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Criminologist
Are you looking to get started in a new and exciting career? Do you want a job that will provide you with financial stability? If your answer is yes, then you are like so many other Americans today. If you should also find that you are interested in forensic science and you enjoy watching shows such as CSI or Forensic Files, a job as a criminologist may be just what you need. A criminologist is someone who determines and analyzes patterns based on a persons biographical, social and psychological factors. In this article, you will learn about the job description, the educational requirements and the salary they make. From there, you will have enough information to determine whether this is a career choice that you would like to pursue.
Job Description of Criminologist
As a criminologist you will be in charge of studying a wide variety of factors to help determine why a criminal committed a crime. You will take into consideration psychological and social factors as well as to look into the background of the criminal to determine what may have caused him or her to commit the said crime. You may unveil incidents in the criminals past that could have led to the crime. You will then be in charge of coming up with a criminal profile which will be used by law personnel to evaluate future criminals. This information will be used in apprehending criminals and determining what their motives might be. As a criminologist, you may have to report to a crime scene and assess the crime to see whether it falls into a specific category. You will also have to write a report detailing all of your findings.
Educational Requirements
To become a criminologist, you must first obtain an education. You should major in a field such as psychology, sociology or criminology as an undergraduate student. While you can enter the work force as a criminologist with just a bachelor’s degree, many students go on to pursue master’s degrees or even doctorate degrees so that they have better job opportunities and can earn higher paying salaries. Completing an internship prior to applying for a job can look great on a resume and make you more likely to be hired for the position you are applying for.
If you have a bachelor’s degree, you can expect that you will earn approximately $30,000 a year as a salary. However, with a master’s degree, your starting salary will be approximately $55,000. Keep in mind that the degree you earn will always be a factor in determining how much money you make, as well as experience and geographical location.
If you are interested in pursuing this career, you now have all the information you need to do so. Contact a school or university of your choice and speak to a counselor about getting enrolled in the proper courses. Earning your degree is the first step towards getting started in your new career as a criminologist.
