Some criminal justice careers, such as law enforcement, often require criminal justice coursework before entering a law enforcement academy, while others, such as most entry-level criminal justice careers that are not directly related to policing, require a bachelor degree in criminal justice. Many future attorneys also choose to complete undergraduate criminal justice programs prior to entering law school.
Some common career choices in the criminal justice field include probation officer, correctional treatment specialist, police patrol officer and sheriff’s patrol officer. Data reported in the Occupational Outlook Handbook 2008-2009 Edition shows that, in 2006, there were 94,000 correctional treatment specialists and probation officers, making an average annual wage of $42,500, as well as 648,000 police and sheriff’s patrol officers, making an average annual income of $52,810. Employment opportunities in these four criminal justice careers are expected to expand by 11% by the year 2016, which would result in 80,000 additional criminal justice jobs across the country. Criminal justice careers in Michigan are set to experience a parallel rate of growth.
If you are ready to take the next step towards a career in criminal justice, browse through the comprehensive list of schools offering Michigan criminal justice programs, listed below.