Bachelor of Criminal Justice Schools in Louisiana
The types of crimes that afflict the community change from year to year, and even from season to season. One thing remains true: the residents of Louisiana depend on criminal justice professionals to mete out justice and ensure that they are kept as safe as possible. If you have always wanted to don a badge and protect the community or maintain order in a courtroom, this may be the perfect time to explore careers in this industry.
Learn more about bachelor’s degree programs in Louisiana now by requesting program information from the schools listed below.
Research is a major part of the criminal justice field, and earning your degree may help you stay up-to-date on the research that affects policy and law. Several local criminal justice professionals aim to completely revamp the criminal justice system of Louisiana with different types of reform. With these measures, lawmakers hope to reduce the prison population and prevents more crime, rather than simply punishing after crime has occurred.
There are many other benefits to studying in this field. Earning your degree may give you the experience and training that local law enforcement agencies are looking for in their employees. Local schools and employers may offer seminars on growing types of crime in the state, like cyber crime.
With a degree, you can learn to work around problems that commonly face criminal justice professionals in Louisiana. For example, Louisiana is one of the states that does not require witnesses of a crime to report it, which can make solving crimes difficult. You may use your expertise to influence policy making in this and other areas.
Getting Your Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice in Louisiana
While earning a bachelor’s degree, you can plan on completing a diverse and multifaceted curriculum that prepares you for several different career paths. Some of the core courses that may be required of all students include The Criminal Justice System in America, Criminology, Criminology Theory, and Research Methodology. These courses give you the background you need to take more advanced courses like Victimology, Criminology, and Police in Modern Society. All in all, you need to earn 120 credits to complete this degree. This takes the average student eight semesters of full-time study. For many students, the last semester of school is dedicated to an internship at a local law enforcement or criminal justice agency.
As you evaluate different schools in your area, you may want to spend some time looking at criminal justice scholarship opportunities. Quite a few schools offer funding options for students with financial need or with strong academic performance. Options may include the Glen Denning DeVanie Memorial Scholarship, the Bradley Alan Daughtry Memorial Scholarship, and the Jerry Posey Memorial Scholarship in Criminal Justice.
Though statistics vary between career fields, in general, the job outlook is promising in Louisiana. O*Net predicts a 10% increase in policing jobs through 2022. This career choice boasts an average salary of $38,000 per year (O*Net, 2013). In this timeframe, job openings for correctional officers may increase by 11% (O*Net, 2012). The average salary for a Louisiana jailer is $32,300 per year (O*Net, 2013). Job openings for criminal investigators may jump by 10%; professionals in this field report an average salary of $46,300 per year (O*Net, 2013).
If you are ready to explore career options in criminal justice, begin by investing in your education. Take a look at our school listings below and contact criminal justice programs in Louisiana for more details.
