Before you can answer this question you have to wonder what particular career in criminal justice you want? There are many to choose one is not easy at all.

You might be inspired by Dirty Harry and wants to be a tough cop. So not only have to go through the Police Academy, but can also have a degree in law enforcement say or forensic psychology.

On the other hand, if you’re more inspired by the Discovery Channel, you dream of specialization in research on the crime scene or forensic science.

If 9 / 11 sparked a concern in your mind as to how important that help save innocent lives may be a desire for a degree in homeland security or public safety management.

» Read more: Criminal Justice Schools Online and Accreditation for Your Future

There are many tools and programs used by criminal justice majors, but most of them are not much different than what your average college student would need to get through their course of studies. Depending on what school you attend and what the requirements are, you may need a variety of tools and programs. This could include anything from just a computer, Internet access and text books to a collection of software programs that are commonly used in the industry.

As a criminal justice major you will need to write a lot of papers on various subjects of law, order, crime and punishment, which will require access to a computer with a word processor and Internet for research. You will also spend a lot of time in the library. This could include the campus library, local municipal library and legal libraries. This requires a good working knowledge of the systems used in both traditional and legal libraries.

Many degree programs require trips to prisons, courts, police departments and other institutions of the legal and criminal system to see working professionals in action. Visiting these institutions may require a thick skin, which you will need to make it in this career in the first place.

» Read more: Tools and Programs Used by Criminal Justice Majors