An education in criminal justice can lead to many career pathways.
There are Many Pathways to a Career in Criminal Justice
In Washington State, a two-year associate degree in criminal justice can lead directly to a number of entry-level public-safety and criminal-justice jobs, although some careers—especially probation, professional-level investigations, and many federal positions—typically require a bachelor’s degree.
The Criminal Justice AAS-T degree at Bellevue College is a degree that gets you into the criminal justice field—and gives you a foundation to move up in this career field.
For students at Bellevue College, the AAS-T in criminal justice is specifically designed for both immediate employment and continued education.
Career Opportunities
Career
Typical Education Path
What Students Do
Police Officer
Associate + police academy/agency requirements
Patrol, calls for service, investigations
Sheriff’s Deputy
Associate + agency requirements
Patrol, corrections, courts, community policing
Correctional Officer
HS minimum at WA DOC; degree can strengthen application
This is one of the clearest immediate employment pathways. Washington Department of Corrections lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the education minimum for Correctional Officer 1, meaning an associate degree can give students additional education without requiring them to complete a bachelor’s degree first. New officers receive six weeks of Correctional Worker Core Academy training.
Washington’s Career Bridge classifies correctional officers/jailers as an in-demand occupation and notes that many occupations in this area require vocational training, related experience, or an associate degree.
Law Enforcement
An associate degree in criminal justice can be an excellent foundation for students pursuing:
City police departments
County sheriff’s offices
State law enforcement
Campus/public safety
Community service officer positions
The important caveat is that each Washington law-enforcement agency establishes its own hiring and academy requirements, so the degree doesn’t automatically qualify someone to become a police officer.
Evidence/Forensics
This is particularly relevant if you’re marketing CJ& 240 Introduction to Forensic Science. Students can use their criminal justice education as preparation for positions involving:
Evidence/property management
Evidence technician work
Crime-scene support
Police records
Investigative support
Laboratory support, depending on the employer
That makes forensic science coursework a very marketable way to differentiate a criminal justice degree.
Courts
Students can also pursue court-related careers such as:
Court clerk
Court operations
Court security
Court records
Legal/case-processing support
Requirements vary considerably by position. Some specialized court positions require substantially more education or experience.
Careers Where Students Should Plan on a Bachelor’s Degree
A two-year degree doesn’t necessarily stop a student from entering the field, but several career paths generally become much more accessible with a bachelor’s degree.
For example, Washington Career Bridge reports that most probation officer/correctional treatment specialist occupations require a four-year bachelor’s degree, although there are exceptions.
Similarly, federal probation/pretrial positions in Washington can require a bachelor’s degree plus specialized experience.
Student Spotlight
Whether your goal is to become a lawyer, corrections officer, police officer, forensic investigator, or something else entirely, Bellevue College’s Criminal Justice program has something to offer you.
Washington’s Career Bridge specifically identifies careers including police officer, state trooper, sheriff’s department, records specialist, community service officer, support services technician, courts, evidence technician, corrections officer, juvenile courts, federal agencies, fish and wildlife, and park ranger as criminal-justice career areas.
