A master's degree in criminal justice is an advanced degree that a person pursues after receiving a bachelor's degree. The website GradSchools.com says this about the degree: "Criminal Justice graduate programs typically span the criminal justice system itself as well as law, criminology, public policy and related issues. Graduate programs in criminal justice can also overlap sociology, social work, population studies and political science."
People who pursue a master's degree in criminal justice may follow any number of career paths. Some people become traditional police officers or probation officers. There are also a number of more specialized police-work-type jobs, such as becoming a customs agent or a federal marshal. Some people with this degree decide to work for the government, protecting the President and other officials as Secret Service agents. Still other people may work for the Department of Homeland Security.
A person studying to receive a master's in criminal justice will take a range of classes, possibly including how computers can be used to prosecute criminals, statistical techniques used in criminology and theory related to crime and the law. Students may further learn ways to prevent crime, as well as how crime relates to race, ethnicity and social class. Victimology, dealing with concern for victims of crime, is another area that the master's student will probably learn about. Forensic science is another important area in which a graduate student in criminal justice must be knowledgeable.
Those who are considering pursuing a career in criminal justice should keep in mind that the job is often physically demanding. Many criminal-justice-oriented jobs require the applicant to take and pass a physical exam and a written exam. These types of jobs are rarely 9-to-5 type jobs; many involve varying work shifts and overtime, as well as travel.
A career in criminal justice offers a chance for a person to give back to his community. Police officers and other types of criminal-justice-type workers strive to serve and protect their fellow citizens and make the world a better and safer place. The wide range of career options for someone with a master's in criminal justice make this a degree worth considering.