A criminal justice education exposes students to a variety of crime technology topics. Students with a degree in criminal justice or a certificate in a specific criminal justice field can choose from a variety of careers including law enforcement and border patrol, court bailiff, corrections officer, detective or private investigator, criminologist and crime scene investigation. Schools in Texas offering criminal justice programs include Amarillo College, Howard College, Central Texas College, College of the Mainland, Cedar Valley College and Dallas Baptist University.
Forensic science is a fast-growing field that uses a variety of scientific information to analyze crime scenes and evidence. The field utilizes digital information, anthropology, biology, meteorology, pathology and more. Our Lady of the Lake College in San Antonio, Texas offers a minor in forensic science for criminal justice students. The program introduces students to a variety of forensic investigation and analysis techniques that prepares them for entry-level careers. Other colleges in Texas offering degrees in forensic science include Eastfield College in Mesquite, Howard Payne University in Brownwood and Amarillo College in the city of Amarillo.
Digital or computer forensics programs prepare students to investigate crimes like identity theft, cyber crimes and computer espionage. Students will have the ability to recover lost data, track information, protect vital information, understand computer security and help businesses adhere to government regulations. Those with degrees in digital forensics can choose from jobs like forensics analyst, data restoration specialist, counterintelligence studies and policy analyst, and technology risk management professional. Odessa College in Odessa and Howard College in Big Spring both offer digital forensics programs.
Those with a desire to work in law enforcement can pursue a degree in crime technology, criminal justice or a variety of related fields. Law enforcement professionals can work on the local, state and national levels. Several colleges in Texas offer police academy training and after a student is a member of the police force, he can eventually pursue careers with public park and wildlife organizations, regulating agencies, customs and border patrol, the U.S. Post Office or the Federal Bureau of Investigation. In addition to basic law enforcement programs, Texas colleges offer programs in anti-terrorism and homeland security, correctional science and fire and arson investigation. Del Mar College in Corpus Christi and the Lamar Institute of Technology in Beaumont both offer law enforcement training programs.