Criminology is one of those branches of sociology which focuses on the scientific study of enforcement of law, criminals, and crime.
And the person who studies criminology and qualifies it becomes a criminologist. A criminologist studies the behavior or the psychology of criminals and may develop criminal profiles. Their works also consist of the helping the cops to solve and to prevent the crime.
They work for local police, state or federal government agencies and even do some research for private companies. With the growing rate of crime, the criminology has become an exciting field to work on.
In this article, we will describe what you have to do to become a criminologist, so if you are interested to know, read the article till the end.
Start Early
Whatever you want to be in future, you have to take step towards your goal today. So if you want to be a good criminologist then do not waste your time and start from the very beginning i.e. from the school. An early start will illuminate a clear path for you towards your destination.
High School
There are many courses offered in high school which are best for sprouting the knowledge of criminology for the young criminologists such as sociology, history, statistics, and psychology.
Besides, some schools possess criminology clubs and if you are one of those lucky students who are studying in such schools then take this opportunity and become a member of this club. Also, if you want to broaden your analytical skills you can also join debate club and math club which can be a great blessing.
Bachelor’s Degree
The next step to be a criminologist is to have a Bachelor’s degree in criminology which is also mandatory. To become a criminologist, there are various degrees and offered in which you can major. Some of these are criminology, criminal Justice, psychology, and sociology.
Not just these courses, taking part in other areas such as writing, computer science and statistics will also increase your chances of getting the job.
Internship
You can prefer to do an internship while pursuing your bachelor’s degree or after the completion of your studies. It is really advantageous as it will help you to get a real life experience of the world of criminologist and how to tackle the psychology of criminals.
Given below is the list of departments where you can seek internship:
- Research groups.
- The police department.
- A law office.
- State or Federal government offices.
- Community organizations.
Master’s Degree
It is not mandatory to go for a master’s degree to get a job as a criminologist but having a master’s degree can boost up your chances when you apply for a job. It is because most commonly the criminologists look for a job after completing their bachelor’s degree.
They get admission in master’s degree while in the job. Some people go for the doctorate after the master’s degree because it enables them to achieve an advance position with higher responsibilities and of course greater salary.
Given below are the fields in which you can graduate and it will help you a lot in your career as a criminologist:
- Behavioral Science.
- Psychology.
- Criminal Justice.
- Sociology.
- Criminology.
Get A License
A person must acquire a license after completing his studies so that he could practice as a criminologist. In order to obtain a license, you must have to qualify a written exam. Usually, these exams are very rigorous and hence you have to work really hard and a great preparation is required to pass these exams.
Gain Experience
If you are studying or searching for a job you can gain experience while doing so by joining professional groups which provide you the opportunities to work with them. You can gain experience while continuing your job or education. These organizations are:
- The American Society of Criminology.
- The Western Society of Criminology.
- The Midwestern Criminal Justice Association.
- The International Society for Criminology.
- The Law and Society Association.
Acquiring A Job
Once you have completed your studied and also acquired your license, now it is the time to fulfill your dream, to get a job. A number of careers are there in which you can try and obtain a job. At the start, it is better to go for a position of entry level.
You can search the jobs in the Police departments, the FBI, consultancy agencies, state and local governmental agencies or colleges and universities.
Also it is important for you to know that at the time of hiring as a criminologist, you are required to pass security checks and a clear background. A clean record with flawless ethics would make you a desired and eligible candidate for the job.
But also remember that even a slightly stained image can become a roadblock in the way of becoming a criminologist.
Enhance Your Skills
After getting a job it is your duty to constantly improve and develop your skills. In this regard, you can attend some professional criminology conferences which are also a great way for networking and you can learn new skills and about issues in this field.
You can get information about your job and other matters. You can also publish research in the field of criminology and make sure to keep yourself up to date with the new developments. Regular conferences are held by these organizations which you can also attend:
- The Western Society of Criminology.
- The American Society of Criminology.
- The European Society of Criminology.
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