Become a Criminologist
What do criminologists do?
Criminologists are primarily involved in teaching and research. Criminologists contribute to the study of drug addiction, juvenile justice and delinquency, policing and police administration and policy, corrections, correctional administration and policy, macro-level models of criminal behavior, theoretical criminology, criminal ethnography, victimology, and radical criminology. They also look at psychological, sociological, biological factors related to criminology. Some criminologists are involved in community initiatives, evaluation and policy projects with federal, state and local criminal justice agencies.
Where do criminologists work?
Criminologists may work in universities teaching criminology, legal studies, law and sociology while conducting their own research. Federal and state justice agencies employ criminologists as research officers and policy advisers. Others are in private practice providing consulting services for such issues as law reform, juvenile justice, crime statistics and adult corrections.
What kind of criminology training will I need?
At minimum you'll need to complete a two-year master's degree program in criminology. Most criminologists working in universities have a PhD. Programs generally cover crime and deviant behavior, as found in sociology, psychology, design and systems analysis, and apply it to crime and criminal justice.
What is the salary range for criminologists?<
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, criminologists teaching at universities earned between $32,270 and $66,460. By rank, the average for professors was $76,200; associate professors, $55,300; assistant professors, $45,600; instructors, $34,700; and lecturers, $38,100. Faculty in four-year institutions earn higher salaries, on average, than do those in two-year schools.
How do I get started?
First, find schools with programs that interest you. Then, request info from the departments to get started on your new career.