Choosing the right degree for you can be incredibly challenging as you feel like you are making a decision that is going to significantly impact the rest of your life. Whilst this is the case, that doesn’t mean that there is no need to put undue pressure on yourself when choosing a degree. Simply take a step back, think about what you’re interested in and look for courses that fit those interests.
One of the more popular degrees is criminology because a lot of people are interested in crime, specifically the reasons behind why crimes are committed. You may have heard the term before but might be unsure as to what criminology actually entails. If this sounds like you, then don’t worry, as this article will go into detail about what criminology is and how it could lead to a job in policing or other professions.
What Is Criminology?
Essentially, criminology combines elements of law with psychology and sociology. This is all applied to examine crime and understand the different patterns in criminal activity, essentially not just understanding what laws are broken but coming to terms with why they’re broken and what effective measures can stop it from happening. You will fully break down all the different elements that go into why people offend, preventing crimes, and the media’s influence over what we actually understand about certain crimes.
Are You Considering Studying a Criminology Degree?
If you are considering studying for a degree in criminology, you should consider where you want to study. The course can be difficult, so you will want to study somewhere that offers high-quality teaching and continued support throughout your studies. A good place to obtain a degree in criminology is Wilfred Laurier University. This online course comes with continued support and is convenient to fit around your work schedule.
What Jobs Can You Get with a Criminology Degree?
Many people who get into criminology are usually interested in pursuing some kind of career in law enforcement. There are a range of different roles out there that you can get with a degree in criminology, some of which are:
- Police Officer
If you pursue a career as a police officer, you will be able to work with local communities to keep the area safe. You will also be responsible for arresting criminals and deterring further crimes from being committed in the future. You will also need to conduct different investigations as well as interview victims and potential suspects, all with the intention of gathering further evidence.
Your degree would come into play here because you will be able to understand the likes of criminal identification, which helps when it comes to identifying potential criminals when you are out on the street. The benefits of working in a job such as this are that you will feel rewarded upon helping your community and generally keeping your local area safe.
- Criminologist
This may seem obvious, but it’s true that many people who go on to study criminology end up becoming criminologists. What do criminologists do? It is essentially their job to analyse and collect a variety of data pertaining to criminals and then share that with the likes of governments and police forces. These provide insight into the kind of crime that is frequently committed and what these organisations can do in the future to reduce crime.
Essentially, everything that you learn while studying your degree is going to help you prepare for this kind of role (as is given away in the job title). It can be a rewarding job if you enjoy your studies because all of those favourite parts of your degree will end up becoming a part of your everyday life.
- Detective
Working as a detective can encapsulate many different areas, including the likes of criminal investigation, organised crime, drugs, cybercriminals, and fraud. You would be totally responsible for managing different investigations and asking police officers to obtain a variety of different evidence that will help with said investigations.
You will use your degree in this course in a similar way to how a police officer would use their degree. Essentially, you are going to have to apply your knowledge surrounding why people commit crimes in the first place and use this to lead you to the right person. You will make a huge impact in overall crime prevention by carrying out a role such as detective and will be rewarded as you contribute towards a deeper understanding of why crime occurs.
- Prison Officer
If you work as a prison officer, you will be solely responsible for the security, supervision, and training (leading to the rehabilitation) of prisoners. In doing this, you will need to form strong relationships with prisoners, which is easier to do with a degree in criminology as you have more sympathy for why they have committed the crime they did. You will also need to maintain authority within this role as well, which can sometimes be a hard balance to strike. A prison officer can be a very demanding and tough role to do, however it is rewarding, both financially and spiritually, especially if you help with rehabilitation.
Conclusion
There are a lot of people who are considering doing a criminology degree due to the fact that it is very interesting and revolves around what many want to know more about. Of course, as is the case with anyone who is considering pursuing higher education, there is pressure in choosing a course, given it can be an incredibly big decision to make.
If you are concerned about the job roles that may be available to you following the completion of your degree in criminology, the above is a good indication of the job roles available to you once finished. There are also other options out there, such as being a lecturer, probation officer, and even more social roles that can have you make a big impact within the community.
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