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Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary
Teach courses in criminal justice, corrections, and law enforcement administration. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
Other titles employers use
Adjunct Instructor · Adjunct Professor · Assistant Professor · Associate Professor · Criminal Justice Instructor · Criminal Justice Professor · Digital Forensics Instructor · Instructor
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as criminal law, defensive policing, and investigation techniques.
- Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
- Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
- Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
- Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
- Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to helping, analytical and organizing work.
- Analytical
- Investigating questions, testing ideas, and solving problems
- Organizing
- Creating order, checking details, and keeping work accurate
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Speaking
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
- Active Learning
Subjects to know
- Education and Training
- English Language
- Law and Government
- Public Safety and Security
- Customer and Personal Service
Useful strengths
- Oral Expression
- Oral Comprehension
- Written Comprehension
- Written Expression
- Speech Clarity
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 3.3 | Shared rooms, but not shoulder to shoulder |
| On your feet | 3.0 | Mostly seated |
| Talking face to face | 4.5 | A regular part of the day |
| Working with your hands | 2.0 | Little of the day |
Preparation
How people prepare for this work.
Employers usually ask for a doctorate or a professional degree. Other routes may also lead into the field.
- A master's degree 39%
- A doctorate or professional degree 36%
- A certificate or some college 11%
- A two-year degree 8%
- A four-year degree 4%
- High school or less 2%
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Word processing software
- Data base user interface and query software
- Electronic mail software
- Spreadsheet software
- Office suite software
- Presentation software
- Computer based training software
- Information retrieval or search software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 1,560
- Job openings each year
- 30
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 20.9%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 1,560 | 30 | 20.9% |
| North Carolina | 1,470 | 120 | 5.8% |
| California | 1,300 | 110 | — |
| Texas | 1,280 | 110 | 9.4% |
| Florida | 1,220 | 100 | 6.1% |
| Pennsylvania | 890 | 70 | 2.3% |
| Wisconsin | 640 | 50 | 6.7% |
| New Jersey | 580 | 50 | 9.4% |
| Ohio | 540 | 40 | — |
| Colorado | 490 | 40 | 16.7% |
| Illinois | 450 | 40 | — |
| Arizona | 410 | 30 | 5.1% |
| Michigan | 410 | 30 | — |
| Virginia | 360 | 30 | — |
| Missouri | 330 | 30 | — |
| Alabama | 250 | 20 | 4.2% |
| Georgia | 230 | 20 | 9.5% |
| Maryland | 230 | 20 | 9.5% |
| Tennessee | 230 | 20 | 15.0% |
| Indiana | 220 | 20 | — |
| Idaho | 210 | 20 | 16.7% |
| Iowa | 190 | 20 | 11.8% |
| South Carolina | 180 | 20 | 5.9% |
| Washington | 180 | 20 | 12.5% |
| Connecticut | 170 | 10 | 13.3% |
| Nebraska | 160 | 10 | 6.7% |
| Kentucky | 140 | 10 | 7.7% |
| Louisiana | 130 | 10 | 8.3% |
| Massachusetts | 130 | 10 | 18.2% |
| Utah | 110 | 10 | 22.2% |
| Arkansas | 80 | 10 | 14.3% |
| Oklahoma | 80 | 10 | — |
| Puerto Rico | 80 | 10 | 14.3% |
| Minnesota | 70 | 10 | — |
| West Virginia | 70 | 10 | — |
| Mississippi | 60 | 10 | — |
| New Hampshire | 60 | 0 | — |
| Oregon | 60 | 0 | 20.0% |
| Maine | 50 | 0 | — |
| New Mexico | 50 | 0 | 25.0% |
| North Dakota | 50 | 0 | — |
| Wyoming | 50 | 0 | 25.0% |
| Delaware | 30 | 0 | 50.0% |
Career to college
Build a path toward this work.
Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.
Where to study
Colleges with strong activity in these fields.
Start with program size, admission, and likely cost. Open a college for the full picture.
CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice
- Degrees each year
- 1,776
- Admit rate
- 57%
- Annual cost after aid
- $7,000
Southern New Hampshire University
- Degrees each year
- 895
- Admit rate
- 96%
- Annual cost after aid
- $37,000
Sam Houston State University
- Degrees each year
- 922
- Admit rate
- 85%
- Annual cost after aid
- $16,000
Liberty University
- Degrees each year
- 586
- Admit rate
- 99%
- Annual cost after aid
- $27,000
Florida State University
- Degrees each year
- 599
- Admit rate
- 25%
- Annual cost after aid
- $10,000
California State University-Sacramento
- Degrees each year
- 539
- Admit rate
- 94%
- Annual cost after aid
- $9,000
Florida International University
- Degrees each year
- 598
- Admit rate
- 59%
- Annual cost after aid
- $11,000
University of Central Florida
- Degrees each year
- 531
- Admit rate
- 40%
- Annual cost after aid
- $10,000
Compare every college offering criminal justice and corrections