How a Criminal Justice Degree Could Support Long-Term Skill Development

Core Competencies Studied Through a Criminal Justice Degree

Criminal justice programs are designed to help learners work to develop foundational knowledge and adaptable competencies applicable across public safety and related fields:

• Foundational criminal justice knowledge: Apply core concepts of law enforcement, crime and its correlates, due process, courts, corrections, and accountability to real-world decision-making, communication, and problem-solving contexts.
• Legal and ethical reasoning: Evaluate and resolve legal and ethical issues in contemporary criminal justice settings with an emphasis on integrity, fairness, and professional responsibility.
• Critical thinking and problem solving: Analyze complex societal challenges within the criminal justice system and support proposed solutions using research, data, and evidence-based reasoning.
• Professional communication: Convey critical information clearly and accurately through written and oral communication to support coordination among agencies, professionals, and public safety processes.
• Diversity and cultural awareness: Address challenges related to diversity and inclusion when working with communities, organizations, and multidisciplinary teams.
• Technology and data literacy: Assess the use of emerging technologies and data tools to support analysis, operations, and innovation in public safety environments.

Employers in policing and community supervision value strong communication, sound judgment, empathy, and situational awareness, along with the physical readiness and leadership presence needed to serve communities effectively1.

Technical Skills and Applied Specializations in Criminal Justice

Technical and analytical skills are central to contemporary criminal justice practice, particularly as agencies balance investigative rigor, public safety, and organizational accountability. Criminal justice programs emphasize applied competencies that support evidence-based decision-making, security planning, and effective system administration across law enforcement, courts, and corrections.

Key skill areas include:

• Investigation and forensic application: Learners work to develop foundational competencies in criminalistics and criminal investigation, including crime scene processing, evidence documentation, analytical techniques, and the ethical evaluation and admissibility of scientific evidence used in legal proceedings.
• Security, risk assessment, and loss prevention: Coursework in security and loss prevention helps to builds skills in identifying exposures to personal and organizational loss, conducting risk assessments, and applying prevention strategies to improve safety in public and private environments.
• Justice system administration and analysis: Through the study of criminal justice administration, learners examine organizational models, management challenges, and operational decision-making within law enforcement, courts, and corrections agencies.
• Comparative and global justice perspectives: Comparative criminal justice coursework strengthens the ability to analyze how different nations structure policing, courts, and corrections, supporting broader policy awareness and cross-system evaluation.
• Crime trends, substance abuse, and rehabilitation: Learners explore the relationship between crime and substance abuse, offender behavior, and rehabilitation strategies, including the development of individualized treatment and sentencing plans.
• Homeland security and terrorism awareness: Instruction in terrorism and homeland security introduces national and state-level security challenges, threat dynamics, and the coordination required to protect communities and critical infrastructure.

Together, these applied and analytical skill sets help learners prepare to engage with investigative processes, security planning, system administration, and offender management across a range of criminal justice and homeland security contexts.

AIU Criminal Justice Degree Concentrations

A concentration can link your studies with real-world roles and skill depth. At American InterContinental University (AIU), concentrations within the bachelor’s in criminal justice degree program include:

• Forensic Science: Study crime scene processing, evidence collection, chain of custody, and laboratory techniques connected to digital and DNA forensics. Emphasis is placed on documentation, contamination control, and evidentiary standards applicable in court.
  
  Career outcomes may include: evidence technician, forensic technician (entry-level), property room specialist.


• Homeland Security and Crisis Management: Examine counterterrorism, emergency operations, critical infrastructure, and policy coordination between local, state, and federal entities. Coursework emphasizes risk assessment and incident command.
  
  Career outcomes may include: emergency management specialist, security analyst (entry-level), continuity planner.

Learn more about AIU’s concentrations and curriculum on our bachelor's in criminal justice page.

How Online Criminal Justice Degrees Can Help Support Working Professionals

Online formats empower adults to upskill without pausing their lives—flexible schedules can help you maintain professional and family commitments while progressing toward your academic goals. AIU’s student-centered model includes:

• No-fee, streamlined admissions for an accessible start
• AIU Accelerate^® to recognize prior learning, work, and military experience*
• 24/7 tech support, with advising and tutoring available

AIU aligns coursework with real-world competencies for workplace application, including active-duty and veteran learners. The university is institutionally accredited**, underscoring a commitment to quality expected by employers and licensing bodies.

*Transfer credit is evaluated on an individual basis. Not all credits are eligible for transfer.
**AIU is a member of the American InterContinental University System. The System is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org), an institutional accreditor recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Frequently Asked Questions About Criminal Justice Degree Programs

What are some potential career paths with a bachelor’s degree criminal justice?

Some potential career paths for a BS in Criminal Justice may be*:

• Managers – Higher-level supervisory and management roles are available across law enforcement, corrections, courts, security, compliance, and community or government agencies. These positions emphasize leadership, policy implementation, budgeting, and operational decision-making.
• Forensic Science Technicians – Forensic roles often involve advanced evidence processing and analytical responsibilities within crime labs or investigative units. Work may include specialized testing, complex case support, and detailed reporting for legal proceedings.
• Loss Prevention Managers – Leadership of organization-wide loss prevention and security programs can include managing teams and coordinating investigations into theft, fraud, or safety threats. Responsibilities commonly involve risk analysis, prevention strategy, and collaboration with law enforcement.

*AIU cannot guarantee employment or salary. The list of career paths related to this program is based on a subset from the Bureau of Labor Statistics CIP to SOC Crosswalk. Some career paths listed above may require further education or job experience.

Do I need a degree to work in law enforcement?

Requirements vary by agency. Some employers consider education in hiring, pay bands, or eligibility for specialized or supervisory positions.

¹ FBI Jobs. (n.d.). Application and evaluation process. https://fbijobs.gov/special-agents/application-and-evaluation-process (visited January 15, 2026).

AIU cannot guarantee employment, salary, or career advancement. Not all programs are available to residents of all states.
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