Career pathways and opportunities for CLS majors
Considering a degree in Criminology, Law and Society? Here, you’ll find information on common career paths, types of employers that hire in the field, and the in-demand skills you’ll develop as a Criminology, Law, and Society major. You’ll also learn steps you can take as a Criminology, Law and Society student to maximize career opportunities.
- about the problem of crime, and the social, cultural, political, and economic forces that intersect with the criminal justice system and the law
- the causes and consequences of crime, criminal justice policy, and socio-legal theory, including how legal institutions both address problems of inequality and exacerbate those problems
- Identify and analyze social problems and develop solutions, through applications of criminological theory
- Analyze impact of legal or regulatory changes
- Conduct opinion surveys or needs assessments
- Learn the ethical issues that arise in the policy and practice of justice and legal systems
- Evaluate civic projects or public policies
- Gather, analyze, correlate, or evaluate information from a variety of resources, such as law enforcement databases
- Arbitration and mediation
- Social services, including juvenile justice, prevention service, victim assistance, and probation/parole
- Law enforcement, including patrol, investigation, and surveillance
- Court reporting and transcription services
- Legal assistance, research, and representation
To best prepare to enter or advance in your career field of interest, prioritize gaining specialized knowledge and experiences most valued by employers. This might include internships, on- or off-campus jobs, research experience, a minor, or a certification.
- Pursue related leadership roles in groups like the Community Adjudication Board or Mason Honor Committee
- Join the Mason Police Cadet Program and spend a shift in a job shadow, observing the workday of a police officer
- Become a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for children who have been abused or neglected or get involved with a Victim/Witness Assistance program
- Establish or maintain a strong GPA (preferably 3.5+), particularly if you are interested in doing national security work for highly selective agencies (e.g., CIA, FBI) or going on to law school
- Join the Patriot Pre-Law Program if you hope to apply to law school
- Complete Mason's Clearance Ready program to learn about the background investigation and security clearance process