2026 Best Majors for Students Who Want Criminal Justice Careers
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Choosing a major for a criminal justice career is harder than picking "criminal justice" by default. Police departments, federal agencies, courts, labs, and intelligence employers often value different skills. The stakes are real: the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a May 2024 median wage of $77,270 for police and detectives, while forensic science technician roles showed stronger projected growth than many public-safety jobs.
This guide is for students comparing majors, degree levels, online formats, and career paths so they can choose a program that fits their goals, budget, and hiring requirements.
Key Things You Should Know
- Criminal justice is the most direct major for policing, corrections, probation, and court administration, but federal and intelligence roles often prefer specialized majors such as cybersecurity, accounting, foreign language, data analytics, or political science.
- BLS May 2024 data shows wide salary differences across the field; police and detectives had a median wage of $77,270, probation officers and correctional treatment specialists had $64,520, and forensic science technicians had $67,440.
- The best degree level depends on the role; many local law enforcement jobs accept academy training plus some college, while federal special agent, forensic science, leadership, and intelligence roles commonly require or strongly prefer a bachelor's degree or higher.
What are the best college majors for students pursuing criminal justice careers?
The best major depends on the criminal justice job you want, not just the broad field you want to enter. "Criminal justice careers" can mean patrol policing, forensic lab work, victim advocacy, probation, homeland security, private investigations, emergency management, federal investigations, cybercrime, or intelligence analysis.
Use the table below as a practical starting point. It compares common majors by career fit, skill value, and when each option is the strongest choice:
| Major | Best Fit Careers | Why It Helps | Best For Students Who |
| Criminal Justice | Police officer, corrections officer, probation officer, court services, victim services, public safety administration | Covers policing, courts, corrections, ethics, criminal law, and justice system operations | Want the broadest and most direct path into local, state, or administrative justice roles |
| Criminology | Crime analyst, policy analyst, research assistant, prevention program coordinator, graduate study | Focuses on why crime happens, social patterns, research methods, and justice policy | Like data, theory, social science, and evidence-based reform |
| Forensic Science | Forensic science technician, lab assistant, crime scene technician, evidence specialist | Builds lab, biology, chemistry, and evidence-analysis skills | Want science-based work and are comfortable with lab requirements |
| Cybersecurity or Computer Science | Cybercrime investigator, digital forensics analyst, intelligence support, information security analyst | Prepares students for digital evidence, networks, malware, data protection, and technical investigations | Want higher-tech investigative roles and stronger private-sector backup options |
| Accounting or Finance | Forensic accountant, fraud examiner, financial crimes investigator, compliance analyst | Develops audit, financial analysis, fraud detection, and documentation skills | Are interested in white-collar crime, fraud, tax crimes, or corporate investigations |
| Psychology | Victim advocate, corrections counselor, probation support, behavioral analysis support, graduate counseling pathways | Explains behavior, trauma, assessment, development, and mental health basics | Want people-centered roles or plan to pursue graduate clinical or counseling credentials |
| Political Science or Public Administration | Homeland security, public policy, emergency management, agency administration, intelligence analysis | Builds knowledge of government, law, public policy, budgeting, and institutions | Want leadership, policy, or government-agency careers |
| Sociology | Community corrections, prevention programs, social services, research support, policy roles | Examines communities, inequality, social institutions, and research methods | Want to understand crime in its social context and work with communities |
| Legal Studies or Pre-Law | Paralegal, court clerk, legal assistant, compliance support, law school preparation | Introduces legal reasoning, procedure, writing, and court systems | Want court-facing work or may later pursue law school |
For most students, criminal justice is the safest broad major if they want flexibility across policing, corrections, courts, and agency administration. However, students aiming for federal, forensic, cyber, fraud, or intelligence roles should strongly consider pairing criminal justice coursework with a more technical or analytic major.
If you need flexibility because of work, military service, caregiving, or academy scheduling, some of the best online degrees can help you compare career-focused programs that are built for faster completion and practical employment outcomes.
A useful decision rule is this: choose criminal justice if you want the broadest justice-system foundation; choose a technical major if you want a specialized investigative niche; choose a social science major if you want research, policy, prevention, or advocacy work.
How do criminal justice, criminology, and forensic science degrees differ in career outcomes?
Criminal justice, criminology, and forensic science are often grouped together, but they lead to different kinds of work. The main difference is practical system knowledge versus social-science analysis versus laboratory or evidence science.
The comparison below helps clarify which degree aligns with your intended day-to-day responsibilities. This matters because a student who wants to work in a lab should not assume a general criminal justice curriculum will include enough chemistry or biology, and a student who wants patrol or corrections work may not need a heavily scientific degree:
| Degree | Main Focus | Typical Courses | Career Outcome Pattern | Important Limitation |
| Criminal Justice | How the justice system operates | Criminal law, policing, corrections, courts, ethics, juvenile justice, procedure | Strong fit for police, corrections, probation, courts, security management, and public-safety administration | May be too general for lab, cyber, or highly technical investigative roles unless paired with electives or certificates |
| Criminology | Why crime occurs and how society responds | Criminological theory, statistics, research methods, sociology, crime prevention, policy analysis | Useful for crime analysis, research, policy, prevention programs, and graduate study | Less directly job-specific for sworn law enforcement unless combined with internships or academy preparation |
| Forensic Science | Scientific analysis of evidence | Biology, chemistry, toxicology, forensic microscopy, evidence handling, lab methods | Best fit for forensic lab, evidence, crime scene, and scientific support roles | Some lab roles require substantial natural science coursework; a "forensics" title alone may not be enough |
A criminal justice degree usually emphasizes institutions and procedures: police work, corrections, courts, legal rights, and ethics. It is useful if you want to understand how arrests, investigations, sentencing, supervision, and rehabilitation work in real agencies.
Criminology is more analytical. It asks why crime happens, how communities are affected, and which policies reduce harm. This can be an excellent choice for students interested in crime mapping, policy research, prevention programs, or graduate study, but it may need to be paired with internships for students who want immediate agency employment.
Forensic science is more specialized and science-heavy. The BLS reported a May 2024 median wage of $67,440 for forensic science technicians, but competition can be significant because crime-lab positions often require strong scientific preparation and careful evidence-handling skills. Students should review the chemistry, biology, and lab components of any forensic program before enrolling.
Which criminal justice-related majors are preferred for federal law enforcement and intelligence roles?
Federal law enforcement and intelligence employers often hire from a wider range of majors than local criminal justice agencies. A criminal justice degree can be helpful, but it is not always the most competitive option for specialized federal work.
Students interested in agencies such as the FBI, DEA, ATF, Secret Service, U.S. Marshals Service, Department of Homeland Security, or intelligence community roles should think in terms of "mission-critical skills."
The following majors often strengthen a federal application when combined with strong grades, clean background history, internships, physical readiness for sworn roles, and relevant experience:
- Cybersecurity or computer science: Strong fit for cybercrime, digital forensics, network investigations, intelligence support, and technology-enabled crime.
- Accounting or finance: Valuable for fraud, money laundering, tax crimes, public corruption, asset tracing, and financial investigations.
- Foreign language or international relations: Useful for intelligence, counterterrorism, transnational crime, border security, and diplomatic-security contexts.
- Political science or public administration: Helpful for homeland security, policy analysis, emergency management, and agency leadership pathways.
- Data analytics, statistics, or mathematics: Strong fit for crime analysis, intelligence analysis, geospatial analysis, and evidence-based enforcement support.
- Psychology or behavioral science: Useful for victim services, threat assessment support, corrections, interviewing contexts, and graduate behavioral pathways.
The most strategic choice for federal careers is often a major-minor combination. For example, cybersecurity plus criminal justice, accounting plus criminology, or political science plus data analytics may be stronger than a single broad major alone.
Federal hiring also depends heavily on factors outside the major. Background investigations, drug-use policies, credit history, selective service compliance where applicable, physical standards for sworn jobs, citizenship requirements, and location flexibility can all affect eligibility. Students should read vacancy announcements early because federal qualifications are role-specific and can change by agency.
What level of degree do you need for common criminal justice jobs and career advancement?
The degree level you need depends on whether your target job is sworn, technical, administrative, clinical, or leadership-focused. Some roles can start with a high school diploma plus academy training, but a degree may still improve competitiveness, promotion potential, and long-term mobility.
The table below summarizes common criminal justice jobs by typical education expectations. Requirements vary by state, agency, union contract, civil service rules, and employer, so students should verify the exact standards for the roles they want:
| Career Goal | Common Minimum Education | When More Education Helps | Smart Major Choices |
| Police officer or deputy sheriff | High school diploma or some college plus police academy in many jurisdictions | Bachelor's degree may help for competitive departments, federal applications, promotion, or specialized units | Criminal justice, criminology, psychology, sociology, public administration |
| Corrections officer | High school diploma or associate degree depending on agency | Degree helps for probation, case management, administration, and supervisory tracks | Criminal justice, psychology, sociology, human services |
| Probation officer or correctional treatment specialist | Bachelor's degree commonly expected | Graduate study can help for leadership, counseling-adjacent, or policy roles | Criminal justice, social work, psychology, sociology |
| Forensic science technician | Bachelor's degree in forensic science or natural science often expected | Graduate study can help in specialized lab disciplines | Forensic science, chemistry, biology, biochemistry |
| Federal special agent | Bachelor's degree commonly required, with role-specific experience or skills | Advanced credentials can help for specialized cyber, financial, legal, or intelligence roles | Cybersecurity, accounting, criminal justice, foreign language, political science, data analytics |
| Crime analyst or intelligence analyst | Bachelor's degree commonly preferred | Graduate certificates or master's degrees may help for advanced analytics or leadership | Criminology, data analytics, statistics, political science, cybersecurity |
| Public safety administrator | Bachelor's degree for many management tracks | Master's degree often helps for command, policy, budgeting, and executive roles | Public administration, criminal justice, emergency management |
An associate degree can be a cost-effective start if you plan to enter local law enforcement, corrections, or security work and then transfer later. A bachelor's degree is the most versatile credential because it supports federal eligibility, promotion, probation roles, forensic science entry, and graduate school options.
Students who already have transfer credit or prior college coursework may be able to complete a bachelor degree online in 2 years, but they should confirm transfer limits, residency requirements, and whether the program supports internships or field placements.
Master's degrees are most useful for advancement, policy work, intelligence analysis, emergency management, research, teaching at some institutions, or specialized administrative careers. Doctoral study is usually unnecessary for entry-level justice roles, but it may make sense for research, executive consulting, college teaching, or high-level policy work.
Some working professionals comparing advanced professional doctorates may also research a doctorate without dissertation, but they should confirm whether the degree is respected for their intended academic or agency career path.
How do online criminal justice and related majors compare to campus-based programs?
Online criminal justice programs can be a strong choice for working adults, military students, first responders, and learners who need geographic flexibility. Campus-based programs may be better for students who want in-person labs, academy partnerships, research assistantships, or local internship networks.
The best format depends on the major. Criminal justice, criminology, legal studies, public administration, and cybersecurity often translate well online. Forensic science can be harder to complete fully online because lab courses, evidence procedures, and science requirements may need supervised hands-on work.
The comparison below shows the trade-offs students should weigh before choosing a delivery format. It is especially important to compare field experience, faculty access, and hands-on requirements rather than assuming online and campus programs are identical:
| Factor | Online Programs | Campus-Based Programs | Best Choice When |
| Flexibility | Usually stronger for working students, shift workers, parents, and military learners | Less flexible but more structured | Choose online if schedule control is essential |
| Hands-on learning | May use simulations, local placements, or limited residencies | Often stronger for labs, mock trials, field exercises, and campus facilities | Choose campus for lab-heavy forensic science or extensive in-person practice |
| Internships | Can be strong if the school supports placements in your local area | May have established relationships with nearby agencies | Choose the program with better placement support in your target region |
| Networking | Depends on faculty engagement, cohorts, and virtual events | Often easier through campus events, agency visits, and peer groups | Choose campus if you need direct local agency exposure |
| Cost control | May reduce commuting, relocation, and housing costs | May offer campus resources but can add housing or transportation expenses | Choose based on total cost, not tuition alone |
Online study is not automatically easier. Strong programs still require writing, research, exams, case analysis, discussion, and sometimes proctored assessments. Students also need discipline because many justice-related courses require careful reading of statutes, procedures, ethics cases, and policy debates.
When comparing online schools, institutional status and accreditation matter more than marketing claims. Students who prefer mission-driven institutions can compare non profit online universities, while remembering that nonprofit status alone does not prove a program is affordable, selective, or career-aligned.
What courses and specializations should a criminal justice major include for specific career paths?
A strong criminal justice-related major should include both broad justice-system knowledge and career-specific coursework. Students should not rely only on a program title; they should read the course catalog and map courses to the job they want.
For a general criminal justice career, the core curriculum should usually include the following areas because they build the foundation employers expect from graduates entering justice, public safety, or court-related roles:
- Criminal law and procedure: Helps students understand offenses, constitutional protections, due process, searches, seizures, arrests, and courtroom standards.
- Policing and investigations: Covers patrol operations, ethics, community policing, report writing, interview basics, and investigative methods.
- Corrections and rehabilitation: Explains jails, prisons, community supervision, reentry, correctional treatment, and offender management.
- Courts and legal systems: Introduces prosecution, defense, sentencing, judicial process, court administration, and evidence rules.
- Research methods and statistics: Builds the ability to evaluate crime data, policy claims, program outcomes, and agency reports.
- Ethics and diversity: Prepares students for discretion, bias awareness, accountability, civil rights, and community trust issues.
- Internship or field experience: Gives students exposure to real agencies, professional expectations, and job references.
Specializations can make a broad degree more career-relevant. Students should choose electives based on the role they want instead of picking the easiest or most familiar courses.
| Career Path | High-Value Courses or Specializations | Skills to Build Outside Class |
| Local law enforcement | Criminal procedure, report writing, community policing, crisis intervention, juvenile justice | Physical fitness, communication, conflict de-escalation, local ride-alongs where available |
| Federal investigations | Financial crimes, cybercrime, constitutional law, intelligence, homeland security | Internships, language skills, clean background history, analytical writing |
| Forensic science | Chemistry, biology, toxicology, evidence handling, forensic microscopy, quality assurance | Lab accuracy, documentation, chain-of-custody discipline, scientific writing |
| Cybercrime or digital forensics | Networking, operating systems, incident response, digital evidence, scripting, cybersecurity law | Technical labs, capture-the-flag practice, certifications, portfolio projects |
| Probation or reentry | Case management, counseling foundations, substance use, risk assessment, corrections | Motivational interviewing, documentation, community resource knowledge |
| Crime analysis | Statistics, GIS, data visualization, criminology, research design, intelligence analysis | Spreadsheet skills, SQL basics, mapping tools, concise briefing skills |
| Victim advocacy | Victimology, trauma-informed practice, family violence, crisis response, social services | Empathy, referral coordination, documentation, boundaries, cultural competence |
A common mistake is choosing a criminal justice program with no internship, no statistics course, and no writing-intensive work. That may feel easier while enrolled, but it can leave graduates less prepared for reports, testimony, case notes, agency exams, or graduate school.
How do accreditation and program quality affect criminal justice career and licensing options?
Accreditation affects transfer credits, financial aid eligibility, graduate school admission, employer recognition, and sometimes licensing or certification options. For criminal justice students, the most important baseline is institutional accreditation from an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.
Programmatic accreditation is less universal in criminal justice than in fields such as nursing or teaching, but specialized quality indicators still matter. Forensic science students should pay close attention to laboratory science requirements and whether the curriculum aligns with forensic science education standards expected by crime labs.
Before enrolling, students should verify quality using a short checklist. These steps help avoid schools that are expensive, poorly supported, or misaligned with career requirements:
- Confirm institutional accreditation directly through an official accreditation database, not only through the school's marketing page.
- Check whether credits are transferable to public universities or graduate programs you may want later.
- Review the curriculum for writing, research, ethics, law, and career-specific technical courses.
- Ask whether the program has internships, practicum options, academy partnerships, lab access, or local agency relationships.
- Request outcome information such as graduation rates, student loan debt context, job-placement support, and graduate school pathways.
- For forensic, counseling-adjacent, or legal-support careers, verify whether additional licensure, certification, or supervised experience is required in your state.
Red flags include vague accreditation language, pressure to enroll immediately, unclear total cost, credits that do not transfer, no faculty credentials listed, and promises of guaranteed jobs or salaries. Criminal justice hiring depends on background checks, exams, interviews, physical standards, and agency budgets, so no school can honestly guarantee an outcome.
Students should also remember that licensure and certification rules vary. A legal studies degree does not make someone an attorney, a psychology bachelor's degree does not make someone a licensed counselor, and a forensic science degree does not automatically qualify someone for every crime-lab discipline.
What are the typical admission requirements and program lengths for criminal justice-related degrees?
Admission requirements and program lengths vary by degree level, school selectivity, transfer status, and whether the student studies full time or part time. Criminal justice and criminology programs usually have standard college admissions requirements, while forensic science, cybersecurity, and analytics programs may expect stronger math or science preparation.
The table below summarizes typical U.S. pathways. Use it to estimate timeline, but confirm each school's transfer policy, course sequencing, and field-placement requirements before enrolling:
| Program Type | Typical Admission Requirements | Common Length | Best Use |
| Certificate | High school diploma, GED, or current college enrollment; some professional certificates require work experience | A few months to 1 year | Skill upgrade in areas such as homeland security, cybercrime, corrections, or forensic basics |
| Associate degree | High school diploma or GED; placement testing may apply | About 2 years full time | Entry pathway for local law enforcement, corrections, security, or transfer to a bachelor's program |
| Bachelor's degree | High school diploma or GED; transcripts; sometimes essays, test scores, or minimum GPA | About 4 years full time, shorter with transfer credits | Most versatile credential for federal eligibility, probation, forensic science, crime analysis, and advancement |
| Master's degree | Bachelor's degree; transcripts; GPA minimum; resume; statement of purpose; recommendations may be required | About 1 to 2 years full time | Leadership, policy, research, intelligence, emergency management, or specialized advancement |
| Doctoral degree | Graduate degree or strong bachelor's preparation; research interests; writing sample; recommendations | Often 3 or more years | Research, university teaching, executive consulting, or high-level policy work |
Cost should be evaluated as total cost, not just tuition per credit. Students should include fees, books, technology charges, lab fees, commuting, housing, lost work time, transfer-credit loss, and the cost of extending enrollment if required courses are not offered every term.
Federal aid can help eligible students, but borrowing should still match realistic career goals. The maximum Pell Grant for the 2024-25 award year was $7,395, which can reduce out-of-pocket cost for qualifying undergraduates but usually does not cover the full cost of attendance by itself.
Graduate students should be especially careful because master's programs can be valuable for advancement but are not always necessary for entry-level jobs. If cost is the main barrier, comparing a cheapest online master's degree option may help, but affordability should be balanced against accreditation, curriculum quality, faculty expertise, and employer recognition.
What salaries and job outlook can graduates of criminal justice majors expect?
Salary and job outlook vary widely across criminal justice careers because the field includes sworn law enforcement, corrections, lab science, social services, analysis, legal support, cybersecurity, and management. Geography, union contracts, overtime, federal locality pay, education level, and agency budgets can all affect earnings.
The table below uses recent BLS wage and outlook categories to give a grounded comparison. These figures describe occupations, not guaranteed outcomes for any individual graduate:
| Occupation | Relevant Majors | May 2024 Median Pay | Career Outlook Context |
| Police and detectives | Criminal justice, criminology, psychology, public administration | $77,270 | Demand depends heavily on local budgets, retirements, public safety priorities, and agency staffing needs |
| Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists | Criminal justice, social work, psychology, sociology | $64,520 | Often requires a bachelor's degree and strong case-management, writing, and interpersonal skills |
| Forensic science technicians | Forensic science, chemistry, biology | $67,440 | Specialized science preparation matters; lab jobs can be competitive and may require exact coursework |
| Correctional officers and bailiffs | Criminal justice, psychology, sociology | $53,300 | Can be an entry point into public safety, but long-term advancement may require additional education |
| Private detectives and investigators | Criminal justice, accounting, cybersecurity, legal studies | $52,370 | Outcomes vary by licensing rules, prior law enforcement experience, specialization, and client base |
| Information security analysts | Cybersecurity, computer science, digital forensics | $124,910 | Not exclusively a criminal justice job, but highly relevant to cybercrime, digital evidence, and security investigations |
The strongest salary strategy is not simply choosing the highest-paying occupation on paper. Students should compare the education required, hiring barriers, physical demands, work schedule, location flexibility, and whether the major creates backup options outside criminal justice.
Technology is changing the field. Agencies increasingly use body-worn camera evidence, digital case management, crime analysis software, geospatial tools, cyber investigations, and electronic discovery. This makes data literacy and digital evidence skills valuable even for students who do not plan to become full-time cyber specialists.
At the same time, students should avoid assuming that artificial intelligence will replace judgment-heavy justice work. Many tasks still require lawful procedure, testimony, discretion, communication, ethics, and human decision-making. AI and automation are more likely to change workflows, evidence review, pattern analysis, and reporting expectations than eliminate the need for trained professionals.
How can students choose a reputable school for criminal justice or related majors?
Choosing a reputable school requires more than reading rankings or picking the cheapest tuition. The right program should match your career target, support your schedule, meet accreditation standards, and provide enough practical experience to make the degree useful.
A smart school search should start with your target role. Once you know whether you want policing, federal work, forensic science, probation, crime analysis, cybercrime, or legal support, compare programs using criteria that affect employability and transfer value.
- Define your target job first: Write down 2 or 3 roles you would actually accept after graduation, then check job postings to see which degrees, skills, and experience are requested.
- Verify accreditation and transfer value: Make sure the institution is accredited and ask whether credits transfer to public universities or graduate schools.
- Read the course catalog: Look for law, ethics, research methods, writing, statistics, and the technical courses tied to your specialization.
- Ask about field experience: Strong programs help students access internships, agency projects, labs, mock trials, research, or community partnerships.
- Compare total cost: Include fees, books, housing, transportation, online technology charges, and the cost of any required residency or lab work.
- Review faculty expertise: A balanced faculty may include scholars, former practitioners, attorneys, forensic scientists, analysts, or public administrators depending on the program focus.
- Check career services: Ask whether advisors understand civil service exams, federal resumes, background investigations, academy pathways, and graduate school preparation.
- Avoid guaranteed-outcome claims: No program can guarantee a badge, federal appointment, lab job, salary, or security clearance.
Students should also ask admissions advisors direct questions before committing. Useful questions include whether the program has local internship partners, whether online students receive the same career support as campus students, how often required courses are offered, and how many credits can transfer.
The best school is not always the most famous or the cheapest. It is the school that gives you a recognized credential, relevant coursework, practical experience, manageable debt, and a realistic path into the specific criminal justice career you want.
Other Things You Should Know About
Criminal justice is the best broad major for policing, corrections, courts, and probation. For specialized roles, cybersecurity, forensic science, accounting, data analytics, psychology, or political science may be better depending on the career target.
Criminology is better for students interested in research, crime patterns, policy, and prevention. Criminal justice is usually better for students who want practical knowledge of policing, courts, corrections, and justice-system operations.
Not always. Many federal roles require a bachelor's degree but accept many majors. Technical or mission-critical majors such as accounting, cybersecurity, foreign language, finance, data analytics, and computer science can be highly competitive for specific federal roles.
Yes, if the school is properly accredited and the program fits the job requirements. Students should confirm internship options, transfer policies, state requirements, and whether the degree is accepted by their target agency or employer.
References
- What Can You Do With a Degree in Criminal Justice? | UMass Global https://www.umassglobal.edu/blog-news/what-can-you-do-with-a-criminal-justice-degree
- Types of Criminal Justice Careers https://www.criminaljusticeprograms.com/criminal-justice-careers/
- Criminal Justice vs Criminology | University of Phoenix https://www.phoenix.edu/articles/criminal-justice/criminal-justice-vs-criminology.html
- How to Choose a Program - CriminalJustice.com https://www.criminaljustice.com/resources/choosing-a-program/
- 25 Jobs You Can Get With A Criminal Justice Degree https://www.criminaljusticedegreeschools.com/careers/best-criminal-justice-jobs/
- Top Online Criminal Justice Degree https://www.onlinecolleges.net/rankings/best-online-bachelors-criminal-justice-degree-programs/
- Criminology degree entry requirements | Minimum entry grades https://www.whatuni.com/advice/clearing/entry-requirements-to-study-a-criminology-degree/92681/
- Law enforcement accreditation: Why it matters https://apbweb.com/2026/03/law-enforcement-accreditation-why-it-matters/
- Which Criminal Justice Major is Right for You? | Tiffin University https://go.tiffin.edu/blog/which-criminal-justice-major-is-right-for-you/
