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What Can I Do With A Degree In Law and Society?

Become A United States Marshal


What is a US Marshal?

Human Resources

United States Marshals are members of America’s oldest law enforcement agency having primary responsibility for the transportation, management, and protection of US federal prisoners, and witnesses. US Marshals also provide protective services to federal judges, attorneys, and jurors in high profile or potentially dangerous court cases.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (2014) estimate the demand for probation officers has increased in recent years with a 4% projective growth by 2024. These professionals are found in state and federal government.

US Marshals have the broadest arrest authority of all federal law enforcement agents, and work in many federal law enforcement situations. They work with other federal agencies including the FBI, Border Patrol, Drug Enforcement Administration, and state and local law enforcement agencies involved in activities to protect the nation’s security in order to prevent and block potential threats to U.S. citizens.

What Employers Look For

Many employers look for universal skills such as communication, cultural awareness, customer-centered focus, ability to problem-solve, and build working relationships. To be marketable in today’s work force, persons should strengthen their abilities be flexible while adapting to change in a technology based, highly diverse, and rapidly changing globalized society. Skills such as resilience, problem solving and adaptability are valuable at work as well as in life.

How Law And Society Enhances Career Development

The Law and Society program provides students with essential preparation for successful law-related careers and responsible citizenship.  Academic excellence is achieved through a student-centered learning environment combining theoretical knowledge and practical application. Students are exposed to social science research on law and law-breaking behaviors; develop the ability to think creatively and critically about human behavior; societal understandings of normality and deviance; and systemic problems in the American legal system and law enforcement. 

How Sociology Prepares Students For A Career As A US Marshal

Students majoring in Law and Society are required to complete 33-34 credit hours of coursework in specified Sociology courses.

The degree focus consist of fifteen (15) required credit hours of coursework designed to build a foundation in sociological inquiry and quantitative methods, and nine (9) credit hours of Law and Process courses, and nine hours of sociology electives.

Targeted coursework for a career as a US Marshal include

  • SOC 220 Social Problems
  • SOC 324 Criminology
  • SOC 328 Criminal Justice
  • SOC 402 Sociological Theory
  • SOC 326 Social Conflict and Criminal Justice
  • SOC 352 Drug, Culture, and Society
  • SOC 411 Social Inequality
  • SOC 419 Sociology of Law
  • SOC 426 Social Deviance and Control