finding a job, it is not too late to do an internship. You can come back to KSU as a Post-undergraduate and do an internship to get some field experience. (See the KSU Admissions office page on how to re-enroll as a post-undergrad.) We also offer an online MA Program in Criminal Justice and Criminology
• Visit the following links for more information:
  • KSU Career Exploration and Development (http://www.kent.edu/career)
  • The American Society of Criminology http://www.asc41.com/
  • The Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences http://www.acjs.org/
  • Justice Studies Association http://justicestudies.org/