Criminal Justice Schools in California

Criminal Justice Schools in California can help students develop careers in a variety of fields related to law enforcement. Whether students intend to work on research for laws, support a court case as a paralegal or investigate criminal activity, a criminal justice degree can be the perfect choice to launch a career in legal and protective fields.

Career Outlook for Criminal Justice Occupations in California

California is a great place for aspiring legal professionals to start their careers. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, California was the second-highest employer of Detectives and Criminal Investigators, with an employment level of 12,140. The state was also the top employer for Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers, with an employment level of 74,314.

In addition to employment levels, California also offers pretty well-earning potential for law enforcement professionals, with Detectives and Criminal Investigators earning an annual mean wage of $111,480 and Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers earning an annual mean wage of $107,440.

Criminal Justice Programs in California

Various kinds of programs are offered in criminal justice schools in California. Students can enroll in an associate’s degree in criminal justice, a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, or a master’s degree in criminal justice, depending on the level of their previous education credentials. There are several criminal justice schools in California that offer programs at the doctorate level as well, though these degrees typically lead to teaching or research occupations.

Criminal justice programs in California are offered in the traditional on-campus and online formats as well. Students graduating with an associate degree in criminal justice would be able to land entry-level jobs in the field of law enforcement, while those with a bachelor’s degree can take up job opportunities in the federal government and different law enforcement agencies. More advanced degrees like master’s or doctoral level programs would help students gain a competitive advantage for specialized roles in forensics, analytics, and criminal psychology.

Admission Requirements for Criminal Justice Programs in California

Admission requirements for criminal justice degrees in California would vary according to the program you intend to enroll in. For instance, to get enrolled in an associate degree in criminal justice program, students would need to have a high school diploma at least, along with an application. Students going for a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice would need to have a high school diploma, a copy of their transcripts, and a completed enrollment application. Applicants to a master’s level degree in criminal justice would need to have a completed bachelor’s degree from an accredited university with a minimum overall undergraduate GPA of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale. In addition to that, students would have to submit their GRE scores, official transcripts, two to three reference letters, and a formal application.

Coursework for Criminal Justice Programs in California

Coursework for criminal justice programs in California would vary according to the level of degree. However, common courses that students can expect to cover in their program would include the likes of juvenile law and justice, law enforcement essentials, forensic psychology, crime intelligence, and criminal justice management.

National Estimates for Bailiffs in California

Employment 1
Hourly mean wageAnnual mean wage 2
Employment per 1,000 jobsLocation quotient 9
34.9672,710

(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.

(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a “year-round, full-time” hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.

(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.

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