Criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary

SOC Code: 25-1111
Also known as:
Adjunct Criminal Justice Instructor, Adjunct Instructor, Adjunct Professor, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor
Median Annual Salary
$71,470
+2.0% growth (2024-2034)
1K
Openings/Year
16K
Current Jobs

What Criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary Do

Teach courses in criminal justice, corrections, and law enforcement administration. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

💰 Salary

$71,470
Median annual wage (2024)

📈 Job Growth

+2.0%
As fast as average

🎓 Education

Doctoral or professional degree
Typical entry-level requirement

🚀 Annual Openings

1K
Projected average per year

Employment Projections (2024-2034)

Current Employment (2024)

16,200

Projected Employment (2034)

16,500

Related Careers

Top Skills Required

Speaking
Active Listening
Critical Thinking
Reading Comprehension
Writing

Daily Tasks & Responsibilities

  • Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as criminal law, defensive policing, and investigation techniques.
  • Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
  • Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
  • Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
  • Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
  • Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
  • Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
  • Plan, evaluate, and revise curricula, course content, course materials, and methods of instruction.
  • Maintain regularly scheduled office hours to advise and assist students.
  • Advise students on academic and vocational curricula and on career issues.

Technology & Tools

Google Docs Microsoft Access Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft Outlook Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Word

📚 Entry-Level Education

Doctoral or professional degree
Most common requirement

🎯 Recommended Education

Master's Degree
O*NET recommended level

Degree Programs for Criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary

These degree programs can prepare you for a career as a criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary:

Criminal Justice/Safety Studies

41,895 degrees awarded • 821 colleges offer this program

Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration

26,997 degrees awarded • 653 colleges offer this program

Criminal Justice/Police Science

20,474 degrees awarded • 528 colleges offer this program

Criminology

10,365 degrees awarded • 234 colleges offer this program

Corrections

4,967 degrees awarded • 144 colleges offer this program

Forensic Science and Technology

4,612 degrees awarded • 228 colleges offer this program

Corrections and Criminal Justice, Other

4,327 degrees awarded • 98 colleges offer this program

Cyber/Computer Forensics and Counterterrorism

2,377 degrees awarded • 113 colleges offer this program

Criminal Justice and Corrections, General

2,175 degrees awarded • 64 colleges offer this program

Cybersecurity Defense Strategy/Policy

999 degrees awarded • 52 colleges offer this program

Best Colleges for Becoming a Criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary

Ranked by Repit grade, then by degrees in related programs. These are the top-rated colleges that prepare students to become criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary.

# College Location Related Degrees Repit Grade
1 University of Virginia-Main Campus Charlottesville, VA 728 A
2 University of California-Irvine Irvine, CA 496 A
3 Florida State University Tallahassee, FL 739 B+
4 Florida International University Miami, FL 581 B+
5 University of Central Florida Orlando, FL 575 B+
6 San Diego State University San Diego, CA 561 B+
7 University of South Florida Tampa, FL 480 B+
8 University of Maryland-College Park College Park, MD 362 B+
9 California State University-Long Beach Long Beach, CA 354 B+
10 Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus University Park, PA 313 B+
11 CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice New York, NY 2,064 B
12 California State University-Sacramento Sacramento, CA 564 B
13 The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Edinburg, TX 494 B
14 George Mason University Fairfax, VA 471 B
15 California State University-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA 405 B
16 California State University-Northridge Northridge, CA 396 B
17 California State University-Fullerton Fullerton, CA 392 B
18 California State University-Fresno Fresno, CA 364 B
19 University of Massachusetts-Lowell Lowell, MA 337 B
20 Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZ 328 B

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much do criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary make?
The median annual salary for criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary is $71,470.
What education do criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary need?
Most criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary positions require a doctoral or professional degree. Common degree programs include Criminal Justice/Safety Studies, Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration, Criminal Justice/Police Science.
Is becoming a criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary a good career choice?
Criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary is projected to see +2.0% job growth from 2024 to 2034, which is about average for all occupations. With approximately 1,200 job openings expected annually, there are good opportunities for those entering the field.
What are the best colleges for criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary?
Top colleges for aspiring criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary include University of Virginia-Main Campus, University of California-Irvine, Florida State University, Florida International University, University of Central Florida. These schools are ranked based on their Repit grade and the number of graduates in related programs.
What other job titles are similar to criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary?
Criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary may also be known as: Adjunct Criminal Justice Instructor, Adjunct Instructor, Adjunct Professor, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, College Faculty Member, College Professor, Criminal Justice Adjunct Instructor, Criminal Justice Assistant Professor, Criminal Justice Associate Instructor, Criminal Justice Faculty Member, Criminal Justice Instructor, Criminal Justice Professor, Criminal Justice Specialist, Criminology Lecturer, Criminology Professor, Criminology Teacher, Digital Forensics Instructor, Instructor, Justice Professor. These titles often refer to similar roles with varying responsibilities or specializations.