Tennessee Criminal Justice Degree Programs

State Agency: Tennessee Department of Correction

Overview

With its mild climate and world-famous southern hospitality, Tennessee makes for a wonderful place to live. A must-see is Nashville, Tennessee’s capital, also known as “Music City.” Nashville is a haven for all types of singers and songwriters – although you’ll hear more country and folk than anything else.

As numerous colleges offer criminal justice degrees in Tennessee, CriminalJusticePrograms.com is here to help you choose the criminal justice program that fits your education and career goals. As online education is on the rise, keep in mind you can attend classes at a college online almost anywhere in the nation. Don’t let the colleges near you limit your potential criminal justice specialty!

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Criminal Justice Education in Tennessee

There are a large number of degrees offered in Tennessee colleges for criminal justice programs. An Associate’s Degree for Criminal Justice is offered in many Tennessee colleges throughout the state. There are Bachelor’s Degree courses offered in criminal justice administration and in legal studies in several cities in Tennessee as well.

Students in Tennessee have a variety of funding options at their fingertips for criminal justice education, including the Tennessee Hope Access Grant, Tennessee Ned McWherter Scholars Program, the Bird Dog Foundation Essay Contest and Tennessee Student Assistance Award Program.

Tennessee has a Transfer Pathway for those with Associate Degrees to move into a bachelor’s program, making it possible for students to save time and money by starting at a community college and finishing at a public university.

With a BS in Criminal Justice, graduates may pursue employment at the local, state or federal level as a criminal investigator, corrections officer, legal assistant, customs agent or court administrator.

The Department of Justice offer internship programs for undergraduates in their senior year and those Criminal Justice students who have specifically been accepted in the CJA programs. This opens the door in over thirty criminal justice agencies, such as the district attorney’s office, public defenders, for probation and parole officers and in various courts. This is a huge advantage for students to be able to experience the day to day operations of the criminal justice system, while also seeing the applications of the theory at work in the profession.

Outlook for Criminal Justice in Tennessee

If you choose to pursue a career in protective services with your criminal justice degree, you can expect a mean annual salary of $54,010 in the state of Tennessee (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2022). Exact figures vary depending on experience. However, detectives and criminal investigators earn nearly $74,500, on par for the region, according to 2022 data collected by BLS.

Numerous counties in Tennessee have job openings for police or probation officers and deputy sheriffs. If you choose to get a criminal justice degree, whether as a paralegal or a corrections officer in Tennessee, the beginning salary may start out at $54,010 annually (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2022). Income will always increase with additional experience.

According to LawEnforcementEDU.net Tennessee’s high crime rate translates into high demand for various police positions. Salaries vary according to the area of the state and the individuals’ experience. The average Tennessee salaries in 2022:

A police and sheriff’s patrol officer – $50,020
Supervisors of Police and Detectives – $67,690
Detectives and criminal Investigators – $74,500

2022 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary and employment figures for Tennessee contained here reflect national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed November 2023.

We hope our information helped with your career decisions. Now, you can find criminal justice schools in Tennessee below to request information from multiple colleges and help you choose the best program for your career path.

If you are concerned about paying for school, you may want to visit this page to learn more about criminal justice scholarships.

Tennessee Criminal Justice Schools

Online programs may not be available in all areas

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