The Complete Guide to Becoming A Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teacher, Postsecondary
What the job really involves, how much it pays, and whether you have what it takes to teach the next generation of justice professionals
by Alumigogo Books
non-fiction
The honest, real-numbers guide to becoming a postsecondary criminal justice teacher — pay, path, and whether you're actually a good fit.
About this book
You've seen the job title. You've thought about it. But what does a criminal justice and law enforcement teacher actually do on a normal Tuesday — and is it worth the years of school it takes to get there? This guide answers those questions with real numbers, real schedules, and real talk about the parts recruiters never mention. You'll learn what the job pays at every level, from your first adjunct gig to a tenured professorship, and which regions of the country actually have openings.
This isn't a cheerleading pamphlet. It's a grounded, practical walkthrough of the profession — the credibility you need to earn before anyone will trust you in a classroom, the day-to-day rhythm of teaching, grading, advising, and serving on committees, and the honest truth about whether your personality and goals match the reality of this work. You'll complete self-assessments, compare educational paths with real costs and timelines, and get a step-by-step plan for landing your first job with no teaching experience.
Written like a conversation with a career counselor who has actually seen this field up close, this guide gives you what you need to make a real decision — not a hopeful guess.
Reader Reviews
Patricia Thompson
★★★★★I've been a police officer for eight years and was seriously considering transitioning to teaching, but I had no idea where to start. Chapter 1 alone was worth the price — it walkthrough a whole semester of work in detail, and the salary chapter scared me straight about what adjuncts actually make. The self-assessment checklist in Chapter 2 made me realize I have the patience for this and that it's not just about knowing the subject matter. I'm now enrolled in a master's program and building a plan using this guide.
Sandra Hall
★★★★★Solid guide overall, and the chapter on landing your first job was genuinely practical — I followed the networking advice and got a meeting with a program coordinator who told me exactly what they look for. Three stars off because Chapter 1 dragged a bit in the committee-meeting section, and I wanted more depth on community college vs. four-year institution differences. But for the money, this is way better than the generic career websites.
Kimberly White
★★★★★As a college junior just starting to figure out if grad school is worth it, this guide was the reality check I needed. The chapter on education paths broke down exactly what each degree costs and how long it truly takes, with no sugarcoating. I especially appreciated the honest numbers on starting pay — I had no idea adjunct positions paid so little. The day-in-the-life chapter convinced me I'd actually enjoy the teaching part, which is what I was most unsure about. Highly recommend for anyone on the fence.
Gary Johnson
★★★★★The book has some good information, and I respect that it doesn't try to sell you on the career. However, I found the tone a bit repetitive, and Chapter 4's salary data felt outdated even for when it was written. A few sections seemed padded, especially the committee-work stuff in Chapter 1. If you know nothing about teaching postsecondary, this will help, but if you've already done basic research, you can skim a lot.
David Lewis
★★★★★I've worked in corrections for seven years and have been wrestling with whether to go back to school and teach. This guide helped me see that my experience alone isn't enough — I need a master's and likely a PhD for the kind of positions I'd want. The career-growth chapter was especially useful; I hadn't considered the path from adjunct to lecturer to program director as a way to advance without a PhD. The numerical tables made planning my budget realistic. Worth the read.
Sarah Carter
★★★★★This is exactly the book I wish I'd had when I was debating between a career in law enforcement and teaching about it. The chapter on whether the career fits you made me stop and think about my actual personality rather than just my resume. And the step-by-step plan for getting hired with no experience addressed my biggest worry. The budgeting tables in Chapter 4 are worth it alone. If you're serious about teaching criminal justice at the college level, read this first.