Criminal Justice
What Can I Do In My Major?
Background
A criminal justice degree prepares students to work in the public and private sectors of law enforcement and courts and corrections at all levels of government. It also provides training for careers in community organizations or government positions (elected or appointed). In addition to classes in criminal justice, the program’s strong liberal arts focus emphasizes critical writing, communications and analysis skills. You will be required to complete a writing course that focuses on the writing skills needed in your specific concentration. Students are required to complete an internship to gain practical experience, and the department’s full-time internship coordinator can help you find that perfect host site.
Concentration: International Studies
Related Careers
Border Patrol Agent
Child/Youth Advocate
Child Support Agency Worker
CIA Agent*
Community Service Coordinator
Corrections Officer
Court Administrator
Court Clerk
Court Reporter
Criminologist*
Deportation Officer
Detective*
Drug Enforcement Agent
District Attorney*
Industrial Security Specialist
FBI Agent*
Juvenile Court Counselor
Jailer
Law Clerk
Law Librarian*
Litigation Manager*
Paralegal
Media Criminologist*
Park Ranger
Police Officer/Manager
Public Defender*
Postal Service Investigator
Sanitation Officer
Private Security Officer
Social Worker*
Probation & Parole Officer
Surveillance Office
Substance Abuse Counselor*
US Marshall*
Victim Services Specialist
Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms Agent
Witness Protection Program Worker
*additional experience or advanced degree required
Related Major Skills
Broad understanding of criminal law and the criminal justice system
Computer literacy
Considerations of gender & race
Critical thinking
Decision-making
Ethics and moral values
Interviewing skills
Knowledge of legal structures
Patience
Quantitative skills
Research strategies
Skills in research and scientific methodology
Strong background in humanities, social science, & natural science
Supervision & management skills
Understanding nature of crimes
Understanding societies' reaction to crimes
Written & presentation skills
Internship Opportunities
Alamance County Sheriff's Office
Albemarle Police Department
Alexander County Sheriff's
Amherst County Sheriff's Office
Appalachian State University Police
Ashe County Sheriff's Office
Asheville Police Department
ASU Police Department
Atlanta Police Department
Avery County Sheriff's Office
Bell Helicopters
Blowing Rock Police Department
Boone Police Department
Burke County Sheriff's Office
Butler County District Attorney
Cabarrus Co. District Attorneys Office
Cabarrus County Sheriff's Office
Caldwell Correctional Center
Cary Police Department
Casey & Casey Law Offices
Catawba County Sheriff's Office
Center for Community Transitions
Charleston Police Department
Charlotte Fire Department
Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department
Christopher Dunnagan
City County Bureau of Identification
Clerk of Court
Clerk of Superior Court
Cleveland County Sheriff's Office
Community Corrections
Cornelius Police Department
Craven Co. Sheriff's Office
Criminal Justice Resource Center
Cumberland County Sheriff's Office
Daniel Law Firm
DeKalb County District Attorney
Department of Juvenile Justice
Department of Public Safety
District Attorney's Office
DOJJ Chatham Co.
DPS Division of Community Corrections
DPS: Division of Juvenile Justice
Eden Police Department
Eller & Glidewell Law Firm
Fl Department of Juvenile Justice
Flint Circuit Public Defenders Office
Florida Department of Law Enforcement
Forsyth County Clerk of Superior Court
Forsyth County Sheriff's Office
Forsyth County Youth Services
Franklin Police Department
Gaston County Police
Gaston County Public Defender's Office
Gaston County Sheriff's Office
Gastonia Police Department
Greensboro Police Department
Guardian ad Litem Program
Guilford County Sheriff's Office
Hamilton County Sheriff's Office
Hanging Rock State Park
Harnett County Sheriff's Office
Haywood County Sheriff's Office
Hickory Police Department
High Point Police
Homeland Security/ICE
Huntersville Police Department
International Affairs Council
Iredell County Sheriff's Office
Johnston County Sheriff's Office
Joshua J. Teague
Juvenile Court Services
Kernersville Police Department
Law Office of Norman Butler
Law Office of Robert Speed
Law Office of Shannon Aldous
LIncoln County Sheriff's Office
Maiden Police Department
Marion Police Department
Matthew Poteet
Matthews Police Department
Monroe Police Department
Morehead City Police Department
Mount Holly Police Department
Naylor & Rappl
NC Alcohol Law Enforcement
NC Department of Public Safety
NC Division of Community Corrections
NCDPS Community Corrections
NCDPS Community Supervision
NCDPS Division of Juvenile Justice
NCDPS Juvenile Services
NCIS
NC State Bureau of Investigation
NC State Highway Patrol
North Carolina ALE
North Carolina Division of Community Corrections
North Carolina State Bureau of Investigartion
North Carolina State Highway Patrol
North Wilkesboro Police Department
OASIS
Piedmont Correctional Institute
Pinehurst Police Department
Pitt County District Attorney's Office
Price Benovitz
Public Defender's Office
Pulaski County Sheriff's Office
Raleigh Police Department
Reidsville Police Department
Rockingham County Sheriff's Office
Roxboro Police Department
Samaritan's Purse
Scott Law Offices
Stokes County Sheriff's Office
Surry County Sheriff's Office
Thomasville Police Department
Transylvania Co. Sheriff's Office
Turlington Law Firm
Union counrty Sheriff's Office
United States Marshals Service
US Fish & Wildlife
U.S. Marshals Service
US Postal Inspection Service
U. S. Probation
U. S. Secret Service
Wake County Public Defender's Office
Watauga County Sheriff's Office
Wilkes Co. Sheriff's Office
Wilmington Police Department
Wilson Law Firm
Winston Salem Police Department
Employers of AppState grads
Air Marshall
CCBI
FBI
Investigative Associates and Consultants
Juvenile District Attorney offices
Local/State/Federal government
Naval Criminal Investigative Service
NC Alcohol Law Enforcement
NC State Bureau of Investigation
NC Crime lab
NC State Highway Patrol
RTI International
Samaritan’s Purse
Secret Service
Southern Coalition for Social Justice
State/Regional/National Police Departments
State/Regional/National law offices
State Department Diplomatic Security
Preparing for Your Career
• Develop excellent interpersonal skills to work with diverse populations
• Look for internships and jobs in to gain knowledge and experience
• Participation in internships and summer jobs in a relevant setting
How can I know if a Criminal Justice degree is right for me?
• Complete a self-assessment inventory at the Career Exploration Office in the Student Union to see how your interests, values, and personality match this major and related career fields.
• Schedule an appointment with a career counselor on careers.appstate.edu/Handshake
• Obtain direct experience by doing a job shadow
• Conduct an informational interview with a professional in the field
For more information on careers & job outlook: onetonline.org
Professional Organizations and Associations
National Criminal Justice Association
American Criminal Justice Association