Ask the Recruiter

Criminal investigation is a broad field that offers a variety of career opportunities. One way to look at the breadth of opportunities is to consider how many employers there are for criminal investigation specialists--state and local police forces, federal agencies such as the FBI and Department of Homeland Security, as well as private employers such as law firms and detective agencies. You should also be able to find work in locations all over the country--basically, anywhere there is crime, there is a demand for people trained in criminal investigations.

Another way to look at the range of possibilities in criminal investigation is to consider different kinds of crime and the different investigation techniques they require. What may come to mind first are the staples of police work such as physical crimes (like assault, and murder) and property crimes (theft and burglary), but there are also more high-tech forms of crime such as identity theft and computer hacking that require specialized investigative skills.

In general, an associate's degree in criminal investigation or a related subject such as criminal justice or investigative forensics should be sufficient to get you started in the field, although a bachelor's degree could give you an advantage when it comes to earning promotions. Also, if you plan to specialize in a particular type of criminal investigation, you want to be sure to take relevant course work.