Police Officer Preparation & Law Enforcement Resource - Archive

Hi, I know this question has probably been done to death but I want to know what universities have the strongest and well known Criminal Justice or Criminology programs and career opportunities. I'm currently looking into Northeastern as someone else has mentioned on this board. Any other suggestions? For those who majored in CJ, which colleges did you attend and do you recommend them? Thanks so much.

Hi, I know this question has probably been done to death...

Yep. A search will quickly get you this: http://forums.realpolice.net/showthread.php?t=47717

... and this: http://forums.realpolice.net/showthread.php?t=52205

There's others too. I'll let you take it from here.

Hi, I know this question has probably been done to death but I want to know what universities have the strongest and well known Criminal Justice or Criminology programs and career opportunities. I'm currently looking into Northeastern as someone else has mentioned on this board. Any other suggestions? For those who majored in CJ, which colleges did you attend and do you recommend them? Thanks so much.

The top 4 Graduate Schools in CJ (as ranked by U.S. News and World Report)

1. University of Maryland - College Park
2. SUNY Albany
3. University of Cincinnati
4. Rutgers School of Criminal Justice

I got my MA from the Rutgers school of CJ and I loved it! I would recommend it to anyone looking to pursue a graduate degree in CJ. They have the renowned "Police Institute" run by the very well known CJ researcher George Kelling (The Kansas City Model), in the building. (Kelling is also a professor at the school, an amazing guy!) Also the work/research the school does with the Local/State/Federal Law Enforcement Agencies is rather extensive.

The school does also offer an undergraduate program in CJ. But you have to make sure that you are going to be going to the RUTGERS SCHOOL OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE for your BA and not just the Rutgers College for your BA. The regular college also offers a BA in Criminal Justice. But you want the actual Rutgers School of Criminal Justice.

Just my 2 cents.:D

-Ecko

Unless you're trying to get a faculty position in academia, nobody cares how your criminal justice program ranks. If anything matters it's the reputation of the university as a whole.

Unless you're trying to get a faculty position in academia, nobody cares how your criminal justice program ranks. If anything matters it's the reputation of the university as a whole.

I would have to respectfully disagree. Most people might not care...but some definitely do. When I was interviewing with the DEA, the SA in charge of recruiting was holding our resumes and the SA stated that he liked how we all went to "quality universities." He went on to say, “I had someone in here last week who had a degree from some university that was located in a town I have never heard of in North Dakota, and I don’t know how good his schooling was there."

So, I wouldn't say "nobody cares" where you go to school.

I would have to respectfully disagree. Most people might not care...but some definitely do. When I was interviewing with the DEA, the SA in charge of recruiting was holding our resumes and the SA stated that he liked how we all went to "quality universities." He went on to say, “I had someone in here last week who had a degree from some university that was located in a town I have never heard of in North Dakota, and I don’t know how good his schooling was there."

So, I wouldn't say "nobody cares" where you go to school.

I guess you missed this part in Patrick's post: :p


Unless you're trying to get a faculty position in academia, nobody cares how your criminal justice program ranks. If anything matters it's the reputation of the university as a whole.

the SA in charge of recruiting was holding our resumes and the SA stated that he liked how we all went to "quality universities." He went on to say, “I had someone in here last week who had a degree from some university that was located in a town I have never heard of in North Dakota, and I don’t know how good his schooling was there."

And do you know whether or not that person from North Dakota was hired? Given what I know about the hiring process, where you went to school doesn't have a huge impact. What really matters is how you perform during the process itself, your background, etc.

But I do see what you're saying. My point about the overall reputation of the university still remains. No matter what the reputation is of the Rutgers CJ program is, an applicant from Harvard is still going to be seen as coming from a better school. It doesn't even matter what that degree is in. The fact that it is from Harvard will carry more weight with most people. The only people who really care about how programs within colleges rank are people who work in academia.

My point about the overall reputation of the university still remains. No matter what the reputation is of the Rutgers CJ program is, an applicant from Harvard is still going to be seen as coming from a better school. It doesn't even matter what that degree is in. The fact that it is from Harvard will carry more weight with most people. The only people who really care about how programs within colleges rank are people who work in academia.

Agreed.

I guess you missed this part in Patrick's post: :p

I think i might have! :p Thanks for not letting me miss it twice ROS. HaHa

Rankings come in go......don't get too concerned when your just looking a a CJ degree.

If you were looking at being a lawyer or doctor, maybe it matters. Depends what your looking to do when you graduate.

Focus on a school that has a program with classes you like and is accredited! That goes much farther than rank!

I have to throw my two cents in. From what I've been told and observed the more actual work experience one has the less important their school is. If you graduate from Harvard, but when you talk to people all you do is aggravate the situation, your time at Harvard isn't going to count for much. If, however, you go to City College of Timbuktu, but were skilled/lucky enough to obtain an outstanding job AND do very well at it you work experience will over shadow your college education.

Hi, I know this question has probably been done to death but I want to know what universities have the strongest and well known Criminal Justice or Criminology programs and career opportunities. I'm currently looking into Northeastern as someone else has mentioned on this board. Any other suggestions? For those who majored in CJ, which colleges did you attend and do you recommend them? Thanks so much.


He wanted the "strongest" and most "well know"...that's what I gave him. :)

He wanted the "strongest" and most "well know"...that's what I gave him. :)

If were not talking rank...and going on name.....we forgot the most well known and recognized within the field: John Jay College. Name is well known throughout the Fed system and anytime you see a commentary on the news after a criminal incodent.

I always heard that where I go (Western Illinois University) is one of the best Law Enforcement schools. WHen People say that to me I say "then I'd hate to see the other ones." ;)

If were not talking rank...and going on name.....we forgot the most well known and recognized within the field: John Jay College. Name is well known throughout the Fed system and anytime you see a commentary on the news after a criminal incodent.

I completely agree that name does mean a lot...but I went to John Jay for 1semester before I transfered to Rutgers and I was not too impressed with it. Just my experience. And the biggest players in the field of CJ research go to SUNY Albany, Rutgers School of CJ, and Maryland College Park for sure.

Unless you're trying to get a faculty position in academia, nobody cares how your criminal justice program ranks. If anything matters it's the reputation of the university as a whole.

I have to agree with Patrick. I have never seen an agency that was school specific. As long as you can check the box "I have a degree" that's all that counts.

I've never heard of any of the schools listed but if they're ranked does that mean that someone who graduated from Rutgers school of CJ with a 2.0 is better qualified for a LEO position than I am because I went to a smaller school and graduated with a 4.0 GPA?

Is it the school? GPA? or the fact that you have a degree that matters?

I'm just gonna throw Sam Houston State University out there as a great CJ university.

I'm just gonna throw Sam Houston State University out there as a great CJ university.

It would definately qualify here on the great plains.

As for the original post, someone who is worried about what
college you graduated from and not the grade point is probably
a PITA to work for.