Northwestern’s career concentration in criminal justice is designed to assist students in entering an area of expanding need. The need is for professionalization and better prepared personnel in law enforcement, probation, parole, community-based treatment, counseling, rehabilitation, corrections (prisons, reformatories, detention centers, correctional centers), and many other areas. This career concentration is also good preparation for graduate school, providing a knowledge and understanding of theory, social organization, methods and techniques. An internship of one semester assists in practical application.
Related job titles include various types of law enforcement officers (sheriff, police, etc.), criminal investigator, state patrol (trooper), criminal analyst, security officer, FBI or IRS agent, community planner, correctional officer, counselor (alcoholism, career, drug abuse, juvenile/adult, handicapped), probation/parole officer, group home/half-way house staff member.
Government officials at all levels are paying more attention to crime and its related social problems. Employment prospects continue to grow, as indicated by the fact that colleges and universities continue to develop new criminal justice programs.
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