Impact of Introductory Security Courses on the Career Choices of Criminal Justice Students

Abstract This article discusses the results from 189 pre- and posttest questionnaires that were administered to students taking private security courses at six higher educational institutions. Questions assessed the impact of introductory security courses on students' perceptions of the security occupation and also their desire to take security courses within a traditional criminal justice curriculum. Results showed significant changes in their perceptions of the security occupation, as well as their career aspirations, as a result of having taken a class in private security.