Preparation for Doctorate and Beyond
"After obtaining my master's degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice, I went on to complete my doctoral coursework before working in child welfare in a Navajo Nation border town for a year. In 2018, I accepted a position as a criminal justice planner for a county in my home state, where I work to enhance interagency communication, data collection, and sharing, and carry out evaluations. My time at IUP prepared me to continue my education and prepared me for my career, both in the field and in criminal justice planning."
Sydney Bender, MA, Class of '14
Enhance your Career in Criminology
By earning your graduate degree in criminology with IUP, you will enable yourself to be considered for promotion within your organization, earn an increase in salary, and be part of the extremely large number of IUP alumni internationally with whom you can network throughout your career. While most positions in the criminal justice field do not require a master's degree for employment, a master's degree enhances promotion opportunities and puts you on the track for leadership positions.
- A review of federal agency sites shows that a master's degree (or equivalent) often is required for a GS-9 ranking, and graduate education can substitute for specialized experience in the hiring and promotion processes. USAJOBS: Official job site of the United States Federal Government
- A master's degree is important for promotion at the state level. For example, the Pennsylvania State Police require a master's degree for promotion above the rank of lieutenant. Pennsylvania State Police
- Those with a master's degree earned a salary of 36 percent more than those holding a bachelor's degree (Carlan 1999).
- Those with a master's degree had an 81 percent employment rate in criminal justice, contrasted to 49 percent for those with a bachelor's degree (Carlan 1999).
- Individuals with master's degrees report higher levels of job satisfaction than their colleagues with bachelor's degrees (Carlan 1999).
Graduates of IUP's MA program work in a variety of areas, including federal, state, and local levels of law enforcement and corrections. Other graduates work for federal and county probation and parole offices, while others work in the area of juvenile justice. Specific employers of IUP alumni include:
- FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation)
- US Postal Inspector's Office
- Office of Personnel Management
- DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration)
- CIA (Central Intelligence Agency)
- Pennsylvania State Police
- US Secret Service Uniformed Division
- US Customs
- Local agencies in juvenile counselor positions, including the Alice Paul House and Community Guidance Center
- Federal Probation
- County Probation
- Victim services agencies
- North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation
- US Border Patrol
Make a Living Making a Difference
"My MA degree has served me well in my role as program administrator for the Jefferson County, Ohio, Department of Job and Family Services-Children Services. I oversee a child protective services agency responsible for investigating allegations of abuse and neglect and working with families to address safety concerns and minimize risk, so children can be reunified with their parents."
Sydney Bender, MA, Class of '14