After earning your bachelor’s degree, you may decide to immediately enter the workforce or to pursue a graduate degree. Alternatively, you could return to school later on to continue your education. But is a master’s degree in criminal justice worth it?
It all depends on your particular career goals. If you intend on becoming a police officer, then a bachelor’s degree — along with police academy training — is all you will need. However, earning a master’s degree may enable you to climb to the higher-level positions within a police precinct, such as the rank of lieutenant, captain or chief.
Similarly, students who aspire to work in corrections will need only a bachelor’s degree to get started. However, a master’s degree may qualify you to pursue supervisory roles, such as that of warden.
You may also become better qualified to pursue careers in federal law enforcement if you earn a master’s degree. For instance, you may qualify for a higher pay grade in federal agencies such as the FBI, DEA or Secret Service.
A master’s degree can also be helpful if you would like to pursue a more technical position. For instance, if you are passionate about cybersecurity investigations, you may need a master’s degree in cybersecurity. First, however, you may need to complete a bridge program to acquire foundational skills in computer science.
Grand Canyon University strives to provide an exceptional academic experience for every student. If you would like more information about GCU’s degree programs, including the Bachelor of Science in Justice Studies program, visit the College of Humanities and Social Sciences or click on the Request More Information button at the top of this page.
Retrieved from:
1Criminal Justice Degree School, What Can You Do With a Criminal Justice Degree? in February 2022.
2Indeed, Administration of Justice in February 2022.