If you are looking at careers in criminology in South Africa then read the information we discuss here. Criminology is the study of the causes of crime and the institutions and systems that try to prevent crime and catch and punish offenders.
For example with a criminology degree you can do the following jobs:
- Prison Officer
- Probation Officer
- Detective/Investigator
- Teacher
- Criminologist
- Social Worker
- Lawyer
Click here to find out more about crime statistics in South Africa
If you study criminology, you will learn to understand how and why criminals do what they do and how best to deal with them.
You will learn the following skills:
- How to understand and solve problems
- How to conduct scientific research methodology
- Interviewing and other interpersonal and communicative skills
- An awareness of social situations and anthropological dynamics
- A broad knowledge of legal and justice structures and how they work
Criminologists working on a crime scene
Where can you study for careers in criminology?
Most universities and tertiary institutions offer a criminology qualification of some kind. Some institutions may only offer a diploma or certificate while others will offer a degree or even a post graduate option.
The University of South Africa (UNISA) website is a good place to start. Click here to visit.
Courses that you would study
There are many different things that you will learn when you study criminology.
You will learn to understand how criminals are dealt with, how the justice system works, what to expect from criminals of a certain type. As well as age group and how crime affects communities, societies and individuals.
Some of the different courses that you may study if you want to get into criminology include:
- Criminology
- The justice system
- Theories of Social Interaction
- Cultural Anthropology
- Theories of Social Structure
- Sociology of Law
- Juvenile Delinquency
- Community and Crime
- Social deviance
There may of course be several more courses and material that you could study depending on the institution you are studying at. The type of qualification you are studying towards and the country you are studying in.
Careers in Criminology
With a degree in criminology, you may find work in a number of different court situations. Also in government agencies that deal with crime and criminals or in teaching situations where you would teach others about criminology.
More careers in criminology job titles:
- Researcher
- Professor
- Government agent
- Criminologist
- Lawyer or attorney
- Social worker
- Correctional planner, worker or manager
As with any degree if you studied criminology you would not be limited to the normal fields.
You could find work as a consultant for a private security company or you could even go on to write crime thrillers!
You may even choose to study something else afterwards like Psychology and you could find work in an asylum as a criminal psychologist.
So the options are endless if you get a degree in criminology in South Africa.
How to tell if you are the right person to be a criminologist
To make sure that you are studying the right subject, you must first ensure that you are the right sort of person to be a criminologist.
Therefore answer the following questions to help bring some clarity to your mind if you are not sure:
- Do you feel strongly about justice?
- Have you a keen mind and eye for detail?
- Do you enjoy solving problems and coming up with creative solutions?
- Are you strong minded and suspicious rather than gullible?
- Are you good at talking to and dealing with people?
- Do you enjoy research?
- Do you enjoy thinking and talking about society and anthropology?
- Are you interested in the way people’s minds work?
If you answered yes to most of the above questions, you will undoubtedly enjoy studying criminology. So you are likely to enjoy working as a criminologist or something similar.
If you become unsure after a period of study, do not worry as there are a great many other jobs and fields that you can go into. Where your criminology education and background will be helpful.