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Law Enforcement Investigation and Interviewing: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries

Program Overview

Designed for professionals pursuing advanced expertise in criminal justice, this program equips learners with the analytical and procedural foundations essential for conducting thorough and legally sound investigations. It emphasizes the integration of legal standards, ethical practices, and evidence-based strategies to support effective law enforcement operations.

  • Administrative law and procedures: Explores the regulatory frameworks governing law enforcement activities, ensuring compliance with institutional and governmental policies.
  • Courtroom evidence management and preparation: Focuses on the systematic handling, preservation, and presentation of physical and digital evidence to meet judicial standards.
  • Case presentation and court testimony: Develops skills in delivering clear, credible, and legally defensible testimony in judicial settings.
  • Description and identification techniques: Teaches methods for accurately documenting and recognizing individuals, objects, and events during investigative processes.
  • State and federal criminal law and procedures: Provides a comprehensive understanding of statutory frameworks and procedural requirements at multiple jurisdictional levels.
  • Informant and suspect rights: Addresses legal protections and ethical obligations related to interactions with individuals involved in criminal investigations.
  • Officer liability and accountability: Examines legal risks and professional responsibilities to promote transparency and integrity in investigative conduct.
  • Informant and witness management: Covers protocols for recruiting, maintaining, and utilizing sources while safeguarding their credibility and safety.
  • Victim awareness and engagement: Prioritizes trauma-informed approaches to support victims throughout the investigative lifecycle.
  • Tactical interviewing strategies: Builds advanced techniques for eliciting reliable information under complex or high-pressure conditions.
  • Psychological principles in investigation: Applies behavioral science to understand human motives, deception, and decision-making during interrogations.
  • Criminal investigation methods and procedures: Covers systematic approaches to gathering, analyzing, and interpreting evidence across diverse crime scenarios.
  • Report writing and documentation: Emphasizes clarity, precision, and legal accuracy in creating official investigative records.
  • Investigative techniques: Introduces a range of tools and methodologies for surveillance, forensic analysis, and digital evidence collection.
  • Case management systems: Integrates organizational and technological strategies to track, prioritize, and resolve criminal cases efficiently.

Law Enforcement Investigation and Interviewing Graduate Trends (2010-2024)

300
Total Graduates (2023-2024)
15
Universities & Colleges
3
Career Pathways

Law Enforcement Investigation and Interviewing Career Pathways & Salary Outlook

The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Law Enforcement Investigation and Interviewing degrees, including Detectives and Criminal Investigators, Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers and Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 791,340 professionals.


National Average Salaries

Occupation Median Salary Salary Range Total Employment Hourly Rate
Detectives and Criminal Investigators 33-3021 $93,580 $54,160 - $159,410 110,790 $44.99
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers 33-3051 $76,290 $47,640 - $115,280 666,990 $36.68
Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1111 $71,470 $45,640 - $143,130 13,560 N/A

Law Enforcement Investigation and Interviewing Salary Map by State

Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $53,053 in Arkansas to $124,593 in California—a 135% difference. The highest-paying states include California, Alaska, and Hawaii. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 791,340 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.

Average Salary Range:

Top Universities for Law Enforcement Investigation and Interviewing by Graduate Enrollment

Below are the top 15 institutions offering Law Enforcement Investigation and Interviewing programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Law Enforcement Investigation and Interviewing is found at University of New Haven (UNH) (113 graduates), Missouri State University, Springfield (37 graduates), CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice (27 graduates), SUNY College of Technology (SUNY Canton), Canton (24 graduates), and Ana G. Mendez University (AGMU) (21 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 300 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.

College Name Award Levels Graduates Location Control Website
University of New Haven (UNH)
Postbac Cert.
Master's
113 West Haven, Connecticut Private newhaven.edu
Missouri State University
Other Award
37 Springfield, Missouri Public missouristate.edu
CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice
Postbac Cert.
27 New York, New York Public jjay.cuny.edu
SUNY College of Technology (SUNY Canton)
Bachelor's
24 Canton, New York Public canton.edu
Ana G. Mendez University (AGMU)
Associate's
21 Orlando, Florida Private agmu.edu
Missouri Southern State University (MSSU)
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
16 Joplin, Missouri Public mssu.edu
Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico
Bachelor's
12 Mayaguez, Puerto Rico Private mayaguez.pucpr.edu
Oakland Community College (OCC)
Associate's
11 Auburn Hills, Michigan Public oaklandcc.edu
Waynesburg University
Master's
10 Waynesburg, Pennsylvania Private waynesburg.edu
Universidad Ana G. Mendez (UAGM Gurabo)
Associate's
10 Gurabo, Puerto Rico Private uagm.edu
Pikes Peak State College (PPSC)
Other Award
9 Colorado Springs, Colorado Public pikespeak.edu
Central Connecticut State University (CCSU)
Postbac Cert.
Other Award
6 New Britain, Connecticut Public ccsu.edu
Blue Ridge Community and Technical College
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
2 Martinsburg, West Virginia Public blueridgectc.edu
Arizona Western College (AWC)
Other Award
1 Yuma, Arizona Public azwestern.edu
Mohawk Valley Community College (MVCC)
Associate's
1 Utica, New York Public mvcc.edu

Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to the most common questions about Law Enforcement Investigation and Interviewing programs

How much can I earn with a Law Enforcement Investigation and Interviewing degree?

Salaries for Law Enforcement Investigation and Interviewing graduates vary by role and location. Detectives and Criminal Investigators earn a median of $93,580 annually, while Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers earn around $76,290. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in California average $124,593 compared to $53,053 in Arkansas. Approximately 791,340 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.

Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.

Which universities have the largest Law Enforcement Investigation and Interviewing programs?

Currently 15 accredited institutions offer Law Enforcement Investigation and Interviewing degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include University of New Haven (UNH) (113 graduates), Missouri State University, Springfield (37 graduates), and CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice (27 graduates).

Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.

Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.

Is enrollment in Law Enforcement Investigation and Interviewing growing or declining?

Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 15 in 2010 to 300 in 2023-24. This represents a 1,900% increase overall from 2010.

The field remains specialized with steady interest, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.

Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.

What career paths are available with a Law Enforcement Investigation and Interviewing degree?

This degree prepares you for roles such as Detectives and Criminal Investigators, Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers, and Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary. Related occupations employ approximately 791,340 professionals nationwide.

Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.

Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.

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