How To Become A Criminal Justice Professor: What It Is and Career Path

What is a criminal justice professor and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Quoted experts

Mario Paparozzi Ph.D.,

Dr. Emily Hayden

There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a criminal justice professor. For example, did you know that they make an average of $29.21 an hour? That's $60,750 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 12% and produce 159,400 job opportunities across the U.S.

What general advice would you give to a criminal justice professor?

Mario Paparozzi Ph.D.

Professor, Chairman, New Jersey State Parole Board (retired) and/or Past President, American Probation and Parole Association, University of North Carolina at Pembroke

Rely on your presentation as much as you may want to rely on a college degree. A college degree helps to "open doors." Once a door is open, even a little, it is up to the individual to "carry the ball across the finish line." Always remember that a college degree does not make up for deficiencies in an individual's presentation to the "professional/career world." An individual's presentation includes good interpersonal communication skills, using proper grammar when speaking and writing, and dressing for the career you seek. Finally, always remember that criminal justice means "justice for all." This includes career colleagues, criminal offenders, and the community. If an individual is not able to embrace righteousness for everyone, then he should seek another profession.

ScoreCriminal Justice ProfessorUS Average

Salary

4.7

Avg. Salary $60,750

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

8.1

Growth rate 12%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

5.2

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.28%

Asian 11.22%

Black or African American 7.29%

Hispanic or Latino 10.36%

Unknown 4.96%

White 65.89%

Gender

female 39.18%

male 60.82%

Age - 46

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 46

Stress level

8.1

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

10.0

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

5.4

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a criminal justice professor

Explore criminal justice professor education requirements

Most common criminal justice professor degrees

Bachelor's

46.4 %

Master's

24.0 %

Doctorate

15.8 %

Start to develop specific criminal justice professor skills

Skills	Percentages
Criminal Justice	58.86%
Law Enforcement	7.69%
Sociology	4.50%
Syllabus	3.07%
Criminal Law	2.86%

Research criminal justice professor duties and responsibilities

Develop and manage syllabus materials.
Deploy a develop syllabus and accurate grading curve with student assessments build into the weekly classes.
Deliver logical, informative, and effective lectures using digital technologies, including PowerPoint presentations.
Utilize technology to deliver online courses and materials via discussion board format and PowerPoint presentations.

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