Illinois Criminal Justice Schools

Students enrolled in criminal justice schools in Illinois explore a variety of subject areas that can lead to careers in the widespread field of law enforcement. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than 3 million people were employed in various criminal justice careers in the US as of 2020. The average annual mean wage for these individuals was $52,220 in May 2020.

If you want to learn about how you can become a part of this lucrative field, the following guide about criminal justice schools in Illinois will be of great help to you.

Program options at Criminal Justice Schools in Illinois

Students who wish to get into the field of criminal justice would have several degree options available, such as an associate degree in criminal justice, a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, a master’s degree in criminal justice and a doctorate in criminal justice. Each degree has its own eligibility criteria that must be met to get admission into the program. For instance, students who intend to go for undergraduate programs in criminal justice would have to complete a high school diploma with preferable coursework in science and math. Students who plan on enrolling in graduate programs would have to meet much stricter admission requirements.

Admission Requirements for graduate programs such as a master’s degree in criminal justice would require students to have at least a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice or a related field. In addition to that, students would also be required to meet a minimum GPA criteria, prerequisite coursework requirements and will have to provide letters of recommendation. Most programs would need students to clear an interview and submit their updated resume as well.

Coursework for Criminal Justice Schools in Illinois

The coursework in a criminal justice program in Illinois would depend on the level of degree you are enrolled in. However, the themes of the coursework in all programs remain similar, with only the levels of complexity changing. Typical coursework in a criminal justice degree in Illinois would include subjects such as Criminal Justice Organizations, Principles of Policing and Law Enforcement, Criminalistics of Cybercrime, Multicultural Law Enforcement, Law Enforcement Reporting and Recording, Gangs and Juvenile Justice and Courts and Criminal Justice Systems in the US.

Job and Salary Outlook for Criminal Justice Graduates in Illinois

After completing a criminal justice degree in Illinois, students can opt for a number of jobs in the protective services field. Illinois was the fifth highest employer for protective service occupations, with the US Bureau of Labor Statistics reporting 133,470 jobs in the state in 2020. The annual mean wage for these occupations in Illinois was $57,260, which is higher than the national mean wage. Typical careers for criminal justice graduates include First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives, Detectives and Criminal Investigators, Security Guards, Private Detectives and Investigators, Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers, Fish and Game Wardens, Fire Inspectors and Investigators, Parking Enforcement Workers, School Bus Monitors, Transportation Security Screeners and so on. Students who intend to get into this field have a vast and varied list of careers to choose from, depending on their educational qualifications and personal preferences.

National Estimates for Bailiffs in Illinois

Employment 1
Hourly mean wageAnnual mean wage 2
Employment per 1,000 jobsLocation quotient 9
66022.6247,0600.1170.9

(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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