Why the Criminal Justice Degree is so Popular

There has been a notable increase in the number of college students seeking majors in the area of criminal justice. In universities and colleges that offer law enforcement/criminal justice/police science degrees, many students find the instruction appealing and the subject matter interesting. Some of the interest is artificially enhanced by the entertainment media with shows such as CSI, NCIS and Law and Order. That said, a relatively small portion of those who seek a criminal justice degree actually pursue law enforcement as a career.

In many instances, probation, parole and the counseling of juveniles seems to be the intended purpose for obtaining a degree in law enforcement. For others, they see the degree as a way of "rounding out" their academic experience as they go on to pursue a law degree. It is becoming more common for academic professionals with Jurist Doctorate (J.D.) degrees to compliment their JD with either law enforcement experience or a degree in criminal justice.

It should be understood that in pursuing law enforcement as a career goal there is no requirement for a criminal justice degree to become a police officer. Although an applicant with a degree is more highly received and considered than one without; in many instances it is to the student's advantage to have a degree in a complimentary field, such as psychology, sociology, or anthropology. Students with a degree in a "hard science" such as chemistry, biology, biotechnology or computer science are even more desirable to many hiring agencies. While not depicted in the entertainment media, CSI's and laboratory scientists typically hold baccalaureate and master level degrees in their field.