Criminal Law Degree
A criminal law degree or criminal justice degree is one of the most common law degrees sought after by law students. Prospective attorneys who have a criminal law degree have a wide range of job opportunities to choose from, such as law enforcement, police administration, and correctional administration. If you are one of the many young people who are interested in pursuing a career in criminal justice, here are some useful information about criminal law degree.
A criminal law degree or criminal justice degree is primarily a pre-law degree earned by prospective law students before they enter law school. It can either be a bachelor's degree on criminal law studies, or an associate degree earned from a two-year criminal justice program. Prospective law students who did not take criminal law studies or criminal justice programs as their pre-law education will be required to take courses on criminal law theory and practice. (1) Therefore, criminal justice programs and courses are considered as essential subject areas that equip prospective lawyers with fundamental knowledge and concepts of laws, legal procedures, the criminal justice system, court proceedings, and measures carried out by various law enforcement agencies. (2)
A bachelor's degree (Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice) or a criminal law degree is usually earned after a four-year college education in a land-based school or university, or a two-year online associate degree program through distance learning. Although graduates of criminal law studies can already start their careers as law enforcers, probation officers, and investigators, they may also want to pursue a master's degree (Master of Science in Criminal Justice) in order to improve their chances of employment, or open doors for better job opportunities. (3)
Lastly, criminal law graduates may also enroll in a good law school and pursue a Master of Laws Degree (MSL degree). Although this criminal law degree does not allow graduates to practice law, it can be very useful for advancing into careers that are related to criminal justice. Although the MSL degree is recommended for people who work closely with lawyers, such as auditors, corporate managers, certified public accountants (CPAs), and government employees, it can also be beneficial for law enforcers, investigators, and probation officers who want to gain a more in-depth understanding on the many aspects of criminal justice. (4)
Literary Citations & Article References:
(1) http://www.uchastings.edu/?pid=4341
(2) http://pubs.utb.edu/catalog/undergrad2002/Academic%20Programs/criminal_justice.htm