Career as Criminologist
Criminology is primarily a scientific study of crime: the cause, the nature of the crime, the extent of the crime, the way law enforcement agencies respond to it as well as the outcome and the impact of the crime on the society at large. It is considered as a classification of sociology. However, various other subjects together impact the subject called Criminology. E.g. Criminology as a subject derives from biology, psychology, psychiatry, statistics, chemistry, economics and even anthropology. As the nature of crimes keeps evolving, so does the study and technique to reduce them. For example, the latest field to be added in Criminology is Cyber Crime and the laws around it. This field has been around for a long time, but so many new things keep happening, which makes it an interesting career choice for those who are interested in looking beyond traditional fields of study.
- About Criminologist :
- Job Profile |
- How do I get there?
Job Profile
There are many potential opportunities a candidate may choose from once they graduate. The more specialized the courses students opt for, the better the roles become. Below are some of the most popular career choices a student of Criminology will get once they complete their studies
- Crime Investigators
- Private Detectives
- Journalists
- Police Officers
- Law Reform Researcher
- Judges
- Counsellor
- Medical Investigator
- Social Workers
- Cyber Crime Specialists
- Prison Management Officers
- Policy Advisors to governments
- Social Reformer (Rehabilitation Specialists)
The scope of the field is undoubtedly quite varied as the students have an option to undertake several specializations. Depending on their speciality, the job profile may change a lot.
Some of the most common roles for the students of Criminology
and the corresponding starting salaries are enumerated
below
|
Role |
Starting Salary |
|
Criminologist |
Rs 3 to 4 lakh per annum |
|
Cyber Crime Specialist |
Rs 4 to 5 lakh per annum |
|
Police Officer |
Rs 4 to 5 lakh per annum |
|
Social Worker |
Rs 2 to 4 lakh per annum |
|
Journalist |
Rs 2 to 7 lakh per annum |
|
Counsellor |
Rs 3 to 5 lakh per annum |
|
Crime Investigator |
Rs 6 to 11 lakh per annum |
|
Judges |
Rs 10 to 12 lakh per annum |
Some of the most popular jobs in this field are with government
departments like police, judiciary and social reforms and
international organizations like the United Nations. Apart from
these, NGOs and social organizations working in the field of crime
and criminal rehabilitation are another major group of
employers.
Pros and Cons of Criminology
Pros
- Exciting and unique opportunities
- Ever-evolving field with a lot of options
- Opportunity to make a strong and positive impact on society
- Chance to work with the most cutting edge technologies and even design some
Cons
- Can be a dangerous field sometimes
- Work-Family balance is quite uneven, as you can always be on duty
- The very little margin of error hence needs a lot of focus all the time
Future Growth Prospects and How to get there faster?
A Criminologist has a lot of impact on society, and the ultimate aim is to eliminate crime from society. Thus, there are several opportunities to grow for people in this field. Whether it is a senior position in the government organization or making a global impact with the United Nations, there are too many opportunities to grow.
How do I get there?
Students can opt for:
- Arts group subjects in the 10+2 classes with electives like Psychology and Sociology. This selection of subjects helps in going for specializations like Victimology, Crime Prevention, etc. After the Class XII boards, the student can enrol in any of the B.A. courses being offered by different colleges where this is the entry criteria.
- Science group subjects in Class 12 with electives like Biology and Information Systems. This specialization helps in Specializations like Forensic Sciences, Cyber Crime and others which deal with the scientific aspects of Criminology.
- Appear for CLAT, which is the entrance exam for Law Courses. This is a good option for students who are looking for getting into specializations within Criminology that deals with the legal field, for example, Domestic Violence, Penology etc.
The entry criteria for different courses depends on the colleges offering these courses. Some of the courses consider the Class XII results while others have their entrance exams for admission into either a graduate or a post-graduate course.
How much does it cost?
As there is no fixed course pattern in the field of Criminology, therefore the cost also varies. Some institutes offer a UG / PG degree, whereas others provide Diplomas. The course fees depend on the type of the course, the institute and its affiliation. Thus, a typical three year UG course fee can range anywhere between Rs 7.5 thousand to Rs 1.83 lakh. Similarly, a two year PG course can cost in the range of Rs 20 thousand to Rs 1.42 lakh.
What are the Top Colleges where one should be studying to become a Criminologist?
The study of Criminology deals with several aspects: understanding the cause of the crime, explaining the reasons and methods of the crime, psychological evaluation of the criminal, punishments for the crime as well as rehabilitation aspects of the perpetrators of the crime. Thus, apart from the specific courses offered by colleges and universities in Criminology, the students willing to pursue their career in this field can also opt for relevant courses like law, arts (sociology, psychology) or science, before specializing in Criminology in the masters.
Below is a list of specialized courses offered by some of the
best universities in India:
|
Rank of College |
College/Institute Name |
Course |
|
1 |
Tata Institute of Social Sciences |
M.A. Criminology & Justice |
|
2 |
University of Lucknow |
M.Sc. Criminology & Criminal Justice System |
|
3 |
Lok Nayak Jayaprakash National Institute of Criminology & Forensic Science |
M.A. Criminology |
|
4 |
Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University |
M.Sc. Criminology |
|
5 |
Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University |
M.A. Criminology & Police Administration |
|
6 |
Institute of Forensic Science & Criminology, Punjab University |
M.Sc. Forensic Science & Criminology |
|
7 |
Pondicherry University |
Post Graduate Diploma in Criminology & Forensic Sciences |
|
8 |
Maharaja’s College, University of Mysore |
M.Sc. in Criminology and Forensic Science |
|
9 |
Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences |
B.A. in Criminology |
|
10 |
Mewar University |
LLM in Criminology |
|
11 |
University of Pune |
PG Diploma in Criminology |
Books and other study material
Some of the common books that can be used as reference material
for studies as well as preparing for competitive exams are:
- Criminology – Principles and Concepts by Anil Kumar
- Criminology and Prison Reforms by Girish Kathpalia
- Textbook on Criminology by Katherine S Williams
What if this career does not work out for me? What are the other options for a person with these credentials?
Since Criminology as a career has a lot of varied applications in the society, there is always some aspect of the field you can move into and make a career in, even though your first choice does not work out. Also, if you are so inclined, you can always consider academics and teaching as a profession with your professional qualifications as a criminologist.
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Content on this page is by Career Expert Mrs. Kum Kum Tandon MA (Psychology), M.Ed, Diploma in Educational Psychology, Vocational Guidance & Counseling (NCERT, Delhi) | View Complete Profile |