Criminology Careers

Criminology combines crime with sociology to study criminal behavior, causes of crime and the effectiveness of various types of punishment. People seeking undergraduate careers in criminology will usualy study normal and deviant social behaviors. They develop theories as to why the crimes were committed and explain how, and what, the criminals were thinking when they broke the law. Those in criminology careers work closely with law enforcement professionals in order to create behavior profiles to match criminals with the types of crimes they often commit. They also research and gather crime statistics and analyze the legal process as a whole. An undergraduate degree is the minimum entry level educational requirement, but the best jobs in this field require at least a master's.

There are many types of criminology careers. Criminologists can work in corrections, fraud investigation, forensics, law enforcement, psychology and sociology. They can also work in fields such as counseling, rehabilitation, research, private investigation, teaching and youth programming. The possibilities are endless. Those in criminology careers are employed in a wide variety of industries, such as court systems, banks, insurance companies, retail, government and non-profits.

Those interested in criminology careers must have specific personality traits in order to be successful. Most important, they must be interested in the well-being of people. They must be able to communicate well and be proficient with computer use and research. They also must be analytical and have good problem-solving skills.

Specific education is required for criminology careers. A degree in criminology requires classes in psychology, criminal law, criminal theory, government, corrections, forensics and statistics. Classes in logic, writing and computer science also may be required. Criminology careers in education and research require a Ph.D.

There are many specializations within criminology. Criminology careers may focus on a specific age group, such as elementary school children, high school students, adults or senior citizens. They also may focus on specific crimes, such as rape, murder, vandalism or robbery. Criminology careers may also focus on corrections, investigation, forensics, evidence or crime prevention. Those in the criminology field may focus on government policy or on projects within the community.