Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice Schools in Connecticut

Connecticut is a state that takes its criminal justice system very seriously, so you may be able to use your degree to ensure that justice is served in a variety of settings. CT News Junkie reports that racial inequalities in Connecticut’s prison system are declining, making Connecticut a fairer and more equitable state.

Many states and politicians note that Connecticut’s criminal justice is rooted in fair treatment and crime research. The Courant reports that Connecticut is one of the top states in the country for reducing crime and minimizing incarceration. With your education, you can become part of one of the best criminal justice systems in the United States.

If you want to work in juvenile justice, Connecticut is where you want to be. The Times Union reports that Connecticut has an extremely successful juvenile justice system, thanks to reforms that diverted youth away from crime and treated them fairly in the justice system. Contact the schools that offer bachelor’s degree programs in Criminal Justice in Connecticut to get started.

To earn a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, you must usually complete at least 120 credits over the course of about four years. While some of these credits come from general education courses, many of your courses focus on different aspects of the criminal justice system. Core courses that are required of all students may include Orientation to Criminal Justice, Research Methods in Criminal Justice, and Internship in Criminal Justice.

For the rest of your courses, you may be able to choose classes that fit into your interests and your long-term career goals. Courses that may be options for you include Public Order Crimes, Prisons & Jails, Investigative Techniques, Perspectives on Violence, Social Control & Deviance, and Drugs, Alcohol, & Society.

Typically, you are required to complete your internship toward the end of your degree program. Some schools in Connecticut give you the option of completing two internships, which may allow you to gain experience in multiple criminal justice settings.

As a student in this field, you may be able to look into different financial aid opportunities. Contact your school for information on school-specific scholarships and apply for grants throughout the state of Connecticut. The Connecticut Association of Women Police supports criminal justice students with scholarships each year. Another option is the Peter J. Lavery Memorial Scholarship.

Job Outlook for Connecticut Criminal Justice Graduates

As you get ready to graduate, you may wish to look into the range of career options that are well-suited to criminal justice graduates. Patrol officers in Connecticut earn an average salary of $77,280 per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2022). Job openings in this field are expected to increase by 10% through 2030 (CareerOneStop, 2022).

Those in the field of criminal investigation may see a 6% increase in job openings through 2030 (CareerOneStop, 2022). The average salary for a criminal investigator is $96,020 per year (BLS, 2022).

2022 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary and employment figures for Connecticut contained here reflect national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed November 2023.

If you want to find out what else a degree in this field may do for your future, contact bachelor’s degree programs in Connecticut today for more information. There are several different routes in the criminal justice system in CT to explore, so contacting a diverse group of schools is in your best interest to begin.