Picking a degree program can be pretty tricky, especially with the range of opportunities available.
Nowadays, you have a wide range of options available apart from the traditional routes of being a doctor or engineer.
If you’re looking for something different from the norm, a career in criminology can be a great pick.
Criminology is the non-legal study of crime, and how to prevent and identify it.
If you’re interested in learning more, keep reading below.
Criminology Hard to Study?
Criminology is not hard to study, especially if you enjoy understanding the socioeconomic statuses of society and how it subjects them to certain behavior. That being said, you will need to attend classes, and read and understand the material to be successful in Criminology.
Criminology is the non-legal study of crime, and revolves around investigating the causes of crime, who are more vulnerable to it, and how we can prevent it.
Criminology is thus a multifaceted discipline, and you will need to study various disciplines to understand it properly.
If you have a sociology, anthropology, or psychology background, you can join this field.
Having good grades in these entry subjects can help you do well in this degree.
Additionally, there are various disciplines you’ll need to study once you start your degree. Some modules your degree will include are law, criminal justice, and human rights.
Additionally, you can also study social policy, research methodology, sociology, debates in criminal justice, and more.
Assessment can include the regular tests and quizzes alongside dissertations and presentations.
Moreover, the degree will take the normal four years to complete.
So, if you’re into studying a range of disciplines that can be highly theoretical then studying criminology won’t be that hard for you.
Before we continue let’s confirm what Criminology is all about
What is Criminology?
According to the encyclopedia Britannica, Criminology is the scientific study of the nonlegal aspects of crime and delinquency, including its causes, correction, and prevention, from the viewpoints of such diverse disciplines as anthropology, biology, psychology, and psychiatry, economics, sociology, and statistics.
Criminology Harder Than Psychology?
Psychology is hard to study than Criminology. Psychology is one of the more challenging degrees to obtain, and many of your assignments will ask you to reference your sources and back up many of your statements.
Psychology and criminology have many overlapping aspects, given that criminology is more of a social subject as opposed to a legal one.
Much of criminology will involve psychology because to understand crime you need to understand how a criminal’s mind works.
However, criminology can be much more diverse than psychology. Psychology involves studying various aspects of psychopathology, such as child psychopathology, adult psychopathology, and neurodevelopmental disorders.
It is more heavily focused on the human mind and therapeutic interventions.
Criminology, however, can involve studying history, policy-making, health, and more.
There are various influences on criminal behavior, and if you aren’t prepared to study a diverse range of subjects, you will find criminology harder.
However, if you enjoy working from a multi-dimensional perspective, you will find criminology very interesting.
Moreover, since psychology is more of a clinical subject, you may find it challenging if it isn’t your interest.
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Challenges of Working in Criminology?
Criminologists tackle various issues each day, and although the job is interesting, it comes with its fair share of challenges too.
The criminal justice system is incredibly complex to navigate around and requires in-depth understanding if you want to bring about real change.
Some of the most pressing issues faced by criminologists include drug crimes, human trafficking, and even terrorism.
The criminals who commit these different crimes have different thinking processes and motivations.
Thus, one of the biggest challenges can be understanding their thinking processes.
Apart from this, some cases can be hard to deal with emotionally and can require you to face many gruesome details.
So, it’s safe to say that working in criminology isn’t for the faint-hearted. Additionally, there are various structural issues you can encounter working in criminology.
Some laws can be messed up and can protect criminals instead of victims.
Moreover, other regulations can lead to vulnerable communities falling prey to more crime.
These are just a few of the challenges you can face working as a criminologist.
Does Criminology Pay Well?
Yes, Criminology does pay well, an average of ~$49K per annum. That said, due to the immense variety available in a criminology career, you can expect to find pay scales of a wide range
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Criminology Degree a Useless Degree?
Criminology is not a useless degree; rather, it is a valuable degree that leads to well-paying career opportunities. To name a few, Intelligence officers, Forensic Scientists, and Forensic Psychologists.
A degree in criminology is a worthwhile degree that leads to an extremely interesting career path.
Picking a degree is such an important decision because it decides the trajectory of your life.
No one would want to go for a degree that doesn’t allow them to have a comfortable life. If you choose criminology, you can rest assured that you’ve picked a super useful degree.
One of the biggest reasons why criminology is such a useful degree is because it offers so many career paths, in various industries.
Depending on your preferences, you can choose to work independently, with private firms, or on a governmental level.
Working as a criminologist is easily one of the most popular options for criminology graduates.
Criminologists examine criminal offenders and go over their life paths, situations, and other factors which may have led to the crime.
Their work is essential in identifying the causes of crime and hence, preventing it. Their base salary can range from $33-91k annually.
Another career path you can follow is that of a crime analyst. Crime analysts have a job similar to criminologists but on a larger scale.
Their job revolves around identifying patterns and trends in crime and then making tactical, strategic, or administrative recommendations.
They can make as much as $116,000 annually.
Moreover, you can also work as a corrections officer if you want to work in a law enforcement agency directly.
As a corrections officer, you can supervise inmates, ensure they’re treated fairly, and maintain discipline.
Working as a corrections officer can help you work closely with a marginalized population
All of the jobs you’ll have as a criminologist allow you to make a lasting impact and pay well, making this a very useful degree.
Final Thoughts
If you’re unfamiliar with the field, criminology may seem obscure, with limited career paths. However, this is one of the most lucrative fields to pursue and is also an incredibly interesting one.
A criminology degree allows you to live out your true crime dreams in real life and helps you improve your community. Your job can help you reduce crime rates and create a safer society for all.
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