A career in law enforcement is as exciting as it sounds. But to get there, you will need a lot of preparation. For this, it is advised that you enroll in a good criminal justice program that suits your professional needs. If you are looking for one in Charlotte, NC, you have come to the right place. Following is a list of the Top Criminal Justice Schools in Charlotte.

Featured Programs and Schools

The University of North Carolina at Charlotte

The University of North Carolina (UNC) at Charlotte offers multiple programs in criminal justice and criminology under its College of Liberal Arts & Sciences. It offers two undergraduate programs – B.A. in Criminal Justice and B.A. in Criminal Justice, Crime Analytics Concentration. It also offers a criminal justice minor. The university also offers a stellar masters program in Criminal Justice, which is designed to give students a broad understanding of the world of criminal justice. The program intends to provide a strong educational foundation needed to effectively operate as a criminal justice professional.

The Central Piedmont Community College

The Central Piedmont Community College offers an Associate in Applied Science in Criminal Justice, as well as several criminal justice technology certificates. These programs are suited for you if you are interested in the workings of the courts, criminology, criminal rehab, police work and investigations. The programs prepare students to take up law enforcement positions at the local, state and federal court systems and operations.

The curriculum also includes coursework on the philosophy and history of criminal justice systems. Once you have completed the program, you will be knowledgeable enough to find work as a local or state police officer, correctional officer, bailiff, special agent and fieldworker etc. Central Piedmont’s Claudia Watkins Belk Center for Justice also holds a mock crime scene facility, which prepares students sufficiently for real-life crime scene investigations.

The Gaston College

The Criminal Justice Technology curriculum offers two programs, meant to prepare students for several careers in criminal justice. The college offers two programs – Criminal Justice and Forensic Science, for those interested in this field of study. It offers these at the Associate of Applied Science level and the certificate level. Among certificates, the Gaston College offers a Basic Certificate, Corrections, General, Homeland Security and Forensic Science Certificates. These programs are designed to provide students with a fundamental knowledge of the criminal justice systems and operations at the local, state and federal levels.

The Belmont Abby College

The Belmont Abbey College offers a B.A. in Criminal Justice and a Minor in Criminal Justice aimed at preparing future practitioners. Students are given a basic understanding of the building blocks of criminal justice, along with exploration of the schools of criminological thought regarding criminal behavior. The degrees also allow you to understand the ethical issues involved in the world of crime fighting. They also teach critical thinking as well as teamwork. The college also offers internships and study abroad options.

Criminal Justice Degree Careers

With a degree in criminal justice, there are plenty of options for you to consider. Following is a list of some of those careers, along with their salaries and expected growth rates in North Carolina. The salary figures are from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, whereas the growth rates have been obtained from O*Net Online.

OccupationAnnual Mean Salary (2020)Growth Rate (2018-28)
Lawyers$132,1908%
Detectives and Criminal Investigators$65,0607%
Forensic Science Technicians$48,21019%
Correctional Officers and Jailers$40,390-6%
Paralegal and Legal Assistants$49,54013%

Sources: US Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*Net Online

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